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Book Sale and Coffee Morning
In Aid of St. Giles' Church Hall Fund
Saturday 28th February from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in St. Giles'
Church Hall (rear hall). There will be a wide variety of hardback
and paperback books, in excellent condition and at reasonable
prices. Browse with the added attraction of refreshments being
available.
Irene Caulkett
1910 2004
Our community will be saddened to hear that Irene Caulkett,
aged 93 of The Chase passed away, peacefully, on 1st January
2004 in Watford General Hospital. Her husband Frank died in August
2003 aged 92. Both had, until recently, lived in The Chase, Ickenham
from 1940, and had close links to St Giles' Church.
Irene's funeral service was held at St Giles' Church Ickenham
on 19th January at 2.00 p.m. and was followed, at 2.45 p.m.,
by the committal at Breakspear Crematorium.
Their memorial stone in St Giles' Churchyard Garden of Remembrance
will include the inscription "Together in this world for
72 years - Together now in Heaven forever".
Tony, and the entire family, would like to thank all those
who have written, or spoken to them, of their loss. Everyone
has been so kind, concerning and helpful, and of great comfort
to them all.
Tony Caulkett
Correspondence
Dear Editor
As a very elderly man of 95 years, I feel I should write to
the Church News to say what a wonderful experience it was for
me to be taken to the Service on Christmas Eve.
My daughter-in-law, Mrs Joy Liddiard, and myself had suffered
great sorrow over the past two years, and we were both comforted
by the service, especially so as we felt that the other worshippers,
who filled the church, were with us in spirit.
It was so nice to be met at the door by the lady verger* and
shown to our own pew-seats to join the large congregation.
I have lived in Ickenham for some years now, and to my regret
I have only entered the church on a few occasions, but being
amongst the worshippers at this time was an experience I shall
remember for my remaining years.
Sincerely yours
Stanley Wheeler
* In fact the 'verger' was one of our sidesmen at the 11 p.m.
service.
2004 Centenary of Metropolitan Railway
 Readers may be interested to note
that 2004 brings the centenary of the extension of the Metropolitan
Railway from Harrow to Uxbridge. John Randall M.P. is trying
to organise a special train to mark the event, using the same
steam locomotive that pulled the first train in June 1904. It
is preserved at Quainton Railway Depot.
Ickenham Halt, as it was first called, opened on 25th September
1905. The Parish Council had asked Uxbridge Council for the halt
and this request was greeted by the comment "What, a halt
out in the wilds of Ickenham!" The trains with their open-end
doors were soon adapted for running in our cold Middlesex countryside
whilst the huts on the short platforms, shown in the picture,
lasted until 1971. The old booking office was opened in 1910
and as late as 1971 passengers had to queue in the street to
obtain their tickets.
May 2004 is being celebrated as Local History Month, nationwide,
and an exhibition is planned for the African Gallery in the Central
Library in Uxbridge. This will include material on the Railway
Centenary.
The Uxbridge Local History and Archives Society is organising
a talk on the "Railway Centenary" to be given by Brian
Hardy of Ickenham. It will take place at Christ Church, Uxbridge
(just off Belmont Road), on 17th February at 7.30 p.m. Visitors
are welcome at a cost of £1 per person.
Other dates include March 6th The Tramway Centenary
by John Laker. April 20th - A.G.M. and Tales of Old London by
Ralph Chenery.
Ken Pearce
Update on the Pump
'The missing handle'
 Thanks to the Editor for kindly allocating
the space in order that I may update you on the restoration.
Progress is being made, albeit slowly given the weather. The
replacement tiles are on order, and the worst of the rotten timbers
will be replaced imminently. We are awaiting responses from the
three specialist decorative firms, which will carry out the works
sympathetically. Meanwhile................Can you help us?
Our welder had made, and positioned, a replacement pump handle
at the outset of the restoration. However, we believed it to
be of inappropriate design. I'm sure that those of you who saw
it would agree! The difficulty has been to find anyone who has
a good picture, or indeed any information as to where we might
find a suitable example of how the handle might have looked.
Local history books failed to provide any clear photographs.
Apparently the handle was removed for safe keeping some years
ago, and to the best of our knowledge, no one at the Civic Centre
has any idea where it might be now. We've been to the Library,
spoken to several local historians and been in touch with English
Heritage. The only local photographic example is held at Barclays
Bank. However, even this one is not very clear.
Before we use one of our designs, we would be very grateful
for any suggestions, and help, you can give us. Either send us
a drawing of how you believe it might have looked, or perhaps
you have a photograph? Anyone who would like to help, please
contact me on 01895 676755 or email me at admin@sbcl.co.uk.
I'll update you all again next month!
Jo Kitchen - Site Building Control
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