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Well, whilst March seems to have flown by, for me personally, it was quite a packed month of birth day, Mothers Day and Easter celebrations. Not to mention the copious amounts of chocolates that are still hanging around the house and threaten ing to sabotage my diet at any given moment. I think I’ve probably spent half the month eating super healthily and the other simply packing my face with chocolate and cake. On the positive front, I did complete the annual deconstruction of my garden, which simply means clearing it of dog bones and debris, before giving the grass its first cut of the year. Not a major achievement for most people, but for me it’s a big tick off my list of things to do. Now if I could just put the list away and not keep adding things to it, I might actually stop it going onto two sheets of paper. In fact, if I keep going at the rate I am, I’ll be able to paper the living room with it. As ever, I stand in awe of those who seem to achieve everything on their list and still have time to spare. Any time management tips, always very welcome. .
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Children’s Puzzle Page 6 World Book Day at St Helen’s 8 Beauty: Spring is in the Air 10 Travel: Vienna 12 Coffee Break Puzzles 14 Wildlife Zone 16 RSPCA rehoming appeal 18 Books: Older, But Not Necessarily Wiser 20 Privacy Glass 22 Pinewood Studios Update 24 Don’t be taken in by the pension scammers 26 Health: Sugar, not so sweet and innocent 28 Recipe: Pork Jambalaya 30 Local Events 32 Local Filmmaker attempts first feature film 34 Life Begins: time to rethink your drinking habits 38 Wordsearch 40 Golden Years: Memories of 50 Years Ago 42 Motoring: Range Rover on Test 44 Story: Alpaca on the Line 46 Technology: Gadgets for the indoor gardener 48 Karen Munro: Careers 50 Richings Park Residents Association 52 Puzzle Solutions 53 Gardening Feature 54 Pets Corner 56 Interiors: Planning a master bedroom 58 Citizens Advice Bureau 60 Pets: Does your pet have an allergy? 60 Clubs, Groups & Classes 62,64,66 & 68 Situations Vacant 70
MAY COPY DEADLINE 21ST APRIL 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.
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WORLD BOOK DAY at ST. HELEN’S COLLEGE
Pupils and staff at St. Helen’s College primary school in Parkway, Hillingdon have had a colourful and educational time celebrating World Book Day today (Thursday, 3rd March 2016). Pupils were encouraged to dress as characters from the clas sics, and there were plenty of characters from books such as Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. There was even a (female) Hamlet! Several of the children from Years 2 to 6 stood up spontaneously during assemblies and spoke as their characters, including Hamlet delivering some of the famous ‘To Be Or Not To Be’ soliloquy!
game of croquet during their PE lesson to extend the Alice in Wonderland theme! A superb day was had by everyone, with pupils really benefiting from discussion of the stories they and their friends love. The children also brought in good quality second hand books for a huge school wide book swap.
Mrs. Savage, English Coordinator, said, ‘We love World Book Day here at St. Helen’s College and enjoy taking the opportunity to stretch the children’s imaginations even further, introducing them to books they might not otherwise discover, and bring Visiting author Marcia Williams ran workshops with ing their learning to life with costumes, assemblies children throughout the school, and Oak Farm Li and workshops’. brary visited the very youngest children in Nursery for story time. There were World Book Daythemed assemblies and an ‘Extreme Reading’ photo com petition, for which pupils had to send in photo graphs of themselves reading in extreme places. The children sent photographs of themselves read ing in trees, in museums, while on pogo sticks, while washing up and many more. One of the most amazing was this photograph of Jasmine (Year 2) reading underwater! Some classes enjoyed a ‘Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’, during which they promoted books which they had read and enjoyed, and catering staff themed the lunch time service around Alice in Wonderland too, with ‘Eat Me’ and ‘Drink Me’ signs and colourful cupcakes on offer for dessert, served by The White Rabbit! Pupils from every class at Upper School visited Lower School children as ‘reading buddies’ and read to them, which was a super experience for both age groups. Year 6 even participated in a
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Beauty
Spring Is In The Air
If your hair is looking a little ‘meh’, but there’s still weeks to go until your next trip to the salon, try a KC Color Mask. Available in 14 shades, including platinum, golden copper, plum and coffee, these masks revitalise coloured hair. A small amount helps to maintain the hair colour and add brightness, while a larger amount can deepen the colour intensity. Just apply to freshly washed hair, comb through, leave for up to ten minutes and wash out. They’re particularly useful for toning down brassy tones in blonde hair, and giving depth to darker shades. The masks also contain Pro-Vitamin B5 and keratin derivative, to help repair the cuticle. Prices start from under £5.
Spring is a great time to clear out by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
the makeup bag (or overflowing cupboard in my case) and treat yourself to a few new goodies.
How pretty is this new palette from Paul & Joe? Teaming an eye shadow duo with a powder blush, the palette is available in two shades: Papillons de Printemps and Floral Nectar (pictured). Retailing at £28 each, they’re not cheap, but the colours are easy to apply and you’ll be the envy of the other bathroom mirror hoggers on a night out. If you really want to splash out, Paul & Joe have also released some new lipsticks, in three vibrant spring shades. Many people find that they need to buy a new foundation for spring/ summer, as their skin loses its winter hibernation paleness. (Or that’s my excuse anyway.) The new Aqua Glow Serum Foundation by Stila combines foundation with a treatment serum. It gives great, natural looking coverage, while hydrating and softening skin. 94% of testers reported dramatically improved skin tone. If you can’t wait to take your makeup off at the end of the day because your face feels dry and uncomfortable, you need to try this foundation. It contains hyaluronic acid and other ingredients that help to keep skin hydrated for up to 12 hours after applying it. Available in 10 shades, the Aqua Glow Serum Foundation retails at £34.50. 10
Spring demands a lighter, fresher fragrance, and Yardley London has just released the perfect one. English Daisy is reminiscent of a wildflower meadow – floral, but not too sweet. It’s unashamedly girly, with notes including hyacinth and white rose, warmed with sandalwood and musk. And, at just £19.99 for 50ml, it’s a bit of a bargain. Team it with the English Daisy body lotion, £6.50 and embrace the warmer weather. I’m finding that the sun’s reappearance means it’s a lot easier to drag the kids out for a walk (although it’ll be a while before we’re out of our wellies I reckon). Along with wet wipes and plasters, the one thing I always take with me is Pure & Light Organic’s Essential Family on-the-Go Cream. It’s packed with plant-derived vitamins, and helps to treat everything from insect bites and bruises to eczema. The 18 natural active ingredients include soothing calendula, hydrating shea butter and nourishing avocado. Priced at £15, it’s available from www.pureandlightorganic.eu and www.lovelula.co.uk.
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Hair Room FP+ (Apr16).qxp_Layout 1 24/03/2016 12:17 Page 1
The Hair Room continue to offer the highest standards of specialist hair colouring, along with top standards of cutting and customer service and now, after 11 years in Iver Village, the team are proud to announce that they have just had a facelift.
A new look for...
THE HAIR ROOM
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alon owner Mandy Davis has over 25 years of colouring experience with leading specialists Wella, and together with senior colourist and Salon Manager Lauren Morgan, they make a formidable team. Mandy says “As Manager, Lauren ensures a high standard of training is always maintained, our team are professional, friendly and well educated in all aspects of offering a top class service for all our clients needs.”
Graduate Stylist : Laura
“I believe in on-going training to maintain a skilled and professional team.”
Our Graduate Stylist Laura has just completed 2 years of intensive training, including several Mandy Davis, Salon Owner. advanced courses, just recently, at the Wella London Academy. Laura’s speciality is hair-ups ideal for special occasions or evenings out, Laura excels in this and has many returning clients. As a Graduate Stylist Laura offers frequent special prices for new clients - take a look on the salon website for more details, www.hairroomiver.co.uk
Team Member : Eloise Team member Eloise also offers a fantastic ‘deep
conditioning Joico treatment’ with blowdry to finish, highly recommended and well worth treating yourself. PRICE TARIFF Wash & Blowdry from £16.50 Wash, Cut & Blowdry £29.50 Gents Cut from £10 Semi Colour from £23 Tint Re-growth from £33.50 Foil Highlights from £45 Foil (whole head) from £71.50 Conditioning treatments £10 Full Price List available at www.hairroomiver.co.uk
www.hairroomiver.co.uk
Professional Service and Products
THE HAIR ROOM have always maintained their friendly and professional service, hence their continued success. As a leading Hair Colourist Salon they also provide a wide range of after care products from brands; Joico, Tigi and Wella. Along with the latest Brazillian Blowdry Systems from GK, a leading product in gentle hair smoothing and relaxing, they have the expertise needed to make your visit a pleasurable one.
Free Consultations
Appointments are not always required, free consultations are given on any hair care requirement, so whether you are looking for a new stylist or just a new look why not drop in and meet the team at THE HAIR ROOM.
THE HAIR ROOM 12c High Street Iver Bucks SL0 9NG | Tel 01753 650234 Open : Mon Closed; Tues & Sat 9am-5pm; Wed 9am-6pm; Thurs 9am-8pm; Fri 9am-7pm. 11
Vienna Schönbrunn Palace By Solange Hando
From a modest hunting lodge to a breath-taking palace and now a museum, Schönbrunn ranks among Austria’s top attractions, claiming seven million visitors a year. Restored, extended and embellished over time on the edge of Vienna, it survived a turbulent past to become the favourite summer residence of Austrian emperors for almost three centuries. Named ‘beautiful fountain’ after an artesian well, it will soon celebrate 20 years as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its ‘remarkable Baroque ensemble and synthesis of the arts’. Beyond the wrought iron gates, the elegant façade, painted ‘Schönbrunn yellow’, rises across a vast courtyard where horse-drawn carriages invite visitors to explore the grounds in style. But first of all, the palace beckons with over 1,000 rooms filled with chandeliers and gold, paintings, tapestries, imperial portraits, Rococo furniture and more. Much of what we see today is the legacy of Maria-Theresa, the 18th century empress and only female ruler in the Habsburg dynasty. So Schönbrunn enjoyed a golden age as palace and gardens were remodelled for the pleasure of the empress 12
and her court. Most impressive is the dazzling Hall of Mirrors where, they say, six year old Mozart performed for the empress before ‘springing onto her lap and kissing her heartily’. The Blue Chinese Salon with its rice paper hangings, the Porcelain Room and the Millions Room decorated with Indo-Persian miniatures are also due to Maria-Theresa, reflecting her love for all things exotic. A day would barely suffice to do justice to every room opened to the public, but of special note are the Walnut Room, used as audience hall by Emperor Franz Joseph, his wife Sisi’s apartments where a secret staircase allowed her to escape from the pressures of the Court, the 43 metre long Great Gallery which hosted banquets and balls, the Hall of Ceremonies and its monumental paintings, the Chapel and the Napoleon Room where the French Emperor stayed when he occupied Vienna. Beyond this palatial treasurefilled interior, the Habsburg displayed their wealth and power in extensive grounds, from the botanical garden and Europe’s oldest zoological park to the orangerie, the palm house and the English
and French gardens, the latter by a disciple of Le Nôtre who designed Versailles. Nature reserve, pristine gardens and recreation area all in one, the figures speak for themselves: 25 km of trees along the avenues, 30 km of hedges, 300,000 plants and 20 hectares of lawns mowed up to 21 times in season. Entry to the gardens is free and locals and visitors alike come to relax, gazing in wonder at the blazing colours of superb flower beds, listening to the cool gurgling of Neptune’s fountain or rambling through dark mysterious woods. There’s a manicured maze, a set of 18th century follies named ‘Roman ruin’, 32 neo-classical sculptures and a triumphal arch, or gloriette, on the hill top with panoramic views over palace and garden and the city beyond. It’s no wonder this is acclaimed as the best preserved Baroque garden in the world. The Austrian Empire came to an end after the first Word War but with its palace and gardens, Schönbrunn remains for all to enjoy and an enduring magnet for television and film crews, as seen in James Bond ‘The Living Daylight’ or the legendary Sisi trilogy.
