Clubs/societies

FAMILIES living in Hatch End will benefit from a new community centre and all-weather sports pitch after councillors approved the necessary plans.
Harrow Council's planning committee granted permission for the proposal from Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust in which the existing Cedars
Youth Centre in Chicheley Gardens will be demolished and replaced with a two-storey multi-use building and a multi-purpose football field.

A CAST of teenagers will bring to life a contemporary version of Shakespeare play 'Julius Caesar' on Sunday, February 13.
Actors from the Bearfoot School of Performing Arts, all aged between 13 and 19, aim to make the production more accessible to young people with a modern setting, language and themes.

ROTARIANS enjoyed a talk from the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Dr Vince Cable about the country's economic situation.
Dr Cable, MP for Twickenham, in south-west London, told the Rotary Club of Harrow he was a fan of the movement and an honorary Rotarian in his own area.
He said the key priorities for tackling the downturn were to have an honest public debate on the cuts which will be needed, to sort out the banks and to help Britain adjust to a different future that less reliant on financial services and more on productive manufacturing.
The meeting took place at Pinner Hill Golf Club in South View Road, Pinner, on January 21 and each guest contributed £5 from the cost of their lunch to Haste, a charity buying materials for schools in Gambia.
Members further raised £528 towards Shelterbox, a global Rotary Club initiative providing a tent for 10 people and essential supplies, while the club itself will chip in an extra £452 so that two Shelterboxes can be sent to Haiti.

"Chantecler, the French Circle of Harrow, presents a talk - in French - on Sarah Bernhardt, Queen of the French stage, by David King, whose talks are already lively.
On Saturday 14th November, from 7pm in the Parish Hall of St. Anselms Church, Westfield Park, Hatch End, HA5 4JL.

Come and join our international friendly society for it's second event for the resident's of Harrow. To be held on Tuesday 10th November from 2pm - 4pm at Harrow Arts Centre.

HONEYBEES are vanishing at an alarming rate all over the world and if the decline continues it could lead to a devastating impact on the world's food supply.

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.

Are you a fan of traditional ballroom dancing, would you like to spend your afternoon dancing the waltz, tango, quickstep plus the cha cha cha.

Then look no further. Harrow Arts Centre is holding an afternoon tea dance hosted by Philip Wylie on Friday 20th November at 2pm.

For ticket information call 020 8416 8989 or email harrowartscentre@harrow.gov.uk

Harrow Arts Centre are looking for all budding young artists aged between 4 and 19 to create an art piece with the theme 'Your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them'.

THE Pinner Association is holding its annual general meeting on Wednesday (22).

The meeting is being held at the Village Hall, in Chapel Lane, Pinner, at 8pm.

It will be followed by a talk from Dr Amol Kelshiker on Pinner's new health centre and then an open forum.

A PAINTING event is being held at The Grail Centre in Pinner.

Painting Day at the Grail is being held on May 10 from 10.30am to 5pm at The Grail Centre, in Waxwell Lane, Pinner.

The event costs £25, which includes lunch, and bookings can be made by calling 020 8866 2195 or by emailing bookings@grailsociety.org.uk.