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Margaret Louisa Hillier
1909 - 2004
 Once again local people will be
saddened to hear of another loss to our community. Margaret was
born in Chelsea and on leaving school at fourteen found a job
as a clerk and typist with the Country Gentlemen's Association.
At night school she met Frank and they married in 1935 and came
to live in Ruislip Manor. John Hillier was born a year later
followed by Brenda and this led them to find a larger house in
Glebe Avenue, Ickenham. In 1942 Geoff was born.
During the war Margaret had the responsibility for raising the
children and life was a struggle. She attended St Giles' Church
and worshipped there for over sixty years. The two boys joined
the Choir and Brenda became a Sunday school teacher.
Margaret became very active in our community and was a member
of the Mother's Union, Women's Institute, and the Townswomen's
Guild. She played badminton and the piano, attended Saturday
evening socials in the Church Hall and read two or three novels,
each week, borrowed from our library. Her other great love was
knitting. In 1952 Margaret took a job as a dinner lady at Glebe
School.
Soon after moving to Berkshire to retire Frank died from cancer
and Margaret returned to Ickenham where she continued to involve
herself in Village life.
Tragically, in 1989, her daughter Brenda died and this loss was
followed by John's death in 2000. She bore all these great personal
losses with huge courage and her Christian faith helped her cope
with her grief.
Five years ago Margaret became very ill, and following a major
operation, moved to Harefield Nursing Centre where she died on
4th February. The funeral service took place at St Giles' Church
on 18th February and was followed by interment in Hillingdon
Cemetery.
Margaret's whole life was one of service to her community and
devotion to her family and she will be missed greatly by all
who knew her.
Memorial Service
for the Bereaved
There will be a special joint churches'
service in St Giles' on Sunday 2nd May at 3 p.m. for those who
have been bereaved during the past year. The name of their
departed loved one, whose funeral was taken between 1st April
2003 and 28th February 2004 by the U.R.C. or St. Giles' clergy,
will be read out during the service. The preacher will be the
Revd. Paul Hullyer from All Saints, Hillingdon. Members of the
churches' Pastoral Support Group will be present.
After the service, the congregation will be invited to refreshments
in St Giles' Church Hall.
Anyone who would find this service helpful is welcome to attend.
Remember St George's
Day
 Patron Saint of England - Friday
23rd April Have you ever thought of sending someone
a St George's Day card?
Have you thought about joining The Royal Society of St George
founded in 1894? Its Patron is Her Majesty the Queen.
Write to 127 Sandgate Road, Folkstone, Kent CT20 2BH. Tel. 01303
241795. Email: info@rssg.u-net.com
or website: www.royalsocietyofstgeorge.com
If you are English how will you be celebrating St George's Day?
Take a look here and
find St George amongst the many links.
6.30 Specials
In St Giles' Church Hall
On Sunday April 25th our own Revd. Adrian
Guthrie will explore Paul's teaching on Christian unity
"All one in Christ". How do we apply
this to diversity in the Church? Come along and join us.
Men's Breakfast
Saturday 24th April at 8.30 a.m. in St.
Giles' Church Hall. The Bishop of Willesden speaks on "What
Future For the Church." Tickets £2 from Don Gwilt
Tel. 01895 673704
Mayor Reopens Pump
 A crowd of villagers turned out
to watch the special reopening ceremony held at the newly refurbished
and renovated Pump on Monday 8th March at 12.30 p.m.
The week before the opening took place, youngsters from Vyners
and Breakspear Schools paid a visit to the site where Jim Doyle
of JCD Decorators, Hillingdon asked them to lend a hand with
the finishing touches to the paintwork. Pictured are Emily Pollock
and Gary Martin's son, George.
Guests of honour at the opening included the three times Mayor
of Hillingdon, Alf Langley, his wife and Mayoress Kathy, and
Ickenham Ward Councillor John Hensley.
Pamela Jeffries and other members of Ickenham Village Conservation
Area Advisory Panel were also present along with St Giles' Churchwardens,
David Thorpe and David Millen.
Both Pamela and John Hensley have campaigned tirelessly, and
fought long and hard, to get the restoration project underway.
 Gary Martin, SBC Director, was
very pleased indeed with the finished job and explained just
how difficult a task it had been to find replacement shaped tiles
of the correct size. These were finally tracked down to a specialist
yard in Cambridge. The woodwork on our listed building was also
far more rotten than at first thought.
He said, "I'm delighted to have played a part in preserving
such a significant landmark and indeed to have put something
back into the heart of the village. I would like to extend my
thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the project and
for assisting us with the design of the newly replaced 'missing'
handle."
Everyone present agreed that Ickenham based builders, Site Building
Control, had carried out an excellent job for our community.
We thank, most sincerely, Gary and his team, and note that the
upkeep of the Pump will be now carried out by SBC every three
years.
 Not only has SBC carried out this
conservation work entirely at its own expense but also provided
a handsome donation towards the funding of table decorations
at this year's Ickenham Festival Spring Festival Dance, which
took place at Vyners School on 27th March.
After the ceremony Gary, and his guests, attended a very pleasant
reception in the Coach and Horses Public House where the Mayor
and Mayoress joined Manager Paul Pitt behind the bar for a photograph.
The Mayor quipped that he had never 'pulled' a pint before and
wondered if it was like milking a cow! Much to the amusement
of everyone present he attempted to demonstrate the technique
on the bar taps before grabbing hold of the correct pumps!
Editor
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