Communities - Ickenham

Veteran celebrates 100th birthday

2009-06-08T10:54:25Z

A SECOND World War veteran was joined by family and friends from across Europe to celebrate his 100th birthday.

Wladyslaw Lapot, of Copthall Road West, Ickenham, marked his centenarian with a lunch at The Barn Hotel, in West End Road, Ruislip, on Saturday (6).

The Polish veteran survived 30 bombing missions during the war and was even awarded with the Virtuti Militari - the highest Polish honour.

After the war ended he decided to stay in the UK to work for BOAC (now British Airways) for 15 years before retiring in 1959.

However, he went on to open Marinka coffee bar in Field End Road, Eastcote, where he worked for 13 years.

Other jobs followed, including a stint as a night watchman with Securicor before he officially retired 30 years ago to look after his wife Alicia.

The grandfather-of-two was treated to a celebratory lunch with his family and friends, some coming from as far as Holland, Poland and Italy.

His daughter, Alexandra Lapot, said: "He had a really lovely time and someone from the Polish embassy brought him a letter from the ambassador, which he was delighted by."

Mr Lapot lived in Ickenham Road, Ruislip, for 54 years before moving to his current home.

Planning permission given for Ickenham house

2009-06-03T15:40:25Z

PLANNING permission to build a house in a road mainly occupied by bungalows has been granted despite neighbours' reservations.

The application to build the two storey three bedroom detached house at 33 Parkfield Road, Ickenham, was approved at the North Planning Committee yesterday (Tues).

£25 house competition fails to beat the credit crunch

2009-06-01T14:54:15Z

A BUILDER who set up a competition to sell his house for £25 as a way of beating the credit crunch has been unsuccessful.

Kirk Clugston, 50, started the competition in December last year after attempts to sell his bungalow in Hill Rise, Ruislip, for the asking price of £570,000 failed.

However, after almost five months only 1,117 tickets were sold, falling short of the 28,000 that needed to be sold to give away the house.

The father-of-two from Swakeleys Drive, Ickenham, said: "I am absolutely gutted that it didn't work but I think the reason was because a lot of people knew about a similar competition in Devon that had to be stopped on the day of the draw and was being investigated by the Gambling Commission. People probably just assumed my one would be stopped as well.

"If I knew now what I knew then I would probably have changed the price of the tickets but I am not sure to what and I would have given myself an advertising budget.

"I don't think I would do it again personally because of the amount of money and time it takes. I have lost money on it and for eight months it is all I have done because I haven't had any other work.

"Four sets of people have already approached me and asked if I can do it for them though, which I would do for a fixed price because I have learnt so much over the last nine months about it."

Anchal Kharbanda from Harrow was announced as the winner after the draw on May 11 and she should be getting her winnings of £20,262 this week. The NSPCC is also getting £649.

Mr Clugston said: "When I called her she was over the moon and I think she's going to use the money for a deposit on a flat. She only bought one ticket but some people bought as many as 15."

Mr Clugston has now accepted an offer of £530,00 on the bungalow.

Gardens open for charity

2009-05-27T08:21:29Z

GARDENS across the area will be open to the public for a weekend to raise funds for charity.

Midsummer Weekend 2009, sponsored by Gibbs Gillespie and Ducks Hill Garden Centre, is taking place on June 20 and 21.

Twenty gardens in Moor Park, Northwood, Ruislip, Eastcote and Ickenham will be open all weekend to raise funds for various charities.

Tickets are £7 and many of the gardens will offer attractions such as tea, refreshments, plants for sale, raffles, live painting and a jazz band.

For tickets call Warren on 01923 451 616 or Tony on 01895 677 925 or go to www.localopengardens.com for more information.

Final fitness blog: Entry 14 20-20-20

2009-05-15T09:02:23Z

When I looked on the Queensmead website for my next class I realised the only one I could do that week was 20-20-20. I had no idea what that was so I read the description. Basically it consists of 20 minutes aerobics, 20 minutes upper and lower body tone and 20 minutes floor work and stretching.

When I saw it was a class full of women and just two men, I thought it would be an easy one. However, when I saw the instructor I realised it was the same one who takes the Cardio kick class at Highgrove and I remembered I was in a lot of pain the day after that class.

This particular instructor likes to make you do the same exercise over and over again until your muscles pretty much can't take it anymore. After about 20 minutes of aerobics - you never would've guessed - we moved on to the upper bodywork. I thought that was hard enough but the next exercise we did was a killer. We had to do three sets of 16 side lunges on each leg. I could feel the lactic acid building up in my thighs, but I didn't realise how much they were hurting until the next day. I couldn't walk for three days after the class!

The floor work wasn't as bad. It involved a lot of sit ups, which always tends to hurt my neck more than my stomach.

