Board-up houses ideal for homeless

MY wife is interested in finding out the history of the large white house visible from Hillingdon Road, behind the RAF Uxbridge building site.

Our son came to visit on Saturday and on the spur of the moment had an idea, while we were shopping in Uxbridge, to see if we could reach it.

We never got to it, but what amazed us was the large number of derelict, boarded-up houses to the back of the development that could have, with a little work, been used as temporary housing for the homeless.

Obviously, the condition of these properties is too far gone to be renovated now, but what a nice gesture it would have been by the developers to have used these dwellings for charitable purposes until their time came for demolition.

If the history of ‘the white building’ is known, please tell us. quit chocolate for the month of March as part of a new British Heart Foundation (BHF) fundraising campaign – DECHOXTM.

DECHOXTM is a sponsored challenge calling on all chocolate lovers in London to give up their favourite sweet treat for the month of March to help raise money for the BHF.

Dechoxers are encouraged to raise money throughout the month by asking friends, family and colleagues to sponsor them to take on the challenge. They can also donate the money they’ve saved from ditching a cheeky chocolate bar at work or that naughty dessert after a meal out.

I have been personally affected by the issues surrounding heart disease.

My father had both a cardiac arrest, at the age of 49, and a heart attack two years ago, when he was 67, while my son, David, contracted a heart infection last year, despite having no known pre-existing heart conditions..

That’s why I’m encouraging everyone in London to join me and take part and give up chocolate for the month of March to help raise money for lifesaving heart research.

It’s going to be difficult for people who love chocolate, like me, but we’ll all be in it together and it’s for such a great cause.

Anyone can sign up to DECHOXTM for free at bhf.org.uk/ dechox. You can also take part on social media by using #DECHOX and sharing your stories.