Over a thousand people gathered in Pinner today for a brilliant day of festivities to celebrate St George’s Day now a firm tradition in the local calendar and one of the biggest of the year and activities for children spread across the High Street and Church Farm Green Warm weather and sunshine helped create an even more enjoyable experience for everyone who attended One of the highlights was the famous Pinner wheelbarrow race, a tradition that first started back in 1963 Teams took it in turns to push each other in wheelbarrows through the streets stopping at different points – usually pubs or checkpoints – to have a quick drink before racing on The race traditionally starts outside Pinner Parish Church and has become a much-loved part of the celebrations often drawing big crowds and plenty of fancy dress This year’s event also featured a traditional parade through the high street Volunteers from across the community helped organise and run the day including the newly opened ‘Music & Life’ shop in Pinner Although St George’s Day itself falls tomorrow (Monday 28 April) the celebrations were held today to make the most of the weekend the date of St George’s Day has felt a little different (usually on the 23rd!) but that didn’t stop the local community turning out in big numbers to show their support Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services and Pinner South Ward Councillor posted on Facebook: “Amazing to be part of the St George’s Day Celebrations in Pinner today in the sunshine with Harrow Mayor Chowdhury Salim “Thanks to all the volunteers at Rotary Club of Pinner, The Pinner Association and all the Harrow District Scouts attending, as well as all the local Police and businesses who supported the event. Pinner Local / Shop Local in Pinner and a great turn out from wonderful local Harrow Council residents making the day that much more special!” The aim of the event is not just to celebrate England’s patron saint but also to bring the community together and help support local shops and charities It has become one of the biggest St George’s Day celebrations in Harrow and is a real highlight for many residents every year Photos from the day showed families enjoying the rides and groups of friends cheering on the wheelbarrow teams as they made their way down Pinner High Street Lots of photos and videos have been shared on the Harrow Online Group on Facebook head over there to take a look and share your own! Harrow Online is a company registered in England and Wales The man leading the think tank behind Starmerism on reinventing the economy Westminster think tanks go in and out of vogue along with governments Rishi Sunak borrowed ideas from the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) co-founded by Margaret Thatcher and Keith Joseph in 1974 David Cameron preferred more modern organisations on the right like Policy Exchange and Bright Blue founded in 2002 and 2014 Onward was set up to channel Boris Johnson’s “levelling up” agenda And Liz Truss was so closely tied to the free-market Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) that its long-term director Mark Littlewood joined her in launching her “Popular Conservatives movement” after he stood down at the end of 2023 is Keir Starmer’s government getting its inspiration tucked beside the Westminster Arms pub frequented by civil servants and political advisers (when it’s not being refurbished lies the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Founded in 1988 as a counterweight to the right-wing intellectualism being developed by the likes of the CPS and IEA the IPPR’s mission is to revitalise thinking on the progressive left “We’ve barely had a moment where that’s more important,” Harry Quilter-Pinner tells me as we sit down for lunch in an Italian restaurant around the corner He has worked at the think tank for nearly a decade and was announced as its new executive director at the age of 32 at the start of the year an increasing number of voters are saying that the status quo of the past few generations – market-led globalisation not just for the Starmer government but for centre-left parties worldwide “People feel their lives aren’t getting better they don’t feel they have control over them they don’t feel that the systems we’re creating are operating in their own interests,” Quilter-Pinner says they will vote for parties that will smash those systems instead.” He pauses “Our job is to make sure progressives have answers that are bold enough.” So what does a radical progressive answer to the challenge of economic stagnation and political disengagement look like the IPPR published a report by its Commission on Economic Justice New Labour and post-2010 Conservative strategy of focusing on headline growth first and redressing economic inequalities through the benefit system later had failed “economic justice needs to be ‘hard-wired’ into the way the economy works” through a more active industrial strategy that directs investment to regions that have missed out from the old model but have the potential to drive growth in key ​sectors is crucial for both kickstarting the economy and restoring people’s faith in mainstream politics which set up IPPR North in Manchester in 2004 and IPPR Scotland in 2014 has been talking about the need to rebalance Britain’s south-heavy economy long before Boris Johnson made “levelling up” a political catchphrase He suggests the government should be “intervening earlier to shape the distribution of economic activity so there are good jobs and industries across the country and so that everyone benefits from that growth from the start rather than hoping that redistribution later will deal with the unfairness” You could see this sentiment take hold in Labour before the election from Starmer’s promise to get growth in every part of the country to Rachel Reeves’ focus on the “everyday economy” the aim was rescuing the economy from the dire “Tory inheritance” even if that meant unpopular decisions such as withdrawing the winter fuel allowance for most pensioners even if it is driven by projects in the already-prosperous south-east Reeves announced a third runway at Heathrow and more investment around Oxford and Cambridge – exactly the kind of projects associated with the “broken growth model” the IPPR warned about “Labour’s central mission should be not just faster growth but also fairer growth,” Quilter-Pinner says in response to the Chancellor’s speech. In a column for the New Statesman he argued that Reeves should focus as much on investment in the Midlands and the north as Oxford the Bank of England turbocharged anxiety about the economy by downgrading the UK’s growth projections This has fuelled murmurs that elements of Labour’s agenda might be watered down – parts of the regional industrial policy or protections in the flagship Employment Rights Bill spearheaded