Coordinates: 51°31′58″N 0°27′18″W / 51.5329°N 0.4550°W / 51.5329; -0.4550

Hillingdon
Hillingdon Court Park
Hillingdon  Hillingdon shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ071827
- Charing Cross	14.2 mi (22.9 km)  E
London borough	Hillingdon
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	UXBRIDGE
Postcode district	UB8, UB9, UB10
Dialling code	020
	01895
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Uxbridge and South Ruislip
London Assembly	Ealing and Hillingdon
List of places: UK • England • London

Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles (22.8 km) west of Charing Cross.

Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council. In November 2010, the ward had a recorded population of 12,403.^[1]

History[link]

Toponymy[link]

The name Hillingdon appears in the Domesday Book (1086) as Hillendone, possibly meaning "hill of a man named Hille".^[2]

Early developments[link]

Hillingdon was an ancient parish, and had within it the chapelry of Uxbridge, which became a separate civil parish in 1866. Under the Local Government Act 1894, Hillingdon parish was divided in two. Hillingdon West became, with Uxbridge, part of the Uxbridge Urban District; Hillingdon East became part of the Uxbridge Rural District.

Urban development[link]

Uxbridge Rural District was abolished in 1928, with the East parish being added to Uxbridge Urban District. Both East and West parishes were abolished in 1938 and added to Uxbridge parish. The name was revived in 1965, consequent upon the London Government Act 1963, as the name of the western-most borough of Greater London.

The A40 (Western Avenue) was rerouted in the early 1990s to run slightly north of its original route, thereby allowing traffic to flow without interruption at the junction of Hillingdon Circus. Hillingdon tube station was required to be demolished in order for the new road to be constructed, and a new station was opened further south along the line in 1994, winning the Underground Station of the Year award for that year.^[3]

Transport[link]

Hillingdon tube station is served by the Metropolitan and Piccadily lines of the London Underground.

Bus route U2 serves Hillingdon, operating between Uxbridge station and Brunel University.^[4]

Local government[link]

Hillingdon is a traditional Conservative stronghold lying in the boundary of the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. Currently, the MP for the area is John Randall of the Conservative Party, who has been the MP for the area since the 1997 by-election. This seat was previously held by fellow conservative Sir Michael Shersby until his death in 1997.

Education[link]

Primary schools in Hillingdon include Oak Farm Juniors, St Bernadette's Roman Catholic Primary School, Hillingdon Primary and Ryefield Primary. Secondary schools include Abbotsfield School for Boys, ACS Hillingdon, Bishopshalt School, Ruislip High and Swakeleys School for Girls.

Landmarks[link]

Church of St John the Baptist[link]

The Church of St John the Baptist

The church of St John the Baptist stands at the top of Hillingdon Hill, at its junction with Royal Lane. It was built in 1629, replacing an earlier building deemed to have become unsafe.^[5] In 1846, the architect George Gilbert Scott was asked to design an extension, after the increasing population meant the church was becoming too cramped. This extension was completed between 1847 and 1848 by the Fassnidge builders from Uxbridge.^[5] The barrel roof of the chancel was renovated in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Elizabeth II. In 1964, a vestry was built on the north-eastern side of the church.^[6] On 8 November 1940, a bomb fell on the south side of the church, damaging many of the windows on the south and east sides of the church. The windows were repaired following the end of the Second World War.^[7]

Hillingdon Court[link]

Hillingdon Court was built in 1858 by Sir Charles Mills as his family home, after he had bought separate adjacent properties in Vine Lane. Both buildings were demolished and the plots combined to allow for the construction of the new property. The mansion remained in the family's ownership until the death of the Second Baron Hillingdon, Charles Mills in 1919. Part of the estate was bought by the local authority, while the mansion was bought by the Roman Catholic Order of the Sacred Heart and became a nursing home in 1920. After the Second World War, the mansion became a girls' school, and in 1978 was bought by ACS International Schools to become ACS Hillingdon. Under the ownership of ACS International Schools, the mansion has been extended and converted in parts to meet the needs of a school. The area of land bought by the local authority remains today as Hillingdon Court Park.