I enjoyed the class but I didn't like the fact we worked certain muscles a lot more than others. There was also quite a lot of choreography involved as well, which I detest!

So, I have come to the end of my blog now. I didn't realise at the time of booking the 20-20-20 class that it was my last class. I said from the beginning that I would try out all the evening and weekends classes and I have - with a few exceptions.

I have done the Stretch and tone class and also the Step class so I don't think the Step and tone class is really going to be any different from these two. I haven't done Core stability, but that's because ever time I tried to book the class it was full. I also haven't done Pilates (which is a disappointment because I was quite looking forward to that). Even though it says on the website it's a class for all intermediate to advanced, when I called to book they told me the classes were run as a special course.
I also haven't done Ju-jitsu because it isn't included as part of the membership package...and to be honest with you, even though I did kickboxing for four years, I didn't feel comfortable with being thrown on the floor repeatedly.

However, 14 classes overall isn't too bad. It has been fun testing out the classes and writing this blog. I am going to try and keep up the exercise, so the classes I think I'll go back to will be the ones that involved a bit of kickboxing.

Hope you enjoyed reading, and if you want to have a look back at all my blogs, just type in fitness blog in the search bar to the right. Keep up the exercise!

Fitness blog: Entry 13 Fighting fit

2009-05-08T16:18:49Z

Well, Fighting fit at Highgrove was very similar to Boxercise at Queensmead - except for the fact that it was in a studio and not a school sports hall and there were a lot less people in the class.

I did notice though, that both the classes are about working different muscle groups and there's not much room to concentrate on technique.

Like Boxercise, the class involved a circuit. I was quite happy to see punch bags and boxing gloves when I walked in.

After a very long warm up of running around the small room and doing a lot of stretches, we had to find a partner and pick a station.

Forty-five seconds on each station was definitely manageable. However, I found that when it came to the stations where you had to put boxing gloves on, the 45 seconds were almost over by the time I got started, which was a little disappointing.

After completing the nine stations I started to feel quite warn out, but to no surprise, we had to go round again doing different exercises like star jumps and shadow boxing.

It was then back to the station we started on and time for another round.

I was very sweaty by the end, so it was a little bit disgusting when we had to hold hands with other partner to do more exercises involving kicking our legs out to the side. All good fun though.

After a quick cool down it was over. The class was pretty straight forward and quite enjoyable, but still not enough punching and kicking for my liking.

Me next challenge is 20-20-20 at Queensmead.

Fitness blog: Entry 12 Classical yoga

2009-05-01T18:09:45Z

Well, Classical yoga at Queensmead on Saturday was a very different experience to the whole range of other classes I have tried out so far. That's probably stating the obvious, but, in a way I was glad to being doing exercise that didn't involve getting out of breath.

It was everything I expected it to be - apart from the fact that there were only six people there! I thought it would be absolutely rammed. I was under the impression everyone was into yoga nowadays.

It was a much nicer experience being in a small group though, because the instructor gave everyone individual attention. As soon as I walked in she asked me my name and asked why I was trying out yoga, and she seemed to know about everyone else's body problems.

When I booked the class, however, I forgot that yoga was all about the breathing. I just remembered it being about flexibility.

The breathing thing was very different to me, which is quite amusing because that's the one thing you'd expect human beings to be able to do without needing advise.

At one point I felt like I was going to faint because we were doing an exercise where you had to breath in and out as fast as you could for about a minute - I think.

The instructor did say that you get better at it with practice though, which made me feel a bit better about the slow pace I was going at.

We had to twist our bodies into lots of awkward positions and stretch our muscles a lot, so I know if I keep it up I will be a lot more supple in a fairly short amount of time.

We also did a breathing exercise that is meant to cure everything, from depression to migraines. It involved breathing in through one nostril and then breathing out through the other. I must admit, I wasn't completely convinced.

It was quite a relaxing experience, so when I'm not in the mood to kick and punch things I think I'll definitely go back.

My next challenge (almost coming to the end now) is Fighting fit at Highgrove.

Bring and buy sale on Swakeley's Road

2009-04-28T10:05:14Z

A bring and buy sale will take place on Wednesday (29/4) with guests invited to socialise as they hunt down a bargain.

The afternoon will be hosted by the Women's Fellowship at Ickenham United Reformed Church, in Swakeley's Road, Ickenham at 2.45pm.

It will take place in the Hardwick Room at the church, anyone wishing to find out more information should call Secretary Ann Daly on 01895 634986.

Fitness blog: Entry 11 Total toning

2009-04-24T09:20:03Z

WHEN I booked the Total toning class at Highgrove I didn't notice it was a level 2 class. I didn't realise this until I went back on the website to check what time the class started. So I was a bit concerned about what I was getting myself into.

