Mark Cooper, 44, reopened The Six Bells, in Ducks Hill Road, Ruislip, as Café @ The Six Bells yesterday (9), after it closed in October last year following a fire.
]]> The father-of-four, who has owned two pubs in Croxley Green for about four years, has spent six months refurbishing it.He said: "The pub was totally neglected and before it closed it had the wrong sort of clientèle.
"It was on its knees so I decided to take it on because I like a challenge and I wanted to bring it back to life. I wanted to make it look right and give it the class it deserves.
"It was also a fantastic business opportunity."
Mr Cooper has kept the original features of the pub, which is owned by Pub Taverns, but has given it a more contemporary feel and he is completely confident that it will do well.
He said: "I have taken a very modern approach to it to get the best out of a pub that is very special to the community.
"I'm confident it will do well because of my knowledge of people and what they want.
"I have been in the pub business for about 25 years and my whole life has been involved around looking after people. When you have done it for that long you start to learn what makes people happy.
"I'm also a very positive thinker."
His aim is to create a relaxing atmosphere that will attract families with children to business people and weekend drinkers.
He said: "The ambience I have created is very relaxed and secure.
"Everyone is welcome but I have a zero tolerance to people who don't conduct themselves in the right manner."
A spokesperson from Punch Taverns said: "We are delighted to confirm that The Six Bells is open once again with a fantastic licensee, Mark Cooper, at the helm.
"Mark has our full support in building a successful, sustainable business that is a credit to the community."
The pub serves food and is also open from 10am to noon everyday for breakfast.
It closes at 11.30pm Monday to Wednesday, 12.30am on Thursdays, 1am on Friday and Saturday nights and 10.30pm on Sundays.
It is also closed to anyone under 21 after 8pm.
]]>For further information call Byoma Kusuma on 020 8845 1251.
For the past four years Ruislip Lions Club have encouraged schools in the area to participate in the Lions Club International Peace Poster Competition.
The theme of the 2009/10 competition is "The Power of Peace" and students aged 11, 12 and 13 are able to participate.
The schools in the area participating this year are Bishop Winnington Ingram, Sacred Heart, Bishop Ramsey, Douay Martyrs, Ruislip High and Field End.
The winner and runner up from each school will have their work exhibited in Ruislip Manor Library, in Linden Avenue, Ruislip Manor, on Saturday (14) from 2pm onwards.
Buy the Gazette next week to find out how the exhibition went and for photos of the children with their posters.
]]>Children's rides, live music, magic shows, competitions, a tombola, a raffle, an auction, stalls and much more will fill Victoria Road on Saturday (14) from 11am to 6pm for the Christmas Fun Day.
The lights will be switched on at 4.30pm by the Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Shirley Harper-O'Neill, and the chairman of Ruislip Manor Chamber of Commerce, Les Drussel.
The victims, aged 20, were punched and kicked outside Sam's Chicken shop, in Field End Road, Eastcote, while waiting for a taxi home.
They had earlier enjoyed a peaceful night out at The Manor pub across the street when confronted by the group at 1.30am on March 7.
Lee Luke, 24, of Trevor Crescent, Ruislip, Eric Thomson, 19, of Mahlon Avenue, Ruislip, Jabey Bathurst, 21, of Brook Close, Ruislip, and Rikki Floyd, 21, from Northolt, all pleaded guilty to causing an affray.
They were due to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday (6), but it had to be adjourned until December 4 because probation reports had not been prepared.
Floyd also pleaded guilty to assaulting Thomas Byrne, who was with his friend Leandros Liasides when attacked by the group.
James O'Connell, prosecuting, told the court: "This was an unprovoked attack outside a bar late at night.
"All of these defendants were involved in attacking the two complainants and the prosecution say the instigator was Thomson, who was seen throwing the first punch and starting the incident off."
Judge Anna Guggenheim QC was shown CCTV footage captured by a Hillingdon Council camera and was told police are seeking ASBO's against all four.
Mr Byrne suffered bruising to his left eye, cheek and nose, plus swelling to his jaw and a cut lip. He continued suffering headaches for some time afterwards.
Mr Liasides suffered fractured teeth, which requires ongoing dentistry, plus bruising and a cut lip.