by Angela Rayner which have been met with scepticism by some in the business community Much of the research on expanding workers’ rights was done by the IPPR – unsurprisingly its director is passionate about implementing them They are crucial to ensuring that the gains of growth are felt by everyone everywhere.” The bill is currently awaiting report stage in the Commons; we’ll find out soon if the Chancellor agrees Placing IPPR within the Labour Party scene is an interesting challenge Prominent IPPR alumni from the New Labour era include David Miliband and Patricia Hewitt as well as Liz Kendall who worked for both Hewitt and Harriet Harman before becoming an MP herself in 2010 The 2024 intake of Labour MPs boasts an impressive number of figures associated with the think tank in various capacities These include Miatta Fahnbulleh (junior minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) Kirsty McNeill (junior minister in the Scotland Office) Hamish Falconer (junior minister in the Foreign Office) who was a policy researcher at IPPR for five months in 2015 is more commonly associated with running Labour Together the high-profile (and sometimes controversial) organisation previously headed up by Morgan McSweeney and credited with both Keir Starmer’s winning leadership bid in 2021 and the 2024 election victory Quilter-Pinner (who insists he has no intention or desire of ever moving into front-line politics himself) is keen to distinguish the work IPPR does from Labour Together so we’re not aligned to any political party – we work with all political parties,” he says noting that Ed Davey and the Lib Dems have adopted key IPPR ideas like the social care pledge has the self-professed aim of helping the Labour Party get elected we’re about ideas and policy and wonkery and changing the country and Labour Together are about ‘how do Labour win?’” He pushes back on the idea that the two cater to different factions of the party with Labour Together more on the right and IPPR drawing from the soft progressive left “Someone once described Labour Together as Keir Starmer’s favourite think tank and the IPPR as Angela Rayner’s we work with both Keir and Angela – and everyone in between.” look at the ideas the think tank has been championing that made it on to ministers’ desks – the workers’ rights package changing the fiscal rules to allow more borrowing to fix public services – and it’s not hard to see a pattern “Just allowing your free-market economy to carry on the status quo is not working for anyone.” There is something typical of the millennial experience in Quilter-Pinner’s route to leading a progressive think tank He was a teenager at the time of the global financial crash in 2008 and experienced its aftermath while studying economics at York University “The systematic failure that led to that,” he tells me “and the lack of a response… that was the thing that really made me angry It made me want to go into politics.” He briefly worked in the Foreign Office (not as a spy “If you’re in the charity world… you’re just mopping up the shit of a bad system all the time and there’s always a limit to what you can do.” The other thing that motivated him was seeing firsthand how the opportunities available to his parents – the “magical social mobility that happened to that boomer generation” “They were in that magical generation where they were born working class but by the time they’d finished their careers they were thoroughly middle class,” he says raised in a working-class household in Peterborough was the first in his family to go to university and ended up becoming a playwright That kid would certainly not move from working class to middle class.” This contributes to the sense of alienation that is driving voters in the UK away from mainstream politics that mainstream centre-left parties across the world have yet to get a handle on “As uncomfortable as it is for those of us who believe in liberalism and open societies I think increasingly people feel that the form of globalisation that we’ve pursued is challenging,” he says citing both the transfer of power over recent decades from states to global bodies and organisations like the EU and the UN “It feels like progressives need better answers to the globalisation debate the immigration debate… [they] have got themselves into positions where they’re defending the status quo.” The polls showing a rise in support for Reform – YouGov even has one survey putting Nigel Farage’s party ahead of Labour – are “a warning for progressive and centrist politics that says we are not answering the questions that people are posing to us” So how does he reckon Starmer and co are doing Quilter-Pinner gives the government a rather generous seven and a half out of ten based mainly on the Employment Rights Bill for workers and the fiscal rule changes announced by Reeves to increase public investment – something the IPPR had vocally campaigned on in the run-up to the Budget But he does acknowledge that the mood throughout the election campaign was “much more like REM’s ‘Everybody Hurts’ than D:Ream’s ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ – and that has continued.” Probably not the soundtrack Labour will choose for its next party conference [See also: Reform is very wrong about net zero] George Pinner is preparing for one final push on Europe’s biggest club hockey stage — and he’s doing it with a team he believes is built to win it all it means a lot,” said the veteran goalkeeper who confirmed this season will be his swan song “There’s something special building here.” Old Georgians return to the Euro Hockey League FINAL8 with momentum and medals already in their pockets after a breakout bronze in 2024 “We had a very good year last year,” he said “I wouldn’t say it went beyond expectations because the aims in the club are very high—but reaching the semi-finals in Europe Formed in the 1990s and only reaching the top tier of English hockey a few seasons ago Old Georgians have rapidly become a dominant force With three straight Premier Division titles and two indoor championships their domestic form now matches their continental ambition “They sat us down a few years ago and said: ‘We want to win the EHL,’” Pinner told EHL website “When someone says that to you as a player — it’s very That ambition has attracted a star-studded roster Alongside Pinner are international names like Ashley Jackson But Pinner insists it’s the team culture that sets them apart and a sense that we’re all in this together.” “You’ve got guys who genuinely want to do it for each other There’s a humility in the group — even with all the talent we have.” Old Georgians will face Dutch side HC Rotterdam in their FINAL8 opener a team boasting EHL pedigree and home advantage “There’s no easy game at this stage,” Pinner said whilst giving them the respect they deserve.” The