June 2009 Archives

A SECOND World War veteran was joined by family and friends from across Europe to celebrate his 100th birthday.

Wladyslaw Lapot, of Copthall Road West, Ickenham, marked his centenarian with a lunch at The Barn Hotel, in West End Road, Ruislip, on Saturday (6).

The Polish veteran survived 30 bombing missions during the war and was even awarded with the Virtuti Militari - the highest Polish honour.

After the war ended he decided to stay in the UK to work for BOAC (now British Airways) for 15 years before retiring in 1959.

However, he went on to open Marinka coffee bar in Field End Road, Eastcote, where he worked for 13 years.

Other jobs followed, including a stint as a night watchman with Securicor before he officially retired 30 years ago to look after his wife Alicia.

The grandfather-of-two was treated to a celebratory lunch with his family and friends, some coming from as far as Holland, Poland and Italy.

His daughter, Alexandra Lapot, said: "He had a really lovely time and someone from the Polish embassy brought him a letter from the ambassador, which he was delighted by."

Mr Lapot lived in Ickenham Road, Ruislip, for 54 years before moving to his current home.

PLANNING permission to build a house in a road mainly occupied by bungalows has been granted despite neighbours' reservations.

The application to build the two storey three bedroom detached house at 33 Parkfield Road, Ickenham, was approved at the North Planning Committee yesterday (Tues).

A BUILDER who set up a competition to sell his house for £25 as a way of beating the credit crunch has been unsuccessful.

Kirk Clugston, 50, started the competition in December last year after attempts to sell his bungalow in Hill Rise, Ruislip, for the asking price of £570,000 failed.

However, after almost five months only 1,117 tickets were sold, falling short of the 28,000 that needed to be sold to give away the house.

The father-of-two from Swakeleys Drive, Ickenham, said: "I am absolutely gutted that it didn't work but I think the reason was because a lot of people knew about a similar competition in Devon that had to be stopped on the day of the draw and was being investigated by the Gambling Commission. People probably just assumed my one would be stopped as well.

"If I knew now what I knew then I would probably have changed the price of the tickets but I am not sure to what and I would have given myself an advertising budget.

"I don't think I would do it again personally because of the amount of money and time it takes. I have lost money on it and for eight months it is all I have done because I haven't had any other work.

"Four sets of people have already approached me and asked if I can do it for them though, which I would do for a fixed price because I have learnt so much over the last nine months about it."

Anchal Kharbanda from Harrow was announced as the winner after the draw on May 11 and she should be getting her winnings of £20,262 this week. The NSPCC is also getting £649.

Mr Clugston said: "When I called her she was over the moon and I think she's going to use the money for a deposit on a flat. She only bought one ticket but some people bought as many as 15."

Mr Clugston has now accepted an offer of £530,00 on the bungalow.