Home Authors James Cracknell

Uxbridge Gazette reporter James Cracknell

James Cracknell

Only 18 schools in Hillingdon due to open

JUST one fifth of schools in Hillingdon are expected to open for all their pupils today.Read

'Largest ever' petition against all-weather pitch submitted to Hillingdon Council

A PETITION against a second all-weather pitch on Pinn Meadows is believed to be the biggest ever submitted to Hillingdon Council against a planning application.Read

Reward for information about man thrown from car

POLICE are offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information about the death of a 23-year-old man.Read

Newnham school rated 'outstanding'

NEWNHAM Junior School has been rated 'outstanding' by the education inspector Ofsted.Read

Roof fire 'caused by boiler'

A MAJOR blaze in a Ruislip maisonette on Sunday (27) was caused by a faulty boiler, the Gazette understands.Read

Children hand in anti-HS2 petition to Downing Street

CHILDREN from Ruislip handed in a special petition against HS2 signed by more than 1,000 of the borough's youngsters to 10 Downing Street.Read

Treat for Panto fans

Pantomime season is upon us and theatregoers in Hillingdon this year have a cracking choice of local shows to choose from. Reporter JAMES CRACKNELL previews them... oh yes he does!Read

Two year decision for high speed rail to Heathrow

HIGH-SPEED rail link to Heathrow Airport will not be finalised for another two years, MP John McDonnell was told this week. Read

Government 'could re-think' HS2 strategy

HOPES were raised this week that the government could be re-thinking its entire HS2 strategy. Read

Strike could force schools' closure across borough

SCHOOLS across the borough could be forced to close next week when public sector workers strike in a protest about pensions, pay and job cuts.Read

Hillingdon bucks youth unemployment trend

Uxbridge College, rated outstanding by education watchdog Ofsted, has warned that with employers less willing to take risks on inexperienced staff, young people need to gain work-based experience before applying for jobs.Read

Promises of biggest ever Christmas festival in Hillingdon

COMMUNITY organisers in Eastcote are promising to stage the biggest Christmas festival in Hillingdon – and perhaps even north-west London. Read

Monday morning Met line chaos

COMMUTERS travelling on the Uxbridge branch of the Metropolitan line on Monday morning (21) faced a nightmare journey to work when the line was closed in the middle of rush hour.Read

Security alert at Uxbridge bank

SANTANDER in Uxbridge was closed this morning (Wednesday) because of a 'major security issue' but the bank has said there is no danger to the public.Read

Salesman gets £27k damages for leg injury

A SALES executive has won £27,000 in damages from his employer four years after injuring his leg.Read

Maths teacher sums up on YouTube

SCHOOLS in Hillingdon have certainly come a long way since blackboards and chalk.Read

McDonald's manager stole to fund drug habit

A MANAGER at McDonald’s in Ruislip High Street stole £12,400 from the till of the fast-food restaurant to feed a drugs habit.Read

Top hat and curls prove a winner

A YOUNG dance troupe’s answer to the Ministry of Sound nightclub featured more than 200 children from across Hillingdon, including some as young as two years old, performing at a Watford theatre.Read

Lively debates over the future of Ruislip Lido

The history of the lake, first known as Ruislip Reservoir, is equally fractious.Read

MP praises award-winning pupils

PUPILS from Northwood School who won a host of awards at a national music and social enterprise competition have been praised by their local MP and mentor, Nick Hurd.Read

Author Profile

James Cracknell joined the Uxbridge Gazette in March 2010 as a senior journalist covering Ruislip and Eastcote, having previously worked on a newspaper in Warwickshire. He has led the Gazette's coverage of HS2, the proposed high-speed railway which has drawn big opposition in Hillingdon.