club made headlines last year after edging out German giants Rot-Weiss Köln for third place “We know what we’re capable of,” said Pinner But there’s no better way to end than with a group that believes in something bigger.” Whether this campaign ends in a medal or not Pinner knows this is a team with staying power “We’ve shown we can compete at this level,” he said “And I truly believe Old Georgians can win the EHL—if not this year Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" One of the biggest events of the year in Harrow is set to take place in Pinner this coming weekend as the annual St George’s Day celebrations return to the High Street The Pinner Rotary St George’s Day event will be held on Sunday 27 April from 12pm to 5pm Thousands are expected to attend the community celebration The High Street will be closed to traffic for the event allowing visitors to walk freely and enjoy what’s on offer The day will begin with bell ringing at the Parish Church followed by a Scouts parade to the War Memorial where the young people will renew their Promise entertainment will take place across different areas of the High Street including a performance from Capital Connection and Morris Dancing outside the Queen’s Head pub There will also be a Punch and Judy show on Church Farm Green One of the new features this year is a performance by live party band RAZORZ who will be playing at the top of the High Street at different times during the afternoon Pupils from Pinner Wood School will also take part in a Dragon Flag Parade marching along the High Street with flags inspired by St George and the Dragon The main event of the day will be the famous Pinner Wheelbarrow Race at 3pm This long-standing tradition involves teams of two racing with a wheelbarrow through the streets of Pinner The race begins at Little Common and ends at Church Farm Green Children’s rides and face painting will also be available throughout the afternoon and local cafés and restaurants will be open for visitors The event is organised by Pinner Rotary and will raise money for several charities Sync Bar in Pinner Green has announced it will be closing after its final service on Sunday the business has faced increasing challenges “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Sync after our final service on Sunday “The past fourteen years have been an incredible journey we have faced increasingly difficult challenges as I truly love this business and have dedicated myself to it day and night.” Owner Rishi expressed his gratitude to the staff and customers who have supported Sync over the years I am filled with a mix of emotions—happiness as I look back on the amazing times we’ve shared pride in having served tens of thousands of wonderful customers deep sadness knowing how much we will miss you all.” “I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of Sync’s journey—our amazing staff and security team—your dedication and hard work have made this place what it is who have supported us with so much love over the years we truly couldn’t have done it without you.” Sync has been a venue for a range of celebrations from birthdays and hen nights to engagements and anniversaries we have been lucky to welcome fantastic regulars and visitors from near and far We’ve been part of countless celebrations—birthdays and even wonderful children’s parties It has been an absolute honour to host these special moments and I feel so lucky to now call many of you friends.” The bar will remain open for one final weekend with customers invited to visit before its closure “If you’d like to join us for one last drink at Sync Sync Bar is located on Rickmansworth Road, Pinner A young singer-songwriter from Pinner has released a powerful new EP titled Not My Person drawing on her own experiences to create a collection of emotionally raw and honest tracks an independent alt-pop artist and producer grew up in the borough and went to school locally “I went to Vaughan Primary School and spent one year at Pinner Park before attending Nower Hill High School and Sixth Form,” said Emma in an interview with Harrow Online “Lots of my friends formed bands during their time at Nower Hill and it was very inspiring I actually ended up writing and performing a song for our Year 11 leavers assembly “I grew up watching Elena Tonra (Daughter) and other artists perform at a pub that used to be in North Harrow and back in 2013 I had my first headline show at Trinity Harrow. I also have performed at Harrow Arts Centre quite a few times most recently in the 2025 Disability Arts Festival.” Not My Person features six tracks centred around the theme of modern “situationships” – relationships that fall somewhere between friendship and romance Each song explores a different emotional phase of heartbreak from denial and longing to reflection and healing and Liar – the latter of which Emma says was the most difficult to write “Liar was the hardest song to write on the EP because it was the moment I was the most hurt but I still loved the person I wrote it about and I really didn’t want to be hurtful with what I wrote in the song So it was hard to be honest but also kind.” often uses her music to explore themes around identity and mental health “I haven’t heard any songs about neurodivergence before and it felt important to start writing about topics that are less represented in the music industry to raise awareness and to also make music that resonates with people who experience life the way that I do.” She also shared advice for others in Harrow who might be juggling creative goals with work and other responsibilities “The most important thing is finding a balance between the two I used to go straight from teaching all day to writing producing and promoting my music all evening and it was completely unmaintainable Now on the days when I am teaching I don’t do any music work after I spend the evening relaxing and doing calm activities This way I don’t burn out and can have the energy I need to work on my music projects on my days off “I think also not putting pressure to use every day off for music and often as creative people these are crucial to our success so you have to learn to step away because no one else is going to tell you to.” Not My Person has already surpassed 30,000 streams on Spotify and Emma is currently working on her next project focusing more deeply on themes of neurodivergence You can listen to the EP and follow Emma’s journey at emmaelizabethmusic.com or via @emmaelizabethmusic on TikTok, Instagram and SoundCloud Firefighters were advised people to avoid part of Pinner due to an ongoing fire this afternoon “Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire at a terraced house on Durley Avenue in Pinner “Part of the first floor was damaged by the fire There have been no reports of any injuries “One of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene