Hatch End High School in Headstone Lane, Hatch End, has been handed the Investing in Community Engagement Award by the Special Schools and Academies Trust this month, making it the first of its type in London to receive the honour, which recognises the work it does with the local community.

LEARN about French glass artist Rene Lalique and his Art Noveau jewellery through a talk to be given by jeweller David Callaghan.
The Frenchman, who lived between 1860 and 1945, is the subject of the free lecture organised by Harrow National Trust Association.
Lalique's designs became acclaimed after making jewels for Sarah Bernhardt and then exhibiting at the great Paris exhibitions of 1894 and 1900 and in turn he attracted the attention of Calouste Gulbenkian, who purchased over 150 major items of jewellery from him, of which many are now exhibited in the Portuguese capital Lisbon.
From 1900 onwards he concentrated on works in glass and Lalique glass is still made today to his original designs and patterns.

Where? Harrow Arts Centre, Uxbridge Road, Hatch End
When? 8pm on Monday, September 6
Cost? Free
Contact? See the talk programme at www.hanta.btik.com

NHS Harrow are preparing to turn away hundreds of Pinner residents at the fully-booked meeting on The Village Surgery next week, with a petition calling for the practice to reopen attracting twice as many names as the chosen venue can hold.

The Primary Care Trust (PCT) has arranged a second public meeting for September 16 but admit that even this may not be enough to meet the demands of over 7,000 former patients who want to know why their local GP surgery had to close in April with just two days' notice.

THREE school friends from Pinner have raised more than £2,000 for a struggling cancer charity by jumping 13,000ft out of an aeroplane.

Daredevil fundraisers Katie Leahey, 24, Jessica Gaspar, 26, and Joanne Wells, 29, were inspired to take the plunge for Lennox Children's Cancer Fund after hearing about the charity's plight.

A DEVELOPER is appealing against Harrow Council's decision to refuse planning permission for two new homes on the site of an existing property, despite huge objection to the proposals.

Lazard Developments Ltd has already had two applications for the redevelopment of 18 Paines Close in Pinner rejected, but are now appealing against the refusal dated August 4.

A petition of 870 names objecting to the cul-de-sac "garden grab" development was submitted to the council, in addition to 153 individual objections and letters of complaint from the Pinner Association, the Pinner Local History Society and the Conservation Area Advisory Committee.

PINNER residents have won their fight to keep the historic name of The Victory in High Street, despite it reopening on Monday (30) as an Italian restaurant.

The famous establishment, which dates back to Tudor times, will open its doors for the first time in 17 months on Monday under the name 'Zizzi At The Victory'.

A 60-year-old holidaymaker from Pinner helped catch a wanted criminal after chasing him for a quarter-of-a-mile.

Alan Cooper, of Oakwood Road, has been thanked by Spanish police after sprinting through Ibiza to catch up with the accomplice of a thief who had swiped his wife's handbag from the lobby of their hotel.

Mr Cooper found the wanted gangster cowering in a bush and promptly put him in a headlock and dragged him back so police could make the arrest.

A FORMER teaching assistant at Hatch End High School has been imprisoned for up to 16 months after admitting having sex with a pupil who was under 16.

Jonathan Duffy, 30, of Pinner, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Monday (23) after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of penetrative sex, and one of non-penetrative sexual activity, with a girl aged between 13 and 15.

A PINNER fisherman has been swept to his death while holidaying in Scotland.

Police recovered the body of Dr William Richmond, who lived on his own in Albury Drive, on August 18.

A major search and rescue operation had been launched last week in the Scottish Highlands after reports that a man had been swept away at Advie Bridge, on the River Spey, about 25 miles south-east of Inverness.

NHS Harrow were aware of problems at The Village Surgery, in Pinner, at least three years ago, the Observer understands.

Another request to fully explain why the Barrow Point Avenue surgery was closed in April with just two day's notice was refused by the Primary Care Trust (PCT) this week, despite patients' views being sought at a public meeting next month.