November 2008 Archives
A knifeman who plunged a blade into the stomach of an acquaintance during a violent assault is facing a lengthy jail sentence.
Rionne Hunte, 23, of no fixed abode, repeatedly stabbed the 29-year-old man in the bedroom of a property in Willesden.
The horrific attack happened at 4.15am on July 11 this year, after the victim had been out drinking with his friends.
On the way home he visited another friend in Brenthurst Road, Willesden, but was stabbed by Hunte when he walked into one of the rooms.
After the attack Hunte demanded the victim's ring and mobile phone before running off.
Hunte was arrested for attempted murder but at the Old Bailey last week pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent. He will be sentenced on December 5.
DC Karen Beck, of Brent CID, said: "This was an extremely violent assault. The level of violence used against the victim left him with life- threatening injuries. We are committed to tackling knife and violent crime and we will pursue those who carry and use knives."
A Brent open space could be in line for £400,000 worth of improvements after the Mayor of London launched a new park regeneration scheme.
Boris Johnson has put aside £6m to fund the makeover of ten open spaces in the capital and is calling on Londoners to decide which ones will get the cash boost.
Brent River Park is up against 47 other open spaces and council leaders are urging the borough's residents to vote.
Councillor Irwin Van Colle, Brent Council's Lead Member for Environment, Planning and Culture, said: "This is a huge amount of money which will transform the park and benefit the whole community.
"We cannot afford to find this sort of amount ourselves. So please support the park and vote. It will only takes a few seconds of your time."
As part of the regeneration scheme, the Mayor will also award a single grant of up to £2 million to one large park for a makeover.
This grant will be decided by the Mayor rather than by public vote, with the advice of a panel of experts.
Brent council wants to turn Brent River Park, which borders Neasden, Stonebridge, St Raphael's and Tokyngton into a fantastic place for walkers and cyclists to enjoy and a haven for wildlife.
Proposals include improved footpaths and cycle routes, better entrances, more information and maps for users and building a new meeting place for the community. Brent also wants to encourage more plants and animals and declare a local nature reserve.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: "I urge residents of Brent to use their vote so the most deserving parks in the capital benefit from ten hefty prizes. This investment will make the capital's open spaces cleaner, safer, greener and more enjoyable places for Londoners to use."
Votes can be cast at www.london.gov.uk/parksvote and must be received by Friday January 30, 2009.
Former Mastermind champion Shaun Wallace is well on his way to another prestigious title.
Barrister, Mr Wallace, 48, from Wembley, who won the popular BBC quiz in 2004, has qualified for the quarter-finals of BBC series Find A New Egghead.
The occasional radio presenter had a tough battle in his second round heat but just managed to hold out to clinch a 5-4 victory over English quiz team member Olav Bjortomt.
A conceptual artist and his team have left art on borough streets in a generous one-off art happening.
Adam Neate claimed the streets of London as his gallery as dusk fell on Friday night, leaving 1,000 artworks scattered across the city, visiting all 32 London boroughs.
Were you lucky enough to find one of the pieces? Tell us what you found and where you found it and send your videos and pictures to http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-london-videos-pics/
A short movie about discrimination made by an aspiring Willesden film-maker has been treated to a glitzy premiere at a top West End cinema.
Timothy Unzola, 22 of Essex Road, Brent was just one of seven young people to win the opportunity to make a five-minute film about issues affecting teenagers.
His work, Waiting Room, was shown alongside four others at an exclusive screening held at the Odeon in Covent Garden on October 21 and attended by a number of celebrities, including actress Anne Hathaway.
Mr Unzola said: "The film is based on the idea of discrimination and the way people in different ways perceive each other."
The whole of the short takes place in a waiting room and shows two men waiting for the outcome of a job interview.
Mr Unzola first heard about the competition via an email from directors he had worked with on his play Belongings at Hampstead Theatre, Swiss Cottage.
He entered on the off-chance and was surprised to get a call back. Mr Unzola said: "The rest all happened very fast."
Mr Unzola developed the film together with Thomas Grigg, another aspiring film-maker.
The two wrote the script in a day and Waiting Room was filmed in a week, under tough time constraints.
The prize for the pair was the screening of the film at a West End premiere. Mr Unzola said: "The whole experience was great. It didn't hit me until I arrived and then saw the red carpet and all the celebrities around me. I felt great, it was a such shock to be there, as I had only entered on the off-chance."
He is now writing a feature television script and plans to remake the short film for his own personal showroom, crediting Mr Grigg too, for his contribution.
Mr Unzola wishes to pursue his career in film further, as a writer and producer.
The competition was set up by a charity called 'Get Connected', which aims to help 16-25-year-olds with personal problems.
Are you an aspiring film-maker? Send your clips and details to tom.parnell@trinity
south.co.uk
The history of Dollis Hill House and Gladstone Park will be explained by Margaret Pratt and Cliff Wadsworth at a meeting of Willesden Local History Society on November 19.
Research for the talk was carried out for the WLHS booklet 'A Distant View of Gladstone Park and Dollis Hill House' published in 2002.
Send email enquiries to - cliffwadsworth@btinternet.com - for issues dealing with the Willesden Local History Society and Willesden history in general.
For Willesden enquiries concerning local history documents, Street Directories, Census Returns, Voters Lists, Maps, and Local papers,
please contact Brent Archive and Library, 152, Olive Road, Cricklewood, NW2 6UY.
Phone 020-8937 3541; email archive@brent.gov.uk
Visit www.brent.gov.uk/archive
For Willesden enquiries concerning Anglican Burials please contact the Cemeteries Office, Clifford Road, Alperton, Middx.
Phone 020 8902 2385.
Email cemeteries@brent.gov.uk
Recent Comments
"Hi there! I am here for the first time and like what and how you write. Hope to hear from you soon a..."