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THE WILDLIFE ZONE
MARTLETS
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.
SOME animals such as eagles, lions and boar, as well as mythical beasts such as martlets and unicorns were used in medieval heraldry. The little known martlet was depicted as a mysterious bird that had no feet but was believed to be fast and elegant in the air. A notable user of the martlet was the Earl of Pembroke family that included Aymer de Valence and his wife Marie de Saint Pol. The martlet had qualities that this aristocratic family claimed for themselves and displayed it for society to admire. As tradition indicated, when Marie de St Pol founded Pembroke College, Cambridge on Boxing Day, 1347, she gave the institution the family name and coat of arms. Since then the martlet has represented a ‘constant quest for knowledge, learning and adventure’; traits that Pembroke College still value today. Quite incredibly, some of us can attract the natural birds represented by the mythical martlet into our gardens, or at least see them flying overhead. The martlet was the medieval name for the swift, and a general description for swallows and martins. This trio of birds had things in common, which is why they were grouped together. For example, they are seen in the warmer months between April and September; then they migrate fly to their African feeding grounds. Many people want to know why these birds fly these fantastic distances, making huge efforts to overcome all of the dangers that they must face. It is an incredible phenomenon, bearing in mind that many of them simply cannot and do not survive such ordeals. The most popular theory held by scientists is that these treks are a left over from the Ice Age. Whilst the world was different then, there should be some present day environmental similarities from which the birds can benefit. The African winter has warmer months, bringing with it greater supplies of insects. Consequently these three species still gain more from their migration to the tropics than wintering in the cold British Isles. How these birds migrate is another fascinating subject, and many concepts abound. It is likely that they begin their migration by calculating the hours of Autumnal daylight as well as gauging the changing weather with internal natural barometers. After embarkation from the British countryside they use the Earth’s magnetic field as well as the sun, moon and stars to steer themselves onto their traditional migration routes. Directing themselves to their own particular territories and nests, individuals may well also design their own natural history maps by using landmarks such as coastlines, rivers, forests and mountains. Since the c18th taxonomists such as the Linnaen Society has discontinued the medieval martlet grouping and has categorised swifts in their own family. The smaller swallows and martins however, have been classified as hirundines. The larger, brown coloured swifts, only feed in the air, using their scythe shaped wings to catch flying insects high in the sky loftily gliding and wheeling in ways that are unmistakeable to the trained eye. Whilst they can be seen overhead at the Millstream Fork wildlife garden, they never settle to nest in the nearby trees or on the house. Their natural nesting sites are cliffs, although they do improvise with quarries, bridges and large, tall buildings. Swallows and martins often feed by skimming and rolling over rivers, ponds and lakes. But like swifts, they also need a lot of open space as their swoops and dives make turning and changing direction in close circles very difficult. I regularly see them soar over the nearby river catching fluttering insects in their wide trap-like gapes. However, they do not use the narrow tree-lined millstream, as overhanging branches could easily damage a wing and cause a horrible death from starvation. Swallows and house martins are often confused with each other because people usually get only fleeting glimpses of them before they flash out of focus. The swallow’s famous markings are its red face, metallic blue sheen and its forked tale with long distinctive streamers. Martins are not as colourful as swallows because rather like the larger swifts, they have only brown and white feathers together with a less pronounced V-shaped tail. At Millstream Fork, I saw swallows using one of the man-made double nest boxes that I had fixed directly under the eaves. I watched them clinging onto the nests with their unnoticeable feet, remaining perfectly still and perpendicular. I hoped that a family would fledge and return each and every year, as many have been known to do. Unfortunately this did not happen. Perhaps a predator such as a sparrowhawk killed them or they may have died from one of the lethal dangers that lurked in migration. Whilst these three bird species are relatively familiar, they still have some secrets from us, just as the heraldic martlet once had. Personally I look forward to when we can fully understand them, their habits of migration, and accept these animals for what they are – miracles of nature.
The charities’ contact details are www.ffes.org.uk email: info@ffes.org.uk 16
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The RSPCA Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor, Kingston and District Branch Registered Charity No: 263515
Thank you for your support . We can’t do it without you!
It is with great sadness we have to TINY TIM & TINA 12 WEEKS OLD announce that our Crescent Parade This adorable pair actually came to us separately. furniture and children’s shop will be Tiny Tim was found in a back garden and Tina was closing by the end of June this year. an unwanted pet, at such a young age these ador
able kittens are looking for a forever home. They do love each other’s company and they can be a Our fashion and general shop further along the bit mischievous, but they love a fuss and the atten parade at no 12/13 will be staying very much open, tion. Could you offer this lovely pair a forever extending its rear area to accommodate children’s home? wear and electrical. Furniture will transfer to our large Ashford Middlesex store. Bringing a new kitten home is exciting, but it’s a big commitment. You’re providing a cat with a loving It has been impossible to make ends meet of late home for the next 14+ years of their life. They on the furniture, very labour and vehicle intensive need lots of time and attention so the decision to and competition with corporate discount stores get a new feline family member should never be hard to compete with. Profits have dropped and taken lightly. the sad decision not to renew the lease has been reached by the Trustees. Wherever your kitten comes from, it should be sociable and brighteyed with no visible health There will be a limit to the amount of children’s problems. A kitten also shouldn’t be taken away toys and clothes we will be able to accept – any from their mother until they are eight or nine weeks ideas welcome!! old. Getting your girl cat spayed protects her from getting pregnant, your cat will need to go the vet to We would love to hear from anyone willing to offer have a simple operation called spaying. It’s impor some voluntary hours in our main shop on Cres tant to have her spayed before she is fourmonths cent Parade, anything from 2.5 hour shifts. old to protect her from getting pregnant while she's still a kitten herself. You may have heard that it’s Our charity shops are our lifeline to animal welfare, good for cats to have a litter of kittens before they without the income from our shops we would not are spayed but this isn’t true. Once she has been be able to help the 10k+ animals that come spayed your kitten will be able to do all the things through the Hillingdon clinic each year. Local ani cats enjoy doing, like going outdoors, climbing mals rely on the success of these shops so any trees and playing. help anyone could offer would be appreciated. If you think you can offer one of our animals a In the interim period the furniture shop will only be loving home then please ring RSPCA Hillingdon open occasionally as voluntary staff are available. Branch on 01895 833417 or visit our website Many thanks for your understanding and support. www.rspcahillingdonclinic.org.uk to download an application form 18
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Older, But Not Always Wiser
The main characters of these books may be in their twilight years, but they certainly aren’t content to sit back and spend their pensions on Werther’s Originals and bingo nights. With amateur sleuths, explosive experts and adventurers amongst them, they’ll keep you reading well past a sensible bedtime. Elizabeth is Missing – Emma Healey 82-year old Maud is determined to solve the mystery of where her best friend Elizabeth has disappeared to. While she’s at it, she’d also like to figure out what happened to her sister, who went missing more than 60 years ago. The problem is that Elizabeth has been getting a bit forgetful lately, and the clues keep getting muddled in her head. With twists and turns aplenty, you’ll be left guessing until the end. Definitely a ‘just one more chapter and then I’ll go to sleep’ kind of book. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper – Phaedra Patrick Arthur Pepper likes the quiet life, but that all changes when he discovers a charm bracelet hidden away in his late wife’s things. Arthur’s cross-country quest to discover the meaning of each of the charms sees him uncovering a side to his wife he never knew existed. But will his new found knowledge help him come to terms with her death, or forever taint his memories of her? A thoroughly enjoyable read, with great characters and a page-turning storyline, this is Phaedra Patrick’s debut novel, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see her on the bestseller lists very soon. 20
The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81 – J.B. Morrison Being run over by a milk float wasn’t on Frank’s to-do list for the day, and he sure as heck isn’t going to let some interfering home-help try to baby him. Nope, he’s quite content on his own, with his cat Bill, his DVDs and a series of cold callers trying to sell him things he doesn’t need. But home-help Kelly Christmas proves rather more likeable than he expected, and he starts to realise that life can indeed begin again at 81. With his biting sense of humour, Frank will keep you laughing all the way through this immensely entertaining book. George’s Grand Tour – Caroline Vermalle When George tells people he’s going to do the Tour de France, some are rather concerned. He is, after all, 83. However, George has a slightly less taxing plan in mind; he’s going to do the Tour by car, with a friend. Agreeing to check in with his granddaughter, Adele, by text along the route, he sets off across the country. In the end, the journey may prove as lifechanging for Adele as it is for George, as she starts to really appreciate the man who, until now, has just been a name on her birthday cards.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry – Rachel Joyce Staid, reliable Harold lives with his wife Maureen in Devon. When Harold receives a letter from an old friend, Queenie, telling him she’s terminally ill, he pens a short reply and sets off to the post box. But his walk to the end of the road turns into a somewhat longer trip, as he decides to deliver the letter in person, and on foot. As he travels the long road north, both Harold and Maureen are given the time to look back on their long marriage, and figure out whether it can be saved. Beautifully written, and at times extremely poignant, this book is highly recommended. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson Allan has just about had enough of his care home, with its condescending manager, rubbish food and endless rules. So on his 100th birthday he makes his escape, in his slippers. After stealing a suitcase full of money, Allan begins a dash across country, picking up new friends as he goes (including an elephant called Sonya). As we learn of his extraordinary life, it becomes clear that there’s rather more to this centenarian than meets the eye, including a passion for explosives…
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Finance
By Ann Haldon
Don’t be Taken In By The Pension Scammers
Since new pension regulations were introduced in 2015, conmen have been using the new freedoms to target people approaching retirement. One of the scams involves telling those under the age of 55 that a ‘legal loophole’ allows them access to their full pension, with no requirement to pay tax on the money withdrawn (in reality, a rate of up to 55%). Pension monies are then moved into an alternative scheme run by the fraudsters, with savings either being stolen or severely diminished after extortionate charges are made for the ‘service’. To make matters worse, HM Revenue and Customs has been sending out bills to reclaim tax on the amounts withdrawn, leaving victims of the scam with no pension savings and in large-scale debt in some cases. How can tHe conmen operate so effectively? Although younger people are a clear target for pension scammers, those aged 55 and over are also under threat. With no restrictions on how pension savings can be used, unscrupulous individuals and criminal groups are taking advantage of a lack of regulation within the industry, 26
plus an uncertainty about how best to invest such a large amount of money. Inefficient systems also form part of the problem, enabling conmen to set up these rogue pension schemes. HM Revenue and Customs are not pension regulators, but having introduced a ‘fit and proper person’ test in 2014, they have at least attempted to control the potential for fraudulent activity. HMRC has the power to deregister or refuse to register a new pension scheme, but some have said they should take more responsibility for what is happening to victims, rather than chasing them for tax payments. project Bloom taskforce A new taskforce has been set up by the government and the National Crime Agency to combat the problem of pension fraud. A ‘perfect storm’ of new pension regulations, lack of awareness about where to reinvest, and the fact that large sums of money are involved, has enabled scammers to get away with too many sophisticated cons. It’s hoped that Project Bloom will bring awareness to the issue, however, and specific advice is offered to anyone concerned about their pension. You need to be wary of: • Anyone offering a ‘free pension review’ or access to your pension pot if you’re under the age of fifty-five • Offers of help to obtain a pension statement, or to provide a tracing service for lost pensions The Pensions Advisory Service
provides free advice if you’re worried about potential scams, or to discuss your pension options in general. a sopHisticated approacH One of the problems is that scammers set up sophisticated systems and procedures that include glossy brochures and polished, well-rehearsed speeches. This makes the entire con appear legitimate unless you’re aware that this type of fraud is taking place. Bringing awareness of what’s happening is key to combating crimes like this, and hopefully Project Bloom will help to prevent more people suffering the devastating loss of their retirement income. watcH out for fake weBsites Fraudsters are even setting up fake websites with names very similar to legitimate bodies offering free advice. They may be able to gain access to your personal information in this way, and then contact you directly via phone or email. It pays to check the web address you’re typing in very carefully, to ensure that the site is legitimate and not part of the fraudsters’ arsenal of tricks. http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/ money/investing-pensions/ pension-liberation-scamvictims-facing-huge-tax-bills11364036908047 http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/ money/pensions/article-3419232/ Should-pension-scam-victims-lettax-bills.html http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/ money/pensions/article-3397828/ Three-tell-tale-signs-dupedpension-fraudsters.html
It’s hoped that Project Bloom will bring awareness to the issue, however, and specific advice is offered to anyone concerned about their pension. You need to be wary of: • Anyone offering a ‘free pension review’ or access to your pension pot if you’re under the age of fifty-five • Offers of help to obtain a pension statement, or to provide a tracing service for lost pensions • An alternative investment product for your pension pot that seems too good to be true The Pensions Advisory Service provides free advice if you’re worried about potential scams, or to discuss your pension options in general. a sopHisticated approacH One of the problems is that scammers set up sophisticated
systems and procedures that include glossy brochures and polished, well-rehearsed speeches. This makes the entire con appear legitimate unless you’re aware that this type of fraud is taking place.
