84199 in & around denham oct16 1 by In and Around Publishing

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 

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 There is no doubt, I love the Spring and Summer and the extended hours of light they give, the social gatherings outside and that general feeling of want ing to get up in the mornings because it’s sunny outside. They’re definitely my favourite months and I never look forward to entering into the Autumn and Winter ones. However, I’m trying to embrace Autumn with the same enthusiasm as some of my friends, who re mind me how cosy it is to light the fire and candles and snuggle up in front of the tv. Together with the fact that Halloween, Bonfire Night and whilst I say it with trepidation, yes, Christmas are all around the corner. Well, I haven’t gone so far as to light the fire yet, but the heating has already been on more than once, and I’m giving the candles a fair chance to convince me that I may eventually prefer them to the solar lights that I’d previously been enjoying in the gar den. The jumpers are slowly replacing the t shirts and the brolly is back in action. I really am doing my very best to appreciate the change of seasons, but I’m clinging onto my flip flops for dear life. Those boots aren’t coming out until my toes go numb with cold. .

You can advertise in this magazine from as little as    puts your   into all six publications (that’s over 30,000 homes).    Tel: 0800 038 5001 Mob: 07759 536494 In and Around Magazines cover: West Drayton . Iver . Denham . Uxbridge Ickenham . Ruislip Angela Fisher 0800 038 5001 / 07759 536494 info@inandaroundpublishing.co.uk 

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Cake & Bake Page 30

Tech: Get amazing internet everywhere 6 Could you survive as a (car boot) seller? 8 Denham Against HS2 10 Denham Parish Council 12 The Wildlife Zone 16 Children’s Puzzle Page 18 Recipe: Sweet Potato & Chick Pea Curry 20 Books: Coming of age tales 22 Beauty: Little Luxuries 24 Denham Restaurant & Bar 26 The Golden Years: Memories of 50 years ago 28 Cake & Bake: Choc & Orange Battenburg 30 How to stop your dog chewing 34 Life Begins: When it’s wiser to expect the worst 36 Microchipping your dog 38 Wordsearch 38 Motoring: Renault Clio dCi 110 Dynamique 40 Travel: Vatican City 42 Health: OCD Awareness Week 44 Interiors: Art Deco Style 46 Citizens Advice Bureau 48 Useful Telephone Numbers 48 Puzzle Solutions 49 RSPCA Rehoming Appeal 50 Short Story: Can’t escape the grave 52 What benefits & concessions are you entitled to 54 Coffee Break Puzzles 56 Garden Feature 58 Clubs, Groups & Classes 60, 62 & 64 Local Events 66

  We are grateful for the support of local businesses whose adverts appear in this publication and whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions, claims made by advertisers or endorse companies, products or services. This publication, its contents and advert designs are © of In and Around Publishing. Any copying or reproduction in part or fully, is strictly forbidden without our prior consent.

   

Get Amazing Internet Everywhere

 

Home or abroad, here’s how to get the best connection

For many of us an internet connection is essential - so what can you do if your connection is slow, unreliable or barely usable? The good news is that most internet connection problems are really easy to fix. To identify the problem, it’s important to look in the right place. If you’re connecting to your broadband via a wireless router, that wireless connection could be the culprit. Wi-Fi signals can be obstructed by things such as radiators, metal mesh in the walls, pipework and even furniture, and you’ll often find a poor wireless connection can be fixed by moving the router, or upgrading to a faster one if the existing router is getting old: Wi-Fi technology has improved dramatically in recent years, and a router you buy today will be much faster with much better range than a similarly priced one five years ago. If your home simply isn’t Wi-Fi friendly - because it’s huge, or made out of really thick stone - then a Wi-Fi range extender can boost the signal, or you can opt for something called Powerline networking. This uses your house’s electricity circuit to transmit data between plug sockets, which sounds like madness but works really well. Look for Powerline AV if you want to 6

have connections fast enough for streaming high quality video. If the Wi-Fi is fine or you’re connecting directly to broadband with a cable, it’s worth checking out the Speedtest.net website. This tells you exactly how fast your broadband connection is. You’ll never get the “up to” speeds advertised, but if your connection is falling far short so for example if you’re getting around 1Mbps on a line that’s supposed to be good for 12 to 20Mbps - then it’s time to have harsh words with your internet provider. Most broadband connections are ADSL, which uses existing copper wires to bring broadband alongside your phone line. But there’s a newer, faster technology called fibreoptic. That’s what super-fast services such as BT Infinity and Virgin Media offer, and if you’re lucky enough to live in an area where fibre broadband is available it offers a massive increase in speed. What happens if you can’t get any kind of wired connection? Many areas with ropey broadband get decent mobile phone coverage, and if you’re in a 3G (or even better, 4G) coverage area you can use your phone as a personal

hotspot. That turns your phone into a personal Wi-Fi hotspot that you can connect to; it then sends and receives data over the mobile phone network on behalf of your connected device. Beware, though: such usage can quickly rack up lots of data, so if you’re on a limited mobile data deal - which is the most common kind of package - you might find yourself needing a more generous data allowance. Be particularly mindful of data if you’re using your phone as a hotspot abroad. It’s often a better idea to turn off data roaming on your phone and look for public Wi-Fi hotspots instead, because something as simple as checking email and Facebook can easily result in big bills. Some networks offer roaming deals that enable you to use mobile data when you’re abroad for a small daily fee, but if you don’t take advantage of them you’ll soon discover that mobile data can be more expensive than gold, oil or printer ink. Images L to R: Netgear wi-fi router; BT powerline broadband extender; Speedtest.net internet speed checker; Pokemon Go (to illustrate mobile data - this app will bankrupt you abroad)

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Hobbies  Could You Survive  As A (Car Boot)  Seller?  By Kate McLelland As you browse the stalls at a car boot sale, intent on bagging a bargain, have you ever wondered what it’s like to be on the other side of the table? On a sunny day, as you listen to the banter between buyers and sellers and watch money changing hands, you may feel tempted to try your luck as a stallholder. But this is Britain, and as we know the weather can switch from sunny skies to a deluge in less time than it takes to give change from a five pound note. With early starts and lots of loading and unloading in unpredictable weather, you’ll need true grit to become a regular seller. Here are some tips and tricks of the trade to help you survive: Sort out your stock Make it easy for buyers to see what you have by sorting items into categories, creating clear signage and marking items individually. No one wants to buy wrinkled clothing or dusty china, so it’s worth putting in a bit of effort 8

to iron, rinse and polish your stuff before you put it out on the stall. Consider offering a box of items marked at £1 or 50p: people love rummaging for bargains and these boxes are a good way of attracting people to your stall.

that the tables you’ll use aren’t trapped underneath your stock. Allow plenty of time to get there so you can grab a good spot: that way you’ll be able to catch the early bird buyers before your rivals have opened their first box.

If you are in any doubt about the value of the items you plan to sell, look them up on Ebay (www.ebay.co.uk) before you set out. You can find out what price similar items achieved by ticking the “Sold listings” box on the left hand side of the listings page.

If you are selling antique items and bric-a-brac, you may find that dealers descend like locusts almost as soon as your car boot swings open. They can be cheeky – rooting through your things before you’ve even unpacked – but don’t be too quick to dismiss them: you’ll often strike the best deals of the day by trading with these opportunists.

Pick the best pitch Pitches set up beside the food tent, or close to the entrance and exit, are generally the best for footfall. If you can spare the time, try to visit the car boot sale a few weeks before the date you plan to sell there. Walk around and make a note of the spots where people tend to congregate. Get up with the lark Preparation is all-important, so pack your car or van the night before, being careful to ensure

Be super-organised It’s worth pairing up with a friend to share both the costs of admission (generally between £6 and £10 for a single car) and the workload. When you are really busy you’ll welcome an extra pair of hands, particularly if you are selling breakable items that need wrapping. Unless you agree to split the profits, keep separate floats and discuss

any discounts you’re prepared to offer in advance, so you don’t undersell your friend’s items. Make sure your collapsible table is big enough to take your stock. If necessary bring a plastic sheet so you can display more items at ground level. If you are selling clothing, consider buying a portable, sturdy clothes rail (but don’t forget to weight it down on a windy day). Most buyers aren’t put off by a bit of rain, so if the weather turns nasty, cover up with clear plastic sheets so they can still see your items. Always bring some change with you – a float of about £25 should get you started. For security reasons it’s better to

wear a bag across your body than to leave money in an open tin or box.

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Don’t scare the customers Successful stallholders know exactly how to interact with the public. A seller who looks bored, or who loudly complains about their lack of sales, is as much a turn-off for buyers as a pushy sales pitch. While some customers want to talk, many are quite reluctant to engage in conversation, so think twice before you start chatting. Everyone knows that a car boot sale is a place for haggling and you’ll sell more if you are willing to be flexible on price. Have a fallback price in mind and don’t take offence if someone makes

an unacceptably low offer. Keep your response polite and friendly and they may just return with a more acceptable bid. Creature comforts On a busy day you’ll need lots of energy, so it’s important to look after yourself. Pack a thermos of hot tea or coffee and bring lots of treats to keep you going. Being a car boot stallholder isn’t guaranteed to make you rich, but at least you’ll meet some interesting characters, earn some spare cash and get out in the fresh air. There’s a lot of preparation and hard work, but you’ll also have plenty of fun … even if you’re still scraping the mud off your boots in mid-October.

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Denham Against HS2

Why is Westminster Turning a Blind Eye to the £80 billion  White Elephant in the Room?

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party has other fish to fry at the moment. During the summer, former leader Ed Miliband revealed that he was deeply sceptical about the project: such a shame that he didn’t express his doubts when he was in a position to do something about it. Now he’s political toast, nobody cares what he thinks.

To most ordinary, sensible and rightthinking folk, HS2 has become a longrunning national joke. Hardly a week goes by without a new revelation about the obscenely inflated salaries they’re paying to their executives and staff; the U-turns they keep making to the planned route through the Shires; the mysterious, unexplained curves on the line that neatly avoid the constituencies of influential MPs, and the resignation of the chief executive, who has deserted the sinking ship – despite his grotesque salary of £750,000 to pursue less demanding challenges, and no doubt a quieter life, at Rolls Royce. But for some reason we’re finding hard to fathom, Theresa May’s new, self-styled ‘reforming’ government is turning a blind eye to this aspect of unfinished business left behind by her predecessor, who’s now disappeared to Oxfordshire to lick his wounds, hunt foxes and write his memoirs. David Cameron and George Osborne saw the HS2 project as their indelible legacy for the nation, but now the pair of them have been defenestrated you’d think that the new team would take a cold, hard look at the facts and figures and consign to history a railway that will cost upwards of £80 billion, with questionable benefits to all but the few privileged business folk who will have to go to Birmingham or Manchester every now and then. Don’t these people have email? Have they not heard of video conferencing? On the other side of the political divide, the Opposition has been strangely silent too, although we have to concede that the Labour 10

And so the free-spending madness goes on uninterrupted, with only about one-tenth of our MPs bothering to turn up on days when HS2 is discussed in Parliament. Meanwhile the taxpayers’ bill for all those salaries, designer headquarters in Canary Wharf, iPads to every employee (except the poor cleaners at Canary Wharf), misleading maps, poorly-researched traffic surveys, and compensation payments to people whose houses, farms or land are about to be destroyed, is nudging £1.5 billion. Could this be the real reason that the new government has decided to turn a blind eye to HS2? That so much money has been spent on the project so far, scrapping it now would look like careless and irresponsible housekeeping? Surely this state of affairs can’t continue. Last month, the Chair of the Commons Treasury Select Committee wrote that the economic case for HS2 was not supported by hard evidence on either passenger capacity or speed, and that of all the projects proposed by the last government (such as Hinkley Point and the expansion of Heathrow Airport), HS2 was the weakest. Then the Adam Smith Institute labelled HS2 ‘economically irresponsible’, while the Commons Public Accounts Committee reported that the project’s timetables were unrealistic, and there’s no money for regeneration on this scale. In the Lords, the Economic Affairs Committee reminded the new Chancellor that the case for HS2 had not yet been made. And yet, no one in power seems to take a blind bit of notice. PLEASE keep campaigning, keep writing - surely the penny will drop soon. We live in hope.

