Did you know that Saturday 25 November was White Ribbon Day? It was introduced in 1991 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and it is a shame on society that more than 30 years later the battle is still not won. The latest figures from the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime show that in 2022 Hillingdon had 3243 reports of domestic and sexual violence. The parts of the Borough with the highest numbers of reports were Hayes, Yiewsley and West Drayton.

Most of the victims were women and it should be noted that the figures do not include all forms of domestic abuse. It is also well known that in many communities there continue to be massive problems of under-reporting of these awful crimes. The same applies in relation to male victims.

While there is still a long way to go in achieving the objectives of White Ribbon Day, much good work goes on in Hillingdon involving the Police, the Council and the voluntary sector. Take a look at the Council's web site to see what is being done, how to make a report and what you can do to help.

This is a reminder that you are invited to Hayes End Methodist Church on the Uxbridge Road for an afternoon of festive fun on Saturday 2 December. from 2pm to 5pm.

Entrance is free and there will be bouncy castles, Christmas crafts and the chance to take your photo in the Christmas nativity stable. There is a small charge to visit Father Christmas.

The postcode of the Church is UB4 8JW.

Father Christmas is going to be busy on Saturday 2 December as St Edmund's Church in Edmunds Close on Yeading Lane also has a Christmas Fair.

Attractions include Santa's Grotto, tombola, gifts, games, arts & crafts, food & drink and a performance by the St Anselm's School Choir.

The event runs from 2pm to 5pm and the postcode is UB4 5JW.

The Metropolitan Police are delighted to invite you to an informative evening at the upcoming New Met for London event on Thursday 7 December at The Claretian Oasis in Botwell Lane. It starts at 6pm.

The event will culminate in an interactive Q&A session with the Management Board member and the Senior Leadership Team, offering you a rare opportunity to voice questions and receive direct insights. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of the conversation shaping the future of policing in Hillingdon. Click here to reserve a place

The Claretian Oasis is next to Botwell House School in Botwell Lane and the postcode is UB3 2AB.

Townfield Community Centre in Townfield Road will be the place to be in the morning of Thursday 7 December for some musical entertainment for anyone suffering with memory loss or living with dementia.

Organised by Age UK Hillingdon, Harrow and Brent the event will run from 10am to 11 am and provide the chance to sing some of old familiar songs.

To find out more give Kelly a call on 07925 148169 or send her an email.

The 10th Hayes Scouts have their hut behind the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Botwell Lane and on Thursday 7 December they will be doing it up for a Christmas Fair. They promise to provide ornaments, arts & crafts, a tombola, mince pies, games and, wait for it, 'axe throwing'. That sounds intriguing.

It starts at 6 30pm and goes on until 8 30pm. There is a £1 entry charge for adults but kids go free.

The poster was designed by one of the scouts.

The Council has received a planning application for permission to install a black telephone kiosk on the pavement outside 44 Station Road - The Plaza small shop units. It comes from New World Payphones who claim to have invented a new kind of phone kiosk that will include a digital way-finding and mapping system as well as a digital advertising screen.

There used to be a phone box outside W H Smith's that was a focal point for drug-dealing, urinating and worse. It took five years to get it removed and you have to wonder whether this new one is going to be any better. From the picture it looks like it will be open-sided which would be an improvement and the company say they have devised a management plan to minimise crime and anti-social behaviour associated with their instatallations.

To see details of the proposal click on this link. You can send your comments to the Council or let me have your views. The closing date for the receipt of responses is Sunday 10 December.

The Council's Older People's Assembly has been in operation for a number of years but how many people in Hayes know of its existence and what it does? There will be a chance to find out what it has to offer when it meets on Thursday 13 December between 1 30pm and 3 30pm at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge.

It looks like there is an interesting range of speakers and there will be a chance for participants to have their say but you must book in advance. Click here to find out more and to reserve a place.

Back in April an idiot driver careered off Station Road and went through the railings opposite Hayes & Harlington Station. His car ended upside down not very far from the railway line far below and luckily for him he was not seriously hurt. The Council immediately put up concrete safety barriers and fencing as shown in the picture and since then it has been working on plans to replace the old railings with like for like.

It is good to hear from the Cranford Park Friends that the historic statue of Venus and Cupid has been successfully restored. It used to stand in the open and was damaged by a fire started by vandals. The marble was so badly affected by the heat that it was thought initially that the statue would be beyond repair.By using funds it has gained from the National Lottery and employing conservation specialists the Council has ensured its return to its previous state. You can read about the work by using this link and also find out why one has a new new nose and not the other

The picture shows the happy couple in their new home in the magnificent cellars that remain from the old long-demolished Cranford House. These will become publicly accessible as part of the Cranford Park restoration project.

Another piece of good news is that the well-regarded Cancer Research UK charity shop in Coldharbour Lane has re-opened as shown in the picture. The premises were closed earlier in the year for refurbishment but this took so long that rumours began to circulate that the shop would never open again. The situation became even more confused when it emerged that there was a planning application to knock it down and build a three storey block of flats in its place. The application has not yet been to the Planning Committee but in the meantime the shop looks great and staff and volunteers are welcoming customers and donors once again.