offering free advice. They may be able to gain access to your personal information in this way, and then contact you directly via phone or email.
Bringing awareness of what’s happening is key to combating crimes like this, and hopefully Project Bloom will help to prevent more people suffering the devastating loss of their retirement income. Those involved in Project Bloom include the National Crime Agency, Serious Fraud Office, HMRC, The Pensions Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Department for Work and Pensions. watcH out for fake weBsites Fraudsters are even setting up fake websites with names very similar to legitimate bodies
It pays to check the web address you’re typing in very carefully, to ensure that the site is legitimate and not part of the fraudsters’ arsenal of tricks. http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/ money/investing-pensions/ pension-liberation-scamvictims-facing-huge-tax-bills11364036908047 http://www.thisismoney. co.uk/money/pensions/article3419232/Should-pensionscam-victims-let-tax-bills.html http://www.thisismoney. co.uk/money/pensions/article3397828/Three-tell-tale-signsduped-pension-fraudsters.html
27
Health
By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
Sugar: Not So Sweet and Innocent
osteoarthritis, depression, respiratory problems, sleep apnoea, infertility problems, breast cancer and bowel cancer.
Recently, evidence of sugar’s evils and a potential sugar tax have dominated the media. The Chief Executive of the NHS has even proposed a 20% NHS ‘sugar tax’ on food in England’s NHS cafes. So why is sugar nutrition’s new super-villain? Storing Sugar aS Fat Sugar’s most obvious risks are obesity, which costs the NHS around £6.4bn per year, and tooth decay. What’s less obvious is that when we don’t burn off the sugar we consume our bodies convert it to fat, storing it partly in the liver, which can lead to fatty liver disease, and partly in our fatty tissues. A study of the development of visceral fat - the dangerous, hard-to-shift fat that’s stored around the internal organs - showed that while it increased in all participants, it increased most in people consuming sugar-sweetened drinks on a daily basis. High sugar intake, hand-in-hand with obesity, can also increase our risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gout, 28
Sugary foods can make our blood sugar levels seesaw too, making us irritable and tired when we come ‘down’. However, experts are divided about whether a high sugar diet makes us prone to thrush, although diabetics are at higher risk and there’s anecdotal evidence of low sugar diets helping with recurring thrush. Sugar by any other name... iS Still aS Sweet Your latest grocery purchase may not say it contains ‘sugar’, but glucose, dextrose, maltose, fructose (found in fruit) and lactose (found in cow’s milk) are all different forms of sugar, as is sucrose (our everyday sugar). Honey, molasses, syrup and fruit juice concentrate are often included in supposedly healthy foods, but they all contain sugars too. Beware. Hear ‘sugary foods’ and you probably think of fizzy or fruit drinks, sweetened coffees, biscuits, cakes and chocolate. But check the ingredients of ketchup, pickle, salad cream, barbecue sauce, bottled cooking sauces or shop-bought soup, curry, pizza, savoury foods and low fat ‘healthy’ options - many use large quantities of sugar to improve their taste.
how much iS too much? Intrinsic sugars (those naturally occurring in milk or whole fruit) aren’t related to adverse health effects. However, free sugars - those added to foods or naturally present in fruit juices, honey and syrup – are, and the World Health Organisation has advised us to reduce intake of free sugars to 10% of our daily calories, and down to 5% for further health benefits. The UK Government has now recommended this 5% limit. 5% of our calorie intake is equivalent to around 2530g of sugar (around seven teaspoons). Had a can of standard Coke today, or five Jaffa Cakes? You’ve exceeded your daily sugar allowance. The allowance for children aged 4-6 is 19g a day and for 7-10 year olds, 24g. Yet a standard 200ml Capri Sun contains 20g of sugar. Sugar SwapS and dropS • Swap cereals with added sugar or honey for unsweetened cereals with fruit. • Swap sugary desserts for fruit, plain yogurts or homemade milk puddings. • Ensure sweet treats deliver nutrition too - choose malt loaf over doughnuts. • Exchange fizzy drinks for sparkling water mixed with a no-added-sugar squash. • Gradually wean yourself off sugar added in hot drinks, cooking and baking. Drastically reducing your sugar intake is tough, so start small and let your body (and taste buds) acclimatise.
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Pork Jambalaya
Serves 4
Ready in 55 minutes Cooked in just one pan and on the table in less than an hour this is a great midweek family supper. Serve with garlic bread or a mixed green salad, if liked.
Ingredients: • 1 tbsp groundnut oil • 100g chorizo sausage, sliced • 350g pork loin steaks, cut into chunks • 1 onion, peeled and chopped • 3 celery stalks, trimmed and chopped • 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed • 2 tsp smoked paprika, plus extra for sprinkling • 2 tsp Cajun seasoning • 225g easy-cook long grain rice • 700ml vegetable stock • 100g fine green beans, chopped • 1 large yellow pepper, deseeded and diced
TIP
You can replace the pork in this recipe with diced chicken breast fillet or boneless thigh fillets. Alternatively use large raw king prawns and add them to the pan in step 4 and cook until pink. 30
Heat 1 tsp of the oil in a large deep frying pan and fry the chorizo over a high heat until golden and the fat starts to run. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Add the diced pork to the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes, stirring all the time until browned. Remove and set aside with the chorizo. Add the rest of the oil to the pan and fry the onion, celery and garlic for 5 minutes until beginning to soften. Stir in the spices and rice and cook, stirring, over a medium heat for 2 minutes then pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Return the pork to the pan and cover and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the chorizo, green beans and yellow pepper into the pan and cook, uncovered, for a further 6-7 minutes until the rice and vegetables are tender, adding a little more stock if necessary. Serve sprinkled with a little more smoked paprika and freshly ground black pepper.
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Dated Events (Apr16).qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2016 16:44 Page 1
APRIL EVENTS
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 5th - 9th April Compass Theatre, Glebe Avenue, Ickenham, UB10 8PD. Clifford Hume is starring as the Queen of Hearts in the newly refurbished theatre. For tickets and more info 01895 250615 or visit www.hillingdontheatres.uk Ruislip Stamp Fair 9th April The Ruislip Methodist Church Hall, Ickenham Road, HA4 7DG. For details call 01895 637283.
Local Events April 2016 32
Swim-a-thon in aid of Michael Sobell Hospice 17th April, 9.15am-12.30pm St Helen’s School, Northwood. Support your local hospice join our first ever Swima-thon. Free entry and free parking. Details from Laura Kaye 01923 844906 or e: lkaye@michael sobellhospice.co.uk
Ickenham & Swakeleys Horticultural Society Spring Show 9th April, from 2.30pm Ickenham Village Hall, UB10 8FU. Free entry to see stunning spring flowers and enjoy teas and homemade cakes For more details visit the website www.ickenham-horticultural.org.uk and tweet @IckenhamGarden. Hillingdon Canal Club Talk 12th April Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX. Andrew Taylor, Waterways Chaplaincy – talks about ‘The Role of the Waterways Chaplaincy’. Email: middlesex.socials @waterways.org.uk for details.
HUBB Business Breakfast Event 14th April, 8am-9.30am Bay Lodge, 36 Harefield Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1PH. Networking in partnership with the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce. In this presentation : ‘Living & Working with Autism’. To book email: helen.thompson@wardwilliams.co.uk or visit : www.wardwilliams.co.uk The Hardy Plant Society Middlesex Group Plant Sale 16th April, 10am-2pm The Community Hut (previously Manor Farm Hall), St. Martin’s Car Park, Ruislip, HA4 8BD. Free entry. A fine selection of both usual and unusual plants which you will not find in garden centres. Advice available if required. Contact Brian Franklin on 01923 236043 or go to our website www.hardy-plant-middlesex.org.uk
Lunchtime Classical Music Concert 27th April, 12.15pm. St Martin’s Church Hall, corner Eastcote Road and High Street, HA4 6DG. Valentin Schiedermair (Piano).