to help fight the fire from above “Control Officers took the first of two calls at 1537 and mobilised crews from Harrow Ruislip and Stanmore fire stations to the scene The incident was over for firefighters at 1631 “The cause of the fire is under investigation.” The last men’s nature walk of the year organised by The Man Down Project in partnership with the Public Health Team and Harrow Health Walks The walk is part of The Man Down Project’s initiative to challenge stereotypes about men’s mental health and provide safe spaces for men to express their emotions and creative activities to promote wellbeing and break down barriers There are 13 places available for the walk which starts at Daisy’s in the Park Café in Pinner Memorial Park and runs until 11:30am To register for the walk, visit the following link: https://forms.gle/LQtjtuM49LpZbEgGA This is a valuable opportunity for men to prioritise their mental health and connect with others in a supportive environment A man from Pinner has been jailed after being found guilty of vehicle theft and multiple driving offences was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison for offences committed in the Thames Valley Police area He was also ordered to pay £450 in fines and victim surcharge costs The update was shared by Pinner Police via X (formerly Twitter) Pinner High School has been praised in its latest Ofsted inspection for maintaining the high standards set at its previous full inspection which took place at the school on Beaulieu Drive in Pinner on 4 and 5 March 2025 was an ungraded inspection carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 This type of inspection is designed to confirm whether a school continues to provide the same level of high-quality education identified in its previous report Inspectors found that the school “has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” Led by headteacher Raj Patel and part of the Harrow Academies Trust Pinner High was praised for its ambitious curriculum “There is a strong, aspirational spirit at Pinner High School Pupils are encouraged to be independent thinkers and they have great determination to succeed,” the report stated Inspectors also noted that pupils are “well supported academically and socially by caring and enthusiastic staff,” and highlighted feedback from parents who said staff go “above and beyond” to provide support and guidance The school’s curriculum was described as “exceptionally well-sequenced and ambitious,” with clear planning in place to address any areas of weakness Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) were found to be well supported with the report noting: “These pupils follow the same curriculum as their peers wherever possible and achieve highly.” which has expanded since the last inspection was singled out for providing a high level of academic and pastoral support “Students receive a high level of academic and pastoral support outcomes continue to improve,” the report said Staff were commended for their subject knowledge and contribution to school improvement with one section noting: “Staff say they feel valued and supported Consideration is given to their workload when changes are made.” Pupils’ behaviour was also highlighted: “Conduct in lessons and around the school is exceptional Leaders place trust in pupils to manage their behaviour and pupils do so responsibly.” Ofsted inspectors praised the wider development opportunities offered to pupils and extracurricular courses in areas such as coding This is the first inspection of Pinner High School since it was rated outstanding in 2019 While the new format of inspections no longer gives an overall effectiveness grade inspectors confirmed the school remains on track with the high standards previously recognised The Oddfellows Arms, a 170-year-old pub in Pinner It is understood that the lease for the premises has expired was originally established as part of The Oddfellows Friendly Society it became a key part of the local community building strong connections with customers the former landlord launched a crowdfunding campaign in an effort to raise £25,000 to renew the lease The campaign explained the challenges faced “We need to raise £25,000 within the next two weeks in order to fulfill our requirements to renew our lease We managed to stay afloat throughout some extremely difficult times we survived through covid and we have absorbed the cost of living crisis “To keep the pub how we know and love unexpectedly we now need to to find an additional £25,000 to keep the lease but we are positive that the community can rally together to support a local gem!” “Oddfellows Arms in Pinner temporarily closed on 5th January We are working to get it reopened as quickly as possible and will be recruiting for a suitable operator to lease it “We hope the local community will continue to support and use the pub when it reopens.” A collision between two vehicles at the junction of Station Road and Pinner Road in North Harrow has caused traffic delays this morning which is believed to have happened at around 11am has led to congestion in the area as police work to clear the scene in front of Costa Coffee Do you have a news story for Harrow Online? if so, get in touch now – email us at info@harrowonline.org or WhatsApp 07999 293 922 Harrow MPS officers issued a fine to a man in Pinner after catching him smoking cannabis behind businesses in Barters Walk resulted in the man being issued with a penalty notice for disorder Barters Walk links Pinner High Street to Sainsbury’s and the car park Officers seized a joint and a small bag of cannabis The penalty issued carries a fine of £90 This follows ongoing efforts by local police to address drug use in the area is closed today following an incident that took place overnight Staff arriving at the store early this morning (Wednesday 11th September) discovered that a large front window had been smashed A spokesperson for the Met Police confirmed the incident, stating: “This morning – Wednesday 11th September – police were called by staff at Tesco Express on Whittington Way in Rayners Lane who had arrived at work to find a large window at the front of the store had been completely smashed “An investigation has been launched into the incident and we are appealing for any witnesses to call 101 quoting crime ref no: 01/827335/24.” The store remains closed while police investigate. A Tesco spokesperson apologised for the disruption, saying: “Our Pinner Express store is currently closed to allow police to investigate an incident that occurred overnight “We apologise for the inconvenience and will re-open the store as soon as we can.” Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward Essential maintenance work by Affinity Water is taking place on Station Road from today (9 April) until 15 April The roadworks are located near the junction of Station Road and Pinner Road and are expected to last for around six days Traffic control with multi-way signals will be in place which is likely to cause delays for drivers especially those heading towards Rayners Lane and potentially Harrow Town Centre Affinity Water has said the work is part of ongoing efforts to improve services in the area Road users are advised to allow extra time for their journeys during this period Do you have a news story for Harrow Online? If so get in touch now! drop us an email to info@harrowonline.org based on Bridge Street and operated by GLL since 2017 will cease operations in March 2025 when its lease expires Members of the gym have started an online petition to oppose the closure describing the facility as a vital community hub “As frequent users and community members, we express our deep concern about the planned closure of Better Gym, in Pinner a hub vital to our community’s health and wellness This facility is not just a gym but a cornerstone of our community serving hundreds of locals in their pursuit of fitness and overall well-being “When we consider the loss of this community hub Not only does it deprive us of our routine fitness regimens but it disrupts our social connections with friends and family who share this common space The problem is compounded by the absence of another gym on the high street or in the nearby area leaving us without readily accessible alternatives “We urge the relevant decision-makers to consider the profound societal implications of this closure from impacting individual health routines to severing community ties Sign this petition to join our fight to save Better Gym Several gym users have also shared their concerns about the impact of the closure “Health and wellness has become a major priority and need since the pandemic for both adults and younger members of the community it makes no sense to restrict preventative health care services in any community,” said Darpan Patel “It’s a vital part of the community and my mental health,” added Paul Gabriel “It is a great friendly Community hub with excellent Instructors It keeps us fit and healthy and the Fitness classes are fun to attend We have all made friends over the years and it would affect all of our lives A spokesperson for GLL commented: “GLL have operated the Better Gym Pinner since 2017 “Customer communications have started with signposting to our nearest alternative Better Gym in Hillingdon “We’ve been proud to provide the local community with an affordable and accessible way to enhance their health and wellbeing and thank our customers and staff for their loyalty and support.” The petition to save the gym is gaining traction online and North Harrow conducted a welfare check at an address in Pinner over the weekend Harrow MPS posted on social media: “Over the weekend, Officers from Pinner Pinner South and North Harrow visited an address in Pinner to conduct a welfare check on a vulnerable female victim of domestic violence who was wanted for failing to appear at court in relation to two shoplifting offences committed in the Hillingdon and Thames Valley area respectively.” “A further male also found inside the address was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A.” Harrow MPS confirmed via their social media channels that “both men will separately appear in court in due course.” The Heath Robinson Museum in Pinner will host a new exhibition by British-Indian Pop artist Ketna Patel It draws on Patel’s experiences living and working across different cultures the sacred and the everyday through mediums such as video who grew up in Kenya and has lived in South East Asia uses her work to highlight stories from African “When I studied interior design and architecture This was in the 80s when minimalism was in and yet my own personal culture was full of colour and expression and storytelling I love the cacophony of many things happening at the same time The exhibition features artworks on household items such as furniture and utensils so I’ve transmuted the compositions onto utilitarian objects that can bring art into your domestic space your daily lives and rituals,” Patel added “I’m sure Heath Robinson would have loved this exhibition He would have appreciated Ketna’s keen eye for the absurdities of modern life and her ability to make the ordinary extraordinary We’re delighted to be hosting such a vibrant celebration of our shared humanity accompanied by an exciting programme of events including artist talks and the chance for members of the local community to co-create a collage.” The exhibition will be accompanied by events • Keep Calm and Curry On (With Laughter): A Cross-Cultural Comedy Affair 25 January 2025 | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | £25 Presented by Bridge India in collaboration with the Heath Robinson Museum 1 February 2025 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | £10 A conversation with Ram Gidoomal CBE and Prabhu Guptara framed by Patel’s REMIXOLOGY exhibition The exhibition and events will take place at the Heath Robinson Museum For full details, visit: www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org A new vegetarian Indian restaurant, Vaghaar, has officially opened at 173-175 Marsh Road, Pinner taking over the former Sakee establishment the restaurant’s name reflects the traditional Indian cooking technique Vaghaar (tempering) which enhances the flavour and aroma of many dishes Signature items on the menu include Kathiyawadi and Surti Undhiyu This is the second location for Vaghaar, following the success of its Kenton branch they have an impressive 4.5 stars from over 1,200 people Conveniently located near Chapel Lane Car Park in Pinner the new restaurant promises to become a popular local spot for authentic Indian flavours If you head down to check it out, let us know what you think via the Harrow Online Group on Facebook A library in Harrow has been forced to close temporarily after asbestos was found in roof panels ahead of planned maintenance work being carried out. Harrow Council has announced that Pinner Library will ‘open again soon’ but hasn’t given a firm date The library in Marsh Road will remain closed whilst the council removes the asbestos – a heat and fire resistant mineral that can be dangerous if disturbed and the fibres inhaled Harrow Council has a duty of care to remedy the situation but has given assurances that it didn’t pose a threat to the public Pinner Library was already scheduled to be closed to visitors until January 29 whilst ongoing maintenance work was carried out it appears that date will now have to be pushed back until the asbestos has been removed and it is deemed safe to reopen to the public Asbestos is a known carcinogen that can cause serious diseases Breathing in high concentrations of it for a long period of time