Frank Partridge, Denham Against HS2

Dear Resident, Have you noticed how beau tiful Denham looks at this time of year with the trees changing colour. It’s such a pity that so many people despoil the beauty by their flytipping and litter dropping. Please help us in our contin ued efforts to ensure that everywhere is kept clean and tidy. Report any flytipping to SBDC who have a duty to clear it and if you see it hap pening please also report to them any information you glean such as a number plate. Complaints about dog fouling have also increased so please clear up after your pet. Denham Parish Council, with Prevention Matters, is host ing a working party to try and ensure that lonely and vul nerable people across the Denham area are identified and helped by the introduc tion of a Good Neighbour Scheme. If you know, or sus pect, that someone near you is suffering from loneliness or is vulnerable please notify us so that we can investigate and if necessary arrange to put procedures into place to help them. This is something for all of us to get involved in.      Email details to us at  12

As you may remember South Bucks and Chiltern District Councils have been develop ing a Local Plan and are now ready to report back to the communities across the area of what that may look like and how it will affect the area where we live and work over the next 20 years. Provision ally they have agreed to pro vide us all with the opportu nity to view their plans and proposals, at a Drop In Ses sion to be held at the          This is your opportunity to exam ine and question the propos als planned for Denham. Pencil this date into your diaries – more information in due course. Other Dates for Your Diary    – Higher Denham Bonfire and Fireworks Night at the Com munity Centre. Bonfire lit at 6.30pm and Firework Display at 7pm    – Denham Green Christmas Fayre, Station Parade Den ham Green starting at 6 pm. – Higher Denham Christmas Tree Lights Switch on. At the Community Centre starting at 5.30 pm

   – Carols Around the Christmas Tree, Denham Village Green start ing at 6 pm More details on all the above events will be circulated by email nearer the event. We are still looking for more volunteers either short or long term, a regular couple of hours a week or ad hoc help. Also we are still looking for additional Parish Councillors and Associate Members. If you think you may be inter ested or simply would like more information please e m a i l u s a t             Grab this opportunity to get more involved in the work being done in the community where you live.  Chairman, Denham Parish Council   

Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX Independent School for boys and girls aged 3 - 11

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An ‘OUTSTANDING’ School A family-run school with a caring atmosphere. Pupils achieve excellent results in academic subjects, music, sport and drama. For further information, or to arrange a visit, please telephone 01895 234371 Parkway, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 9JX - www.sthelenscollege.com 13

Finance

By Ann Haldon

What Benefits And Concessions Are You Entitled To In Later Life? element, Savings Credit, is for people who have saved a small amount towards their retirement.

As you grow older, you become entitled to certain age-related public benefits and concessions that can help with day-to-day living. The most obvious is the state retirement pension, but what are the other less well-known top-ups and concessions that might be available? Although pension credit is a well-established benefit, not everyone realises they are eligible to claim it, so it’s worth checking whether you’re missing out on this valuable supplement to your state pension. Additionally, there may be local authority concessions available in the area where you live - for adult education or fitness classes, for example. Here are some of the benefits that you might be missing out on, plus a brief guide as to the current eligibility criteria. Pension credit There are two elements to pension credit – Guarantee Credit which guarantees a minimum income of £155.60 if you’re single, and £237.55 for couples. The second 14

Single people and couples could receive up to £13.07 and £14.75 of Savings Credit per week respectively. You may be entitled to one or both elements if you’ve reached state pension age, and are on a low income. AttendAnce AllowAnce Attendance Allowance is a benefit available to people aged 65 or older, who have care needs at home. You don’t have to receive professional care to be eligible for this benefit, and it’s often the case that a careprovider is a spouse or family member. There are two different rates available, depending on the level of care needed: • Lower rate: £55.10 per week. • Higher rate: £82.30 per week. People who claim the lower rate often need help with washing and dressing, and the higher rate reflects greater care needs during the day and night. cArer’s AllowAnce If you care for someone for 35 hours a week or more, and they are in receipt of certain benefits, you could get Carer’s Allowance at a weekly rate of £62.10. If you’re eligible, you will also automatically receive National Insurance credits. It’s worth noting that Carer’s Allowance can affect other benefits that you and the person you are caring for

receive, so you should factor in the possibility that these may reduce or be taken away. winter fuel AllowAnce You can receive between £100 and £300 from the government to help with your winter heating bills. To qualify for the winter payment this year, you need to have been born before 5th May 1953. Once you’ve claimed, you should receive the payment automatically between November and December in future years. cold weAther PAyment If you’re in receipt of pension credit, you could also be eligible for a cold weather payment if the average temperature where you live falls, or is expected to fall, to 0°C. This must be for seven consecutive days between 1st November and 31st March, and the payment is £25 for each such period. AnnuAl flu VAccinAtions The annual flu vaccination is free for anyone over the age of 65 years old. It is available in pharmacies as well as from your GP, and is usually provided between September and February each year. tV licence You can apply for a free TV licence if you are aged 75 and over. The government also offers concessions to older people in residential care, and the cost for a licence in these circumstances is £7.50.

Public trAnsPort free bus pass There are various concessions available for older people using public transport. Both men and women are entitled to a bus pass at the female state pension age, giving free offpeak travel on local buses. london 60+ oyster card People over the age of 60 living in London, can apply for the 60+ London Oyster photo card, and enjoy free travel on London buses, tubes, and a range of other types of local transport. senior railcard and coachcard The senior railcard allows people aged 60 and over to save money on rail fares in the UK. There is a one-off cost to buy the card, and it is available online. The senior coachcard currently costs £10 plus £2 p&p, and will save you a third

Martin’s Carpet  Cleaning Company  

off standard fares in the UK if you are over 60.

and evening classes for retired people of state pension age and older.

PrescriPtions The government website (www. Those aged over 60 are also gov.uk) is a good resource for entitled to free prescriptions finding out more about these and NHS sight tests. You will benefits, and you may be need to complete the back of able to make a claim for them your prescription and let the online. pharmacist know that you’re https://www.gov.uk/pensioneligible – you may also need • Carpetscredit dry in 1 to 2 hours to provide proof of age in this • Upholstery Cleaning https://www.gov.uk/attendancerespect. allowance • Leather Cleaning • Rug Cleaning locAl Authority https://www.gov.uk/carersfAcilities allowance Some local authorities provide Safe and Non toxic eco friendly https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuelfree or discounted access for payment/overview cleaning solutions older people to their leisure https://www.gov.uk/coldand educational facilities. Satisfaction guaranteed OR you weather-payment You may find that your local https://www.gov.uk/freepay NOTHING sports and leisure centre offers discount-tv-licence concessions to people over https://www.gov.uk/apply-forstate pension age, for fitness elderly-person-bus-pass classes and swim sessions. http://www.nationalexpress. Additionally, some colleges com/offers/coachcards/seniorcoachcard.aspx provide discounts on daytime

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The Wildlife Zone...FP (Oct16).qxp_Layout 1 30/09/2016 18:12 Page 1

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THE WILDLIFE ZONE

HOLY LAND Andy Mydellton FLS (pictured right) is an environmentalist journalist, the founder and leader of the British wildlife charity, the Foundation for Endangered Species. They are members of the United Nations agency UNESCO with Andy Mydellton being Chairman and the Environmental Concern Advisor to the UNESCO Schools Group. Andy is a Fellow of the Linnean Society. He writes for many publications, mounts photographic exhibitions, gives presentations and broadcasts the 'Andy Mydellton Wildlife Zone' radio programme.

ISRAEL has also been named Palestine, Canaan, Judea, the ‘Holy Land’; it is the region of the Bible, Jesus’ dominion, the home of the prophets as well as other heroes and villains throughout history. The area has suffered continual conflict and warfare, but despite this many people still celebrate what happened there thousands of years ago, which is what I did one Christmas. But because I am a conservationist I toured this vibrant country and successfully examined some of its lesser known wildlife in ways that most visitors have never done. I visited rivers, lakes and coastline; wildlife habitats and home for many wonderful but remote animals. The Eilat tourist resort on the Red Sea is very well equipped to accommodate snorkelers and scuba divers looking for colourful fish on coral reefs. Unfortunately, our hotel booking was fouled up and so our plans for exploring this glorious nature reserve. Instead we were forced to travel through the Sinai and Negev Deserts to end up at the Dead Sea. These areas seemed to be devoid of life under the parching sun which reflected the empty and desolate images of the Biblical ‘Wilderness’. The Dead Sea got its name because of its life destructive saltiness, and only humans bathe in it for health purposes. So we took full advantage of this unique natural sea, swam in it and soaked up its healing qualities - all before breakfast. As morning wore on we explored the haunting Qumran Caves nearby, high in the steep rocky cliffs where the Nag Hamadi Codices were found. Afterwards we combed our way through the narrow labyrinths of the spectacular hill fort at Masada. It was a marvellous day, but as regards wildlife, this was our second successive ‘dead duck’! As we continued we reached the nature reserve of Ein Gedi, a mountainous retreat with fast flowing rivers and spectacular waterfalls. One of its main attractions is the rare Arabian Leopard, a subspecies of the ubiquitous leopard which ranges from Africa to South East Asia. We didn’t catch a glimpse of this dangerous cat, which was just as well because we were on foot with an unarmed guide, who only carried a small penknife for peeling apples! We managed to get close up to other animals including the rabbit-sized rock hyraxes, a strange furry creature closely related to elephants. Various lizards came out of rock crevices to spy on us, only to disappear again when they became bored with their human visitors. Mountain fish swam in surprisingly deep rock pools of crystal clear water making them easy to see. The world’s oldest surviving flying animals, dragonflies also fluttered around us as did butterflies and other flying insects. The Sea of Galilee was next; the lowest freshwater lake in the world where unknown and hidden surprises from its depths were waiting for us. We walked along the pebbly beaches to find out about Galilee’s fascinating and exotic animals, usually overlooked by most visitors. Throughout our forays we collected many shells which were the remains of freshwater crabs, mussels and cockles; soft bodied bottom dwelling creatures which revealed the Sea’s kaleidoscopic biodiversity. To determine if they could have entered the food chain, I classified them into scientific groups of gastropods, molluscs, bivalves and cephalods. Two thousand years ago these freshwater animals seemed indistinguishable from their marine based counterparts, so it was possible that the large amount of indigenous shellfish was one reason why this huge freshwater lake was sometimes described as a ‘sea’. Only in recent years have people wrongly introduced foreign shellfish into Israel’s waters. Some of them have acclimatised to local conditions and have subsequently caused problems to native wildlife resulting in the newcomers being classified as ‘invasive species’. I remain hopeful that many smaller species will remain benign, and that the others may enter the food chain and limit their adversity. As we continued our amazing shell finding walks, we noticed some water-fowl flocks in the distance, just bobbing up and down on the gentle surface towards the middle of the Sea. We managed to distinguish gulls, geese and ducks although it was difficult to define them further. At Tagbha near Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes, where the feeding of the 5,000 took place, I stood on some rocks which pierced the water’s surface. I looked into the shallows and saw obscure images of fish, but nothing like the shoals that were mentioned in the New Testament. They were local species of sardine, tilapia or barbell. Tilapia is an endemic plate-sized silvery fish named by restaurateurs as the historical ‘St Peter’s Fish,’ because it increases business and profits! The Sea of Galilee is filled up by the rivers coming down from the northern Golan Heights which eventually allows the legendary River Jordan to flow out from its south. It is a fine ornithological habitat where we saw many songbirds flitting in and out of the reeds, rushes and sand banks. Some were affectionately described by birders as ‘little brown jobbies’ or ‘LBJs’ for short. Then, right out in the open, I saw Israel’s national bird, the rare hoopoe (pictured left) brazenly declaring its territory to the world. It is an unforgettable magpie sized avian, bright orange with black and white markings and a brilliant raisable head crest. Throughout my tour I saw fantastic buildings, holy shrines and inspiring historic places, but I loved investigating the region’s diverse, rare and curious animals. It was thrilling stuff!

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The charities’ contact details are www.ffes.org.uk email: info@ffes.org.uk 16

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Sweet Potato & Chick Pea Curry  Serves 4 Ready in 45 minutes  A quick and easy vegetarian dish full of Indian flavour. If you don’t have all the spices just use 1-2 tbsp medium curry paste. Serve with boiled basmati rice or warmed naan breads, if liked.

Ingredients: • 1 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed • 3cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and grated • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped • 1 aubergine, cubed • 2 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp ground turmeric • 2 tsp ground coriander • 1/2 tsp hot chilli powder • 3 medium-sized sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

Add all the spices to the pan and cook, stirring, for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the sweet potatoes, the passata and 150ml water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until the sweet potato is tender and the sauce has thickened.

• 1 tsp garam masala

Stir in the chick peas and garam masala and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Simmer for a further few minutes. Serve in warmed bowls garnished with chopped coriander.

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

TIP

• Freshly chopped coriander, to garnish

For a chunkier sauce use a 400g can of chopped tomatoes and add 250ml water.

• 500g carton passata (sieved tomatoes) • 400g can chick peas, drained and rinsed

Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan and fry the garlic, ginger and onion over a medium heat for about 5 minutes until light golden. Stir in the aubergine and fry for a further 2 minutes.

