Trying to trace family of pilot
I AM trying to trace family members of a warrant officer (pilot) killed during the Second World War when the Lancaster bomber ED583 of which he was a crew member crashed in the Lincolnshire village of North Thoresby with no survivors.
The young man was John Thomas Goozee, aged 22, who left behind a wife of 15 months, Doris May Goozee, nee Green.
John’s residence at time of marriage was Ennerdale Drive, Kingsbury, and Doris’s address was Repton Road, Kenton. They were married on July 25, 1942, in Kingsbury Parish Church.
If you are able to help, please contact me via email at dave_brntt2003@yahoo.co.uk.
DAVID BARNETT
via email
One motorist who will avoid Harrow
ON FEBRUARY 10, I drove from Halifax in West Yorkshire to Harrow via Belsize Park to drop off my son who had recently moved into a flat in that area.
The weather conditions were poor on the M1, sleet and driving rain. Having dropped off my son my wife and I then drove to Harrow where we were staying the night before returning to Yorkshire the next day. There was a significant fall of snow that night. I am unfamiliar with the area but eventually we reached our hotel.
Some days later I was extremely surprised to receive a PCN from Harrow Council saying I had used a restricted route in a section of Camrose Avenue. I am sure the letter will be familiar to many other motorists. Having driven since 1967 I have only ever received two penalty charges – both from Harrow Council despite the fact I have lived in the North for nearly 30 years.
The first one was for parking while unloading my car, on appeal it was overturned. Obviously this time I wrote to the council explaining the circumstances – unfamiliarity with the area, poor weather conditions, etc. The standard letter I received in response has no doubt been sent to many other motorists, providing the council with a very healthy income.
Next time I visit my son I will avoid Harrow and choose to stay in a more friendly borough. I would advise other motorists to do the same.
DAVID BARTHRAM
via email
Help wanted to complete records
I AM writing as archivist of the former Harrow County School (now Harrow High), and the Old Gaytonians Association (ex alumni) in the hope that your readers can help me with my research.
With the approach in 2014 of the centenary of the start of the First World War, I am hoping to complete the records of our war dead of that conflict by finding further details and photographs of our missing men.
They were: Frank Reginald Cozins of 59 Salisbury Road, who died on pneumonia in November 1918; Eric de Wilde Green of 58 Station Road, dying of wounds in April 1918; Leslie Herbert Harwood of 8 Grant Road who died of wounds in June 1918; Ernest Arthur Powell of 28 Locket Road who died from wounds in September 1918; Henry Reginald Seamark who was killed in May 1917; and James Wood of 18 Oxford Road who died of wounds in December 1917.
Last year we also added a name to the School War memorial, that of one William Henry Cozens, who we learned had been the first caretaker of the school as it was built and for a short period after it opened in January 1911. He was older than most, being 41 when killed in March 1918, but had lived with his wife Annie and daughter Florence at the School in 1911, possibly moving to Wealdstone later.
If anyone has any information, or photographs of these men, I would like to hear from you.
ALEX BATEMAN
70 Headstone Lane
North Harrow
Middlesex
HA2 6HW
Email: og.mag@virgin.net
Charity shops will go out of business
IS IT not enough for Harrow Council to increase our council tax (one of only five London councils to do so), now they want to take vital funds from St Luke’s and other Harrow charities by cancelling their discretionary 20 per cent tax exemption from April 1.
Many people have walked miles or indeed over hot coals to raise money for these charities. The charity shops not only generate vital funds, but are also a focal point of community, particularly in struggling high streets such as North Harrow.
If the St Luke’s shop here is forced to close because of this unfair tax, it will become another empty shop or have a sham façade like ‘the florist’ opposite the station, done up as an enterprise initiative a few years ago and still remains unoccupied today!
So please think again Harrow Council before imposing this tax on these charity shops.
