Ickenham Church News

As Easter was early this year, the opportunity has been taken to hold our annual dance on 23rd April, and celebrate St George’s Day. The venue is, as usual, Vyners School, Warren Road, and the dance will start at 8.00 p.m. with tickets at £12.50 each including a Buffet Supper. Tables of 10 will attract 2 free bottles of wine so why not make up a group? This year live music will be provided by a new duo After Dark, who will cater for all ages and all tastes from ‘strictly come dancing’ to ‘rock and roll’, so come and party! A licensed bar will be available. Tickets from Togs and Book Cellar in the Village, or from any Festival Team member. In case of difficulty telephone 01895 637932.

We are a local charity with a house in Court Road, Ickenham, where we provide very sheltered accommodation for elderly single people. We can accommodate up to 7 residents, each of whom has their own bed/sitting room and use of a communal lounge and dining room. There is a resident housekeeper who provides each resident with 2 meals a day, lunch and high tea. At present bathrooms are shared but we have begun making adaptations which will mean that all accommodation will include an en-suite shower/bathroom before the end of this year.

We rarely have vacancies as our residents live a long and happy life with us but the unfortunate loss of two residents over the Christmas period means we are now able to accept new residents. If you or your parents/relatives are interested please contact John Foxford on 01895 623676.

We believe in life before death. We have a vision of how the world can be without poverty. By giving and by taking action for trade justice, you can help make that vision a reality in Christian Aid Week 2005.

The next in this series of very interesting talks, and well attended breakfasts, is on Saturday 23rd April (St George’s Day) in St Giles’ Church Hall starting at 8.30 a.m. The title of the talk is “What in the World is Christian Aid up to?” and is given by Gray Featherstone who is the Christian Aid Area Co-ordinator for North and West London.

We hope to see you there. Tickets are £2, which covers the cost of a continental breakfast, from Don Gwilt on 01895 673704.

The new passenger-hauling season starts on Saturday 2nd April from noon to 5.30 p.m. Admission is free. Rides are 40p.

The site, behind the Village Pump, has had its annual tidy up, and the access path, and area round the turntable, has been cleared. Spring bulbs have been planted giving a far nicer “country appearance”. There has been further track work to provide a smoother ride, and the new walls to the steaming bay building are virtually complete. The roof has been replaced with felt shingles to improve appearance. The recently acquired period lampposts await connection to a gas supply, while internal decoration of the clubhouse is nearing completion. Planning work has started to improve the kitchen and servery for the benefit of visitors.

Come and join us. If nothing else it is relaxing to sit, have some refreshments, and watch all the activity. All are welcome.

Programme: Magnificat in D – Dyson; O vos omnes – Casals; Cantique de Jean Racine – Fauré. Ave maris stella – Grieg; Bogoroditsye Dyevo – Rachmaninov; Exultate justi – Viadana; O quam gloriosum – Victoria; Nunc Dimittis in D – Dyson; Ubi Caritas – Durufle; Tea for two - Youmans/Caesar

Viva Voce Singers are a Norwich-based chamber choir formed at the beginning of 1991. The choir has helped to raise money for a variety of charities and to date has raised well over £10,000. Their repertoire is varied, concentrating on renaissance, baroque and contemporary works, and recent performances have included major works by Josquin, Palestrina, Byrd, Sweelinck, Purcell, Bach, Brahms, Finzi, Howells, Debussy, Ravel and Poulenc. They have sung abroad and throughout Norfolk, visiting country churches during the summer months and performing in Norwich during the winter. In October 2000 they gave the World Première of The Fool by Sir John Tavener at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival in conjunction with The Gogmagogs and in last year’s festival performed in the British Première of Sibelius Everyman, under the baton of Andrew Parrott. They have recently collaborated with the Jay Singers and Michael Chance in a rare performance of Tony Hewitt Jones Seven Sea Poems in Norwich Cathedral. In April this year the choir will give a performance of Handel’s Messiah in St Mary’s Church, Attleborough, Norfolk. In addition they have given the first performances of many works by local composers. The choir is always happy to receive invitations to give concerts for charity.
Viva Voce is a member of Making Music (The National Federation of Music Societies) and registered charity no. 1003968.