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June 27, 2008
Blooming lovely
I am pleased to see that Uxbridge is a mass of colour this summer with the return of hanging baskets throughout the town centre - which look even better in the current glorious weather we are enjoying.
The display outside the Civic Centre also looks pretty spectacular and I have to say congratulations to all concerned for adding a real splash of colour to the town centre.
I know that The Uxbridge Initiative has worked hard to bring back the hanging baskets after an absence of several years and their efforts are to be commended as it does give a feel good factor to the town.
Later today I am going to lunch with John Comfort and his wife Kay. John has just retired after many years with the company, the last 21 as sports editor of our sister paper the Harrow Observer.
John is something of a sporting legend locally and was also sports editor in Uxbridge for a number of years before switching to Harrow.
He is retiring to live in Cambridgeshire and will be much missed around the local sporting scene. As a former sports editor myself I am sure there will be plenty to talk about over lunch.
Posted by aseal at 10:31 AM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2008
Have your say
I am glad that the public are going to get their say on plans for the redevelopment of the RAF site in Uxbridge.
This has the potential to be one of the most important developments in Uxbridge and it's crucial that all views are taken in to account before the council comes to any firm decision over what goes on the prestigious site.
Get it right and Uxbridge could have a development to be proud of but get if wrong, and it could haunt the council for many years to come.
As Councillor Keith Burrows says in this week's Gazette: " This stands to be the biggest development in Uxbridge in many years as RAF Uxbridge is a huge site and the potential to develop it is almost limitless."
There is already talk of a museum, restaurants, a new theatre and more than 1,500 homes for the site.
However, it is important that all views are taken into account and that is why the public of Uxbridge should ensure they join in the debate and contribute fully to the plan which will shortly go out to public consultation.
You can also voice your views by posting comments on http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/forums on our new look website.
Already this week's news list is looking a lot healthier than it did this time last week and we have a number of potentially good stories on the boil.
And look out for some more revelations in the on going saga of travel firm Atlantis Travel which has been quite a topic of conversation around the borough and in the Gazette in recent weeks.
Posted by aseal at 1:21 PM | Comments (0)
June 24, 2008
Back to school and coffee!
In a few weeks time schools across the borough will be breaking up for the summer holidays.
However, it seems that according to one leading high street retailer children are already just about to return to school.
Confused?
Well I know that retailers always work well ahead of themselves but it does seem a bit odd that large promotions for 'Back to School' wear currently fill the window of Marks & Spencer in Uxbridge High Street - surely they can let the kids have a few days off first before reminding them that they have to return to school!
On the subject of the high street, with another large chain coffee shop shortly due to open it seems that people in Uxbridge must top the league when it comes to needing their daily fix of cafine.
When the latest addition opens its doors there will be no less than nine (yes I have counted them) coffee shops in the space of just over 100 yards in the high street!
However, with a distinct lack of hard news this week and the Gazette's deadline fast approaching I think I may need several strong cups of coffeee myself.
It really has been a quiet news week - apart from the Niaomi Campbell media circus which has already been flogged to death - and we have been scratching around for some decent front page splashes for all the editions.
The other problem is that this week's paper is extremely tight in pagination so, if we hopefully get some breaking news stories this morning it will end up with some of the already completed pages having to be torn up and started again.
That will mean a grumpy production editor and no doubt more cups of strong coffee!
Posted by aseal at 7:45 AM | Comments (0)
June 20, 2008
Fantastic news
Several weeks ago I told you the story of journalist colleague Adrian Sudbury, who works for one of our sister papers in Huddersfield, and who is dying of leukaemia and has only a short time to live.
His dying wish is for an increase in the numbers registered on the bone marrow register and we have featured Adrian's campaign in the Gazette.
Well Adrian’s campaign has been highlighted on The Prime Minister’s Question Time, where Gordon Brown mentioned him personally and said: “the issue of the promotion of the donation blood, bone marrow and organs is a priority for the department of health. We are looking at what we can do."
And this week, Adrian has received a letter from Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Education Secretary Ed Balls, announcing that a talk about donating blood, bone marrow and organs, will be rolled out in schools nationally from September. The scheme, called Give and Let Live, will be for 14 to 15-year-olds.