Veterans Breakfast Club 30th April The Good Yarn pub, High Street, Uxbridge. All Veterans and Military personnel welcome.
ADVANCE NOTICES
Uxbridge Choral Society & Aylesbury Choral Society 22nd May, 7pm Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Botwell Lane, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2AB. Together performing Verdi’s ‘Requiem’. Tickets: £12 (under 12’s £6) on the door or from www.uxbridgechoralsociety.org.uk Ladies in the Night Walk 10th June, Walk starts 10pm Register for the 6th Annual Michael Sobell Hospice ‘Ladies Night Walk’ (sponsored by Savills Eastate Agents) online at www.michaelsobellhospice.co.uk or call 0203 826 2367 for an entry form and join us for this fantastic community event.
LIVE MUSIC EVENTS The Swan at Iver 2 High Street, Iver, SL0 9NG. 2nd April Michael Bublé tribute 8th April Solace 15th April The Flyers 22nd April 2 Tone show 29th April Introducing ‘Neighbourhood Noise’ The WatersEdge Packet Boat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. 29th April The Ramblers The Whip & Collar Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HU. 29th April Mark Kelly, from 9.15pm
Please send us your details to be included in the May issues by Friday 15th April.
33
knew from the tender age of 5 that he wanted to make films, and follow ing his degree in Film Studies at the University of Kent at Canterbury, he worked for 14 years on other people’s movies in various roles. In April 2014, he decided it was time to make his first short film, and since then he has made 6 shorts (all selffinanced and crowdfunded) which have screened at festivals around the world to great critical acclaim. In June last year, along with a group of friends, colleagues & volunteers, he made a 4 minute long horror film called “Dogged” (as in dogged determination), which was all shot within a 5 mile radius of Iver, so you might recognise some of the locations! The film centres on a young man named Sam, who lives in a rural community (a little like Iver!). When Sam & his girlfriend Lola are caught getting up to no good in his fathers’ car by a masked man, their lives begin to unravel in a depraved spiral of paranoia. Are further encounters with the masked maniacs real, or just imaginary? When Sam goes to visit his grandmother, and finds she has been a victim of the bizarre cult, he must stay alive long enough to expose their identities. The film was shot in a single, tortuous 19 hour day (which was blisteringly hot!) and cost the filmmakers around £300 to produce. It was entered into a BBC 3 competition called “The Fear”, which was designed to unearth the best undiscovered horror directors from around the
fantastically positive reviews from critics the world over. Subsequently, the film has been entered into a number of genre specific festi vals, and is garnering a lot of support & buzz on social media. Buoyed by the responses to the short film, the team behind it decided to adapt it into a feature length film, and throughout February and March have been attempted to finance the shoot via the crowdfunding platform Kick starter. The campaign ended on 25 March, and as of the time of writing, the team do not know if it will be successful – but they have so far raised 37% of their £15,000 goal. All of the cast and crew are working for free and a number of local businesses have offered support to the project, which will again be shot locally. Although Kickstarter forbids offering financial incentives to backers of the projects it pro motes, there are 26 truly unique rewards avail able, including DVD’s of the finished film, cred its on the movie and even the chance to be an extra in the film. Kickstarter is an all or nothing funding site, so if the team do not reach their goal, then they won’t receive any of the money. If that happens, then they have further plans to make a different feature film by the end of the year – but one which they can shoot for next to no money in a single location.
The team call themselves Ash Mountain Films, and they love making movies as a hobby – so if you’d like to be a part of their little community, or if you would like to support the project in any way, (or would like to watch the short film “Dogged” for yourself), you can contact them on Twitter @AshMountainFilm or via the Face th globe. Against all odds, the film finished 5 out book page for the project “Dogged The Movie”. of over 500 entries, and has since had some 34
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It’s Time To Re-Think Your Drinking Habits
by Kate McLelland Why we shouldn’t ignore those warnings about drinking alcohol in old age If you’ve enjoyed a lifetime’s moderate drinking it may be hard to face the prospect of cutting down, or giving up, as you grow older. But the truth is that when people age, they become much more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. One of the reasons is that older people carry less water in their bodies, resulting in a higher blood-alcohol concentration that can lead to confusion and accidents. The toxins in alcohol also build up over time, increasing an older person’s vulnerability to diseases such as heart and liver disease and some cancers. Other health problems may be made worse by drinking and taking prescription drugs with alcohol can also have serious consequences. Most of us have a vision of how we would like to enjoy our retirement and later years and it probably doesn’t involve disease and disability. So why do we find it so hard to reduce our consumption? People enjoy alcohol because it elevates their mood, breaks down inhibitions and relaxes 38
them – but there are other less compelling reasons for taking a drink. Sometimes we drink to relieve boredom and loneliness, because drinking at a certain time has become habitual, or because other people expect us to. Here are some tips to help you break out of those old routines and establish new ones: We are creatures of habit. If you are used to pouring your first drink of the evening at 6.30pm, try to make it an hour later and have a non-alcoholic drink in its place. Gradually start to drink later and later until you’ve reduced the number of drinks you normally have by at least half. We all need a bit of help. It’s important to tell friends and family that you’re making an effort to cut down on drinking. Bring them into your plans so they can help you to avoid your usual drinking ‘triggers’. Don’t set yourself unrealistic targets. Avoid saying that you’re giving up alcohol forever. Start out with an objective to keep off the booze for a couple of days, then a week, then longer. If you drink to relieve boredom or loneliness, try
to fill that space with another activity that will challenge you and bring you into contact with other people. Avoid temptation. Try not to keep alcohol at home where it is easily accessible. Buy individual bottles of wine rather than wine boxes. It’s much easier to keep track of how much you are actually drinking when you are pouring from a bottle. Don’t get trapped by routines. If you always meet friends in a place where alcohol is freely available – like a pub – meet them in a different location such as a coffee bar. If it has to be a pub, alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks or order a glass of water with your wine and drink both more slowly. We all need rewards for doing well. Estimate how much you would normally spend on booze and buy yourself something nice with the money when you’ve managed to cut down. You may find it tough at first to break old habits, but feeling healthy, energetic, slimmer and better off financially should not only help you reach your goals, but allow you to look forward to the future with greater confidence.
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Answers pg 53
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41
Golden Years
Memories of 50 Years Ago by Ted Bruning
The cleverest inventions often fail at what they’re intended to do but then go on to succeed brilliantly elsewhere. I could write a list, but seeing that 6th April 1966 is perhaps the most significant date in its history, let’s focus on one outstanding example: the hovercraft. We tend to think of the hovercraft as a product of our own age, and indeed it is; but the advantages of minimizing or even eliminating contact between hull and water have long been obvious. The first patent in hovercraft design was taken out by John Thornycroft (as in Vosper Thornycroft) way back in 1877 - but his was the age of steam, and no suitable engine existed. Once petrol engines were available, designers became interested in contactless or reduced-contact motorboats again - but now their inspiration was aviation technology, and between 1915 and 1940 prototypes of various steppedhull and hydroplane coastal craft were built in Austro-Hungary, Finland, the USSR, the USA amongst others. World War II put a stop to these developments, but in the 1950s a Norfolk boatbuilder, Christopher Cockerell, decided to revisit Thorneycroft’s patent. Light but powerful engines were plentiful, and Cockerell was also able to design a way of swirling the air cushion on which his 42
hovercraft would ride that made it more efficient still. At last, a craft that would rise clear out of the water! Cockerell’s design won the support of the National Research Development Council, which licensed his 1955 patent to a number of builders including Saunders-Roe; and on 11th June 1959 the four-seater 28mph SR-N1 (Saunders Roe Nautical 1) was launched. The craft was then shipped to Calais and on 25th July made the first Channel crossing by hovercraft. It wasn’t the first into service, though – that honour went to the rival Vickers-Armstrong 3, which started a scheduled ferry service across the Dee between Rhyl and Wallasey in July and August 1962. The second, launched in the same year, used a new Saunders-Roe hovercraft, SRN2, to cross the Solent between Ryde and Southsea – a service that still runs today, albeit with rather more modern craft! But the Channel was the challenge, both technically and commercially. It was open sea, the weather could be rough, and hovercraft had not so far proved themselves terribly robust (the VA-3’s career was ended by a storm). But the potential pickings were rich: international travel was becoming more affordable and more popular, and Dover and Folkestone were at full stretch. So, on that April day 50 years ago, the 38-seater SR-N6 raised itself up on its rubber skirt (an improvement designed not by Cockerell but by a naval officer called LatimerNeedham), trundled down the Ramsgate beach that would be the service’s home for the next 16 years, and set off on
the 40-minute, 35-mile journey to Calais. Connecting coaches would take passengers on to Paris for £3.7s.6d or Brussels for £2.7s.6d. Cheaper and faster they might be, but cross-Channel hovercraft never really challenged the ferry’s supremacy. Like the British airliners, the Trident and the VC-10, there wasn’t enough demand for them to justify a permanent production line: the later models even had to cannibalise each other for spare parts. The oil crisis of the early ‘70s made them less competitive; the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 proved a fatal blow. The last two were retired in September 2000, just a year after the death of their inventor. Hovercraft are, of course, still in use around the world as coastal search and rescue vessels, as military transport and assault craft, as buses using frozen Alaskan rivers in winter, although they’ve never eclipsed conventional vessels as was once hoped. But the field in which they have proved most successful is one that Cockerell probably never expected: gardening. For in 1964 a Swedish engineer, Karl Dahlman, saw an early hovercraft in action...and invented the Flymo.
Happy 50tH BirtHdays to
Chris Evans (1st), Teddy Sheringham (2nd), Lisa Stansfield (11th), and Phil Tufnell (29th)
Cake and botox to you all!
S
43
Motoring
Range Rover on Test By James Baggott Finding Nemo could work his fishy magic at keeping the Are We Nearly There Yets at bay until at least Dover.
