How on earth will this eviction help?
I AM a neighbour and friend of the Davies family who have been thrown out of their council house in Breakspear Road (Evicted family must move out of borough, Ruislip and Eastcote Gazette, June 5).
I think it is absolutely disgusting what that family has gone through and I am hurt to think that we have got a council that would do that to a family.
The two children, Paige and Callum, go to school in Harefield but have been moved to Slough. How are they meant to get to school? Their dad doesn’t drive.
Callum is trying to do his mock GCSEs and this is a time when he is meant to be getting help, not added trauma.
It’s all such a shame.
Their father is trying to do his best to earn a living to put a roof over their head and make a better life for his children, then this happens.
I can’t get my head round it.
I am calling on the council for once to do something to help them.
DAVID HAWES
Westwood Close
Ruislip
Four-strip airport will blight millions
I ATTENDED a meeting with Nigel Milton, director of policy and political relations for Heathrow Airport in Sipson recently where he described the original proposals for a third runway as ‘outdated’ and hinted at building a runway ‘south and west’ of the airport.
He was also very coy about whether they wanted three or four runways. I think we can guess at that one.
By contrast, I have now spoken to someone who attended another meeting with Heathrow Ltd where they were quite open about wanting four runways west of the existing airport.
They reckon that this, plus steeper descents for aircraft, will reduce the noise (and objections) from places such as Richmond and Hounslow.
The Davies Commission is taking the Policy Exchange proposals seriously, to the extent of, possibly, having its own study on it.
Davies recently visited Heathrow, but he does not appear to have any plans to visit Stansted or Gatwick. Draw your own conclusions.
The tentacles of a four-runway airport will spread far and wide and there are fears that the noise will blight the lives of millions more Londoners.
An announcement is expected from Heathrow soon.
DAVE ROBINS
Wimpole Road
West Drayton
Heathrow closure will kill prosperity
IN RESPONSE to Mr Puddifoot’s comments on the referendum on the third runway at Heathrow, I was astonished at his comments saying ‘the future without Heathrow should be looked at with optimism’ (The people say NO to a bigger airport, Gazette, May 22).
Mr Puddifoot knows full well that Heathrow employs up to 80,000 people and another 40,000 provide services to the airport.
With this amount of employment Hillingdon, west London and the surrounding areas have over the many years enjoyed the prosperity a large employer like Heathrow brings to the local economy.
The decision on national airport capacity will be decided by the Davies Commission in 2015, and we all acknowledge that if Heathrow expansion is recommended it will be environmentally felt.
However, let us not forget the economic benefit an expanded Heathrow will bring – not only more jobs to the airport but attracting new employers to the area.
So Mr Puddifoot, before you promote and look forward to the demise of Heathrow, I urge you to look at the other side of the argument and ‘be careful what you wish for’.
PAUL BRYANT
Via email
My shock at Hindu temple arson
AS A Hindu resident of Hillingdon, I was utterly shocked and dismayed to read of the arson attack on the Hindu temple in the Uxbridge and West Drayton Gazette article last week, Cowley Temple targeted a day after a show of unity.
What kind of person would set fire to a place of worship?
It would appear that the attack was an act of retaliation for Lee Rigby’s killing.
If this is the case, it clearly demonstrates the very low intellect of the arsonist, linking Hindus with Lee Rigby’s death.
Hopefully, the perpetrator will be arrested and convicted soon.
DR M PATHER
Via email
Dying husband given best of care
I FEEL I must write in praise of Northwick Park Hospital.
Most of this year, my dear husband has been in and out of hospital, at first, in James ward, where care was given and he was a lot better.
Unfortunately, his heart was unable to cope. Another trip to hospital and he is now at peace.
But, in all that sad time, he was shown nothing but care and the best they could do, especially in Fielding ward. Their respect for him moved me.
I must mention too Hillingdon Healthcare and carers from Pringle, whose gentleness with Roy also moved me.
It is so good to know that there are very decent and caring people in this world, and I thank God for that.
SYLVIA ROUSE
Eastcote
Ruislip
Heroes collectors overwhelmed
ON SATURDAY, June 1, Bob Hopson and I carried out a collection in The Chimes in aid of Help for Heroes.
This was booked long before the tragic death of Lee Rigby in Woolwich.
Bob and I collected for about four hours only, and in that time we received the magnificent total of £1,700.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to all those shoppers who stopped and donated.
Not only did we raise a lot of money, we had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with some really nice people from our area.
IAN COLLIER
Via email
The pleasure of giving to others
IT WAS with the utmost pride and pleasure that my colleagues and I attended the free party on Saturday, May 25, at the RAFA Battle of Britain Club in Uxbridge (Mencap celebrates its 50th, Gazette, June 5).
The Mencap/Gateway youth clubs on the Moorcroft site in Harlington Road, Hillingdon were celebrating their 50th anniversary and the long-term success is mainly due to the small band of selfless, unpaid carers and volunteers who, much to their credit, wish to be anonymous here.
It was a brilliant evening out for 150 or so youth club members, with great music from the very talented Starlight Big Band.
There was a plentiful buffet and a mountain of balloons ripe for bursting. At the end of the party, each member received a commemorative cup to cherish.
It was a very pleasing moment for my Buffalo colleagues and I, as the money that we raised part-funded the evening as well as lots of coach outings for members to the seaside, zoos and theme parks, not forgetting pantomimes at Christmas.
Two more coach outings to Whipsnade and Bognor have been arranged for this summer.
Seeing the joy on the members’ faces makes it all so very worthwhile.
DOUGIE PARKER
Provincial Grand Primo
Windsor and Uxbridge Province
Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
An alternative to marrow donation
I READ the article, Your bone marrow could save a life in the Gazette of June 5, in which Rebecca Earley, 21, of Uxbridge, urged members of the public to donate bone marrow, after she was treated for lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Using cord blood from babies’ umbilical cords after a birth can sometimes be an alternative to using adult bone marrow.
The Anthony Nolan Trust states that cord blood ‘has the advantage of being immediately available to a patient when required, and is not as difficult to match’.
Cords are normally thrown away after birth but are a great resource. It would be a great pity to waste them simply because not all hospitals save them for collection.
Several hospitals in the UK do save them – Northwick Park certainly used to and probably still does.
Using cords saves the discomfort of people donating bone marrow or an organ and there is also a plentiful supply of umbilical cords.
Visit www.anthonynolan.org for more details of cord blood. May I wish brave Rebecca well.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
Metropolitan line is 150 years old
PETER Williams wrote in the Gazette last week that this is not the 150th anniversary of the Tube.
I am afraid he is wrong (Begging to differ on Tube’s birthday, Letters, June 5).
The Metropolitan line was opened in 1863 – making 2013 the 150th anniversary. William Gladstone was one of the guests at the opening.
I admit that a lot of the line is overground, but it is still part of the Tube and celebrates its 150th this year.
JENNIFER FOLEY
Bourne Avenue
Hayes
Calling all 152 squadron airmen
Did you serve with 152 (Hyderabad) Squadron, RAF, any time between 1940 and 1967, or did your father or grandfather serve with them? If so please get in touch.
For many years, the squadron has been looking for a home for its archives.
We have finally found one, and we are hoping to put together a small collection of the squadron’s history for future generations.
Please contact me on 01473 251 219 or email um152squadron@gmail.com if you have any stories, information or items you would like to donate. Thank you.
ROB ROOKER
Ranelagh Road
Ipswich