Notable people[link]

• Actor Michael Anderson, Jr. was born in Hillingdon

• Horror fiction writer A. M. Burrage (1889-1956) was born in Hillingdon

• Actor James Corden, best known for BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey, was born in Hillingdon

• Actress Lynne Frederick (1954-94), probably best known for her marriages to Peter Sellers and David Frost, was born in Hillingdon

• Actor Denis Gilmore, best known for 1971 cult horror film Psychomania, was born in Hillingdon

• Conductor and composer Eugene Goossens (1893-1962), whose career was ruined by the Rosaleen Norton affair, lived in Hillingdon

• Actor Huw Higginson was born in Hillingdon

• Musician Stephen Luscombe, of 1980s pop-group Blancmange, was born in Hillingdon

• Actress Elspeth March (1911-1999), married to actor Stewart Granger from 1938 to 1948, lived in Hillingdon

• Comic actor and comedian Alfred Marks (1921-1996) lived in Hillingdon

• Screenwriter and film director Simon Monjack (1970-2010) was born in Hillingdon

• Fearne Cotton, TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, born and lived in Hillingdon and attended Haydon School

• Claire Richards, singer in 1990s pop-group Steps, was born in Hillingdon and attended Bishopshalt School

• Meinhardt Schomberg (1641-1719), general in the service of Prince William of Orange, built and lived in Hillingdon House

• Actor and director Tony Tanner was born in Hillingdon

• Actress Heather Thatcher (1896-1987), signed by MGM in 1930s Hollywood, lived in Hillingdon at the time of her death

See also[link]

• Hillingdon Heath
• Hillingdon Council election, 2010

References[link]

Citations

Bibliography

• Ken Pearce, Hillingdon Village (Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 2007). ISBN 978-0-7509-4675-9

• Youngs, Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Volume 1

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hillingdon

London portal

• London Borough of Hillingdon
• The Parade c.1960, Hillingdon - Francis Frith
• Uxbridge Lido - now Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex

v t e London Borough of Hillingdon Districts Colham Green Cowley Cowley Peachy Eastcote Harefield Harefield Grove Harlington Harmondsworth Hayes Hillingdon Hillingdon Heath Ickenham Longford Mount Pleasant Newyears Green North Hillingdon Northwood Northwood Hills Ruislip Ruislip Gardens Ruislip Manor Sipson South Ruislip Uxbridge West Drayton Yeading Yiewsley Attractions Battle of Britain Bunker Beck Theatre The Chimes, Uxbridge Compass Theatre Eastcote House Gardens Heathrow Airport Hillingdon Cycle Circuit Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex Ickenham Hall The Mall Pavilions Manor Farm Polish War Memorial Ruislip Lido Southlands Arts Centre Swakeleys House Uxbridge Cricket Club Ground Parks and open spaces Bayhurst Wood Country Park The Closes Recreations Ground Cranford Park Mad Bess Wood Rockingham Recreation Ground Ruislip Woods Uxbridge Common Constituencies Hayes and Harlington Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner Uxbridge and South Ruislip Tube and rail stations Eastcote Hatton Cross Hayes and Harlington railway station Heathrow Central railway station Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 Heathrow Terminal 4 Heathrow Terminal 4 railway station Heathrow Terminal 5 station Hillingdon Ickenham Northwood Northwood Hills Ruislip Ruislip Manor Ruislip Gardens South Ruislip station Uxbridge West Drayton railway station West Ruislip station Other topics People Public art Schools Category Commons

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2009)

Ben Bennett (born May 5, 1962 in Sunnyvale, California) is an American football coach most recently the head coach of the af2's Austin Wranglers. He has been involved in professional football as a player and coach since 1984. After a successful college career at Duke University, Bennett played in the National Football League (NFL), the United States Football League (USFL), the Arena Football League (AFL), and the World League of American Football (WLAF). He coached in the AFL and af2. He was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2000.

High school career[link]

Ben Bennett played high school football at Peterson High School in Sunnyvale, California where he set 18 school and 9 Santa Clara Valley Athletic League records and was the captain of the senior team.

College career[link]

As a freshman in 1980, was voted ACC “Rookie of the Year” and twice named the ACC “Offensive Player of the Week”. Best individual game was against Wake Forest University, setting three NCAA freshman records by completing 38 of 62 passes for 469 yards. Finished the season completing 174 of 330 passes for 2,050 yards and 11 TDs.

During his sophomore season in 1981, he injured his shoulder during the season opener and missed the next three games. Bennett punted against University of South Carolina twice for an average of 41 yards. He came back against Virginia Tech and completed 9 of 16 passes for 113 yards with one TD. He had his best games against Maryland (31 of 46 for 397 yards and 2 TDs) and Clemson University (17 of 25 for 243 yards and one TD). In five games, he completed 75 of 132 passes for 994 yards with 4 TDs.

As a junior in 1982, become the first player in the ACC in 30 years to pass for over 3,000 yards with 3,033. Chosen as the ACC Player of the Year and selected as the All-ACC QB. He set numerous records, including ACC career marks for most passing yards (6,528), most passes attempted (906), most passes completed (520), and most TD passes (38). He was named Sports Illustrated 's Offensive Player of the Week following the season finale against University of North Carolina while passing for 273 yards, completing 25 of 34 passes, with one TD and no interceptions. In the 4th quarter against Navy, he completed an NCAA record 21 passes with 3TDs. He threw at least one TD pass in every game. Bennett had a completion percentage of 63.1 and a passing efficiency rating of 142.5.