It’s the dreaded question that anyone even remotely connected to cars fears more than any other: what’s your favourite car? But finally I might have the answer: the Range Rover. Not the Sport or Evoque but the good old fashioned, full fat Rangie. A looming family holiday looming involving a 1,500-mile trip gave the perfect excuse to borrow the car, and after two 13-hour shifts behind the wheel I can honestly say there’s nothing else I’d rather have been in. Here’s why. First, it’s super comfortable. The front seats in our Range Rover were heated and cooled and had more adjustments than a home hi-fi amplifier from the 1980s. The huge armchair like seats with cushioned headrests never dulled a muscle and left us with no aches and pains. With a five-year-old on board, the £7,300 entertainment pack (yes, you read that right) was a blessing. Two 10.2-inch rear screens and wireless headphones meant 44
The multimedia system might be showing its age a little but it works well. It takes seconds to hook your phone up the satnav for music streaming, might look a little dated but it got us to France, Switzerland and home without fail and it’s simple to set a DVD running for the rear occupants while listening to Dad FM in the front. Then there’s the size – I know Range Rovers are massive, but when it comes to getting a ski trip’s worth of luggage inside, it coped admirably. Despite using up the entire boot space there was ample room inside – enough to curl up for a snooze in the back and enjoy the equally cosseting rear seats when my wife drove. For its size it’s no slouch. Our test car had the delightful 4.4-litre SDV8. Despite only returning 26mpg, with a top speed of 135mph and a 060mph time of 6.8 seconds, it’s brisk enough for French Autoroutes. It piles on speed in a smooth and linear fashion, quietly and without fuss, whilst adding to the feeling of luxury travel. However, what really sets the Range Rover apart are the
little touches. Things like the soft-close doors, the illuminated logos projected onto the floor by the wing mirrors at night, and the front seat armrests that adjust to the perfect height. I love the fridge in the centre console, the cameras all around the car that make it a doddle to park, and the split tailgate that automatically opens and closes at the touch of a button. But above all it’s the fact that despite all this luxury and Rolls Royce-rivaling opulence, it’s still so utterly capable off road. As we arrived in Villars, Switzerland, the snow was falling heavily and cars were being abandoned up the mountain as snow chains failed to do their jobs. But not the Range Rover. A flick of the all terrain response button to its Snow & Ice setting and away we went. So there you have it. The one car I would buy if I had to live it with it for the rest of my life. Just as long as I could afford the £109,710 for the pleasure…
The Knowledge Model: Range Rover Autobiography Price: £109,710 (with options) Engine: 4.4-litre SDV8 Power: 339bhp / 740Nm 0-60mph: 6.8seconds Top Speed: 135mph CO2: 219g/km Economy: 33.6mpg
45
Short Story Finance
Don’tOnbe Taken InBrewster By Alpaca The Line By Jackie Scammers
“Once again we apologise for the delay.” Godfrey, trapped in a stuffy train carriage cluttered with empty food wrappers, rolled his eyes at the announcement. His wife, Betty, had gallantly joined the queue for the buffet, so now he was bored and had no one to entertain him. The young man opposite was absorbed in his Spycraft magazine, that he Since newunconcerned pension regulations was taking up all of were introduced in Godfrey’s 2015, leg room. have been using the conmen Godfrey had already noted from new freedoms to target people the badge pinned to the man’s approaching retirement. One of shirt that hisinvolves name was Daniel the scams telling those Goffin underand the that age he’d of 55been that a ‘legal attending first aid training loophole’aallows them access course. also observed to their He’d full pension, with no from the reserved card requirement to pay taxinon the Daniel’s seat that they would a money withdrawn (in reality, only this table until ratebe of sharing up to 55%). the next station, which was of Pension monies are then little comfort given that the train moved into an alternative wasn’t even moving. scheme run by the fraudsters, “We currently awaiting a withare savings either being stolen farmer’s assistance to herd or severely diminished aftera stray alpaca off the line,” extortionate charges arethe made announcement continued. for the ‘service’. Daniel looked up from his book. To make matters worse, HM “What’s an alpaca?” he said to Revenue and Customs has no one in particular. Godfrey been sending out bills to smiled to himself. reclaim tax on the amounts “Very good question,” Godfrey withdrawn, leaving victims replied. “It’s interesting, isn’t of the scam with no pension it,savings how most are andpeople in large-scale debt unaware real life espionage in some of cases. situations?” How canDaniel tHe conmen “Are they?” seemed operate so effectively? amazed. Although younger people “Very much so,” Godfrey are a clear target for pension continued. “I spent years in the scammers, those aged 55 and Secret Service so I can always over are also under threat. spot a code word when I hear With no restrictions on how it”. pension savings can be used, 46
The Pension
By Ann Haldon
“A code for what?” Daniel put downindividuals his unscrupulous magazine. and criminal groups are “The ‘alpaca’ naturally taking advantage of a lack of refers to an within agent the industry, regulation on thisanvery train whoabout is in how plus uncertainty possession of top secret data,” best to invest such a large he whispered. “’On the line’ amount of money. means his cover’s been blown.” Inefficient systems also form “Why would they announce it?” part of the problem, enabling Daniel asked, conmen to setdumbfounded. up these “That’s the interesting bit,” HM rogue pension schemes. Godfrey said. leaned are in not Revenue andHe Customs closer. “Now they need pension regulators, butahaving ‘farmer’.” introduced a ‘fit and proper person’ test in 2014, they have Daniel frowned. at‘farmer’, least attempted to control the “A as that periodical potential for fraudulent activity. you’re reading will no doubt
HMRC the power to detell you, has is a civilian volunteer.” register scanned or refusethe to register Godfrey carriage newifpension toa see anyone scheme, else wasbut some have saidtask theyisshould listening. “Their to collect the data andresponsibility deposit it safely. take more for It’s your deadtodrop.” what is classic happening victims, rather than chasing them for tax “How?” Daniel had also started payments. whispering. “The volunteer goesare fromtHe table wHat exactly tonew tablepension collecting freedoms? up all the refuse into speciala bag. It There’s noalonger looks like a normal requirement to buysupermarket an annuity carrier bagpension but it is impregnated with your savings with a microscopic homing in order to fund retirement, device.” although it is still an option. “It’s amazing theyacan do Some peoplewhat choose staged now,” Daniel said in awe. income drawdown, which involves purchasing and “Isn’t it just?” Godfreystocks agreed. shares and cashing them in “Then the bag must be placed a period inover a rubbish binofattime. the next station.” Others prefer to invest in property at home or abroad, Daniel looked staggered. earninghe ansaid income from renting “Why?” finally. out their investment, and “Because agent have benefitingthe from the will increase placed the data in an empty in its capital value. People coffee carton or something like searching for the best return on that.” Godfrey tried to contain their pension savings are now his exasperation. more vulnerable to conmen,
however, especially in an industry with such complex products. “Why are you this?” watcH outtelling for me tHese Daniel asked suspiciously. common pHrases used “Because Daniel Goffin,” By tHe scammers Godfrey a plastic bag Specificpulled phrases have been out of his knapsacktoand slid it used by conmen garner across the “you’ve been interest in table, their schemes, and chosen.” to motivate their victims into “Why me?” taking action. They include: ‘legal loophole’ avoid “I• believe they felt to your first aid paying tax on pension training might come in handy.” withdrawals if you’re under 55 Daniel turned a shade of green. • ‘sophisticated investor’ “Is there a reward?” he asked • suggesting you invest in an finally. ‘alternative’ area or those ‘not “Surely servingavailable’ your country is traditionally reward Godfrey • ‘free enough?” pension review’ or said. a ‘free “Think of it of asyour a kind of jury pot’ transfer pension service.” By telling you about a free Daniel touched the carrierreview, bag pension or government gingerly. scammers may be attempting to obtain personal “It’s your chance toand be afinancial hero,” information. ‘Guaranteed level Godfrey added magnificently. of investment’ is also a phrase Daniel’s eyes sparkled. to watch out for, as are time“I’ll do it.” He stood up limited offers and any form decisively, bumping his head on of pressure to make you sign the baggage rack. quickly, i.e. before you’re able “Good man,” Godfrey said, “if to access other professional anyone advice.asks, this conversation never happened.” project He watched Bloom him go just as taskforce Betty returned. A new taskforce has been set “What’s that strange young man up by the government and doing?” she said, handing him the National Crime Agency to a packet of biscuits. “You’ve combat the problem of pension not been playing secret agents fraud. A ‘perfect storm’ of new again have you? You did pension regulations, lack of promise.” The train shunted into awareness about where to motion. reinvest, and the fact that large “He’ll Godfrey sumsbe ofalright,” money are involved, smiled, stretching out his to legs. has enabled scammers “I’ve just given a little get away with him too many project to keepcons. him busy.” sophisticated
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Gadgets For The Indoor Gardener
You don’t need to get dirty to grow great things
Spring has sprung and it’s gardening season. But not everybody has a garden or access to decent growing space - and even if you do have the space, the recent stormy weather has been enough to keep all but the most determined gardener indoors. Don’t despair, though: there are plenty of gadgets that enable you to grow great things indoors or when you have limited space for green things. There are even tools to design gardens that don’t exist. If you’re also a keen cook, you’ll like the Indoor Allotment (£24.99, currently on preorder at Firebox.com): it’s a miniature herb garden complete with picket fence and storage shed. It includes basil, coriander and oregano along with everything you need to get your herbs growing - and it’s small enough to fit in the corner of a windowsill. If you fancy something a little bit more ambitious, IKEA’s Socker miniature greenhouse is just £12 with an assembled size of 45cm wide, 22cm deep and 35cm high, which is more than enough for all kinds of plants. You can also keep the roof vents partly open to improve air circulation for plants that don’t like it too hot. 48
While you’re in IKEA, it’s worth checking out their self-watering plant pots too. The Sötcitron and PS Fejö pots (from £6 to £16) are designed for those of us who don’t always remember to water our plants, and do a superb job for very little money. Fancy something a little more high-tech? The Click and Grow (€59.95 from clickandgrow.com) describes itself as a “smart garden” and uses a NASA-inspired combination of hydroponics and electronics to ensure that your plants get the right combination of water, oxygen and nutrients without you doing anything. It includes a LED lamp for maximum germination, and because it’s LED the running costs are microscopic. The creators suggest growing petunias, tomatoes, chillies, basil or thyme but it should be able to handle anything that isn’t too large. If you’ve got green fingered children, the Chuppon selfwatering animal planter (£9.99) should delight them: it’s a ceramic animal with a herb basket on its back and a straw that sips from any glass or mug. There are four animals and four herbs to choose from, although of course you can put your own herbs in instead.
Even the smartphone has made its presence felt in the world of gardening, and there are lots of apps and devices for indoor and outdoor gardening. One of the cleverest devices is the Parrot Flower Power, a wireless device that sits in your plant pot and monitors the plant’s health, sending alerts to your phone. It’s available for Apple and Android phones, measures sunlight, temperature, fertiliser and moisture, and it currently costs £42. That’s probably a bit steep if you’re growing cress, but if you’ve got something exotic or temperamental it could be a very wise investment indeed. There’s another type of digital gardening you can do, and that’s to create a virtual one in your computer - something you can do just for fun, or to plan what you’ll do to a real garden space. There are many garden planning apps to choose from, including My Garden (free from www.gardena.com/uk) and Marshalls Garden Visualiser (free from www.marshalls. co.uk). Happy gardening! Images L to R: Indoor Allotment; Chuppon selfwatering animal planter; Parrot Flower Power; Click and Grow Smart Garden.
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Karen Munro Careers (Apr16).qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2016 14:45 Page 1
Karen Munro - Career Coach www.munrocareers.co.uk
twitter - @munrocareers facebook - munrocareers
Karen is a professional and qualified Careers Practitioner and Trainer who provides support in all aspects of Career Development and Transition including effective CV Coaching, Interview Skills and Networking Techniques. A member of the Association of Coaching and registered with the Careers Professional Alliance, she works with both private and business clients around London and the South East who are looking for career change, direction, motivation and support. She works as an Associate Career Coach for a number of organisations including Right Management, Personal Career Management Ltd and is part of the MOD contract providing career support and guidance to Military Personnel transitioning in to civilian life. Karen contributes to ‘In and Around’ every month sharing her practical knowledge and wealth of experience with her local community.