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The passage to adulthood doesn’t By Katherine Sorrell always come veneering and that’s inlaid decoration. easy, and For collectors, then, this certainly the case period is highly desirable and correspondingly expensive. in these However, ascoming the style spread around Europe and became of age tales… hugely popular across the

Art Deco Style 

The Smell of Other People’s Houses – Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock Much goes unsaid by the teenagers who live in a small Alaskan community in the 1970s. Ruth can’t talk to her grandmother about where her mother went, or the baby she’s carrying. Alyce can’t tell her dad of her dreams to go to dance DecaDent Deco school. And Dora can’t speak to theluxe neighbours how the looks ofabout art Deco scaredgo sheout is of father. Plus never of her fashion there’s Hank, who just wants to – and, according to a recent keep his brothers safe. But as survey by olympia’s art open, & secrets come out into the antiques Fair, it’s therevealing nation’s and connections start favourite design style. Wemay themselves, the teenagers take a look atsolutions the history of find their own to their this glamorous, good-looking problems. A beautiful debut novel about friendship, love and movement. family ties. Twenties saw The Roaring

Amyjazz Snow Reesfrom the age–inTracy full swing Found as baby and in the snow London toaBerlin Paris to in Victorian England, Amy’s Chicago. Just think flappers, only friend is Aurelia, girl slick automobiles, thethe talkies who skyscrapers: discovered her. Despised and it was all by Aurelia’s parents, Amy about glamour, drama andis cast out when Aurelia dies. modernity. Consumerism had But Aurelia has left a treasure arrived, and the timing was just hunt for Amy to follow across right for a brand new style. England, to discover Aurelia’s Also known Artway, Moderne, secret. Alongasthe Amy may Jazz Moderneshe’s or simply Deco, well discover stronger and more worthy loverooted than she Art Deco styleofwas in everworld realised. This enjoyable, the of pre-First World easyleading read won the Richard War French design,and Judyonly Search for awidely Bestseller but became competition after last year. recognised the 1925 Paris 22

Orphans of the Carnival – Carol Birch Twenty one year old Julia is a sensation on the 19th century carnival stage. She’s a talented dancer and singer, but people flock to see her because she’s covered from head to foot in thick, dark hair. Travelling the country with one freak show after another, Julia finds fame, Exposition Internationale des but she reallyetwants is love Artsall Décoratifs Industriels and acceptance. In modern day Modernes, an exhibition London, Rose may not look which aimed to modernise particularly dissimilar anyone French interior design.toAs they else, but she sees the world in a moved into a new era, French different way. A poignant tale of designers were combining how society so often classical features andstruggles rare, to accept those who out. luxury materials with stand exciting newthe influences such as All Pretty Horses art (Cubism and –contemporary Cormac McCarthy Fauvism), the exotic Ballets First published in 1992, All Russes and a fascination the Pretty Horses follows with all things Egyptian, as well John as he travels from Texas as the and artefacts of he and intoartMexico. En route Japan, Africa, native America, finds friendship and love, and discovers what meansEast. to Mexico and the itMiddle be adult. An Theirresistible last in a long Theanresult? new line Texan ranchers, John styleofthat perfectly expressed manages to getof work a the excitement the on changing Mexican times. ranch, breaking in the wild While there,was he Earlyhorses. Art Deco furniture falls for theand rancher’s daughter, exclusive luxurious, Alejandra, is unfairly made frombut costly materials imprisoned and barely survives. such as hardwoods, lacquer, It’s no surprise this won several mother of pearl, shark skin, awards and was made into a tortoiseshell and leather, and film. frequently featured extravagant

Atlantic, designers gave the look a twist, employing the latest technologies Foxlowe – Eleanorand less expensive materials, such as Wasserberg stainless steel, chrome and The Foxlowe estate is supposed Bakelite plastic. the States to be a utopia – aInhaven from it became known as New Streamlining, the modern world. people leave names and itstheir curvy lines and weretroubles the in the outside world. must-have look for aBut hostGreen of isn’t the others. She was new like buildings from Miami to born Foxlowe New at York – one and, of thetogether finest with the other ‘ungrowns’, examples being the 102Blue and Toby, State GreenBuilding, can storey Empire be punishedinfor the smallest completed 1931. infraction. As the cult’s leader, In terms of furniture, the‘Bad’ Art Freya, tries to keep the Deco look was low and upright out, the punishments become in design, featuring geometric increasingly cruel. Blue and outlines with rounded but corners, Toby want to escape, and oftenisthe Foxlowe all shell, Greenfan hasorever sunburst shapes that are key known, and her desperation to win this Freya’s style. Two completely to approval has new pieces consequences. had recently been devastating This invented: the coffee table read and is an unsettling, haunting the cocktail cabinet, the latter that leaves many unanswered questions, impossible something but thatishas become to put down. associated with the inextricably style. Functional and spaceNevernight – Jay Kristoff saving, fitted kitchens became Set in a city built from the bones increasingly widespread, while of a long-dead god, Nevernight the Art Deco bathroom (still a follows the fortunes of 16-yearrelatively new room in her most old Mia. Aided only by homes) featured solid ‘shadow cat’, Mia’s on yet a quest elegant shapes and glamorous to become an assassin and looks, revenge with plenty wreak on of thechrome people and bevelled-edge mirror.Think who betrayed her family. Kill Bill meetswalls, Philipbotanicals Pullman’s To decorate His Dark Materials, an or geometrics were with frequent extra helping of darkness, sex, motifs, while upmarket homes violence andlacquer poetry or added might have woodin for good measure. panelling, mirror tiles or even

trompe l’oeil murals. And this was the era of fabulous parquet flooring, perhaps with the addition of a zebra skin or a boldly abstract rug (today’s fashionable chevrons are a descendant). Soft furnishings were, in high-end interiors at least, sumptuous and costly, with silk and velvet (tasselled and fringed, of course) especially desirable. However, as the look filtered down it was cotton, chenille Before and moquette that gained in popularity, often featuring graphic patterns in bold colours or the monochrome of black, white and grey. Everything was bathed in a new form of artificial light – electricity – and the widespread use of new-fangled electric fittings meant that designers paid increasing attention to their appearance. Often strikingly dramatic, they were made from

ground-breaking materials such as aluminium, plywood, tubular steel, plastic or pressed glass; typical styles included pendant lights in the form of an inverted bowl made from marbled glass and hung from chains, ziggurat, shell or fan-shaped wall lights, and column-based table lamps boasting Art Deco motifs such as a sunray, borzoi dog or stylised naked figurines. And, since this was, essentially, a decorative style, the right accessories and ornaments were key, from Clarice Cliff’s ground-breaking ceramics to Bakelite radios, cocktail shakers and silver dressing table sets.

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As time went on, and Art Deco design was more widely disseminated, it became less sophisticated and more mass-produced. Those initial qualities of opulence and luxury

became, especially in 1930s Britain, more utilitarian and suburban. Though essentially still a ground-breaking style that bridged the old world and the new, it was commercialised to the point of kitsch. House builders employed features such as rounded bay windows, doorways with stepped surrounds and garden gates with sunrise motifs. The vocabulary of brightly coloured zigzags, chevrons, exotic animals and stylised flowers was added to furnishings, accessories and practically any type of homeware possible – and thus what had been a luxurious look available only to the few had become an everyday style that was found in all sorts of ordinary homes. Image - Artworks Art Deco bathroom, Original Style, After 01392 473000; www.originalstyle.com

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much longer. One coat is ideal for everyday, while two provides the wow factor for a night out. It’s also enriched with panthenol, to help strengthen By Alison Runhamlashes. www.alison.runham.co.uk

Makeup bags do tend to get rather grimy, by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk and can be a bit real. in mild cases, of a breeding less than an for • Contaminationground / Mental We all need a little pick-me-up now hour a day. Contamination:bacteria. a fear of germs or a fear Mine of verbal and again, whether it’s a new dress, OCD typically can’t be abuse, which makes follows a fourbunged in lipstick or bar of chocolate. If you sufferers feel dirty or step cycle: the washing machine, more’s the pity, so I’m unworthy. fancy treating yourself this month, 1. planning to treat myself to some new ones very • Hoarding unnecessary Obsession: these beauty buys are all under soon. I have my eye on Kit The Cat Make itemsthe or excessive quantities unwelcome, Up Bag, £15, and Washbag, £22, from Oliver £30… of useful items. intrusive Bonas. thoughts, • Ruminations (prolonged, You should never feel images or time-consuming thinking I love gel effect nail polishes. Nails Inc.’s are guilty about devoting half impulses occur on a harmless topic) repeatedly. amongst the best out there, andThoughts they’ve added an hour to it’s some much-to Nowadays, common or Intrusive hear people jokinglyAdescribe new colours for(disturbing autumn. The rangein needed ‘me-time’. bubbly and new repetitive 2. Anxiety: causedfour by the themselves as “a nature, e.g. a fear of acting distressing nature of Fired the Up - also - All includes bath, glassor ofothers wine, music bit OCD,” but this trivialises violently). obsession. A sufferer mayto ‘help protect charcoal nails and face mask and you’re a serious and potentially develop paranoia or a toxins and What Causes OCD? against pollutants’. I ready to face the world debilitating condition that feeling of over-responsibility, Genetics: OCD seems to can’t testify to how successful again. Neal’s Yard Remedies Formulathat they typically goes undiagnosed for Rosebelieving or their run inpesky some families, so it is at keeping those Antioxidant Facial Mask, £26.50, suits 10-15 years. OCD Awareness lovedmost ones are in danger there may be a genetic link Week aims toeven correct the the gold skin types, us sensitive souls. Kaolin from something pollutants which, in away,- but although no specific genes misconception reality, - or (Crown that shade Place, £15) identified goes and pink clay that helpObsessive to exfoliate and draw outis harmless have been as yet and Compulsive Disorder merely their actions canon prevent or like a dream, givesexperts nails a think ‘learned impurities, but the mask doesn’t leave skin some concerns harmless habits or harmful behaviour’ may be responsible smooth shiny finish and lasts feeling dry or tight after use. It’s verycause gentle,an unrelated, quirks. incident. instead. for ages. and helps to hydrate and soften tired skin. What Is OCD? 3. Compulsion: behaviours or Brain differences: In some What’s more, as it’s packed with plant extracts OCD sufferers can experience thoughts that sufferers Octoberare is Breast Cancer imaging Awareness sufferers, has Month, shown so essential oils, such as geranium,compelled rose and to repeat as a aand range of compulsions, blood do take a minuteincreased to check activity yourselfand out. While a marigold, it smells lovely. obsessional thoughts and result of the anxiety – often flow in parts of thesymptoms, brain that it’s lump is one of the most common repetitive behaviours. These not realistically connected response, not the only one.handle Othersemotional include pain, redness I have two – one cannot be easily ignored andmake up bags with their obsession or fear. and a lack of serotonin (a and a change in shape, size or texture. Head for their my essentials and one for may seriously affect dayneurotransmitter that influences 4. Temporary relief: felt briefly to-day life; in fact,all the World over to www.breastcancercare. those extra eyeshadows, lip have ‘completed’ memory, mood and sleep). when they Health Organisation ranksand OCD org.uk to and find Emotional out more. Several glosses other cosmetics the ‘necessary’ actions. Trauma Upset: in the top ten most disabling brands have released products that I might only dig out Suffering neglect, abuse, Sufferers often come to illnesses to reduce earnings tobullying, fundraise for breast keep thetheir condition, but isolation or a cancer traumatic recognise and quality of life.occasionally. I only life eventNot such a breakit hard to shake the belief research. allas come with a bare minimum in thefind smaller OCD affects people of all ages, up or charity bereavement seems thateverything continuing their behaviours decent donation though, bag, so that I can find genders and backgrounds, to increase vulnerability to I’m will relieve their anxiety or so do check before buying. withininthe 30 seconds I usually typically developing males in developing OCD. prevent harm. tempted by Aveda’s BCA Hand have before rushing out on late adolescence andfree in women Personality: Types of OCD in their twenties.the 12school in every Relief, £20. It’s Certain a lovely product run. Clarins’ new personality traits, such as OCD cases usually fall into four 1,000 people are sufferers and anyway, being rich Supra Volume Mascara, £21.50, perfectionism andinaantioxidants highly broad categories: 50% of these cases are severe, andmethodical very hydrating, and aseem portion has found a well-deserved space approach, to • Checking: e.g. checking meaning their symptoms of sales will help to support amongst my other essentials. make the development of OCD and rechecking that doors occupy more than three hours likely. the more Breast Cancer Research glides onaseasily, without are locked or checking a day. In cases Itclassified Foundation. While many people may exhibit memories clumping, and makes lashes look to make sure moderate, symptoms occupy OCD-type symptoms at times of intrusive thoughts aren’t one to three hours a day, and

LittleAwareness Luxuries Week 9th-15th October OCD

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high stress, the disorder is only clinically diagnosed in people whose symptoms: • Consume over an hour a day. • Cause significant distress. • Interfere with their ability to function in their day-to-day lives. Treating OCD OCD symptoms may wax and wane, worsening in times of stress, but usually the disorder becomes more severe over time if left untreated. Fortunately, most people can gain control over their OCD symptoms with professional help, although it may be several months before there’s a noticeable improvement. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) encourages people to talk through their fears and behaviours and find new, healthier ways of thinking. Through behavioural exercises

including ERP - exposure and response prevention - sufferers are encouraged to face their fears, beginning with those easiest to tackle. They’re supported to let obsessive thoughts run their course without acting to correct or neutralise them with compulsive behaviours. This can be challenging, but over time it can help patients manage and reduce their symptoms or even achieve a complete recovery. For some people, CBT alone may be enough; others will need medication alongside or before CBT to relieve their anxiety, so that they can fully benefit from the therapy. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are medicines that increase your serotonin levels. Frequently used to treat depression, at higher doses they’re often very effective in treating OCD, but usually need to be taken for

12 weeks before any benefit is seen. Patients with moderate or severe OCD may need to remain on medication long-term to stop symptoms recurring. If two courses of SSRI treatment, two courses of CBT and additional medications have proved unsuccessful, patients may be referred to the National Service for Refractory (difficult to treat) OCD. If you’re concerned that you or someone close to you is developing OCD, it’s important to seek help quickly. For support and further information: • OCD-UK: www.ocduk.org/ contact; Email: support@ ocduk.org; Tel: 0845 120 3778 or 0345 120 3778. • OCD Action: www. ocdaction.org.uk; Email: support@ocdaction.org.uk; Tel: 0845 390 6232

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Denham Restuarant FP+ (Oct16).qxp_IN! Tipss Style Editorials (Mar13) 01/10/2016 17:11 Page 1

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WHILST many of you may be aware of the Denham Restaurant & Bar, situated within Denham Garden Village, did you know that this little treasure is actually open to everyone? Peter Pratt, who took over as Food & Beverage Manager in August this year, is keen to spread the word and warmly invites you all to come and see why it’s so popular with the Village residents. Peter, who comes from Wendover, brings with him over 48 years’ experience of running pubs, hotels and hospitality from 3* to 5* establishments, both in the UK and overseas. Over the last few months the restaurant and bar has been newly refurbished, the menus changed, and the opening hours increased. There is also an extended selection of beers, London Pride Cask, Guest Ales and a full range of lagers and ciders. Peter is always looking for customer feedback and this continually defines the choices on offer.