mainly affects the lungs causing the disease asbestosis – which can take decades to develop – where breathing becomes difficult and the heart enlarges Asbestosis sufferers are also at an increased risk of cancer A spokesperson for Harrow Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The library was temporarily closed while we removed asbestos found in the panelling before work on the roof could take place.” They added: “There was no danger to the public it is within our duty of care to take the steps required to remove this and continue with maintenance works to the building and we look forward to welcoming everyone back.” The council has apologised for the inconvenience and advised residents that books can be returned to any Harrow library or renewed online or over the phone No fines will be charged during the closure period has been rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas following its latest Ofsted inspection on 3rd and 4th December 2024 The report noted the school’s “warm and welcoming community atmosphere,” stating that staff build strong relationships with pupils and their families from the start of the Reception Year “Pupils feel safe and value the care and support that the school gives them.” Cannon Lane Primary sets “extremely high ambitions for pupils’ achievements,” enabling them to thrive academically across the curriculum Inspectors praised the pupils’ maturity and proactive behaviour citing initiatives such as the ambassador programme and school council recommendations which contribute to a “well-mannered culture” and improvements like playground zoning The curriculum at Cannon Lane Primary was described as “highly ambitious,” with “deep thinking underpinning its design.” Inspectors noted that pupils’ work is “consistently of a very high standard” and praised the school’s support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) ensuring they achieve the same success as their peers and inspectors commended the expertise of staff in teaching the phonics programme Pupils’ enthusiasm for reading is fostered through competitions and rewards such as the school’s book-vending machine The report also highlighted the school’s commitment to personal development Inspectors noted that children learn resilience and important life skills “Pupils proudly explained that they have learned that ‘FAIL’ is an acronym for ‘first attempt in learning.’” Enrichment opportunities at the school are extensive ranging from gymnastics and musical instruments to learning Spanish and participating in a mini-Parliament Inspectors praised these as key factors in broadening pupils’ horizons Staff at Cannon Lane Primary are supported with reduced workloads and engagement with parents and carers is strong The governing body and school leaders work closely to benefit the community sharing good practices with other local schools Ofsted concluded that “The arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with all parents who shared their views recommending the school This latest rating marks an improvement from the school’s previous ‘Good’ grade and highlights its exceptional dedication to education and development in Pinner said: “This achievement reflects the dedication and collaboration of everyone within our school community and the exemplary behaviour and attitudes of our pupils we remain committed to maintaining these high standards and continuing to provide an environment where every child can thrive While this recognition is an opportunity to celebrate we also see it as an opportunity to build upon our achievements and strive for even greater success.” When Emily Hopla found out her daughter Ivy had cerebral palsy months after giving birth she believed that at least she would be supported in her education throughout Ivy’s time at school she feels abandoned by Hillingdon Council at the first stage of her education As the local authority continues a public consultation around plans to close or withdraw the SRP (Specialist Resource Provision) at Coteford Infant School in Pinner citing ‘declining demand for places’ Ivy’s case has garnered much support online There has been uproar in response to the threat to the SRP at Coteford Infant School which give specialist on-site support to disabled children The council claims it’s merely a technical change and won’t affect pupils but that’s not been Emily’s experience so far She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Without early intervention kids like Ivy are set up to struggle even more This isn’t just about school — it’s about their future It’s about integrating them in mainstream school so they thrive in mainstream society Where’s the inclusion they keep talking about Emily applied for Ivy to join the Coteford SRP in September 2024 because the on-site support was something she felt would help her child thrive she was told by the council in February this year that the Coteford SRP was no longer taking admissions – something that was news to the school at the time Ivy was enrolled at Coteford as the school was under the impression it could still offer her that extra support But since starting she has been unable to access the crucial SRP Earlier this month, Hillingdon Council then announced a public consultation around plans to close down the SRP the council says there has been a decline in demand and an expectation that children with physical disabilities receive support in mainstream education Emily told the LDRS: “Nobody gave me any options Nobody explained what we were supposed to do next They just dropped it on us and left us to fend for ourselves “I continued to email and state I wanted an SRP for Ivy but got told on numerous occasions over the course of months that Coteford was no longer taking admissions as far back as February and that’s when I knew I had a fight ahead of me But I didn’t realise just how much of a fight It was as if they’d decided long ago that Ivy didn’t matter.” Ivy is still missing out on crucial support as Emily says she was blocked from joining the SRP at Coteford She hasn’t had a speech and language therapist this term which she says she would have had as part of her care plan in the SRP Her mother says the entire process has devastated them as a family Ivy isn’t getting what she needs … The guilt is unbearable I feel like I’ve failed Ivy at every turn and all because the council decided she didn’t matter Why was my child left behind in their plan to shut this SRP down?” she said the council announced that they had plans to close the SRP at Coteford though claimed it’s not technically closing anything because it’s not a physical unit or classroom These plans have gone out to public consultation and at the time of writing and ex-pupils such as gold medallist Paralympian Natasha Baker are suspicious of the council’s reasoning for the plans With Ivy being apparently blocked by