Time for a change? SPRING is here and it’s that time of year when we all start updating things, such as spring cleaning our house, putting away all our winter clothes, throwing out our old and unwanted items, painting and redecorating in brighter and lighter colours. It’s time to shake away the winter, open up all the windows and let the sunshine in. It’s time to make changes. Change is a constant. It’s happening all around us. Change it good. At the end of last year I also considered what needed changing in my life. So, this year I set about winning and securing new business contracts, increasing my private coaching practice and on a more personal note, moving home (not too far though!). So, I am also going through a period of change and as I type this month’s article I am surrounded by packing boxes! Change can be a daunting prospect and it is often much easier for us to stick with the status quo and continue doing what we are doing and keep everything safe and within our own limits. However, if we never push ourselves to make change we can also become stale, de-motivated and we can lose our enthusiasm. Many companies who have not embraced change have ended up falling victim to it – a strong company will always be looking to change, grow and embrace new initiatives. It is therefore equally important we, as individuals do the same. Don’t allow change to become more of a challenge or a threat. Use it to achieve more and bring you new experiences and adventures. It is difficult to know what lies ahead and it can generate a credible fear of the unknown, which inevitably causes us to refuse to change at all. We even may rely on others to help us and tell us what to do. 50
“Find a job you love and you will never work again.” Winston Churchill
When coaching a client through career change one of the most important messages to relay is that change comes from within. It is never about someone telling someone what to do, what is right for them, or how they need to change. They have to want it and embrace it in order to create it. A good career coach will guide a client to help them find the answers they need themselves. They will empower the client to recognise what is important to them, what their values and strengths are and help them identify what change they want to make, no matter how big or small. So, remember, Spring is here – what changes are you going to make?
Karen
“unlocking your career potential”
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Our Annual General Meeting is on Tuesday 28th April, 8pm at the Sports Club. Everyone is welcome. Make a note in your diary to come along and hear what we have been doing and let us know what you would like us to do. Some of your local Councillors will be available to answer questions on their activities in our area over the past year and the Neighbourhood Police team will be also represented. We are sure that there will be much discussion of the many developments that are impacting on our area. We will shortly be delivering the AGM notice and Agenda to you along with the envelope for your subscriptions. We aim to represent all the residents of Richings Park and Thorney and are a nonprofit making organisation relying solely on residents’ annual contributions to finance our activities. The minutes from previous AGMs and the statement of our accounts are on our website.
Western Railway Heathrow
Access
to
This work will close Mansion Lane permanently with no alternative route! So all the additional traffic will come via Richings Park to go to Iver and beyond. Network rail says that Masion Lane does 52
not carry much traffic but it appears that they put their traffic monitors in the wrong place – on the closed part of Hollow Hill Lane!!! All we are going to get are some traffic “mitigation measures” on local roads whatever they might be but no contribution to our relief road. The consultation closes on 4th April, if you have not sent in your views please do so by emailing westernraillinktoheathrow@networkrail.co.uk or collect a form from the Parish Council Office.
Crossrail – the new bridge
Well we are now told April for it to be open! There will continue to be works going on there, at the station and in Thorney Mill Road for some time. Information is available on Richingspark.today as we receive it.
The Local Plans
The consultation on the South Bucks Local plan has generated a large number of responses and we await information on the outcome and the next stage. The Parish Council Neighbourhood Plan is next where residents can have a say on what happens in their road and neighbourhood. Watch out for details of how you can get involved.
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Go On, Grow Your Own! by Pippa Greenwood
Enjoying a delicious meal which includes some home grown ingredients is a wonderful feeling – it fills you full of just the right sort of pride (and maybe even a little bit of smugness!). It simply feels good to indulge in a bit of Grow Your Own and then reap the rewards.
You may well have been sowing and potting on vegetables for a while now, but if you’re behind schedule or haven’t produced vegetables before, don’t panic – there’s still time to grow just about any crop in your plot this year. Most plants can be raised from seed now, but there are a few that are likely to give a much better yield with an earlier start. Instead, buy in plants of crops such as tomatoes, sweet peppers, chilli peppers, melons and aubergines over the next month or so. Some vegetables can be directly sown now into wellprepared garden soil in a suitable spot in all but the coolest gardens – beetroot, lettuce, beans, peas, carrots, rocket, spinach to name but a few. Slightly more tender crops such as sweetcorn, squash and courgettes fare better if given a bit of extra heat when you are 54
germinating the seeds, which is where an electrically heated propagator really comes into its own. The seedlings may then need pricking out and potting on until they are sturdy enough to live in the great outdoors, but try to ‘harden off’ the young plants before placing them into their final positions as they may be damaged by cold, wind or rain. Put the young plants outside on warm days once the weather has stabilised, and bring them back under cover at night. Leave them outside after a week or so, covering them with fleece at night to let them acclimatise.
To save time, you can buy in small plants and you will get a good range from seed merchants or garden centres, but if you would like advice from me to ensure great results, don’t forget that you can still order garden-ready plants, accompanied by weekly advice and tips emails specific to the vegetables you’ve chosen to grow. There are more details at www.pippagreenwood. com/grow-your-own and you can use the code 12419-E7SPS at the checkout to get £4.00 discount, whichever pack size you choose. Garden-ready plants can be planted out immediately and, provided you
follow the instructions, keep them well-watered during drier weather and apply feed at regular intervals, you will soon be harvesting crops such as climbing French and runner beans, tomatoes, sweetcorn, sugar-snap peas, peppers, chillies, onions, melons, butternut squash, beetroot and courgettes.
Most vegetables need a good fertile soil and a sunny or partly shaded spot, so choose your growing area with care. If space is limited, don’t worry – most vegetables will do well in good sized containers (minimum 30cm x 30cm x 30cm) with good-quality compost, though bigger pots will need less frequent watering. But, whether you plant and sow vegetables in pots, tubs, greenhouses or open ground, the end result will be gorgeous tasting, superfresh vegetables. So go on, get growing! Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ - fantastic UK grown vegetable plants of your choice plus weekly advice and tips emails from Pippa, Nemaslug, biological controls, pop-up crop covers, signed books and lots more besides.
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Pets Corner... (Apr16).qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2016 12:38 Page 1
Spring has sprung - some seasonal tips... !! G G N N I I N R RN A W WA
NOT really a spring peril but this is an opportunity to issue a warning about jerky treats. There have been numerous reports of dogs suffering from illness following ingestion of these. Some dogs have been just a bit off colour but a number have suffered severe kidney failure. Many will recover following treatment and withdrawal of the treats but some dogs have died. In most cases these have been chicken or duck jerky treats from China, fed in large quantities. We are not sure why these are causing problems so currently advise not to feed these treats at all.
After another mild winter there’ll certainly again be a glut of slugs and snails in our gardens. Puppies will often eat them by choice but even if adult dogs don’t they could accidentally ingest the larvae from eating grass and ingesting the slime trail. Slugs and snails transmit Lungworm which is a serious and frequently fatal disease. Clearing slugs and snails from the garden is a near impossible task so it is important to prevent Lungworm as it is difficult to treat. Thankfully this is easily achievable with effective products from your vet. Beware if you are putting down slug bait that it is palatable and toxic to dogs so you must prevent them gaining access to it. Coco-shell mulch is a popular product in use in gardens these days. Remember, all chocolate products are toxic to pets and the coco-shell, which is attractive to dogs, is particularly rich in theobromine, the poisonous ingredient. It is much safer to use alternatives such as tree bark. The pollen count will be going up as hayfever sufferers know and animals, especially dogs, can suffer from ‘hayfever’ too. They rarely however snuffle and sneeze but suffer from atopic dermatitis especially on the paws, belly and ears - chronic ear conditions are often caused by this. While grass is a natural diet for rabbits, spring lawn grass is lush and low in fibre and can cause diarrhoea so allow access sparingly. Remember: never to give lawn mowings to rabbits or guinea pigs as it will ferment and cause diarrhoea. While on this subject, be aware of fly strike. This is something I cannot repeat too often. Check your rabbit’s bottom every day, especially during warm spells, for signs of contamination with faeces and urine and clean it thoroughly if it is dirty. Special long-lasting fly repellent products are available to apply to the skin. If you see evidence of fly eggs and maggots wash them off and seek immediate veterinary advice. 56
Tulips and daffodils are poisonous, especially their bulbs, however lilies pose a particular hazard for cats because they are attracted to them and all parts are very toxic including the pollen. Cats often sniff the pollen or get it on their coats and groom it off. This applies especially to lilies indoors and it is advisable that anyone with cats to avoid accessible displays of this flower. As the weather warms up so fleas and other skin parasites become more active so remember to re-start or continue adequate flea and parasite control.
M C Atkinson BVSc MRCVs www.stmartinsvetclinic.com
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Home & Interiors
Planning A Master Bedroom By Katherine Sorrell
Your bedroom is a highly personal space, but if you are considering selling, or want to enhance your property value long term, you’ll need to design it so it has general appeal, says Katherine Sorrell. Your first consideration when planning a master bedroom is comfort. Zone the space according to use – sleeping, dressing, exercising, checking your laptop, reading – perhaps drawing a scaled plan of the room to help with layout. It’s nice to have your bedhead opposite the window, for example, with a bedside table each side, but allow at least 450mm of space around the bed to give you enough room. Include plenty of storage: a wall of fitted wardrobes is a great option, and you can add freestanding pieces such as chests of drawers and blanket boxes for character and flexibility. It may also be possible to create a separate dressing area, using a tall bedhead, a bookcase or 58
wide wardrobe as a partition. Although watching TV is not necessarily conducive to a good night’s sleep, it is still a lovely idea to include one in the bedroom – it’s ideal for a Sunday lie-in. Fitted furniture manufacturers can provide cupboards from which TVs pop up or slide out, while music specialists offer all sorts of speakers and sound systems. You will probably also want a place for a landline phone, a small desk for your computer, ereader or tablet, and somewhere to plug in a phone charger. Even in a bedroom, you can’t have too many plug sockets. Wall-to-wall carpet, especially pure new wool, is a good idea for a master bedroom but choose a high quality underlay for bounce and softness. Alternatively, combine underfloor heating with engineered wooden boards and rugs for a traditional look with character – and still enjoy warmth underfoot. The latter option also saves the space that the radiator would have taken up. Well-designed lighting is an asset in the master bedroom and though a central pendant is fine for general, overhead light, add wall-mounted reading lights beside the bed, a bright, adjustable light above your dressing table and perhaps
a table lamp or two to create a gentle glow, thus providing pleasing ambience and flexibility. For restful darkness for sleeping, ensure curtains have a blackout lining, or choose well-fitting shutters – which will block out noise, too. It is important to get the combination of bed linen and window treatments right - when the bed is plain, some pattern at the window is lovely, and vice versa – simply avoid two patterns that clash. Plain curtains can look beautiful if made from a generous amount of fabric, hung from a pole with pretty finials at the ends, and finished with an edging of ruffles or a contrast border. If privacy is a problem, consider adding sheer or lace curtains. An en-suite - virtually a necessity nowadays - will make your home more saleable and may add value. A walk-in wardrobe could be converted to an en-suite (though a proper bath will need more room), or knock through and steal space from an adjacent room. Compact fittings can be effective in a tight space, but must be practical for regular use. Remember, the least expensive place to install an en-suite bathroom is close to other plumbing, particularly the soil pipe. And, because the room leads directly off the bedroom, install low-noise sanitaryware, dimmable lights and a highpowered extractor fan controlled separately from the light. Image - Soft carpet, sumptuous curtains and a deeply buttoned headboard all add up to a sense of luxury. Huntington bed, £1,175, Sweetpea & Willow, tel 0345 257 2627; www.sweetpeaandwillow.com.