Op e n o day t y r e v e o ne ever y

The Restaurant is open from 10am seven days a week and its new, highly experienced Head Chef provides breakfasts until noon (the mini breakfast is available all day) and lunches until 3pm (8pm on Fridays and Saturdays). The menu is both varied and reasonably priced and there is a daily specials menu which offers additional choices of starters, mains and desserts. There are also themes running throughout the week: Mondays and Tuesdays are Salad Cart Days, Wednesday is Carvery at just £6.95 per head, Thursdays and Saturdays are Specials days and of course there is Fish Friday. The jewel in the Crown is the Sunday Carvery! Served between 12 and 4pm and priced at £9.95 per head (half price for kids up to 14 years), there is a choice of succulent meats, a great selection of vegetables and accompaniments and as is tradition, you can go back for more until you’re full! The bar itself is open from 10am every day until 11pm Monday to Thursday, Midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 10.30pm on Sundays. Keep an eye out on the events board too for the very popular live entertainment every Saturday Night! Why not pop down to Denham Garden Village and give the Denham Restaurant & Bar a try for yourself! Booking is always recommended for the restaurant, particularly on Sundays so please call 01895 856300 to make your reservation. 26

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Golden Years

Memories of 50 Years Ago by Ted Bruning returning from assembly to their classrooms, those assurances proved hollow as 40,000 cubic metres of saturated shale tore down the hillside and smashed into the school. If the mudslide had struck 10 minutes earlier while the pupils were still in the assembly hall, which was undamaged, no-one need have died.

knew nothing of the stream that spoil had been dumped on – even though it was marked on Ordnance Survey maps! The NCB’s own counsel had to advise the inquest jury to disregard Lord Robens’s evidence. Later, the NCB aroused national ire again when it extorted a donation from the Aberfan Disaster Fund towards the cost of removing the remaining spoil-heaps.

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My mother, like most people of her generation, is not much given to public displays of emotion, and one of the very few occasions when she has ever admitted to breaking down in public was on 21st October 1966, when news of the Aberfan mudslide was broadcast.

Aberfan was egregious among disasters not just for the number of dead, 144, but for the proportion of children among the fatalities: 116 or half the children in the village. What made it appalling was that it was not a natural disaster at all. It was man-made. It had been foretold. And the authorities had done nothing to prevent it. Spoil from the Merthyr Vale Colliery had been piling up on the spongy sandstone hillside overlooking the village, near Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, for more than 50 years. In 1963 the local council started warning the National Coal Board that the spoil-heaps were becoming unstable due to the many springs and even a stream underneath them. The NCB responded with bland assurances but at 9.15 on that fateful day, just as the children of Pantglas Junior School were 28

But the timing was only the first of the morning’s cruelties, for worse was to come as hundreds of frantic villagers rushed to the school in a vain attempt to dig the children out. People from neighbouring villages joined in, clogging the narrow roads and obstructing the trained rescue teams deployed to the disaster from local collieries. As a result, hardly any children were dug out alive, and bodies were still being recovered days later. The national sense of shock and grief was profound. Here was a disaster that could have been avoided, but where every circumstance conspired to deepen the tragedy, and where the victims were mostly children. Even the Queen, a young mother herself at the time, was seen to shed tears on her visit eight days after the disaster. And then the National Coal Board, instead of admitting responsibility, started a cover-up. There was national outrage when the head of the NCB, Lord Robens, told the inquest that area officials

One of the consequences of Aberfan was the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, whose most important provision was to make employers solely responsible for ensuring the safety of their workforce. People might have forgotten what made the Act necessary; they might regard it as ridiculous bureaucracy, as yet more red tape. So whenever you hear anyone use the words “health and safety gone mad,” just remind them that a few minutes before they were buried alive those children, mostly aged 7-9, and the teachers who died with them, had been singing All Things Bright And Beautiful.

Happy 50tH BirtHdays to David Cameron (9th); Tony Adams (10th); Luke Perry (11th); Mark Gatiss (17th); Roman Abramovich and Simon Danczuk (24th); Judge Jules (26th) and Ad-Rock (31st).

Cake and botox to you all!

TANDOORI RESTAURANT 

 01895 239503  Website: www.maya-tandoori.com

74 Oxford Road, New Denham Uxbridge, Middx, UB9 4DN

Email: info@maya-tandoori.com

Sunday Buffet

Tuesday Gourmet Night

12 Noon - 10pm (All Day) A variety of freshly prepared vegetarian & non vegetarian dishes

£10.95 (Eat in only)

£7.95 adult £4.50 children under 12

Takeaway Offer

Starter Main Course Side Dish Naan or Rice (any seafood £3.50 extra)

Restaurant Offer

15% Off when you order over £25. Collection only

15% Off when you book a table for 4 or more FOOD ONLY

Bring this voucher with you.

Not to be used in Conjunction with any other offer

Not to be used in Conjunction with any other offer 29

Cake and   Bake 

Chocolate & Orange Battenburg Cake

This cake looks really impressive but it’s easy to make – just two flavoured sponge cakes cut into thin strips and wrapped in marzipan.

Ingredients:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C, 160C fan, Gas 4. Sift the

• • • • • •

2. Divide the mixture equally between 2 bowls and

• • • •

225g self-raising flour 1tsp baking powder 225g caster sugar 225g butter, softened 4 medium eggs, beaten 2tsp finely grated orange zest 1tbsp orange juice 1tbsp cocoa powder blended with 1tbsp hot water 4tbsp apricot jam, warmed and sieved 450g marzipan

Makes 2 Cakes (each serving 8) Ready in 1 hour 10 minutes, plus cooling

TIP

Once made the cakes will keep in an airtight container or wrapped in foil for up to 3 days. 30

flour and baking powder into a large bowl and add the sugar, butter and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer until the mixture is pale, smooth and creamy.

fold the orange rind and juice into one bowl and the blended cocoa powder into the other.

3. Spoon each mixture into separate greased and base-

lined 18cm square shallow cake tins and level the surface. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the cakes are risen and just firm to the touch. Cool for 5 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Trim the edges from each cake then cut each cake

into four even-sized strips. Using a little of the jam, sandwich 2 of the chocolate strips with 2 of the orange flavoured strips to create a chequered effect oblong cake.

5. Roll out half the marzipan on a surface dusted lightly

with icing sugar to an 18 x 30cm rectangle. Brush the top of the assembled cake with a little more jam and press onto the marzipan. Brush the remaining sides of the cake with jam and carefully wrap the marzipan all around the cake. Use your fingertips to crimp along the top edges of the cake. Repeat with the remaining cake strips and marzipan to make a second cake.

Harefield

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ALL MAJOR

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Harefield Village Café has been built on a reputation for excellent food, friendly service and first class hygiene and cleanliness. We are a modern busy café, conveniently located on the high street of Harefield Village. We serve great value set breakfasts all day, lunches and homemade dinners. We also have a variety of kids meals, perfect for the whole family in a friendly warm atmosphere. We can also cater for large orders, parties and special occasions. All our meals are freshly cooked to order using the freshest and finest ingredients.

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Mon - Fri: 7:00 - 17:30 Saturday: 7:00 – 16:30 Sun & B.Hols: 8:00 - 16:30 Village Café 5 High Street Harefield UB9 6BX

Eat In Or Takeaway

31 Visit our website to view our full menu: www.harefieldvillagecafe.co.uk

Compensation Helps Victims Recover  From Stolen Childhoods

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by Malcolm Underhill Partner, personal injury and medical negligence team, IBB Solicitors malcolm.underhill@ibblaw.co.uk Jimmy Saville, Rochdale, Operation Pallial. These names and many more have become familiar to all of us who read the papers, but for the survivors of abuse which took place in children’s care homes, hearing these names can bring back horrific, painful memories which cannot be erased. Victims become shells of the people they could have been; forever scared of making intimate connections with other human beings. Children are our most vulnerable members of society and those who enter care homes need even greater protection, given that approximately 60% are placed in care because of abuse and/or neglect occurring in their home. How do paedophiles and groomers manage to access children, and what is being done to prosecute the guilty and compensate the victims? Child Abuse – An Age Old Problem In 1975 two small boys were playing near a disused sewage tank in Tuam, County Galway. They broke open a concrete slab which appeared to be covering something and discovered a tomb full of tiny skeletons underneath. A local priest said prayers on the site and it was recovered and forgotten, until 2012, when following an investigation, the bodies of nearly 800 little souls who died between 1925 and 1961 were discovered, apparently (as it is yet to be proved) buried in the sewage tank. They had come from a mother and baby home run by Bon Secours nuns. A judicial investigation into the deaths of the children, aged between two days and nine years old is continuing to this day. Many compensation claims for care home abuse date back a number of years because it can take decades for victims to gather the courage to come forward and demand accountability from their abusers. Operation Pallial, the official name of an ongoing investigation into historic abuse claims in North Wales between 1953 and 1995, is believed to be investigating 28 children’s care homes in the area and hundreds of allegations of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

0333 123 9099

enquiries@ibbclaims.co.uk

Easy Access to Children in Care, Schools and Other Institutions Jimmy Saville knew exactly how to manipulate his way into children’s care homes and hospitals. For over five decades he charmed senior staff while systematically sexually abusing vulnerable children in lifts, in hospital corridors and on off-site visits. At Broadmoor, a high-security mental health hospital, he was given keys to supposedly secure wards within weeks of his first visit. Following the Rotherham sexual abuse scandal, where a group of men groomed young women in care and then sexually abused them, calls have been made for the local authority responsible for the Woodview Children’s Home to be investigated after an Ofsted report found the girls were not kept safe and were put at risk of sexual exploitation. Although these high-profile examples capture the media’s attention, in most cases abusers access children in care by simply by gaining employment within the care homes themselves. Unlike today, in the past people who chose to work with children were not subject to vigorous DBS checks and children’s voices and concerns were not so readily listened to. This created an ideal environment for sexual predators to have unlimited access to vulnerable children. Contact us today Monetary compensation can never replace a stolen childhood; however, it can provide victims with a sense of justice and power, so long denied to them. It can also help fund counselling and other abuse survivor programmes to help those affected begin to rebuild their shattered lives. If you have been a victim of child abuse in either a church or local authority run children’s care home our personal injury team, led by Malcolm Underhill, has the expertise and knowledge to advise and represent you. We have successfully recovered compensation for many clients in similar situations and understand the sensitivity and empathy required in such cases. To talk about how we might be able to help, please phone us on 0333 123 9099, email us at enquiries@ibbclaims.co.uk.

Making a compensation claim could be the first step towards seeking justice, and give you or your child the support to cope with the resulting psychological trauma. Call us today for free initial advice to discuss the possibility of claiming compensation.

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   Our family, caring for your family when you need it most... Your Local, Independent Funeral Directors Family owned and run by Denham residents, Suzanne and Lee Hearnden-Smith serving Denham and the surrounding areas.

