A MEMORIAL stained glass window has been unveiled at St Mary The Boltons church.

The Craigie Aitchison Memorial Window, named Crucifixion 2008: A Memorial Window and designed by artist Neil Phillips, was dedicated by the Bishop of London Richard Chartres on May 17 at an Ascension Day Service.

Mr Aitchison CBE was planning a collaboration with the South Kensington church at the time of his death in 2009 after the Edinburgh born artist settled in the area.

A VISION for improving the area underneath and around the Westway, creating hundreds of new jobs, has been revealed.

The North Kensington site is one of the most run-down in Kensington and Chelsea and the council has identified it as an area in need of regeneration as it continues to recover from the construction of the flyover in 1970.

It has published its draft planning strategy for the area, which includes new shops, businesses and sports facilities, and is asking residents to have their say on the future of the 23-acre area, which they have labelled an 'oppressive negative influence'.

SAMANTHA Cameron joined parents and staff at St Quintin Centre for Disabled Children to celebrate it securing vital funding on Tuesday.

The North Kensington centre, which was opened by Mrs Cameron in 2010, has received a three-year grant from the Cheyne Charity that will see children able to enjoy hydrotherapy swimming at the Jack Tizard School, in Shepherd's Bush, and yoga at Kensal Rise.

"The Council has done a really brilliant job working with local parents to provide a world class facility for children with special needs," said Mrs Cameron. "What is important now is that we all work together to build on this and continue to raise more money for new activities into the centre."

Mrs Cameron also launched the centre's new campaign for a holiday programme with money raised going towards specialised short breaks.

PLANS to name a potential Crossrail station in North Kensington as Portobello Station has triggered a lively debate among residents and neighbours.

In last week's Chronicle, Kensington and Chelsea Council leader Sir Merrick Cockell suggested the name as the best way to boost visitors to the area and capture 'public imagination'.

The council is campaigning hard for a station at Kensal Green and is offering to underwrite the entire construction costs themselves as well as funding several studies into its potentially positive impact.

It is hoped the station would help regenerate the 67-acre North Kensington site, bringing around 2,000 homes, business and community facilities in an area which suffers from the seventh highest level of unemployment along Crossrail's proposed route.

"Up to now we have been talking about a station at Kensal or even Kensal Crossrail, but frankly the name Kensal doesn't have much of a grip on the public imagination," wrote Sir Merrick. "The local name that does is, of course, Portobello. In fact Portobello is, as we all know, a world-famous brand.

"There is the question of finding an attractive brand that will make the thousands of new homes and business units on the Kensal site that bit more appealing. Given a choice, we reckon property marketeers would choose Portobello every time.

"In the end, the final decision on station names rests with the Crossrail sponsors but, as the underwriters, the council can reasonably expect to have some influence. So from now on, we will start introducing the idea of a Portobello station into our campaign material."

It has sparked debate among residents who have been giving their views on the council website on the naming of any new station.

One said: "I thought North Kensington would be the obvious choice for its name. North Kensington is a huge, but not
well-landmarked, part of the
Royal Borough and deserves some type of landmark to properly acknowledge it."

Another, known as Russell wrote: "Totally agree with the new name, love Kensal as I do, Portobello is almost universally recognised."

But a third resident added: "I think calling it Portobello will be very confusing, rather like Ryanair claiming to fly to a European city and it being an hour away. Ladbroke Grove is closer and a fairly familiar name but I like the suggestions of North Kensington which would help to boost a much bigger area than Portobello alone."

Do you want to have a say on how Golborne Road Bridge should look in the future?

Plans to enhance the bridge, by the council, Goldborne Forum and local designers, will be on show today (Friday) on Golborne Road between 11am and 3pm and tomorrow (Saturday) between the same times.

Councillor Nick Paget-Brown, deputy council leader, said: "The Golborne Road bridge could do with a makeover and we want to know what local people think would give the bridge a lift. I hope as many people as possible come along to talk to their local councillors, members of the Golborne Forum and to see what the designers have in mind."

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man was glassed in the face and then hit by a car in Earls Court.

The 21-year-old victim had attended a music promotion night at the nightclub in the My Place Hotel, in Trebovir Road on Sunday, April 29.

At around 4.45am he went outside and saw two men involved in a heated argument before being punched in the side of the head before being hit by a passing grey-coloured Vauxhall Astra.

DC Ellen Jones, from Notting Hill CID, said: "This incident happened opposite McDonald's on the Earls Court Road. We know there were a number of people in the area.

"This was a nasty assault which left the victim needing stitches to his head. We also know a car hit the victim and drove off.

"If you live or work in the area or were at the nightclub and saw anything which may help us identify the attacker and the car driver then please contact police."

Anyone with information should call DC Jones on 020 8246 0216 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

BUDDHISTS marked a historic anniversary by unveiling an inscribed bench in Holland Park.

Sixty members of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a UK Buddhist group, commemorated the 40th anniversary of the meeting between renowned religious scholar Dr Daisaku Ikeda and historian Dr Arnold Toynbee on Saturday.

The pair's meeting, which included many walks through the park, inspired the best-selling book Choose Life, which is used as a manual for living a creative and peaceful life.

Guests, including Kensington and Chelsea Mayor Councillor Julie Mills, enjoyed champagne and vanilla cake before toasting the inscription that reads Dr Ikeda, Dr Toynbee, Choose Life.

Ms Mills delighted members
by saying: "If I could choose a religion, I would choose to be a Buddhist."

An exhibition called Choose Life - Celebrating the Power of Dialogue will also be held at the SGI-UK London Ikeda Peace Centre, in Wakefield Street, Westminster from Monday to next Saturday. Visit www.sgi-uk.org.

Collegium Musicum of London Chamber Choir and Orchestra are performing as part of St Stephen's Church Festival 2012.

Conducted by Russell du Plessis, they will perform Bach's St John Passion on Saturday, May 26, from 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £15 or £10 for concessions and are free to under-16s. Book online at www.collegiumchoir.com or call 020 8946 7505.

A new exhibition celebrating 60 years of the Queen's reign opens at the National Army Museum on May 25.

Jubilee: 60 Years of the Sovereign and Her Soldiers explores the relationship between the Queen and her army, as well as looking at the historic link between the monarchy and the forces.

Anyone wanting to organise a street party to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee can do so through a streamlined application form on the council's website.

The deadline for applications is Monday (14). Visit www.rbkc.gov.uk/streetparty, or call Tara Hobson on 020 7341 5119 for help.