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IVER What's On... (Apr16).qxp_Layout 1 29/03/2016 17:16 Page 1
Hair
regular events...
hobbies...
Pavilions Shopping Centre Arts, Crafts, Gifts and Collectables www.uxbridge-craft-market.co.uk
art Classes Come & Join Us! Isabel Hunt, your local artist, teaches a new project every week, which can be a landscape, seascape, still life, pets, portraiture, etc. In the first 2 sessions equipment/materials are provided. at St Marys Church Hall St Marys Rd Langley SL3 7EN info: 07411 125407 or 01753 542209 chavi2000@hotmail.com bobbin lace Making group Every Thu 7.30pm at Southlands House, The Green, Swan Road, West Drayton. Call Julie 020 8897 9368 or Margaret 01895 851349 Chinese brush Painting group We meet on Saturday mornings. The class is guided by an experienced tutor. Learn to compose and develop your own Chinese painting style as well the finer points of Chinese calligraphy. At Harefield Library, Park Lane Village Centre, Harefield or contact Phyllis Nash on 01895 476 644 / phyllnash@gmail.com French sessions in iver French Intermediate Class. Small friendly group with French Native Teacher meets every Tues. Iver Village Hall 7.30-9.30pm from Sept 22nd 2015 Call 07940 281233 e: c.marionnet@blueyonder.co.uk inland Waterways association Meet 2nd Tues of every month at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2QX, 7.30pm. middlesex.social@waterways.org.uk
keeP-Fit, danCe & draMa...
adults Zumba Classes Running on Wednesdays 6-7pm at Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margaret's Close. Call Diane 07926 854184. ballet Classes Iver Heath Village Hall, Friday 4.457pm. Call L Killian 01753 814280
bokwa Fitness tone & Core Energetic workout that anyone can pick up, dancer or not. Wednesdays 6.15pm-7.10pm, Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre. Penny, 07771 872592/01895 420409; learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk
boxfit Saturdays 9.45-10.45am at the Evreham Sport Centre, Iver. An exciting class which uses focus pads and gloves to enhance an excellent aerobic workout. Call 01753 672610 Children's Zumba (Zumbatomic) Classes Wednesdays at 3.30-5.30pm at Iver Heath Village Hall, Saint Margaret's Close. Call Diane on 07926 854184 Futunity Street Dance and Hip Hop for children age 7-11 years. Fri's from 4-9pm call Cheryl on 01753 651754 or email childcare@ivercommunity.org donna’s keep Fit Iver Heath Village Hall. Call Donna 01753 674945. Tue 9.45-10.45am Fitness Club St Catherine School, Money Lane, West Drayton, UB7 7NX. Thu 6-7pm Circuits, Fitness and Boxercise. £5 a class. Shaun Thompson, 07906 087749 www.tauruspt.co.uk hour of Power - ultimate Workout Wed 7pm at the Evreham Sports Centre, Iver. Call 01753 672610.
Mandarin tuition In Iver Heath. All welcome. Experienced teacher. Call Yuan on 07932 649107 or ynhyuan@yahoo.co.uk
iver heath drama Club Wednesday at Iver Heath New Village Hall between 7.45pm & 10pm. Contact Matt Streuli email: matt@ihdc.co.uk or www.ihdc.co.uk
uxbridge Craft Market Every Wednesday (9am-5pm) at The
Jazzercise Classes New Denham Community Centre
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Monday 9.30am-10.30am and Tuesday 6.45pm-7.45pm. Wed, Thurs and Friday 9.45-10.45am Denham Village Memorial Hall Village Road, Denham, Bucks. Thursday 6.30-7.30pm. Contact Wendy Whitefoord, Tel: 07803 602142 or email: wendy.whitefoord@btinternet.com www.jazzercise.com
Free Family games event Second Saturday of every month - for parents, carers and guardians with children of all ages, at the Kings Church, Iver, 10am-midday - visit www.hartentertainment.co.uk for details or call 07747 063149 to let us know your coming. Open to all.
ladies only kickboxing Club Wednesdays, 6.30-8.00pm at Watts Hall, Redford Way, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ. First Class FREE! Leanne Phillips on 07518 848285 email: leanne @kickboxing-longdon.co.uk www.kickboxing-london.co.uk
nordic Walking & Wellbeing All round exercise in the open air, 4 week courses various days and locations pre booking essential contact 07771872592 / learningmoves@hotmailco.uk Personal training Looking for some extra help to get fit & into shape? For more info and prices call Rachel on 07745 622011 Pilates Iver Heath Village Hall on Thurs 7pm8pm call Mrs S Webb 01923 721335 Pilates Class Thursdays 9.30-10.30am. St Peter's Centre, Iver. All levels, booking essential. Call Rachel 07745 622011. Pilates and tai Chi Fit courses Tuesdays 7.30-8.30pm, Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre. Contact Penny 07771 872592/01895 420409; learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk PiYo® Classes Sweat, stretch & strengthen all in one low-impact, music -driven, body sculpting workout. Tues 7-7.45pm. St Peter's Centre, Iver. £5 per class booking essential. Call Rachel on 07745 622011. Pinewood Fitness The Fitness Room, Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath, Sl0 0NH. Mon 20.00-21.00, Wed 19.30-20.30. Booking only. Various Fitness Circuits, Boxercise, Gym Work. £5 a class. Shaun Thompson, 07906 087749 www.tauruspt.co.uk continued overleaf...
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KEEP-FIT, DANCE & DRAMA CONTINUED...
ZUMBA ® Fitness Classes Mon & Thurs 7-8pm. St Peters Centre, Iver - all levels welcome! Call Rachel on 07745 622011.
for a cup of tea, a chat and a biscuit. If you enjoy singing please come along to watch us one evening or visit www.signaturesingers.com
Zumba Fitness Weds 8-9pm at Langley Grammar School Sport Centre Reddington Drive Langley, SL3 8LL and Thurs 7-8pm at Yiewsley / West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Rd, West Drayton UB7 9JL.Call Gabriel 07735 090325, gabrielzumba@instructor.net www.gabriel84.zumba.com
Stoke Poges Singers A friendly four-part choir with about forty members singing a wide variety of music during the year. New members are always welcome and there are no auditions. The ability to read music is not essential. Rehearsals on Thursday evening at St Andrews Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges from 8pm. Come along to a rehearsal or contact Naomi on 07831 217575 or Cheryl on 01753 655682. www.stoke-poges-singers.org
Salsa Classes Every Monday: The Middlesex Arms, Long Drive, South Ruislip, HA4 0HG. Beginners class starts 8pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.459.30pm. Freestyle dancing/practice time til 11pm. Every Wednesday: The WatersEdge, Canal Cottages, Packetboat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2JS. Beginners class starts 7:30pm. Improvers/Intermediates: 8.309.30pm. Freestyle dancing til 11pm
Tap Dance Mondays 7.30-8.30pm at Meadows Community Centre, West Drayton. Adult Beginner/Intermediate tap. No exams. Contact 01895 420409 / learningmoves@hotmail.co.uk Taurus Circuits Pinewood Studio. With Personal Trainer Shaun. Monday 8pm-9pm Booking only 07906 087749 Tai Chi Classes Tues 10am at the Evreham Sports Centre, Iver. Call 01753 672610 Tai Chi Classes Every Saturday 10-11am, Yiewsley Methodist Church, Fairfield Road, UB7 8EY. Call Dan 07880 601429 Toddler & Junior Fitness Fun Junior Trampolining Weds 4.30pm5.30pm held at the Evreham Sports Centre Iver. Call 01753 672610. Weight Watchers Chalfont St Peter Community Centre SL9 9QX. Wednesdays, 7pm. Iver Village Hall, SL0 9NW. Thursdays, 6.30pm. Iver Heath Village Hall SL0 0DA Saturdays, 9am Call Nicky 07443 567244 nicky_iverww@hotmail.com www.weightwatchers.co.uk Yoga Iver Heath Village Hall Mon 6.30-7.45pm Jonathan Bell 07790 682238 ZUMBA in Langley Mon 7-8pm & Tues 7-8pm St. Mary's Church Centre. Thurs 7-8pm St. Francis Church Hall. 64
MUSIC...
Faraday Country Music Club in Slough SL2 1RN. Join us for the best live Country Music every Thursday for listeners, western partners, freestyle or line dancers. From 8-11pm. Contact Deb 07986 050742. www.faradaycountry.co.uk Iver Singers Singing for Fun We’re a friendly group who meet every Tuesday (term time) at Evreham Adult Education Centre, between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. No Auditions. No previous experience necessary. Please contact Sara Adams: sara@ iversingers.com, 07733 466177, or visit www.iversingers.com for more. Richings Players Award winning amateur theatre group perform three shows per year at Iver Village Hall. Contact Evelyn on 07950 039827 richingsplayers@mail.com See www.richingsplayers.co.uk. The Windsor & District Big Bands Appreciation Society Meet on 2nd Wed of each month at 7.30pm, Datchet Hall, Horton Rd, Datchet. Meetings feature the music of the big bands of the 40s & 50s Swing era. Two recitals from records, tapes & CDs, along with a raffle and sometimes a live band. If you like to reminisce, do come along and join us! Contact Derek on 01753 654398 Signature A Cappella singers We meet on a Monday night at Iver Heath Village Hall, St Margaret’s Close, Iver Heath SLO 0DQ. Time 7.45-10.30 with a ten minute break
The Rock Project Greater London School of Rock & Pop where we teach 7-18 year olds how to play guitar, bass, drums and vocals in small groups and as a band. Sessions run Wed's at Nower Hill High School, Pinner and Thurs at Vyners School, Ickenham. Juniors (7-11) 4.156.15pm and Seniors (11-18) 6.308.30pm. £20 per two - hourly session. Contact Pritpal on 07855 863058 or email uxbridge@therockproject.com Yiewsley & West Drayton Band Rehearse every Wednesday and Friday 8-10pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. ontact Lynne on 07976 824152 or Lynne@ywdband.com Yiewsley & West Drayton Training Band Open to all ages wanting to learn to play a brass instrument or those of you wanting to 'brush up' your skills. Rehearse every Wed during TT. 6.457.45pm at St. Matthew's School, Yiewsley. Contact Abi on 07985 302 856 or emailtraining@ywdband.com PETS... Iver Dog Training Club Meet Tuesday & Friday 6.30-9pm, St Andrews Church, Richings Park. Call Diana 01753 732907 Iver Heath Fields Dog Club 'Outdoor Training' every Sat at 10.15am, Wed at 11am call Mike on 01753 817852 or 07795 031335 or see website www.ihfdc.com continued overleaf...