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Contact: Suzanne Hearnden-Smith

01895 822979 Please mention this advertisement for Denham residents discount Branches:

Denham - Harefield - Hatch End www.hearnden-daughters.co.uk 35

 When It’s Wiser  To Expect The  Worst  by Kate McLelland Since 1974 the number of people aged 65 and over in the UK has almost doubled. Although this is a cause for celebration, bereavement, financial problems and ill health can adversely affect older people’s mental health. Researchers estimate that 22% of men and 28% of women in the 65-plus age group currently suffer from depression. On the 19th October this year, local authorities will come together with health, social care and voluntary sectors to discuss some of the pressing issues that affect our aging population, particularly tackling loneliness and isolation. It’s a complex problem, and a solution may still be some years off. Meanwhile, is there anything we can do as individuals to safeguard our own mental health? We can’t predict what will happen as we grow older, but we can try to look ahead to some of the challenges we may face, however painful that may be. By anticipating the worst that can happen, we can put plans and strategies in place to help us cope if we are faced with life-altering events. Build up a network of friends Julie and Tony Crossley 36

were forced to abandon their retirement plans when Julie was unexpectedly diagnosed with terminal cancer, leaving Tony to face a future on his own.

“I’ve always had a lot of female friends,” confides Julie. “But Tony never really kept up with his mates after we got married.” She fears that without anyone to support him, Tony will become withdrawn and isolated. Julie’s story demonstrates the importance of maintaining ties with the wider community. While nothing can make up for the death of a partner, having a strong, supportive group of friends can help you get your life back on track after a bereavement. Don’t rush to make big decisions Before George Panagopolous retired from his high level, stressful executive job, he had always dreamed about retiring to a place in the sun. Straight after retirement he sold his UK home and moved to France, but soon became bored with his leisurely existence. “I tried to find a job, but my French wasn’t up to scratch,” says George. “I felt trapped and fell into a deep depression.” George had rushed to fulfill

his dream without first taking time to adjust to retirement: “Spending a few months in the UK, doing a part-time job or volunteering, would have helped me slow down and decide what kind of retirement I really wanted.” Forgive and forget Barbara Meaden fell out with her younger sister Carrie over arrangements for a family Christmas party. Although Carrie later offered an apology, Barbara refused to be reconciled. Some years later when Barbara suffered a stroke, she moved closer to her son, but his busy job left little time for her. She admits: “Now I’m less mobile than I was, living in an unfamiliar city and finding it hard to make new friends.” Families can provide a valuable support system, particularly in later life, so if your pride is holding you back from rebuilding family ties, let it go. As we look towards old age, most of us would prefer not to dwell on negative thoughts, but these real-life stories show the importance of thinking and planning ahead. In fact, preparing for the worst could be the first step towards securing a brighter future.

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Iver Village Infant School

Open days

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Wednesday 12th October - 9.30 am Thursday 20th October - 1.30 pm Wednesday 9th November - 9.30 am You and your child will be able to explore and discover life in all parts of our school. Please contact the school for a full tour with the opportunity to talk to the Head teacher, Reception class teachers and pupils. We look forward to offering you a warm welcome.

“Iver Village Infant School is a very well-led and managed school where children achieve well, behave well, are happy and safe.” Ofsted 2015 Iver Village Infant School, Grange Way, Iver, SL0 9NT Tel:01753 655104 www.iver-inf.bucks.sch.uk office@iver-inf.bucks.sch.uk 39

 Motoring 

By James Baggott

Renault Clio dCi 110 Dynamique S Nav

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Previously seen as the teenager that refused to grow up, the Renault Clio celebrates its 25th birthday this year – and with a host of new styling and design cues, could this be the most mature Clio yet? What is it? Originally launched in 2012, this is Renault’s facelifted fourthgeneration Clio. Mechanical upgrade comes with the new 1.5-litre dCi 110 diesel powertrain, previously seen in Nissan’s Qashqai, and the option of a manual transmission coupled with the pre-existing TCe 120 petrol engine. Renault has poured a lot of resources into styling – the exterior includes a new grille, re-profiled bumpers and an LED light signature, while Cshaped daytime running lights can be specified on certain models. Cabin quality has improved significantly, with new upholstery, matt chrome trim and soft-touch materials – no more scratchy plastics to be found here. With 30 different colour combinations, five roof decals, and four exterior customisation packs, the model has been dubbed ‘the most stylish Clio yet’. What’s under the bonnet? The pokey dCi 110 diesel 40

powerplant is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox, providing 108 bhp. 0-60mph takes 11.19 seconds, and top speed is 121mph. The diesel engine can be noisy when the car is at idle or moving slowly, but fades to an indistinct hum at 3,000 revs. The dCi 110 returns an impressive 80.7mpg, while emitting just 90g/km CO2. What’s the spec like? Spec on the £17,755 dCi 110 Dynamique S Nav is extensive, with an updated sound and infotainment system with Bose speakers and the new R-link connectivity system featuring as standard. However, the new diesel engine is only available in this top-level trim, meaning that drivers looking to spend less are left with the option of one of the pre-existing powertrains. The basic spec Clio starts from £10,495, meaning the range includes both affordable and high-end (for the B-segment) options. Any rivals? There are a host of affordable rival superminis including the DS3, Citroen C4 Cactus and Ford’s Fiesta. Drivers wanting a more premium experience can opt for the Audi A1, which the Renault is no match for. What’s it like to drive? This longer and wider Clio, with its sportier appearance and increased cabin space, delivers better handling. The car’s agility and body control is improved, but not enough to make the drive markedly different to its predecessor. The 108bhp engine is powerful

enough and the car accelerates with ease in any gear. The stop/start feature, standard on some models, works well and doesn’t cut out at unfortunate moments - as it does in some of the Clio’s Bsegment competitors. A driver-activated Ecomode, which is standard on the Dynamique Nav model and above, reportedly improves fuel economy by up to 12%. Verdict Renault claims the Clio is more versatile and mature than its predecessor, but with the new diesel powertrain only available in the top-spec model, we feel the carmaker is shoehorning itself into the more upmarket end of the B-segment. The facelift does well to refresh the product and keep it relevant. But with 13 million units sold worldwide since it was launched in 1991, and 12,589 sold in the UK alone between January and June this year, we very much doubt the Clio will be going out of fashion any time soon.

The Knowledge Model: Renault Clio dCi 110 Dynamique S Nav Price: £17,755 Engine: Four cylinder, 1.5 dCi 110 Power: 108bhp 0-60mph: 11.19secs Max speed: 121mph Economy: 80.7mpg Emissions: 90g/km

 Vatican 

City By Solange Hando Most of us know what the Vatican looks like but when you first set eyes on St Peter’s dome at the far end of an avenue festooned in olive trees and obelisks, it simply takes your breath away. Rising to 136 metres, all silvery blue, it holds your gaze and you hardly notice the white line as you cross the border into the Vatican State. Then, suddenly, the view opens up on St Peter’s Square, where broad semi-circular colonnades topped by 140 statues welcome the world with open arms. Claiming just 44 hectares on the west bank of the Tiber and a population of around 800, Vatican City is the world’s smallest state and the only one where men can vote but not women, though some hold a Vatican passport. Created by the Lateran Treaty signed with Italy in 1929, it employs over 2,000 people, among them the Swiss guards who still wear full regalia on special occasions. Traditions are strong but Pope Francis turned down the Papal Palace for a more modest dwelling, while in this ‘Jubilee Year’ millions of pilgrims are expected to pass through the ‘Holy Door’, open only every 25 years. Pilgrims or tourists, the basilica 42

leaves no one untouched with its 186 metre long interior draped in chapels, relics, tombs, statues, medallions and other treasures. One barely knows which way to turn but pride of place goes to the dome soaring above St Peter’s tomb and the papal altar with its canopy of twisted bronze columns sculpted by Bernini in the 17th century. Bernini also designed St Peter’s Square but work had started on the basilica in 1506 on the site of an earlier church. It took around 120 years to complete with plans redesigned along the way by Michelangelo, then aged 72. He didn’t live to see completion but you feel his presence all around, from the magnificent dome and the beautiful marble Pieta - the only work he ever signed, sculpted when he was just 25 - to the illustrious Sistine Chapel. In the late 15th century Pope Sixtus IV began to embellish the chapel, now named after him, commissioning some of the best Renaissance artists to decorate the walls with scenes of the Old and New Testaments. The ceiling was blue with gold stars until 1508, when Julius II ordered Michelangelo to paint the 800 square metres

of vaulted surface. From the Creation to the Fall from Grace and the Last Judgement on the wall, these powerful frescoes send shivers down your spine, restored in their bright original colours and almost threedimensional. Tourists gaze in awe, as no doubt do the red-caped cardinals when they gather in the chapel to elect a new Pope. But to reach the chapel which is part of the Papal Palace, tourists must first pass through the Vatican Museums, where sumptuous galleries display precious items gathered over the centuries, including rare books and ancient manuscripts. There is so much to see that the last ticket is sold two hours before closing time. But after such overwhelming splendour, climbing up to the dome offers plenty of fresh air and unrivalled views: St Peter’s Square at your feet with its obelisk, colonnades and statues, the long avenue leading to the castle of Sant’ Angelo, glowing honeycoloured in the setting sun and beyond the river, Rome, the eternal city, spreading as far as you can see towards the darkening hills.

 PROTECT YOUR  HARD EARNED  ASSETS AND HOME With some simple planning we will ensure that they are fully protected so that your loved ones receive their rightful inheritance. Please consider the following five questions: 1. Have you made a will, if so when was it reviewed? 2. How can I protect my children’s inheritance? 3. How do I protect my home and assets from care costs? 4. How can I preserve my business assets for my family? 5. What if I am unable to manage my affairs?

If you feel you could benefit from a free review of your existing arrangements then please call us on 01895 675631

WELBECK CONSULTANCY Looking after you, your family and generations to follow

T: 01895 675631 F: 01895 638765 E: info@welbeckconsultants.co.uk www.welbeckconsultants.co.uk

  OCD Awareness Week 9th-15th October 

Health

Nowadays, it’s common to hear people jokingly describe themselves or others as “a bit OCD,” but this trivialises a serious and potentially debilitating condition that typically goes undiagnosed for 10-15 years. OCD Awareness Week aims to correct the misconception that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder merely concerns harmless habits or quirks. What Is OCD? OCD sufferers can experience a range of compulsions, obsessional thoughts and repetitive behaviours. These cannot be easily ignored and may seriously affect their dayto-day life; in fact, the World Health Organisation ranks OCD in the top ten most disabling illnesses to reduce earnings and quality of life. OCD affects people of all ages, genders and backgrounds, typically developing in males in late adolescence and in women in their twenties. 12 in every 1,000 people are sufferers and 50% of these cases are severe, meaning their symptoms occupy more than three hours a day. In cases classified as moderate, symptoms occupy one to three hours a day, and 44

By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

in mild cases, less than an hour a day. OCD typically follows a fourstep cycle: 1. Obsession: unwelcome, intrusive thoughts, images or impulses occur repeatedly. 2. Anxiety: caused by the distressing nature of the obsession. A sufferer may develop paranoia or a feeling of over-responsibility, believing that they or their loved ones are in danger from something which, in reality, is harmless - or that their actions can prevent or cause an unrelated, harmful incident. 3. Compulsion: behaviours or thoughts that sufferers are compelled to repeat as a result of the anxiety – often not realistically connected with their obsession or fear. 4. Temporary relief: felt briefly when they have ‘completed’ the ‘necessary’ actions. Sufferers often come to recognise their condition, but find it hard to shake the belief that continuing their behaviours will relieve their anxiety or prevent harm. Types of OCD OCD cases usually fall into four broad categories: • Checking: e.g. checking and rechecking that doors are locked or checking memories to make sure intrusive thoughts aren’t

real. Contamination / Mental Contamination: a fear of germs or a fear of verbal abuse, which makes sufferers feel dirty or unworthy. • Hoarding unnecessary items or excessive quantities of useful items. • Ruminations (prolonged, time-consuming thinking on a harmless topic) or Intrusive Thoughts (disturbing and repetitive in nature, e.g. a fear of acting violently). What Causes OCD? Genetics: OCD seems to run in some families, so there may be a genetic link - although no specific genes have been identified as yet and some experts think ‘learned behaviour’ may be responsible instead. Brain differences: In some sufferers, imaging has shown increased activity and blood flow in parts of the brain that handle emotional response, and a lack of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that influences memory, mood and sleep). Trauma and Emotional Upset: Suffering neglect, abuse, bullying, isolation or a traumatic life event such as a breakup or bereavement seems to increase vulnerability to developing OCD. Personality: Certain personality traits, such as perfectionism and a highly methodical approach, seem to make the development of OCD more likely. While many people may exhibit OCD-type symptoms at times of •

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12 weeks before any benefit is seen. Patients with moderate or severe OCD may need to remain on medication long-term to stop symptoms recurring. If two courses of SSRI treatment, two courses of CBT and additional medications have proved unsuccessful, patients may be referred to the National Service for Refractory (difficult to treat) OCD. If you’re concerned that you or someone close to you is developing OCD, it’s important to seek help quickly. For support and further information: • OCD-UK: www.ocduk.org/ contact; Email: support@ ocduk.org; Tel: 0845 120 3778 or 0345 120 3778. • OCD Action: www. ocdaction.org.uk; Email: support@ocdaction.org.uk; Tel: 0845 390 6232

Dale & Sons Funeral Directors Independent Family Owned Funeral Directors & Monumental Masons We provide an individual service, tailoring every funeral to the personal needs and requirements of the family. Instalment plans and low cost funerals available. After care service and bereavement counselling if required.

