March 2009 Archives

Politicians from across the borough have paid tribute to former councillor Akber Khan Sarguroh who dedicated his life to helping the underprivileged.

Mr Sarguroh, who suffered from a stroke earlier this year, died on February 27 at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead aged 85.

Among mourners at his funeral, which took place at West Hendon Mosque this month, were his wife Jutta and two sons, Andrew and Haroon.

Mr Sarguroh was born in Maharashtra, India, and was the oldest son of a farmer. He was educated at the Royal Institute of Science in Bombay, where he gained a BSc in chemistry and physics.

In 1947 he began working in the UK as a sponsored research chemist and by the mid-1960s he had become an active member of the Labour party.

Over the next 50 years Mr Sarguroh immersed himself in local politics, community and charity work, which included setting up the Kokni Muslim Welfare and Youth Organisation, which helped people from India who had settled in the UK.

Mr Sarguroh served as a Brent councillor from 1990-94 and 1998-2002 and sat on various council committees.

After retirement in 1992 Mr Sarguroh dedicated his time to assisting Asian and Muslim community groups, the Gladstone Park Sports Club and Anson Primary School, where he was a governor. He eventually took up the position of deputy mayor of Brent.

Councillor Ann John OBE, leader of the Labour group, said: "Akber founded the Kokni Muslim Welfare and Youth Organisation but he cared passionately for everybody in Brent's diverse multicultural community.

"He particularly championed the rights of young people and organised sports days for young people each year.

"His other great interest was in housing. He campaigned for more affordable housing in the borough. He was a kindly, modest man who preferred gentle persuasion to shouting the odds. He will be greatly missed and our hearts go out to his sons who survive him."

Councillor Paul Lorber, leader of the council, added: "Akber was a nice man and always keen to promote sporting activities for young people. I hope he would be proud of Brent Council now and all the extra investment we are providing for sport and other activities for young people, including the Youth Parliament."

A wheel and wing mirror were stolen from a parked Hyundai Coupe in Walm Lane, Willesden at about 6.30pm on Friday.

To celebrate the opening of its new Harlesden store, Specsavers has teamed up with the Observer to offer four lucky readers the chance to each win £150 worth of eyecare.

The competition is part of the store's two-week celebration to mark its launch.

Each prize includes a free eye examination and a pair of designer specs up to the value of £125.

The four winners can chose from well-known brands including Jasper Conran, Quiksilver, Red or Dead, Missoni and Specsavers' own best selling range of designer glasses - Osiris. A trained store stylist will be on hand to advise on the best frame style and shape to suit their face.

To enter email your name, address, and daytime telephone number to or on a postcard to Specsavers competition, Gazette House, 28 Bakers Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 1RG.

The closing date is March 27.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi at a Brent school.

The royal couple visited The Swaminarayan School in Neasden to watch youngsters perform in white robes before throwing coloured dyes and water on each other while traditional Indian music was played.

Hindu's celebrate Holi to mark the arrival of spring and the change of seasons by spraying colour.

However the couple were spared being covered in dye and instead threw flower petals over the children once they'd stained themselves in vibrant colours.

His Royal Highness and the Duchess of Cornwall were taken on a tour of the school which was founded in 1991 by Shri Pramukh Swami Maharaj, a spiritual guru of an international Hindu organisation known as BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha).

The school is a non-profit making independent school for children aged from two-and-a-half to 18.

A shop owner has been forced to pay more than £2,000 after selling deadly toys that children could have choked on.

Last Tuesday at Brent Magistrates' Court, Ka Pak Lam, 48, who had a unit called Toko Home in Oriental City in Edgware Road, pleaded guilty to four offences of selling hundreds of dangerous items, including rubber ducks and toy guns.

He had been warned by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards officers in June 2007 that all toys sold in the shop should have the required CE marks on them.

The CE mark should be placed on all toys to show they conform to safety standards.
But when officers returned in December 2007 they discovered their advice had been ignored.

After a thorough search the toys were seized and examined by safety experts.
Worryingly, they found that all the toys examined contained small parts and sharp edges that presented serious hazards to children.

During the investigation Mr Lam, who is from Barnet, attended a formal tape recorded interview, in which he stated he had used his limited company to directly import toys from Japan into the UK.

He was fined £800 and ordered to pay a further £1,343 in prosecution costs.

Bill Bilon, director of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service, said: "I am delighted that the courts have sent such a strong message and have recognised the importance of protecting vulnerable consumers from harm.

"The protection of children from unsafe goods is a high priority from the service and we will continue to monitor local traders on a regular basis to ensure they are complying with the law."

The people of Brent are invited to wear green and join the borough's Irish community for the St Patrick's Day Parade in Willesden Green.
Ireland's patron saint has been celebrated in the borough on his saint's day, March 17, for more than 12 years.
This year the parade starts at 4pm at Willesden Green Tube Station in Walm Lane and will progress to Willesden Green Library Centre, at 95 The High Road, where the celebrations will continue into the evening.
Those taking part in the parade can jig their way along the route with performers from across the borough, watch the floats and catch the sounds of the Ballindaggin Pipe Band from County Wexford in Ireland.
The parade is followed by free live music and dance on stage at the rear of Willesden Green Library Centre and more free events inside.
The Mayor of Brent, Councillor Ralph Fox, said: "By celebrating St Patrick's Day we are marking the contribution the Irish community has made and continues to make to Brent.
"The parade is a friendly and joyful event which welcomes everyone to join
in the many activities and enjoy a fun event for all the family."

Brent streets are set to become greener, thanks to the arrival of 100 new trees.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, pledged to plant 10,000 trees in the capital to improve Londoners' quality of life and to make it more pleasant.

The first 1,500 are now being planted in Brent and nine other London boroughs.