This is fantastic news but Adrian urges the need for the scheme to be expanded to sixth formers. At 17 and 18, young people are in a position to choose whether or not to become donors. At 17 you can give blood and at 18 you can join the bone marrow register.
Adrian also recently received an unprecedented standing ovation when he was announced as ‘Multimedia Journalist of the Year’ at this year’s Press Gazette Regional Press Awards.
He was recognised for his blog about dealing with leukemia. It is the latest in a series of national and international awards for his work. Adrian’s parents picked up the prize on his behalf as he was too ill to attend the award ceremony in person, but he addressed the event with a prerecorded video message. http://www.silverstream.tv/rpa/
You can follow Adrian's story at http://baldyblog.freshblogs.co.uk
I am currently looking out on a deserted newsroom - and it looks like remaining that way for most of the day!
News editor Chris Longhurst has gone to the races for the day (pleasure not work), two reporters are training and with other things going on that leaves just our Ruislip reporter Charlene Mitchell and a work experience student as the sum total of the newsdesk.
It promises to be a busy day and with the newslist for next week's Gazette looking a little thin on the ground at the moment we will have to really start cranking things up first thing on Monday morning.
Posted by aseal at 7:24 AM | Comments (0)
June 19, 2008
Website development
We are currently making some exciting changes to our website and giving it a completely new look.
It's still very much a case of work in progress but the site has a number of new features and is now far easier to navigate around.
We will also have dedicated websites for key areas in the borough like Harefield, Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip and Eascote bringing you the ultra local news from your area.
Please go to http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk and let me know your thoughts and views on the site as it continues to develop.
Apart from the website development it has been a bit of a torrid week so far at Gazette House with shortages in the production department (subs) meaning we have been really under the cosh.
So far we have just about managed to meet our deadlines and I think everyone will breathe a huge sigh of relief when this afternoon comes and the final deadline of the week is over. And then of course we start all over again ....
Apolgies to all our readers of the Hayes edition of the Gazette for the cock up on the front page with a story being obliterated by an advertisement.
Mistakes do happen and in the scale of things this was a pretty big one. However, there is no point dwelling over it for too long and we have to move on and ensure that it does not happen again.
I feel particularly sorry for our new Hayes reporter Sarika Sharma whose first front page story ended up not appearing - as they say things can only get better!
Word has reached me that our former Hayes reporter John Hugill has already run in to problems on his world travels.
Two weeks in to the trip (I believe he has reached Kathmandu) and he is reportedly already running out of cash!
He may be back sooner rather than later but you can keep track of his travels in the Gazette and also on the website.
Posted by aseal at 7:31 AM | Comments (0)
June 13, 2008
Changes
Just thought I would bring you up to date with a number of changes taking place in the Gazette newsroom at the moment.
Our content editor David Tilley is moving today to our sister paper the Harrow Observer to take up the editor's role.
David has been at the Gazette for the last two years and has overseen a number of content changes to the paper and although he is movonig down the road I am sure he will still be a regular visitor to Gazette House on his press day.
Chris Longhurst is taking up the role of news editor at the Gazette, stepping up from his current position as chief reporter.
Local boy Chris has been at the Gazette for a number of years now and his knowledge of the area is invaluable along with the many contacts he has built up over the years.
I will be working closely with Chris on further developing the content of the Gazette and Leader titles and also the website.
And it really is all change in the newsroom as our Hayes reporter John Hugill has departed to embark on the backpacking trail.
You will be able to read all about John's adventures in his blog as he travels the world for the next four months. It will appear regularly in the Gazette and also on the website - so watch out for some exciting tails from our intrepid former reporter.
Replacing John is Sarika Sharma, who has been working for our titles in Buckinghamshire, but lives in West Drayton so she is more than familar with the Gazette patch.
Apart from all the changes in the newsroom it is a very busy time at the moment - hence my lack of recent postings.
A lot of this revolves around some really exciting developments taking place with our website which I will soon be able to tell you about - so watch this space for some more news on this.
Posted by aseal at 9:20 AM | Comments (1)