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• Sympathetic, discreet and efficient service, competitively priced • Highly trained staff providing excellent level of personal service • Private chapel of rest • Pre-paid funeral plans As part of the Denham community we are still collecting charity items for Michael Sobell Hospice and are holding regular coffee mornings.

01895 832220 (24hr) 22 Penn Drive, Denham, UB9 5JP

Serving Denham, Harefield, Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Ruislip, Northwood, Rickmansworth, Bakers Wood, Chalfont, Maple Cross and Gerrards Cross 45

Home & Interiors  Art Deco Style By Katherine Sorrell 

DecaDent Deco the luxe looks of art Deco never go out of fashion – and, according to a recent survey by olympia’s art & antiques Fair, it’s the nation’s favourite design style. We take a look at the history of this glamorous, good-looking movement. The Roaring Twenties saw the jazz age in full swing from London to Berlin and Paris to Chicago. Just think flappers, slick automobiles, the talkies and skyscrapers: it was all about glamour, drama and modernity. Consumerism had arrived, and the timing was just right for a brand new style. Also known as Art Moderne, Jazz Moderne or simply Deco, Art Deco style was rooted in the world of pre-First World War leading French design, but only became widely recognised after the 1925 Paris 46

Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, an exhibition which aimed to modernise French interior design. As they moved into a new era, French designers were combining classical features and rare, luxury materials with exciting new influences such as contemporary art (Cubism and Fauvism), the exotic Ballets Russes and a fascination with all things Egyptian, as well as the art and artefacts of Japan, Africa, native America, Mexico and the Middle East. The result? An irresistible new style that perfectly expressed the excitement of the changing times. Early Art Deco furniture was exclusive and luxurious, made from costly materials such as hardwoods, lacquer, mother of pearl, shark skin, tortoiseshell and leather, and frequently featured extravagant

veneering and inlaid decoration. For collectors, then, this period is highly desirable and correspondingly expensive. However, as the style spread around Europe and became hugely popular across the Atlantic, designers gave the look a twist, employing the latest technologies and less expensive materials, such as stainless steel, chrome and Bakelite plastic. In the States it became known as Streamlining, and its curvy lines were the must-have look for a host of new buildings from Miami to New York – one of the finest examples being the 102storey Empire State Building, completed in 1931. In terms of furniture, the Art Deco look was low and upright in design, featuring geometric outlines with rounded corners, and often the shell, fan or sunburst shapes that are key to this style. Two completely new pieces had recently been invented: the coffee table and the cocktail cabinet, the latter something that has become inextricably associated with the style. Functional and spacesaving, fitted kitchens became increasingly widespread, while the Art Deco bathroom (still a relatively new room in most homes) featured solid yet elegant shapes and glamorous looks, with plenty of chrome and bevelled-edge mirror. To decorate walls, botanicals or geometrics were frequent motifs, while upmarket homes might have lacquer or wood panelling, mirror tiles or even

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trompe l’oeil murals. And this was the era of fabulous parquet flooring, perhaps with the addition of a zebra skin or a boldly abstract rug (today’s fashionable chevrons are a descendant). Soft furnishings were, in high-end interiors at least, sumptuous and costly, with silk and velvet (tasselled and fringed, of course) especially desirable. However, as the look filtered down it was cotton, chenille and moquette that gained in popularity, often featuring graphic patterns in bold colours or the monochrome of black, white and grey. Everything was bathed in a new form of artificial light – electricity – and the widespread use of new-fangled electric fittings meant that designers paid increasing attention to their appearance. Often strikingly dramatic, they were made from

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As time went on, and Art Deco design was more widely disseminated, it became less sophisticated and more mass-produced. Those initial qualities of opulence and luxury

    Registered Charity No: 263515

Nelson

Eugenie & Patch

 Strange times at the RSPCA Hillingdon shelter this week when a PINK chicken was delivered! The bird had been abandoned and was rescued by an RSPCA Inspector. Everyone gathered round, ex cited to see this rare bird, as one of the shelter’s guests educated the team all about this special breed which has pink feathers; that is, until it started to rain, and the pinkyred dye washed out over everyone’s hands! We still don’t know why or how the chicken had turned pink, but the chicken is otherwise healthy, now back to a normal colour, and off to a happy home. In other news we still have a lot of adult cats need ing homes, so if you or someone you know is think ing of getting a cat, please please think about res cuing one of our marvellous moggies. Adoption Application Forms can be downloaded from our website, www.rspcahillingdonclinic.org.uk, or picked up from our Clinic in Hillingdon. With ‘Black Cat Day’ coming up next month, you could have your own black cat moved in between now and then – we have several waiting to meet you (and we think they are all due a bit of good luck). We also have quite a few small furries at the moment – check out our website or our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/RSPCAHillingdon) to see pictures of our guinea pigs, rabbits and chinchillas.

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these two are now looking for a home together. Eugenie is a quiet cat who enjoys a fuss and her home comforts. Patch is still a little timid, so needs someone prepared to offer lots of TLC and the time to grow in confidence. This delightful duo are ide ally looking for a quiet home without any other animals or children. If you can offer Eugenie and Patch that special home, please get in touch.

 Nelson is a very handsome chap who came to us as a stray. His tail had been recently amputated but sadly he wasn't microchipped so we've been un able to locate his owner. He is a big boy with lots of character, who can be quite vocal. He does enjoy a tickle under the chin. Being longhaired, Nelson will need regular grooming to keep his coat in good condition. If you could offer Nelson a fresh start and lots of love, please get in touch. Thank you for your support . We can’t do it with out you! *We have an Amazon Wish List*

If you think you can offer one of our animals a lov ing home then please ring RSPCA Hillingdon Eugenie (female, 1 year old white/tortie) and her Branch on   or visit our website three kittens were signed over to us from a house  to download hold with too many cats to cope with. This lovely an application form. mum has developed a particularly strong bond with her tortie daughter Patch (female, 13 weeks) so

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We help people in their later years to enjoy the life they always have. Whatever you want to know about elderly care, please come and talk to us. Our home will be open in June this year when you can view our facilities, sample our bar & bistro and ask any questions you might have about the home and your care requirements. Whether it’s for you or a friend or relative, we look forward to seeing you soon. Our innovative care concept includes: Chauffeur-driven car | Cinema room | Bistro & Bar | Private dining | Hair Salon and Spa | Library All-inclusive pricing | Creative events | 50% higher staffing than average Paying above the living wage

 Short Story Can’t Escape the Grave

“This must be it,” Rachel said, as the car tyres crunched across the gravel drive, “the owner said it was the house after the churchyard.”

“Looks like he’s been having a good explore,” Rachel said. “Look at his trail.”

“It’s not what I was expecting.” Ian applied the handbrake.

A wet silvery track laced across the floor, looping across itself.

Rachel unclipped her seat belt. “It looks like a gingerbread cottage after someone has taken a few bites out of it.”

“It looks a bit like writing,” Ian said.

“I’m sure it will be fine for a couple of nights,” Ian said. “The key is under a stone by the porch.”

“It is writing.” Rachel’s words sent an even deeper chill through Ian. What looked at first like random curls took shape into neat and precise joined up handwriting.

A fierce wind rattled through the churchyard as they let themselves in. Rachel shivered in the little sitting room as Ian put down their suitcase. “We should light a fire,” he said, “before we both freeze to death.” The owner had left a net of logs by the empty hearth, but Ian wondered whether they would be enough to warm up this damp building. “I don’t suppose there are any matches anywhere?” “On the mantelpiece,” Rachel said reaching for them. “Urgh, look at the size of that thing.” Ian glanced down. A huge brown slug was stretched across the stone floor in front of the hearth. “That is a big boy,” he exclaimed. “I suppose you have to expect that in these old properties. He probably came in on the logs.” 52

Both of them stepped back and looked again.

“Read it out loud,” she said, a tremble in her voice. “It says ‘Can’t escape the grave’,” Ian read, wishing for all the world that it could have said something different. “There’s a comma between ‘escape’ and ‘the’,” Rachel said. “What could that mean?” “Perhaps the slug needs to work on its grammar.” Ian wanted to laugh, but a sudden blast of wind sent a flurry of dried leaves through the open door, and instead he gave a guttural yelp. Rachel grabbed his arm. “Do you think it’s something to do with the graveyard?” she asked with wide eyes. “I honestly don’t know what it means,” he said, taking another step back. “It feels like a threat.” Rachel searched his face for sign of

agreement. “We should leave.” “But it’s a slug,” Ian said, unable to make sense of it, “it’s just the opinion of one slug.” “How many slugs does it take?” Her voice began to rise in panic. “I’m not staying here, you can’t make me.”

“But it’s just a dumb slug.” Ian shook his head, bewildered. “Why should it be threatening us?” “I don’t know,” Rachel sobbed, “but it is.” “But we’ve paid for the cottage,” Ian said. Then knew he’d said the wrong thing. “So what?” Rachel sobbed. “This slug implies we’ll be paying for it with our lives.” “I’ll take you home,” he said, trying to restore calm. “We’ll just lock up and go. It’s fine.” One last blast of wind howled through the cottage as they slammed the front door shut. With spinning tyres, they crunched a swathe through the drive as they sped away, back into the night. The slug found itself once again enveloped in darkness. It had failed this time, but it had a job to do, so it continued. By midnight it had finished its full message, which read, in beautiful silvery cursive: “Can’t escape, the gravel drive is a nightmare for gastropods.” By Jackie Brewster

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

What Benefits And Concessions Are You  Entitled To In Later Life?

  element, Savings Credit, is for people who have saved a small amount towards their retirement.

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off standard fares in the UK if you are over 60. PrescriPtions Those aged over 60 are also entitled to free prescriptions and NHS sight tests. You will need to complete the back of your prescription and let the pharmacist know that you’re eligible – you may also need to provide proof of age in this respect. locAl Authority fAcilities Some local authorities provide free or discounted access for older people to their leisure and educational facilities. You may find that your local sports and leisure centre offers concessions to people over state pension age, for fitness classes and swim sessions. Additionally, some colleges provide discounts on daytime

and evening classes for retired people of state pension age and older. The government website (www. gov.uk) is a good resource for finding out more about these benefits, and you may be able to make a claim for them online. https://www.gov.uk/pensioncredit https://www.gov.uk/attendanceallowance https://www.gov.uk/carersallowance https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuelpayment/overview https://www.gov.uk/coldweather-payment https://www.gov.uk/freediscount-tv-licence https://www.gov.uk/apply-forelderly-person-bus-pass http://www.nationalexpress. com/offers/coachcards/seniorcoachcard.aspx

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Tools Of The Trade by Pippa Greenwood

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With the arrival of autumn, there is plenty of maintenance work needed in the garden. Using the right equipment will ensure that jobs are completed as easily and quickly as possible. It really is worth buying as good a quality garden tool as you can afford. Poorly made and badly designed tools can work out a lot more expensive (and frustrating!) in the long run, so start with a few good ones and build up gradually. A good quality fork and spade are essential and they need to be sturdily built. The neck and head of the spade should be moulded from one piece of metal for added strength. The shaft is usually constructed from wood or metal and you should make sure that it is firmly attached at both the head end and the handle. Ensure the metal parts have been treated to prevent rust. A hand fork and trowel are essential for smaller jobs such as weeding or gardening in confined spaces, and they are also great for moving and dividing smaller plants, for planting bulbs and for mixing up small amounts of compost. It is definitely worth feeling the handle to ensure that that the 58

grip is comfortable.

Next decision: stainless steel or coated steel? Stainless steel does not rust and many people find they move through the soil better, but they are pricey. Coated steel tools are much cheaper and provided you keep them clean and oil them periodically and at the end of each season, they last well.

You will need a hoe for weeding between small plants and for aerating the surface of the soil. Sharpen your hoe regularly and it will last for ages and slide rapidly and easily through the soil. Most hoes have a 1.5 metre (5 foot) shaft but if you are very tall, then longer ones are available from some manufacturers. My favourite is the SpeedHoe, UK designed and with an unusual almost heart-shaped head with a blade running around all edges and a pronged rear, making it the easiest and most effective hoe I’ve ever used. A spring-tined rake is really useful because it has thin flexible wire tines which make it perfect for raking up lightweight debris and fallen leaves or, of course, lawnmower clippings. Although a garden rake can

also be used to rake up leaves, its main purpose is to break up lumps of soil and help you to create a fine level area for sowing seed, whilst at the same time removing stones, lumps and other debris. If you plan to grow vegetables, then a small hoe known as an onion hoe is an invaluable tool and allows you weed between fairly closely spaced crops. For really tight spaces and weeding between paving, I’m addicted to my SpeedWeeder, a small red-handled tool l which is the best I have used for hoiking out dandelion roots in one piece too! Finally, if the tools carry a guarantee then make sure that you keep the receipt and any relevant label from the tool itself or else it may well be difficult to prove precisely when and where you bought it. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com to book Pippa for a gardening talk or peruse Pippa’s favourite gardening items including Nemaslug to control slugs, pop-up crop covers, SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, pull-out EasyTunnels, biocontrols, signed books and lots more.