Bennett completed his collegiate career as the top passer in the history of NCAA Division I-A football with the most passes attempted (1,375), most passes completed (820), and the most yardage (9,614). Record for passes attempted and yards surpassed marks set by John Elway and Jim McMahon. Bennett was the first quarterback to run the "Fun & Gun" offense designed by Steve Spurrier, who was then the offensive coordinator at Duke University. He set seven NCAA, 15 ACC, and 42 school records while at Duke.

During his senior season in 1983, completed 174 of 330 attempts for 2,050 yards and 11 TDs with a completion percentage of 52.7 and averaged 186.4 yards per game.

Pro career[link]

Ben Bennett was selected in the 6th round by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1984 NFL Draft and was waived during preseason. He was selected by the Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League in the 1984 territorial draft, signed and appeared in 2 games. He completed 7 of 13 passes for 113 yards with one TD and no interceptions. He was released by the Bulls in training on February 7, 1985.

He signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons but later released during preseason.

He signed as a free agent by the Houston Oilers in 1986 and later waived during training camp.

Bennett signed as a strike replacement player by the Dallas Cowboys on October 3, 1987 and released three days later. He was claimed on waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals on October 7, 1987 and remained on the roster until being released on October 19, 1987. He played in one game, completing 2 of 6 passes for 25 yards with one interception.

He played with the Chicago Bruisers of the Arena Football League for the entire 1988 season where he finished the season completing 172 of 323 passes for 2,304 yards with 49 TDs and 13 interceptions. He was named First Team All-Arena team at QB and was also named the league’s Most Valuable Player. He signed with the Chicago Bears on November 29, 1988 and was active for two games, but did not play.

Bennett was with the Bruisers for the 1989 season until the team suspended operations. During the shortened season, he completed 69 of 127 passes for 808 yards with 14 TDs and 5 interceptions.

Bennett signed with the Dallas Texans of the Arena Football League in 1990 and appeared in all 8 games where he led the team to ArenaBowl IV. During the season, he completed 115 of 220 attempts for 1,149 yards, 24 TDs and 15 interceptions. He was named Second Team All-Arena team at QB.

In 1991, he started the year by playing for the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football after being selected in the first round of the year’s draft. He was then signed by the expansion Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. In 1991, he completed 42 of 81 passes for 540 yards with 6 TDs and 2 interceptions.

In 1992, he completed 145 of 264 passes for 2,092 yards with 41 TDs and 10 interceptions. The greatest feat of his career the "Miracle Minute", an historic comeback in a game against the Detroit Drive on June 19. In that game, he threw two touchdown passes and two 2-point conversions in the final 49 seconds of the game, all to Barry Wagner. Wagner then got a game-winning safety, the Predators coming back from a 42-32 deficit to win, 50-49. Bennett led the Predators to ArenaBowl VI, where they were beaten by the Drive.

In 1993, he completed 180 of 340 yards for 2,515 yards with 50 TDs and 10 interceptions. In 1994, he completed 166 of 245 passes for 2,211 yards with 45 TDs and 9 interceptions. In 1995, he completed 91 of 149 passes for 1,111 yards with 20 TDs and 7 interceptions. For both the 1993 and 1994 season, Bennett was named First Team All-Arena team at QB. He would also lead the Predators to a total of three ArenaBowls, losing all three.

For the 1996 season, Bennett played for the San Jose SaberCats where he completed 26 of 55 passes for 376 yards with 4 TDs and 4 interceptions.

For the 1997 season, Bennett played for the Portland Forest Dragons and completed 63 of 124 passes for 792 yards with 14 TDs and 6 interceptions.

During his AFL playing career, he made five ArenaBowl appearances and was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2000.

Coaching[link]

In three seasons as a head coach in the af2, Bennett has compiled a record of 36-18 (including playoffs). His win total is the third highest among active coaches and tenth best all-time. Bennett’s coaching resume also includes stints as an assistant with the Florida Bobcats (AFL, 2001), the Greensboro Prowlers (af2, 2000), and the Milwaukee Mustangs (AFL, 1998). Bennett built and led the Florida Firecats of the af2 to two ArenaCup championship games during the 2002 and 2004 seasons, winning the 2004 ArenaCup championship. In 2005, he transformed the Manchester Wolves from a 5-11 team in 2004 into the East Division champion in his first season. He guided the Wolves to a franchise-best 12-win season, finishing 12-5 overall. The team’s season also included a 10-game win streak and a trip to the second round of the af2 playoffs.

References[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

• NFL player stats
• AFL player stats