Thomson will also be sentenced on an unrelated charge of converting criminal property and the absent Luke, due to also be sentenced for burglary, had a warrant issued for his arrest.
Admission is free. To pre-book therapy call Connie on 07976 969 858 or email conniedusek@hotmail.co.uk
The emergency services were called to Eastcote Road, near the junction with Pinn Way, at 10.50am.
A car and a motorbike had been involved in a collision and a man believed to be in his 30s was taken to Hillingdon Hospital with a foot injury.
]]>All four of the girls, who cannot be named because of their ages, were charged with two counts of committing ABH in Barrowhall Road, Hayes, on February 16.
Two of the girls are from Uxbridge, one is from Hayes and the other is from Ruislip.
They will face trial on November 30.
]]>This week the Gazette featured a story on page 2 about a Ruislip man who had seen four orange lights near his house in Park Avenue on Saturday (31).
However, Robin Scagell, chairman of West of London Astronomical Society, emailed the Gazette to say the lights were probably sky lanterns.
He said: "I didn't see them, but the description matches them exactly. These paper hot-air balloons are very popular these days, and can float around for several minutes with the flame illuminating the balloon, which is visible over quite a wide area.
"People often report them as UFOs, and I've even had someone believing they were fireflies, when seen in the distance.
"The planet Jupiter is also in the southern sky in the evening at the moment, and anyone who gets up at around 6am might also see Venus apparently hovering low in the east. Both planets are also good sources of UFO scares."
Pat Munn emailed the Gazette to say she saw five orange lights on October 17 while in Dean Close, Uxbridge, and Charlie Balch also saw them on Saturday (31).
]]>Ben Fitzgerald, 29, of Manningtree Road, South Ruislip, decided to take part in the New York Marathon on Sunday (1) after his close friends' baby was born with Down's syndrome.
This was the first ever marathon and charity event he has taken part in and he managed to complete it in four hours and 28 minutes, so far raising more than £3,000 - beating his target of £2,000.
To sponsor him go to www.justgiving.com/Ben-Fitzgerald/ and for more information go to www.maisieturner.com
Quilters, in High Street, Ruislip, has been honoured for its efforts supporting UK furniture manufacturing by the British Furniture Manufacturers' Association (BFM).
The leading trade body now hopes other firms across the country will follow suit, by signing up to the 'IT IS' campaign, which promotes the benefits of buying British made furniture.
The 52-year-old family-owned furniture store celebrated with a relaunch event attended by dignitaries including Ruislip-Northwood MP Nick Hurd and former Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Brian Crowe.
Directors of leading UK furniture manufacturers, who are also backing the BFM's 'IT IS' campaign, also joined the official opening ceremony, held at the store on Friday (30).
Jon Quilter, managing director of Quilters, said: "During the past year, nine in every ten products we have sold were made in the UK - proof that consumers are buying into the benefits of British made furniture.
"Quilters is proud to be doing its bit to uphold a centuries old tradition of furniture manufacturing in this country as well playing a small part in securing jobs for UK workers."
Corporal Alun Davis, 29, from the base in West End Road, South Ruislip, came third in this year's Combined Services Culinary Challenge (CSCC) in the Open Set Show Platter Class.
The event took place in Surrey over a period of three days, with each day being dedicated to a single service.
Mr Davis entered a decorated and glazed show platter of eight portions of game.
He said: "I really enjoy this competition as it's a chance to be creative, there is a lot of art in cooking and this event enables you to demonstrate your skills.
"I was happy with the colour, theme and balance of the platter. I had a really good time and it was a great atmosphere."
The annual inter-service culinary competition provides caterers, chefs and stewards with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills to the judging panel, including Michelin-starred chefs.
]]>About one-third of human food is derived from insect-pollinated plants and the honeybee alone is responsible for 80 per cent of this pollination.
The value of honeybee pollination to UK agricultural economy is more than £160m every year.
At an attempt to halt this decline, Pinner & Ruislip Beekeepers' Association are putting on an exhibition for people to learn about honeybees and what they can do to help them and other pollinators.
The association exists to foster the art and science of beekeeping. It was formed in 1954 and in 1986 it was granted charitable status.
Penny Perry, the show secretary, said: "We encourage new people to take up beekeeping and give advice on how to manage colonies efficiently.
"Truly feral honeybees have died out in the UK so beekeepers play an important role in tending to the health and well-being of this valuable pollinator.