The instructor was the same one who takes the aerobics and stretch and tone classes, although I have a feeling she may have been covering for someone else.

The class started off very similar to her usual classes, but luckily there wasn't any cardio work. It literally was an hour of toning - especially the arms.

I think we must have worked on every single muscle, but the abdominals and the arms definitely took the most pounding.

There was a lot of lifting, turning, stretching ad bending involved in the class. At one point my arms almost gave up on me, but as soon as we moved on to working the legs it wasn't so bad.

Considering it was a level 2 class, I didn't find it that hard, but then again, maybe I am getting fitter. At last!

The class was quite fun but I don't think it would be sufficient to only do that class. I still prefer the more challenging classes. I don't think I even broke a sweat in this one.

My next challenge is Classical yoga at Queensmead.

Bracken Village man prepares to run marathon

2009-04-20T14:44:43Z

ONE COMMITTED runner has been pounding the streets of Hillingdon in his efforts to get fit for the London Marathon.

As part of his preparation for the big run on Saturday, Paul Douglas, of Bracken Village, Ickenham, has been running regularly on weekdays as far as Harrow-on-Hill and back, taking in the sights of Ruislip and Eastcote along the way.

Mr Douglas is running the marathon for Sense, a charity for the deaf and blind, and is hoping to raise £2,000 and is already over halfway there having passed the £1,300 mark.

He said: "I ran the marathon five years ago with no training and I was in agony.
"So I am taking it seriously this time, I should do better, I am aiming to run it in under four and a half hours.

"Last time I ran I did it in four hours and 50 minutes."

Mr Douglas, 31, who works in advertising, also recently completed a 20 mile training run at Hemel Hempstead, and has been eating healthy in attempts to boost his training regime.

"I've lived in Ickenham all my life and have been pounding the streets raising money for a while so people should recognise me."

To donate money to Paul's run visit www.justgiving.com/pauldouglasrunslondon

Fitness blog: Entry 10 Boxercise

2009-04-17T10:17:53Z

When I booked the boxercise class at Queensmead I expected it to be like the energy kick and cardio kick classes - basically sparring without actually hitting anything.

But, I was gladly proved wrong. When I saw a circuit laid out with a number of different stations with pads to kick and punch I got quite excited. I think that's a definite sign that I need to go back to martial arts.

Boxercise was, without a doubt, the busiest class I've been too yet. All the other classes I've been to at Queensmead only take up half the sports hall, but in this one we needed the whole of it. There must have been about 50 people, men and women, young and old, and fit and not so fit. I think I still fall into the latter. I don't seem to be getting any fitter from these classes, which is a disappointment, but, maybe I just need to do more than one a week.

So after quite a strenuous warm up of running around the hall for a long time, we did a few stretches and got straight into the 18-station circuit.

In this class you do everything in pairs so I was quite glad when a friendly woman, who I later learned was called Christina, said I could be her partner.

We started off at a punching station, but with only one minute on each station (swapping over after 30 seconds) it really wasn't enough to really get into it. It was all a bit haphazard actually, but, I suppose that was the point.

After every few stations we had to do a group exercise like star jumps and running. That made the whole thing 10 times harder.

After completing the circuit, which also consisted of press ups, sit ups, running, skipping, weight lifting etc. we had to run around the hall again before finishing off with a bit of stretching.

Again, it was another very challenging class and it really did make me realise that I need to go back to martial arts. However, if I can't find a good club to go to by the time I have tried out all the fitness classes at the two gyms, I think I might go back to boxercise again.

My next challenge will be Total toning at Highgrove.

Fitness blog: Entry 9 Circuit training

2009-04-09T09:53:59Z

I haven't been to a fitness class now for two weeks, but I think I still managed to pick the hardest one out of the lot.

Circuit training at Queensmead was an absolute killer. The class was the busiest one I've seen yet and half the people there were men, and not just any old men, they were fit looking men. So, I just resigned myself to the fact it would be hard.

The instructor was also a man and when he jokingly said the class was easy I knew he really was joking.

After a short warm up, consisting of a few stretches and bit of running and jumping around, we got straight into it.

There were 10 stations to the circuit and four people to each station. I was the youngest person in my group, so it was shameful when I realised I wasn't as fit as the other three. Embarrassing! As the class progressed I started to look around at everyone else and it hit me that I was probably one of the most unfit people out of everyone there!

We did a minute on each station, working all the muscle groups, and on some of the stations I actually had to stop because I physically couldn't do any more reps. My shoulders were killing me by the end of the class.

After finishing the 10 stations we then had to go round again doing different exercises. I couldn't believe it and I'm surprised I managed to complete it - just!