DENHAM What's On... Apr16.qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2016 16:39 Page 1

regular events... events at Harefield Community Centre, Priory avenue, uB9 6aP MOn Cameo Club (3rd Mon month) 10am-12pm; Indoor Bowls (Short Mat) 2pm-5pm; Harefield Wine Club (2nd Mon in the month) 7.45-9.30pm; Judo (Seniors not 2nd Mon in month) 810pm. tues Line Dancing 10.45am1.15pm; Bingo 7.45pm - 10.30pm. WeD Fitness, Fun & Dance 10.30am12.00pm; Singing for Fun (1st Wed in month) 1-2.30pm; Judo Club 6.307.45pm; Dancing Club 8.15pm10.30pm. tHurs Happy Families Group 9.45-11.45am; Tea Dances 24pm; Whist 7.30-10pm; Ladies Club (2nd Thur in month) 8-10pm. FrI Line Dancing 10.30-12.45pm; Indoor Bowls (Short Mat) 2-5pm. All enquiries to Lynne Mogge 01895 824621 or e: hare fieldcommunitycentre@btconnect.com

Denham History society Meets 2nd Tues of the month, 7.30pm St. Marks Hall, Denham Green. Call 01895 833989 Pamela@craftygiraffe.co.uk Hillingdon Decorative & Fine arts society Enjoy 10 expert lectures a year about art and culture from around Britain. Outings to galleries & places of cultural interest. Receive NADFAS Review, Interested? Come along to a lecture, cost £6. See www.hillingdondfas.co.uk, email: membership@hillingdonfas.co.uk or call Ann Lowe 01895 638147

Memorial Hall. Call Sandra 07867470240 Lisa 07533549072 E: lisa.sandra.fitness@gmail.com Fitsteps Cha Cha, Waltz, Quickstep or Jive at Denham Memorial Hall. Mondays 7pm and Wednesdays 10am. Call 07834 197745. info@limelightdancing.co.uk general Yoga Class Higher Denham Community Hall, Lower Road, Higher Denham, UB9 5EA. Wed 7.30-9pm. Thu 9.45-11.15am with BWY certified teacher tel: 01895 820267

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Beginners rock ‘n’roll Jive Classes Every Monday at Harefield Cricket Club, UB9 6NE. Doors open 7.30pm, class 8pm. Fun & friendly, no experience or partner required. 1950s Rock n Roll record hop - 1st Friday of every month at St Mary's Church Hall, Harefield, UB9 6BX. 7.30pm-11.30pm.Call 07947 106607 the rockingrebels@gmail.com www.facebook.com/therockingrebels

HOBBIes... art Classes Drawing, pastels, oil & watercolour at New Denham Community Centre Autumn, Spring & Winter Terms Tue 1-3.30pm, Wed 12.45-3.15pm and 7.30-9.30pm. Call Tony 0207 243 3787 art smart Weekly Art Classes at Denham Village Hall. Drawing and Painting for beginn-ers and Improvers Thursdays 1.30-3.30pm. Tutor Roz Smith call 01494 670372 Chinese Brush Painting group Meets on Saturday mornings. The class is guided by an experienced tutor so no experience required! You will learn how to develop your own style as well as practicing Chinese calligraphy. Find us at Harefield Library, Park Lane Village Centre, Harefield or call Phyllis Nash on 01895 476 644 / phyllnash@gmail.com Crosier Investment Club Improve personal investment skills. Meets 7.30pm, third Thursday in month at Pinner Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AA. Call 0208 427 3559, e: secretary@crosierinvestment.org.uk w: www.crosierinvestment.org.uk

Hillingdon natural History society Meets 1st Wed of the month, Scout HQ, Gatting Way, Uxbridge. enquiries@ hillingdon-naturalhistory society.org.uk

Inland Waterways associations Meets 2nd Tues of every month at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX, 7.30pm. middlesex.social@waterways.org.uk

uxbridge Craft Market Every Wednesday (9am-5pm) at The Pavilions Shopping Centre Arts, Crafts, www.uxbridge-craft-market.co.uk

keeP-FIt, DanCe & DraMa... aerobics Denham Village Memorial Hall. Every Mon and Wed 4.30-5.30pm Call Jean Nisbet 01895 832063 Boot Camp Fun and friendly exercise class held at a private location in Gerrards Cross. Every Mon, Tues, Fri 9.15-10am. Qualified Personal Trainer and Level 3 Contact Julie on 07769 311789 or visit: www.juliegxfit.com Bootcamp Circuit for adults (Mixed) Wednesdays, 7-8.15pm Denham Village Memorial Hall. Tel: Jayne 07968 361965 Dance, gymnastics and Free running Classes By Futunity Uk. Ages 2-adults catered for and all styles of dance from RAD ballet to Zumba. Full class listings at www.futunityuk.com. Call 01895 251224 or email admin@futunityuk.com Fitness league Tone & stretch exercises for the whole body, with dance routines to music for women of all fitness levels. Tue 7.308.30pm at Vyners School, Warren Road, Ickenham, UB10 8AB. Call Rosemary 01628 776838 before coming. www.thefitnessleague.com Fitness Yoga Improve flexibility, strength and balance. Monday 6-7pm at Denham Village

Harefield amateur Drama society Tuesday, 8-10pm. Park Lane Village Centre, Park Lane, Harefield. Call Tony on 01895 820672

Jazzercise Classes New Denham Community Centre Mon 9.30-10.30am, Tues 6.45-7.45pm. Wed & Fri 10-11am, Thurs 10-11am. Denham Village Memorial Hall Village Rd, Denham, Bucks Thurs 6.30-7.30pm Wendy Whitefoord, Tel: 07803 602142 e: wendy.whitefoord@btinternet.com www.jazzercise.com ladies Only kickboxing Club Wed 6.30-8.00pm, Watts Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. First Class FREE! Call Leanne Phillips on 07518 848285 e:leanne@kickboxinglondon. co.uk. www.kickboxing-london.co.uk line Dancing At Higher Denham Community Centre, Off Old Rectory Lane, Higher Denham. Mon 7-10.15pm, starts with beginners, then onto improvers and finally from 9-10.15pm, Intermediates. Contact Christina on 07952 815076, email : c.capel477@btinternet.com, website wwww.chalfontlinedanceclub.co.uk or Facebook ‘chalfontlinedanceclub’ Modern Jive Classes (Ceroc) Mon 8-11pm, Yiewsley & West Drayton Community Centre and Tue & Thu 811pm, Uxbridge Civic Centre. First Night Entry & Free Lifetime membership with this listing. Call Alan: 0208 933 4350 or 07860 250961 www.clubceroc.com email: alanandsue@clubceroc.com noBiz Dance Local Musical Theatre school (based in Hillingdon ) classes in all genres of dance (Street dance, Hip Hop, Rhythm Tap, Lyrical, Singing, Drama & Musical Theatre) for children aged 4-22 years. Adult Street Dance Class for more call: Giselle 07525 857171 or Lisa 07777 611012. www.nobizlikeshowbiz.co.uk. continued overleaf...

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KEEP-FIT, DANCE & DRAMA CONTINUED... Pink Academy of DANCE Classes held daily at New Denham Community Centre. For boys & girls from 2 years to Adults. Call 01895 257553 Admin@pinkacademy. co.uk www.pinkacademy.co.uk or call

Social Line Dancing At St Marys Church Hall, Harefield Last Sat of the month 7.30-10.30pm Tia Chi Chuan An ancient art which combines deep breathing, aligned posture and relaxation with gentle movements. It can help with mental and physical stress, improve general health. Beginners welcome. Tues 8-9.30pm at Yeading Community Centre, Ditchfield Rd, Yeading, Hayes UB4 9BH. Contact David 0751 4998 674, david@ zhong-ding.com / www.zhong-ding.com

Faraday Country Music Club in Slough SL2 1RN. Country music every Thurs for listeners, western partners, freestyle, line dancers. 8-11pm. 07986 050742 or see www.faradaycountry.co.uk

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Rockin' 8s Square Dancing Modern American style - every Thurs 8.15pm. New Denham & Willowbank Community Centre, Oxford Road, New Denham. UB9 4DW. Call Jean 01895 622859 or paul@stingproductions.com

Run & Fitness Session Every Friday at Tatling End Play Area, Hollybush Lane, Tatling End UB9 4HH. Meet at 9am for 9.15am - 45 minute workout to improve your Running, Fitness, Cardio, Legs and wellbeing. £5. Come and join Carmel and Steph and ‘feel the burn’ Small friendly group. All levels welcome especially beginners. For details call Carmel 07956 295511. SALSA (all styles) Every Monday at Uxbridge Community Centre, 32b The Greenway, Uxbridge UB8 2PJ from 7.45pm to 10pm. Come and join Mina Queen Salsa for some amazing fun. Call 07958 578962 or email mina@queensalsa.com

Salsa Classes Every Monday: The Middlesex Arms, Long Drive, South Ruislip, HA4 0HG. Beginners class starts 8pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.45-9.30pm Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm Every Wednesday: The WatersEdge, Canal Cottages, Packetboat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. Beginners class starts 7:30pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.30-9.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm Simply Walk Langley & Black Parks Every Monday Langley Park, 10am Thursday Black Park, 10am. Second Sunday of month Langley Park at 11am. See www.friendsoflangleypark.co.uk Social Dancing Ballroom Latin & Sequence Harefield Community Centre, Priory Avenue, Harefield. Every Wed, 8pm. Beginners welcome. Call 01895 634674 Simply Walk in Denham First Sunday of every month. Denham Village Green 10.45am for 11am start. Approx. 90 minute walk, 2.5-3miles. Led by trained volunteers as part of a healthy walk scheme funded by Bucks County Council, local District Councils and Bucks PCT. For details of other walks call 01494 475367 or see www.buckscc.gov.uk/rightsofway

Tea Dance Harefield Community Centre, Priory Ave on Thurs 2-4pm. All welcome. Free car parking. Call John 01895 284428

Uxbridge Musical Theatre Ruislip Conservative Club, 56-58, Ickenham Road, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 7DQ. Tuesday 8-10pm. Call Phil Harrison 01895 636367 E mail@umtheatre.co.uk or see www.umtheatre.co.uk Yoga Class A holistic approach to exercise for the mind and body, suitable for beginners Mons 2.30-3.30pm at New Denham Community Centre Oxford Rd UB9 4DW. Fri's 11.30am-12.30pm at St Marks Church Hall Grenn Tiles Lane Denham UB9 5HT £2 per session 1st session FREE! info: Leon 01895 837334 leon.popplewell@gll.org Zumba Fitness Every Wednesday 8-9pm at New Denham Community Hall, Oxford Road, UB9 4DW. Call Martine 07788 563572 www.zumbadolls.co.uk Zumba Fitness with Danielle Every Monday 7-8pm at Harefield Baptist Church. Call Danielle 07989 128131. www.zumba-class.co.uk Zumba Gold For Older Active Adults. Every Friday 11am at Higher Denham Community Hall, Lower Road, Higher Denham, UB9 5EA. Call Martine 07788 563572 www.zumbadolls.co.uk Zumba with Ruddy Thurs 7-8pm, St Marks Hall Denham Green UB9 5HD and Sats 9.30-10.30am at Harefield Academy Northwood Way UB9 6ET. Call Ruddy 07901 828051

MUSIC... Drumbeatz Drum tuition for beginners by Melanie Kleyn, qualified HND, now on degree at ACM. Kids 8yrs+, ladies, 3.15-5.30pm or daytime only. Call 07757 635880 Email: drumsmel@gmail.com or text

Learn to Play in a Rock Band At a professional recording studio taught by expert musicians. Open to 7-18 year olds, we teach guitar, bass, drums and vocals in small groups and as a band. Sessions will run after school at R'n'R Studios, Uxbridge starting October. Contact Conor for details on 07946 402797 or email wlsr.uxb@gmail.com

Little Roars Music Classes for children aged 0-5 years. Wednesday, 10am at St Marks Church Hall, Green Tile Lane, Denham, UB9 5HT. FREE trial class. Block bookings £5 per child, siblings half price. Call Charlotte Lion 07825738414 or e: charlotte@littleroarsmusic.com Music Lessons at Little Halings Studio Piano and French Horn lessons with experienced, friendly young female teacher, Victoria Coghlan. At Little Halings Studios in Denham. All welcome. Guitar tuition is also available. Call: 07737 493980 (Victoria) E: victocoghlan@gmail.com Penny Lane Singing Lessons Monday singing classes 4-5.30pm 7yrs-12yrs and 5.30-7pm 12yrs-18yrs at Harefield Library, Park Lane, Harefield, UB9 6HW. www.pennylanesinging.com or call 07951 294044. Rickmansworth & District Ukulele Club Our friendly group welcome all players and singers, all levels, all ages. Meet second Wednesday every month, 6.30 for 7.00 at 'The Fox and Hounds', 183 High Street, Rickmansworth (free parking behind).Tel Dave 01895 823404.