the council from joining the SRP despite the school informing Ivy’s mum they had a place for her many feel this ‘decline in demand’ cited by the council as a reason for closure has been manufactured – with Ivy’s situation being an example of this Emily said she was furious when she heard that claim She said: “How can they claim there’s no demand when children like Ivy clearly need this provision The SRP has helped so many children — kids who have gone on to achieve incredible things “So what’s really going on here It’s clear this was their plan all along They’re willing to sacrifice children like Ivy just to push through their agenda.” She believes this is evidence the council does not have their priorities in order She said: “This isn’t about what’s right for the children who need this provision They’re not looking at Ivy as a person they are looking at her as a number on a spreadsheet but she is a child with real needs; they’re seeing her as an inconvenience How many more children have to suffer before they admit they’ve failed us?” As the public consultation comes to a close this Friday (October 25) parents and ex-pupils of Coteford have urged Hillingdon Council to rethink plans to close the SRP Emily said: “What if this was your child What if your child was being denied the support they need How would you feel if you had to fight this hard just to get your child the basics She’s already had to fight for everything in her life and she will continue to do so And now she’s being forced to fight for her education too?” Hillingdon Council has suggested in previous statements the school has seen a decline in admissions however it is worth noting that post-pandemic many schools have seen a general decline in pupil numbers A Hillingdon Council spokesperson said: “Admission to Coteford Infant School has always remained open Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) are already attending mainstream lessons full time with the support outlined in their plans being provided in this environment The Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) is not a separate learning space and therefore the proposal is not a closure of a specific unit or classroom “The proposed changes are purely technical and will not have any impact on the children currently attending the school or ones that wish to attend in the future The same level of support outlined within a child’s EHCP will be provided and no funding is proposed to be withdrawn Therapeutic support for children who require it will still be available “We cannot comment on the details of specific cases but the council will contact Ivy’s mother to discuss her circumstances further No decisions have been made and the council will review responses to the consultation carefully before making a decision October 25 to have their say via the council’s website.” Officers from Pinner, Pinner South, and North Harrow identified and arrested a man suspected of stalking a female at Sainsbury’s in Pinner Harrow MPS confirmed the arrest through their social media channels stating that checks on the individual revealed involvement in multiple stalking incidents offenders can face imprisonment of up to 10 years Additional measures may include restraining orders and mandatory rehabilitation programmes Harrow MPS reminded residents to report stalking or related concerns to the police and Safer Schools attended an address in Pinner in December following a domestic violence incident according to a post by Harrow MPS on social media The alleged perpetrator was arrested and charged with multiple offences The man is currently in prison awaiting trial the charges could lead to significant sentences under UK law Domestic battery and non-fatal strangulation can result in prison terms with the latter carrying a maximum sentence of five years A post shared by Metropolitan Police Harrow (@mps_harrow) Threats to kill can lead to a sentence of up to 10 years Assault on police and racially aggravated public order offences also carry penalties Harrow MPS stated that work continues to safeguard the victim has opened its doors on Pinner High Street offering a wide array of musical services and activities for people of all ages Founder Yanice, speaking to Harrow Online explained the hub’s mission: “We are like a music hub (one-stop service) for the community We mainly sell string instruments and rent them “We have students from 3 years old to 70 years old we hope to enrich people’s lives with high-quality music and provide a safe space for people to express through music.” the hub hosts a variety of other activities Yanice shared some exciting plans for the future “We are doing guitar clubs for adults we host annual large-scale charity concerts at church halls every year (we have been doing for the past 3 years with our students) “We also plan to do a vinyl listening club everyone brings their favourite records to listen and share over coffee and tea; we will have a music therapist to host a talk and workshop Music & Life is “dedicated to integrating the beauty of music into people’s lives.” The hub offers a range of musical instruments along with regular music events aimed at enriching the community’s musical journey Located at 10 High Street, Pinner Music & Life is open to anyone looking to explore Harrow police have announced that officers in the borough are carrying out operations as part of Sexual Violence Awareness Week A post shared on their social media channels stated that officers are conducting arrest enquiries officers from Pinner South and North Harrow arrested two males in Pinner Harrow police noted that one male was wanted on a prison recall for violent behaviour and was taken back to HMP The second male had breached his Harrow Crown Court conditions and was taken back to court Harrow MPS has been using its social media channels to provide updates on police activity throughout the week A community-driven Christmas Toy Appeal is once again aiming to bring festive cheer to children in need Started ten years ago in Pinner the initiative has been collecting and distributing toys to children who may not otherwise receive a festive treat gathers new toys from the local school community and donates them to children in care 10 years ago I decided to collect some new toys from my children’s school community and donate them to children who may not receive a festive treat Every year we have donated between 500-1000 gifts to kids in care kids in hospital and kids that are carers for their adults,” she shared The initiative has distributed between 500-1000 gifts each year Supporters are encouraged to help in various ways: Expressing her gratitude for the support received “The kindness of you all has been mind blowing Babs summed up the community’s impact over the past decade: “The last ten years we have gifted over 5000 gifts to local children who may not otherwise