"Apart from acting as a social and educational group, we also provide services to the community ranging from advice to individuals, through to talks and demonstrations to interested societies, at shows and in schools.
"We are also frequently called upon to retrieve swarms from some very difficult locations."
Last year the UK's beekeepers reported colony losses averaging 30 to 50 per cent.
This decline is due to varroa mite parasites, urban development, changes in agricultural practices, use of pesticides and unseasonal bad weather.
Now a new phenomenon called 'colony collapse disorder' has recently hit hives in Europe and North America. Whole colonies of bees are simply disappearing and this has highlighted the crucial role that honeybees play in the food chain that brings fruit, vegetables and even meats to our dinner tables. Most of the world's crops depend on pollination by bees.
As bees travel from blossom to blossom in search of nectar, they transfer pollen from plant to plant. This fertilises the plants, enabling them to bear fruit or seeds and ensure that they can continue to multiply and survive thus contributing to 'biodiversity
conservation'.
The Honeybee Exhibition is being held at the Cow Byre gallery, in the Manor Farm complex, Bury Street, Ruislip, from November 15 to 21.
During this week the public will be able to attend various talks, learn all about bees and children can have fun making beeswax candles and colouring.
BBC news presenter Bill Turnbull, who is president of the beekeepers' association, will be attending the last day of the exhibition.
Uxbridge MP John Randall and the Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Shirley Harper-O'Neill, will also be attending.
The exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm on November 15, 17 and 21 and from 10am to 9pm on November 18, 19 and 20.
The free one-hour talks on November 18 and 19 at 2pm and 7pm need to be booked by calling 01895 255 834.
]]>JAM2000 is based at The Windmill Studio, in Pembroke Road, Ruislip Manor, and is now in its 20th year.
Over five days last week the school put on their 11th production in front of a packed out Watford Colosseum, with dancers ranging from two and half to 49 years old.
With parents and friends of the school helping backstage, there were about 700 people altogether involved in the production, which is put on every other by the school.
Speaking after the opening night, which was on Tuesday (27) last week, Judy McPhee, director of JAM2000 and The Windmill Studio, said: "The opening night went fantastically.
"The Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Shirley Harper-O'Neill, was among the audience members and she even commented on how slick and professional it was.
"We have never had anyone of any importance from Hillingdon come to see our show before so I was very honoured. It was lovely to be recognised."
The first ever JAM2000 production was held 11 years ago at Field End School, in Field End Road, Eastcote, with a cast of 120.
As it got bigger it moved to The Beck Theatre, in Grange Road, Hayes, but then two years ago the school got so big that they had to find a new venue, so for the last two years it has been held at the Colosseum.
The show opened with a Simply Red medley and included performances of My Fair Lady, Hairspray, a Ting Tings medley, Hello, Dolly! and it finished off with Dirty Dancing.
Mrs McPhee, 49, of Whitstable Close, Ruislip, said: "The costumes were absolutely spectacular. I get all the materials and I design them myself and then I have 25 dress makers who make them.
"The shows we put on are fast and exciting. The lighting is fantastic and we also bring our own stage sets.
"Even though the dancers are amateurs, it's a professional show. We often hear people say it's like going to a West End production because it's spectacular.
"It is a very entertaining show with all styles of dance so it's something for people of all ages to enjoy. I think that's why the tickets sell out so fast.
"People don't realise how good it is until they see it. They just think it's going to be a little dance school show."
This year the school was also sponsored for the first time by BAM Construct, Robert Masters Ltd, Oak Estates and TADD Accountants.
A raffle was also held on Saturday (31), the last day of the show, to raise money for Grangewood School, a school for children with severe learning difficulties, in Fore Street, Eastcote.
Mrs McPhee opened The Windmill Studio in September last year so the dancers could have a permanent base.
But, as well as JAM2000, the studio also now holds JAMtots, an interactive day time play group, dance lessons for adults, including pole dancing, and children's parties at the weekend.
For more information call The Windmill Studio on 01895 624 755 or email thewindmillstudio@gmail.com
]]>Georgie Bathurst, 19, of Brook Close, allegedly had the offensive weapons in West Way, Ruislip, on September 11.
He is due to enter his plea at Isleworth Crown Court on December 1.
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