Stoke Poges Singers A friendly four-part choir singing a wide variety of music. New members welcome (no auditions. The ability to read music is not essential. Rehearsals on Thursday at St Andrews Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges, 7.45pm. Come along or call Naomi on 07831 217575 or Anthea on 01753 662355 The Windsor & District Big Bands Appreciation Society We meet on 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm, Datchet Hall, Horton Road, Datchet. Music of the big bands ‘40s & ‘50s Swing era. Two recitals from records, tapes & CDS, along with a raffle and sometimes there's even a live band. Call Derek Verrier on 01753 654398 continued overleaf...

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PRE-SCHOOL & KIDS GROUPS CONTINUED...

Tiny Toes Childcare Full Day Care Nursery. Call 01753 655650 or tinytoes@ivercommunity.org

Yiewsley & West Drayton Training Band Open to all ages wanting to learn to play a brass instrument or 'brush up' your skills. Every Wed during term time 6.45-7.45pm, St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. Contact Abi on 07985 302 856 or emailtraining@ywdband.com

Activities for families with children Children aged 0-5 years offered at The Denham and Gerrards Cross Children’s Centre, Nightingale Way, Denham, Bucks. UB9 5JL. Call 01895 835967

2370 (Denham) Squadron Air Training Corps ATC HQ, Tilehouse Lane, Denham Aerodrome Denham, Bucks, UB9 5DN. Mon and Thurs 7.30-9.30pm. Recruiting 13-17 year old males and females. Call 01895 834522 (Mon & Thu only)

Karate Club of Denham For ages 5 years and up at New Denham Community Centre, Sundays 9.15-11am also at The Uxbridge Centre, The Greenway Wed, 5pm-7pm Tel: Dominic 07988 743725

2nd Denham Scout Group Scout Hut, The Pyghtle, Denham Green Close, Denham Green Beavers Age 6-8 Thu 5.45-7pm. Cubs Age 8-10 Wed 6.30-7.45pm Scouts Age 10-15 Friday 7-9pm Tel: Linda Batten 01753 892373 Denham & Gerrards Cross Children’s Centre Tilehouse School, Nightingale Way, Denham, UB9 5JL. Free sessions for under 5’s. Messy Play and Stay & Play sessions. Call 01895 835967. Denham Girlguides 1st Denham Rainbows (age 5-7) 4th Denham Brownies (age 7-10) 4th Denham Guides (age 10-14) For more details on meeting times visit www.gxanddenham.cfsites.org Denham Youth Club (ages 8-11 years) Higher Denham Community Hall, Lower Road, Uxbridge UB9 5EA. Thursday 6.15pm to 7.45pm. Call 01895 834313. Slough Sea Cadets Parade nights on Monday and Thursday 7.30-9.30pm at Langley Pavillion, Langley Road, Slough, SL3 8BS. Male & Female Junior Cadets (age 10-12 yrs) and Cadets (age 12-18 yrs). Fees £2 per week, courses from £5 for weekend. Visit us on Facebook, pop-in or email: sloughseacadets@yahoo.co.uk Tiny Talk Baby Signing Classes Tuesday classes at St Mary’s Church Hall, High Street, Harefield UB9 6BX at 10am, price £5.00 pre-paid per family. Thursday classes at St Giles' Church Hall, 1 High Road, Ickenham UB10 8LE, 10am, 11.15am and 1pm, price £5.00 pre-paid per family Friday classes at The Uxbridge Centre, The Greenway, Uxbridge UB8 2PJ, 10.30am, price £5.00 pre-paid per family. Call Bev Meier 01895 824935 or 0781 8025993

SELF DEFENCE...

Kung Fu Club West Drayton Every Tuesday 5.30-6.30, Friday 7.308.30, Sunday 5.30-6.30. West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Road, UB7 9JL. Contact Ella: 07702 479 435 or sportsclubuk@gmail.com Silat Kuntao Indonesian Self-Defence Traditional self-defence art from Central Java. Adult classes only. Mon and Wed 8pm-10pm at Denham Village Memorial Hall, Denham, UB9 5BN. Call Philip Davies 07790 496 346

SELF HELP & SUPPORT... Hillingdon Brain Tumour Group Support group held every 2nd Thurs of the month 12.30-2.30pm, Hillingdon Baptist Church, Hercies Rd, Hillingdon, UB10 9LS. Call 01895 637444. Slimming World New Denham Community Centre Tuesday, 10-11.30am. To register turn up at 10am, call Mandy 07879 897578

SOCIAL GROUPS...

Inspirations Spiritualist Group Spiritualist group for like-minded people. Weekly services with a guest Medium every Thursday at The Walter Pomeroy Hall, Royal Lane, Hillingdon, UB8 3QY. 7.15pm for 7.45pm start. Admission £5 Concessions £4.50 Accompanied Children u16 - FREE. Enqs: 07968 039426 or 0208 841 4901. Slough Plus Meet at the Tower Arms in Iver, 4th Wednesday of the month, with weekly events and weekends away. All ages 20's-60's. Visit sloughplus.weebly.com

Stoke Poges Bridge Club meet at St Andrew’s Church Hall in Rogers Lane, SL2 4LN on Monday from 1.30-5.30pm for players who want to improve their game. Call 01753 642 438 www.stokepogesbridgeclub.org.uk Veterans Breakfast Club runs to help Armed Forces Veterans in West London and surrounding areas for the purpose of Comrades (old & new) from all Services to get together on the last Saturday of the month at the Good Yarn Public House, Uxbridge High Street, UB8 1JX from 09:30-11:30hrs. Contact: Lorraine Reed 07976 398533, lorraineareed@gmail.com or (exRAF) Iain Henderson, Iain115@aol.com. Women’s Social Group Social group for women. We meet regularly for coffee, a chat - open women of all ages. Please call Seema on 07730 898635 or email seemaa@seemaa.co.uk

SPORT... Denham Cricket Club Playing or social members welcome. Way & Tillard Memorial Cricket Ground, off Cheapside Lane, Denham Village. Tel: Bill Nicholas 01895 834527

Colne Valley Park Conservation Volunteers Every second weekend of the month. Hands on help to protect the wildlife and landscape of the regional park. For more details contact Steve Ord steven.ord@groundwork.org.uk or call 07718 043080. Denham Lions 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, 8pm at Denham Garden Village, Denham Green. 18+. info@denhamlions.org.uk Denham Wives Group Last Tuesday of each month at St. Mark’s Hall Denham Green 7.15pm. Contact Ann Collins 01895 833820 or acollins683@uwclub.net

Denham Village Table Tennis Club runs at the Memorial Hall every Tuesday. Junior coaching 5.30pm. £40 per term. Adults 7.30pm. We enter teams of varying standards in the local league. Contact Richard Cottle on 01895 835292.

Friendly Whist Drive Harefield Community Centre, Priory Avenue, Harefield. Every Thurs 7.30pm. Beginners welcome. Contact Lyn on 01923 820173

Harefield Archers Meets every Tues 7.30-9pm at Harefield Academy, Archery Beginners Courses run twice a year. Contact: Andy Harding secretary@harefieldarchers.co.uk

Denham Lawn Bowls Club Denham Way, (off Old Mill Lane) Denham, UB9 5AX. New members welcome. Contact: Jennifer Johns (Sec) 01895 833845 or email: jenniferjohns919@hotmail.com

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Higher Denham Community invites you to celebrate

Firework and Bonfire Night at the Higher Denham Community Hall & Field Saturday 5th November 2016 Bonfire will be lit: 6.30pm Fireworks start: 7pm Licensed Bar (opens 5pm) and BBQ (from 6pm) Selection of Stalls including Kids Stalls, Sparkler Area, Mulled Wine, Tea, and Coffee Tickets available on the night

Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children): £23 Adult ticket: £8 Child (4-16 years) ticket: £4 Under 3's go free!

This event will go ahead whatever the weather! Higher Denham Community Hall & Field, Lower Road, Higher Denham, Bucks, UB9 5EA

Dated Events (Oct16).qxp_Layout 1 30/09/2016 14:13 Page 1

october events

‘Bollywood Delights’ in aid of the Mayor's Charity

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Hillingdon Arts & Literature Festival Throughout October

Culture Bite presents this Arts & Literature Festival find out more at your local library or visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/bigfest

Ruislip-Northwood Flower Arrangement Society 4th October

David Martin, national Demonstrator presents Visions of Cornwall. tea & coffee available. Flower arrangements are raffled. tickets on the door £6 for details call 01923 829621.

Fostering Event

Local Events

11th October, 6.30pm-8.30pm The Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW. Interested? then why not come along to this free event. For more details see the website www.hillingdon.gov.uk/fostering or email: fost-adopt@hillingdon.gov.uk

Hillingdon Canal Club Talk 11th October Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX. Jeremy batch – ‘The Ins and Outs of Being a Lock Keeper’. email: middlesex.socials@ waterways.org.uk for details.

Ickenham & Swakeleys Horticultural Society 12th October The United Reformed Church, Swakeleys Road, UB10 8BE. Ken Panchen presents a talk on 'red Kites' see www.ickenham-horticultural.org.uk

HUBB Business Breakfast Event 13th October, 8am-9am Bay Lodge, 36 Harefield Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1PH. tony neocleous, a partner with Bird & Lovibond Solicitors will host a presentation 'Protecting your assets from family fallouts'. to book email: helen.thompson@wardwilliams.co.uk or visit www.wardwilliams.co.uk

Free Tasting Event

october into november 2016

Please send your details to be included in the November issues by Friday 14th October. 66

15th October Iver Flowerland, Norwood Ln, Iver, SL0 0EW. taste a whole host of delicious food & drink and speak directly to the men & women who grow, create & cook your favourite products.

Ruislip Stamp Fair 15th October The Ruislip Methodist Church Hall, Ickenham Road, HA4 7DG. For details call 01895 637283.

27th October Javitri Restaurant, 112 High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1JA. An evening of delicious food and dance performances amongst other treats, not to forget a raffle with superb prizes. tickets £28 call to book 01895 263888 visit www.javitri.co.uk for more details.

Quiz Night 29th October, 7pm Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margaret's Close, Iver Heath. come to the ever popular Quiz night with a Fish/chicken & chips supper, fun game and raffle. tickets £10pp (15yrs & under £6). come on your own or make up a table of 6. Please bring your own drinks, glasses etc. For details and entry forms call Pat on 01753 647674. www.iverheathvillagehall.co.uk

noveMber events Ruislip-Northwood Flower Arrangement Society 1st November Lee berrill, national Demonstrator presents Deck the Halls. tickets on the door £6, for details call 01923 829621.

Quiz Night in support of Paul Strickland Scanner Centre 4th November, 7.30pm Fairway Inn, Rickmansworth Golf Club, Moor Lane, Rickmansworth, WD3 1QL. We are taking bookings for teams of 6 at a cost of £14 per person which will supper. to book call 01923 844290.

LIve MusIc events Champers Bar 184 Field End Road, Eastcote, HA5 1RE. 16 Oct Joe Henderson Jazz band 23 Oct Jeff Freeman ska & reggae Party 30 Oct Marky Dawson & Piano The Falcon Inn Village Road, Denham, UB9 5BE. 29 Oct DJ rossi northern soul & Motown

The WatersEdge Packet Boat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. 14 Oct blonde Moment 28 Oct Halloween Party

The Whip & Collar

Lunchtime Classical Music Concert

Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HU. 16 Oct Mark Kelly, 4-7pm

26th October, 12.15pm. St Martin’s Church Hall, corner Eastcote Road & High Street, Ruislip, HA4 6DG. Mengyang Pan (piano) plays beethoven and Liszt.

2 High Street, Iver, SL0 9NG. 7 Oct 2 tone 14 Oct solace 28 Oct the Loops trio

The Swan at Iver

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over 28 years We are a small, independent company with a team of in-house fitters who have worked with us for 20 years, ensuring we provide you with an experienced and top quality service Please give us a call or contact us for further details, it costs nothing for a free no obligation quote! FREE ESTIMATES

We specialise in Carpets, Laminates, Real Wood, Engineered Wood LVT Tiles, Safety Flooring, Wet Rooms, Vinyls and Carpet Tiles.

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01895 347252

www.willowcarpets.com Email : carpetsaj@btinternet.com 67

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Buckingham House Care Home

Off Oxford Road, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire SL9 7DP Buckingham House Care Home is set in the charming town of Gerrards Cross.

The luxurious 5 star home provides residential, nursing and dementia care for 53 residents. The home features a large spacious lounge and a dining area with a small bistro area on each floor. We maintain strong links with the local community and our Activities Co-ordinator provides residents with the choice of a huge variety of creative and fun activities. We realise that anyone coming into our care homes starts a new chapter in their life, so we ensure that our staff are ready to read the book with them. ‘Memory Lane’ is fundamental to realising the needs of the people we care for.

A warm welcome awaits you so why not drop in for a coffee and a chat, our door is always open! Tel: 01753 468200 Email: Buckingham.House@mmcg.co.uk Web: www.mmcgcarehomes.co.uk 68

To be the best quality, most highly regarded care provider in the uk