At one point the instructor even came over to tell me I wasn't working hard enough. I don't think I could possibly have worked any harder.

By the end of the second round I was wondering if the hour long class was really an hour. If felt at least an hour and a half. Definitely the longest exercise hour of my life!

We then did a quick cool down and we were finished. At last.

It was a really challenging class, but I don't really find circuits that fun, especially if we were going to do the same thing every week, so I'm not sure if I would pick this class to go back to.

However, I would recommend it to anyone who has the will power not give up - no matter how tired you are.

My next challenge is Boxercise at Queensmead.

Fitness blog: Entry 8 Energy kick

2009-03-27T08:19:15Z

WHEN I booked the Energy kick class at Queensmead I had a feeling it might be similar to the Cardio kick class I did at Highgrove two weeks ago. Therefore, I was a little bit nervous.

I had a look at the other people waiting for the class to start, and they didn't look overly fit so I assumed the class wouldn't be that hard. However, that was before the really fit people started to arrive.

When there is men in the class it usually means it's going to be quite a tough one, and when the instructor turned out to be a man, I knew I was in for a strenuous hour.

Thankfully, the warm up was quite calm, unlike the warm up in the Cardio kick class.

There was no circuit workout like in Cardio kick but the exercises almost killed me because we worked out for about 30 minutes, with no break. It involved a lot of kicking and punching, and it was done at quite a fast pace. I felt shattered, but everyone around me seemed to be doing okay, so I thought I should at least try and persevere with it.

We then got the mats out and did exercises on the floor. They were mainly toning exercises for the legs and stomach. They were just as hard, but at least I got to lie down.

Like the warm up, we did a long cool down. The only bit I didn't like about this was when he told is to try and do the splits. I have never been able to do the splits, but I felt quite embarrassed that the male instructor could do them but I couldn't.

I really enjoyed the class because it was very challenging and I would definitely go back.
Surprisingly tough, I wasn't aching the next day or the day after that. I must be getting used to the exercise.

I am on holiday next week so I will upload my next blog on April 10.

Arrest after High Road petrol station crash

2009-03-24T12:36:49Z

AN ARREST was made after a car lost control, crossed oncoming traffic and smashed through a wall onto a petrol station forecourt.

The dramatic scenes happened at 9.15am yesterday at the Total petrol station at the junction of High Road, and Oak Avenue in Ickenham.

After careering through the wall the car only came to a halt when it crashed into a stationary car parked on the forcourt.

An ambulance was called to the scene but nobody was taken to hospital.

An eyewitness said: "I was sitting here having a cup of tea when this car lost control with its wheel hanging off.

"It then went straight through the wall onto the station, it was dramatic, when the police got there they arrested the driver straight away."

Police confirmed an arrest had been made and an investigation was ongoing.

Fitness blog: Entry 7 Aqua fit

2009-03-23T09:14:40Z

I was a little apprehensive about Aqua fit. I have never done anything like it before and I imagined the class would be full of old women, so I decided to bring an experienced friend along to show me the ropes.

When I was little I used to hate swimming. I remember my mum driving me to my swimming lessons at Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood and I think I used to cry the whole way there and begged her to take me home.

I have got over that fear now, but whenever I walk into public swimming pools it seems to come rushing back, so when I walked into the Highgrove pool I did start to feel a little nervous. I think it's that overpowering smell of chlorine.

I'm so glad I had someone with me!

We spotted a group of women sitting on the side of the pool and after checking we were in the right place we sat down and waited. Oh, I forgot to mention, I also hate swimming costumes. The only time I ever go swimming is on holidays and I always wear bikinis. Therefore, I had to borrow one of my mum's costumes that, by the looks of it, was bought back in the dark ages. Great start eh?

The instructor came along and a group of about 15 women all piled in to the shallow end of the pool. We did quite a few exercises to warm up. You forget just how hard it is to do perfectly normal and easy exercises in water. Firstly, it's hard to stand still because of all the waves everyone else is making and, secondly, because the water is pushing against you, you feel about three times your actual weight.

We then got given underwater dumbbells. This made the exercises even harder because we had to push against the water with a bigger surface area, continuously. It killed my triceps.

After a few exercises with those, we were given those foam tubes that help you float. We used them to do similar exercises to the first part of the class, and then finally some stretching off.

The class was only 45 minutes so I wouldn't say it was hard work. My triceps and quadriceps did take a bit of a beating though, but I can safely say I wasn't aching the next day.

It was a very fun class, full of laughs, and my friend seemed to enjoy it. However, I doubt I will go back because it's just not really challenging enough for me and I don't think I got that much out of it. It also means I don't have to wear a swimming costume again!

My next challenge is Energy kick at Queensmead.