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On 20th October Site Building Control signed an agreement pledging to renovate the Pump, as well as carrying out routine maintenance, every three years.
In the facelift, the cast iron pump will be fitted with a new handle to replace the broken stump while the pump‰s octagonal timber framed canopy will be cleaned and repainted and cracked roof tiles replaced. The materials used will be in keeping with its historical importance.
For safety reasons the building will be screened, during work, with a temporary hoarding. Council engineers will monitor progress on the project, which is expected to be completed, weather permitting, during January 2004.
In planning the renovation, the Council consulted residents, local organisations, Ward Councillors and interested bodies such as English Heritage, Groundwork Thames Valley and Ickenham Resident‰s Association.
Ickenham Ward Councillor, John Hensley, has supported the project from the start. He said ‹Ickenham pump has served as a focal point at the heart of the Village for well over a century.
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æWe are delighted to be working with SBC on this renovation project that will preserve this local landmark as a prominent feature within the communityŠ.
Gary Martin, Director of SBC, said, ‹The pump is part of Ickenham‰s heritage and deserves every effort made to preserve itŠ.
As ICN was going to print, the final successful meeting had just taken place with Hillingdon Borough‰s Structural Engineer, Paul Long.æ Work was scheduled to commence, officially, on 24th November. The fencing and sponsorship boards were due to be erected a week prior to this.
This is YOUR Pump so if you witness anything untoward
happening to it, during the renovation, please contact immediately the police
on 01895 251212 and SBC on 0800 781 3567.
CORRESPONDENCE
Dear Editor
Recently, whilst delivering I.C.N. in Edinburgh Drive, I met
four boys from their secondary school at the end of that road. They were
equipped with bin bags, plastic gloves, and ëhelping hands‰, picking up the
dreaded litter and supervised by their form master who was following at a
discreet distance. They had given up their dinner hour to do this task.
I congratulated them accordingly, and remarked that my son
had always taken his tuck litter home in his pockets, whereupon the two boys on
my side of the street, without a word, put a hand in their pocket and promptly
dropped their own litter into their bin bag.
M. Woodward
NB More about our village litter problems in
February. Editor
ICKENHAM‰S
ëGOSPEL OAK‰ FALLS DOWN
The ancient oak tree stump that marked the old Parish
boundary between Hillingdon and Harefield toppled over during October. It had
stood for centuries in the ëdip‰ in Swakeleys Road on the right hand side
(going to Uxbridge) opposite Woodstock Drive. There have been several attempts,
in previous years, to harvest acorns from it in order grow a new tree. These
attempts all failed but a new tree will probably be planted during the winter.
With luck this will be a seedling from another Gospel Oak. In January 1950 a
plaque was unveiled at the site but the inscription has worn away. It read
‹Here in medieval days, beneath this Holy or Gospel Oak Tree, came once a year,
the curate and people to invite Divine Blessing on their forthcoming cropsŠ. If
a new tree is to be planted, it would be rather nice if a new, and longer
lasting, plaque could be positioned by it. Surely this would not be an
expensive gift to Ickenham. Any offers?
Editor
PATIENT
SERVICE 2003
More volunteers needed urgently
The next Sunday when volunteers are needed to collect patients from wards for Communion services in the hospital chapel is:æ Mount Vernon Hospital, Sunday 28th December. More dates will be published in future months. This small service is very much appreciated by patients who have no family available to help them. Anyone who is able to assist, please contact Alan Grove on 020 8868 9220.
1948 š 2003
Sara, Peggy and Freddie Gray, and family, would like to thank so many kind friends for their sympathy and caring love shown to them during these last weeks.
David sadly suffered a major heart attack and died on October 13th aged 55 years. He was christened and confirmed in St. Giles‰ Church, and for many years he sang in its choir. David lived in Amersham after his marriage to Sara. Such was his love for the Village, and Church, that they brought back their first baby to be baptised in St. Giles‰.
The Revd. Philip Robinson conducted a service of thanksgiving in the Church on 21st October and many ëold‰ friends attended it. David is buried in Stanley Hill Cemetery, Amersham.
