A GROUP of well-respected members of the community became convicts for the day when they were jailed to raise thousands of pounds for a local hospice.
Politicians, teachers, council workers and business representatives were arrested and banged up at Wealdstone Police Station, in High Street, Wealdstone, on Friday, March 22 for St Luke’s Hospice’s Jail and Bail fundraiser.
There were 11 detainees and each had to raise £1,000 bail money in order to be released.
Luckily, the generous public took pity on them and they were all released the same day, collectively raising more than £12,200 for St Luke’s Hospice, in Kenton Road, Harrow.
Danny Beever, 37, of Locket Road, Harrow, took part in memory of his father who he lost to pancreatic cancer in November last year. Mr Beever said St Luke’s made his father’s last days special.
He said: “St Luke’s really looked after my father well. This is just something to say thank you.”
The detainees faced gruelling questioning from Sergeant Paul Mills of the Met Police before being searched and locked in a cell by PCs John Bishop and Derek Livingston.
Harrow Council photographer Dermot Carlin said: “It was a great event and I am humbled by people’s generosity. In my effort to fundraise, I went from £800 to £1,300 in just three days. People realise what a great charity St Luke’s is and they really came up trumps to support the hospice.”
Councillor Reg Colwill, who represents Kenton ward on Brent Council, was arrested by Sergeant Katie Ruff at St Gregory’s School, Donnington Road, Kenton, where he is a governor.
He told the Observer: “The kids were really excited when I was getting arrested – they had done banners and thought it was hilarious when the keys to my handcuffs got lost. The kids did their own fundraising and I am really proud of them.”
The Jail and Bail fundraiser event takes place every other year to raise money for the hospice.
Sgt Mills said: “We are very proud to have been involved in what is a very worthwhile cause which highlights the work of St Luke’s Hospice.”
St Luke’s cares for terminally ill people in Harrow and Brent, both at the hospice and in their own homes, enabling them to achieve the best possible quality of life during the final stages of their illness.
? The 2013 Jail and Bail convicts were: Harrow Council Leader, Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar; Greenhill ward councillor Sue Anderson; leader of Brent Conservatives and Kenton ward councillor, Suresh Kansagra; Kenton ward councillor, Reg Colwill; St George’s shopping centre manager, Darren Harman; Halifax’s Edgware branch manager, Mahesh Patel; deputy headteacher of Kingsbury High School, Nigel Jamieson; Harrow Council photographer Dermot Carlin; Jatish Pindolia of Capital Financial Consultants; Danny Beever, from Harrow; director and choreographer of Bollywood dance company Classic Creations, Rupal Gandhi; Sarojini Patel, from Harrow.
