LAST weekend I was honoured to be invited to attend a service of rededication and thanksgiving for victory in the Battle of Britain, which took place 72 years ago this month.

The service was held at St John’s Church, Stanmore.

This commemoration of this dramatic turning point in the Second World War and particularly the sacrifice made by the ‘few’ is an extremely moving and humbling occasion.

Harrow’s Police Cadets formed a guard of honour for the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Nizam Ismail and were an absolute credit to the borough.

To quote Winston Churchill: “The gratitude of every home... goes out to the British airman who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of world war by their prowess and by devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

What makes it particularly relevant is the fact the RAF’s Bomber Command had its headquarters at Bentley Priory, Stanmore.

I took my daughters Suraiya and Shanti to watch the England versus Ukraine football international at Wembley last week.

Through the Football Association, we were able to obtain tickets for young footballers from Harrow’s Afghan community and their football coach. They were joined by two pupils from Harrow School as part of a mentoring project which we are setting up with the school.

One of the ideas we are working on is to arrange a football game between the Afghan boys and boys from Harrow School. The event will be supported by the Mothers Against Gangs project and we hope that both sets of parents will organise food after the match.

Jim Hawkins, the headmaster at Harrow School, is keen to support joint initiatives between his pupils and the local community and I am very grateful to him for all his help.

More than 35 police officers and Police Community Support Officers took part in the Relay For Life at Bannister Sports Centre on September 8 to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

Officers formed a continuous relay of the running track from 1pm on Saturday, through to 9.30am on Sunday.

My half hour slot was at 9.30pm on Saturday night, when I was joined by my youngest daughter Shanti to complete two laps of the track.

Fittingly, the relay baton we passed from officer to officer was a police baton.

This week’s officers’ of the week are Acting Inspector Clare Currie and Sergeant John Crump for their professionalism and hard work during Olympic patrols in the borough.

I would also like to say a big thank you to all of special constables, sergeants and inspectors who volunteered for almost 2,500 hours during the Olympics and Paralympics. A massive effort.

Sergeant Mark Pullen from the Harrow Town Team is urging shoppers to be vigilant while shopping in the town centre following a spate of bag and purse thefts by pickpockets in the town centre and thefts from motor vehicles.

Please keep valuable items and bags with you and zipped up or secured at all times.

These crimes are often committed in the blink of an eye; often at great expense to the victim and are avoidable if precautions are taken.

Please be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the police.