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PRE-SCHOOL & KIDS GROUPS... French for Children with La Jolie Ronde, 5-11yrs. In Iver, Saturdays. Call Estelle 07831 779888 Rainbow Guides Iver Heath Scout Hut on Tuesday, 5.30-6.30pm. Call Cindy Gordon 01753 795724 or Tracey Glynn 01895 469804 Richings Park Pre-School St Leonard's Hall, St Leonard's Walk, Richings Park Iver, SL0 9DD. Monday to Friday 9.15am-12.15pm Extended days on Tue, Wed and Fri until 2.15pm. 15 hours funding available for 3-4 year olds per week. 2yr old funding. Call 07712 477848. Shooting Stars Pre-School An innovative pre-school setting for children aged two-five years open from 7.00am – 6.00pm Monday – Friday. Iver Village Hall, High St, Iver, SL0 9NW. Call Rafia 01753 651754 or e: childcare@ivercommunity.org Slough Sea Cadets Parade nights on Monday and Thursday 19.30-21.30 at Langley Pavillion, Langley Road, Slough, SL3 8BS. Male & Female Junior Cadets (age 10-12 yrs) and Cadets (age 1218 yrs). Fees £2 per week, courses from £5 for a weekend. Visit us on Facebook, pop-in or email: sloughseacadets@yahoo.co.uk Sticky Fingers Mothers & Toddlers Iver Heath Village Hall, Wed 9.3011.30am. Call Janet Beale 01753 652375 The Launchpad A breakfast club for children aged 511 and after school club for Infants. We also offer holiday play schemes. Iver Village Hall, High Street, Iver, SL0 9NW. Call Cheryl on 01753 651754 childcare@ivercommunity.org The Pod An after school club for Junior school children combining childcare with specialist ed. activities. Iver Village Junior School, High Street, Iver, SL0 9QA. Call Cheryl on 01753 651754 or email: childcare@ivercommunity.org 66
Tiny Talk Baby Signing Classes Tuesday classes at St Mary’s Church Hall, High Street, Harefield UB9 6BX, 10am, price £5 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. Please call Bev Meier to book 01895 824935 or 0781 8025993 Tiny Toes Childcare Full day care nursery for children aged six weeks to five years open from 8am-6pm Mon-Fri. Evreham Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HS. Call Susan on 01753 655650 tinytoes@ivercommunity.org SELF DEFENCE... Close Quarter Combat In Richings Park. Speed, strength and conditioning training. All types of pad work combinations. Suitable for adults of all ages. 1-2-1 sessions. Call Mark 07525 366126 email: mj.wilding@hotmail.com Karate (Adults & Children) Iver Heath Village Hall on Tues & Thurs. Kids 7-8pm, Adults 8-9.30pm. Call Sensei R. Baker 07898 946330. Karate Club of Denham / Uxbridge For ages 5 years and up. Sunday 9.15-11am at New Denham Community Centre, Oxford Road. Wed 5-7pm at The Greenway, Uxbridge. Call Dominic on 07988 743725 Kung Fu Club West Drayton Great Kung Fu work out for children & adults on: Tuesday 5.30-6.30, Friday 7.30-8.30, Sunday 5.30-6.30. West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Road, UB7 9JL. Contact Ella: 07702 479 435 or email: sportsclubuk@gmail.com Martial Arts Bujinkan Kuri Dojo Unit 21 Bridgeworks, UB8 2JG Tel: 07878 471124. Training: Sun 10.30-12.30pm, Tue 8-10pm, Thu 8.30-10pm www.bujinkankuridojo.co.uk
Silat Kuntao Indonesian Self-Defence Traditional self-defence art from Central Java, includes empty hand, traditional weapons, meditation and healing massage. Adult classes only. Mon and Wed 8pm-10pm at Denham Village Memorial Hall, Denham, UB9 5BN. Call Philip Davies 07790 496 346 or kuntao.matjan.uk@gmail.com. SELF HELP... Alcoholics Anonymous Every Sun, 7.30pm, St Leonards Hall, St Leonards Walk, Richings Park, Iver, SL0 9DD. Call Howard 07816 315688. Slimming World Tuesday 5.30pm and 7.30pm and Wednesday 9.30am at Evreham Sports Centre, Iver Heath Contact Kate: 07432 107089 Weight Watchers Chalfont St Peter Community Centre Weds 7pm. Iver Village Hall Thurs 6.30pm. Iver Heath Village Hall. Sats 9am. Contact Nicky 07443 567244 nicky_iverww@hotmail.com www.weightwatchers.co.uk SOCIAL GROUPS... Coffee Shop At St Margarets Church, Church Rd, Iver Heath. Wed 10.45-11.45am. Enjoy a coffee and a chat in a friendly, informal atmosphere. 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. Heathway Ladies Group Every second Tues of the month at 2pm. You’re welcome as a visitor at the cost of £1.50, as we have a waiting list. Contact Secretary Tricia Cooper 01753 817749 or e: tricia.cooper3@virginmedia.com
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SOCIAL GROUPS CONTINUED... Iver & District Countryside Assoc., If you enjoy walks in the country and social evenings, why not join us? Call Paul Graham 01753 655183 Iver Evening Women’s Institute Iver Village Hall, meets 2nd Monday of month, 7.30pm. Call Margaret 01753 653751 for details. Iver Heath Ladies Meet 2nd Tuesday of the month in Iver Heath Village Hall at 2pm. A group of ladies who enjoy speakers, outings, lunches and more. Visitors welcome, £1.50 admission. Contact tricia.cooper3@virginmedia.com or call 01753 817749. Iver Heath Community Library The Library is open: Tues 9.30-1pm & 2-5pm . Thurs 9.30-1pm & 2-6pm.Sat 10am-1pm. Free membership of all Bucks libraries Free public pc & Wi-fi. Reading Group, craft group, bounce and rhyme for toddlers, childrens crafts , coffee mornings enqs: 0845 2303232 lib-ivh@buckscc.gov.uk King's Friends A group of older men and women enjoying life. Contact 01753 651178 for our latest programme. Probus Club of Langley & Iver is always looking for new members, we meet for lunch at the Richings Park Sports Club on the last Tuesday of the month (except Dec). We are friendly and attract retired persons of both sexes who usually are from a professional background although there is nothing rigid about background. We normally have a speaker and cover a very wide range of interests. Contact 01753 653571. The Rotary Club of Langley & Iver Meets on Thurs evenings 6.45 for 7pm, Richings Park Golf Club. North Park. Iver. SL0 9DL 01753 655370. We are a small friendly club that welcomes everyone, from all walks of life. If you are interested in improving the lives of others and have fun doing it, visit www.rotarylangleyandiver.org. uk or email: akahold@hotmail.com Women’s Social Group Social group for women in West London. Looking to expand your social group and make new friends?
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We meet regularly for coffee, a chat and organised trips and welcome women of all ages. Please call Seema on 07730 898635 or email seemaa@seemaa.co.uk for more.
Learn to Sail! We are an RYA approved training centre and are open to new members, www.kingsmeadsc.org.uk FREE sailing taster sessions!
SPORT...
Nordic Walking Taster Session Iver Starts Wednesday 30th January, 10am-11am, £5 at Evreham Sports Centre, Swallow Street, Iver, Bucks, SL0 0HS. Session is £5 with poles included. If you would like to book onto the course or require more details call the Evreham Sports Centre on 01753 672 610.
Back School Small Osteopath lead rehab excercise sessions designed to help strengthen the back with lots of self care advice. Held at Lotus Wellbeing Clinic call 01753 677 604 for further details. Basketball (starting 7th June) Drop-in sessions for adults age 16 and over. Saturdays 12-2pm. £3 per session. At the Evreham Sports Centre, Iver. Call 01753 672610. Darts Richings Park Sports & Social Club Wellesley Avenue. Men & Women Players. Tuesday & Thursday Nights. Call Gerry 07957 804204 Iver Heath Tennis Club Church Road, Iver Heath, Bucks. SL0 0RW. New members always welcome, adults and juniors, visit our website for details www.ihltc.co.uk or call John Stephenson 01895 441033 Iver Heath Bowls Club Interested in playing bowls? Ring Brian Carter 01753 817794 or Hon. Sec. Betty Hemsley 01753 651775 Iver Short Mat Bowls We are open on Wednesdays 2-5pm & 5-10pm in Iver Village Hall, experience not necessary. Age 18yrs+. Cal Bob 01753 654049 or Ron 01753 819644 or Mary 01753 654765
Pink Ladies Netball Club All levels and abilities welcome. Training takes place at Stockley Academy, West Drayton every Tuesday evening. Senior training 16+yrs 7.30-9pm Back to Netball 16+yrs 7.30- 8.30pm Under 16s - please Rhiannon on 01895 448878 for details email: plnetball@hotmail.co.uk visit www.pinkladiesnetball.co.uk Richings Park Ladies Badminton Club Meet at St. Andrews Church Hall, North Park, Iver. Every Monday 2-4pm except Bank Holidays. Intermediate standard of playing. Call Daphne Wood 01753 653404 for details. Richings Park Short Mat Bowls Richings Park Sports & Social Club Wellesley Avenue. Wed from 4pm. Just turn up - equipment provided. Richings Park Tennis Club Want play tennis? New members always welcome at our Brand New court facilities. Contact Graeme or Wendy on 01753 651071 or visit www.richingsparkltc.org.uk
Iver Veterans Golf Society For men and women over 60. We meet every Tuesday morning at Iver Golf Club. Handicap not necessary. Regular competitions held at Iver and other courses. You do not need to be a member of Iver Golf Club, just come along and play and make some new friends. Special rates for IVGS members. Contact: 01753 654246
Run for life Richings park running and fitness club. Richings park sports club Mon and Thu 6-7pm. With Personal trainer Shaun - sessions includes running, circuits, boxing and various other exercises. Call 07906 087749.
Ladies Golf Meets 10am every Monday & Wednesday at Rickmansworth Golf Club, new members welcome. Email ladies-captain@ rickmansworthgolf club.co.uk or call 07941 589445.
Running Club For Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner. Runs organised in the local area. Free of charge, chance to train with other runners at your level. Call 01753 677 604 for details.
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