receive a gift at Christmas I have been blown away by the kindness of my wonderful community.” the Amazon wish list QR code (above) can be used to donate a gift directly to the appeal Visitors to Pinner Memorial Park now have a new, sustainable way to feed the ducks, thanks to the installation of an innovative duck feeder—the first of its kind in Harrow is designed to promote responsible duck feeding by dispensing a special mix of food that is healthy for the ducks visitors simply make a contactless payment This setup is intended to discourage the harmful practice of feeding ducks bread which can make them ill and pollute the water Harrow Council shared news of the installation on X, stating: “If you visit Pinner Memorial Park It allows people to feed ducks sustainably & reduce the harmful impacts of bread feeding made from 100% recycled plastics & 10% of proceeds go to community volunteer groups.” is part of a broader initiative to protect local wildlife and support community projects A portion of the proceeds generated by the feeder will be directed to community volunteer groups helping to maintain the park and fund local wildlife projects The introduction of the new feeder marks a big step forward in Harrow’s efforts to promote environmental sustainability and wildlife conservation across the borough Parents will be demonstrating after specialist resources for physically disabled children may be shut at a West London school. Hillingdon Council has announced it will shut Coteford Infant School’s special educational needs unit The protest will take place outside the Civic Centre in Uxbridge from 6pm on Thursday The Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) for physically disabled children is at risk of closure at the Pinner school A consultation was held by the council which found 96 per cent of respondents are against the closure Campaigners said that the demonstration is not simply about the closure of the SRP but also the treatment of four-year-old Ivy Hopla – who was blocked from joining the SRP by the council – and the wider issue of disability rights in the borough Emily Hopla, Ivy’s mum told the LDRS: “‘We are protesting because Hillingdon Council aren’t listening but they’ve denied my daughter Ivy a spot in the SRP and they are shutting it down even though 96% of our community say it should stay open [as shown in the public consultation.] “The SRP is such an important resource – it helps kids like Ivy and gives every child in our community a real chance to thrive Hillingdon Council is ignoring us and failing our children We’re here to stand up and say enough is enough.” An online petition to save the SRP and ‘give Ivy the education she deserves’ garnered widespread support online The issue looks unlikely to go away for some time Families and Education Select Committee a fortnight ago [Thursday council officers maintained that the closure was ‘just a technicality’ as there will be ‘no changes to the funding received by these children’ They went on to tell the committee that there is a lot of fear and confusion around the change during the consultation – telling the committee again no changes will be made She argued that as the £6000 place funding will no longer be paid as place funding and instead as exceptional funding this itself is a change Cllr Punja went on to say this change indicates the report did not meet the requirements of the equality act by not conducting an equality impact assessment on how this decision may impact disabled children ex-Coteford pupil and gold medalist paralympian Natasha Baker told the LDRS she would not have been able to achieve what she has without the SRP She claimed the decision to consider closing the SRP signified a ‘lack of understanding of disability’ A number of questions about the SRP closure have been submitted by concerned residents to cabinet members at this week’s full council meeting One resident has asked: “The Council claims “nothing will change” as SRP therapies move to the NHS yet this shift risks harmful delays for children with special needs causing developmental regression and long-term damage and what steps are being taken to address it?” Hillingdon Council have been approached for comment All questions raised by the public and selected will be answered at the full council meeting on Thursday The demonstration will take place outside the Civic Centre in Uxbridge from 6pm a children’s entertainment franchise has donated £685 to the NSPCC after hosting community events A spokesperson at the NSPCC said: “We’re so grateful you’ve chosen to help children by raising £685.00 on behalf of Captain Fantastic You’re joining a movement of people who believe every child has a right to be safe Your gift will help change children’s lives helping fund our direct services protecting children We are around 80 per cent funded by public donations so it’s only thanks to people like you that we can be here for children we can protect children and prevent abuse.” founder and director of fun at Captain Fantastic said: “We arranged a series of spook-tacular Halloween shows touring ten local venues across the UK to bring our big Halloween party experience to as many children as possible at a fraction of the cost of booking their own party Plus it meant could make a donation to the NSPCC.” Tommy Balaam added: “We are also planning some fun festive Christmas community events too so keep an eye on our website for more details.” Captain Fantastic was founded more than ten years ago by Tommy Balaam The franchise organises over 2,000 parties and events annually entertaining 60,000 children across the country The much-anticipated Pinner Rotary Village Show is making a grand return to Pinner Memorial Park on Saturday This annual event is organised by dedicated volunteers from Pinner Rotary and promises a day filled with entertainment The show will host 45 stalls featuring a variety of local organisations offering a unique opportunity to explore the best of what the community has to offer Visitors can also enjoy an international food court and a licensed bar ensuring there’s something for everyone A new addition to this year’s event is the Charity Hub, located in Pinner Village Hall The hub will feature representatives from 14 local charities providing a space for attendees to learn more about the valuable work being done in the area Entertainment will be a key highlight of the day and the award-winning Bollywood group Epika Dance to Inspire with a range of children’s activities including fairground rides and interactive sessions organised by Harrow Scouts Programmes for the event are priced at £4, with all profits going to support Rotary-supported charities, including Mind in Harrow For more information and a detailed programme of entertainment, visit www.pinnerrotary.org.uk Harrow Online is a company registered in England and Wales.