J COOK
Parkthorne Close
North Harrow
n Harrow Council divisional director for collections and housing benefits, Fern Silverio, said: “Harrow Council greatly values the work that charities carry out throughout the borough. This decision only stops charities from being awarded the 20 per cent top up discretionary rate relief and they will continue to receive relief on 80 per cent of their rates.
“Due to the challenging financial situation it is necessary for the council to reconsider its approach to discretionary business rate relief. The council has had to meet a £24million funding gap over the next two years.
“Removing this relief will allow us to channel money into other services that our residents have highlighted as important to them and that otherwise we would have difficulty funding. Harrow Council took into account the views of all affected organisations when consulting over this difficult decision.”
Tory housing vote lacked leadership
I WAS extremely surprised that the Tories voted against agreed recommendations in a key housing report at the full council meeting on February 28.
The Tenants Leaseholder Residents’ Consultative Forum (TLRCF), which usually meets four times a year, made an extra effort this year to consult and listen to stakeholders.
Consequently, extra meetings to consult on the housing issues took place this year. One of the main issues was rent increases and service charges which was fully discussed at these meetings.
The committee consists of representatives from Tenants and Residents’ Associations across the Borough, including the Harrow Federation of Tenants’ Associations, the Leaseholders’ Forum and four councillors – two Labour and two Conservatives. At the TLRCF meeting of December 19, after consideration, all councillors, including the Tory members, around the table supported the increases in rent and service charges. We also arranged training events on the rent and housing revenue accounts which were also attended by the Tories and the feedback received was positive.
Sadly the Tories seem to vote with one hand at one meeting and reverse that vote at the next to make cheap political points. No wonder many people are amazed and confused about their lack of direction and ability to provide the leadership.
Any tenants that would like to become more involved please contact me either by searching for Councillor Bob Currie on the Harrow website or contact the Civic Centre and ask for the Labour Group office and I will do my best to assist them.
COUNCILLOR BOB CURRIE
Portfolio Holder for Housing
n Councillor Bob Currie, rather strangely, asks why the Conservative opposition did not vote for part of the Labour administration’s budget – making the answer to his question really rather self-apparent.
A better question would be: Why did Cllr Currie choose to say absolutely nothing at February’s council meeting about the sizeable budget over which he has control? Indeed, why did he not talk in favour of his rent strategy, which is increasing tenants’ rents? Further, he was silent on the 150 per cent increase in the Housing Revenue Account debt; why?
Cllr Currie talks about leadership, yet Labour continues to show a complete lack of leadership, engagement or enthusiasm – as evidenced by only half of their cabinet members bothering to speak at council on their own budget. We think Harrow residents deserve better than such indifference from so-called decision-makers, who pocket nearly £20,000 a year extra as cabinet members.
If Labour spent more time burning the midnight oil, and less time worrying about what the opposition does, they might make better decisions for our residents.
COUNCILLOR SUSAN HALL
Conservative Group Leader
COUNCILLOR BARRY MACLEOD-CULLINANE
Conservative Group Deputy Leader
Harrow Council
We will take action if there is rubbish
IN RESPONSE to the letter from E Daborn on February 21 ‘Rubbish and no representation’, Harrow Council works hard to ensure that the borough is a clean and pleasant place to live.
When fly-tipping and unsightly rubbish is reported, our Environmental Crime Team will visit the area and take any necessary action.
This includes prosecuting offenders as well as clearing away the rubbish.
The team had not been made aware of any problems in this specific area, but officers will now visit the site to see whether they need to take action.
The council has an established programme of work to keep the streets clean, which includes residential streets in Rayners Lane being visited regularly along with a dedicated street sweeper in the shopping area.
We have a strong track record of taking action against people who blight our streets and green spaces.
In February we prosecuted a prolific fly-tipper who illegally dumped bags of building waste on private land and he was fined more than £500 in court.
This shows that we do take this issue extremely seriously.
To report any environmental crime fill out a form on the council’s website – www.harrow.gov.uk – or call 020 8901 2600.
COUNCILLOR PHILLIP O’DELL
Harrow Council’s portfolio holder for environment and community safety
