A number of organisations, and people, including Ickenham Residents' Association, Ickenham Area Conservation Advisory Panel and our Ward Councillor, John Hensley, have been lobbying hard to obtain the funding which will allow our overgrown pond to be cleared and cleaned of the vegetation now clogging it.

In an email from the requisite department within the London Borough of Hillingdon, Cllr. Hensley was informed of the following works to be carried out.

…..We have been able to secure a budget to do pond restoration works around the borough this year. Ickenham Pond is included in this programme and the works will be carried out during the winter period, which is the optimal period for pond works.

The works will concentrate on removing a percentage of the vegetation, concentrating on alien invasive species, which are causing the majority of the problems. In the case of Ickenham pond the main problem species is Parrot's Feather…….

Local advice and consultation will hope to ensure that this time the work is carried out in such a manner as to avoid dumping the dredged vegetation onto the pond banks and leaving it there to cause problems for the future. There is a vague possibility that the work will have been completed by the time you read this report.

In addition our village signpost, on the junction of Swakeleys Road and Long Lane, is to be refurbished and returned to its earlier “glory”.

On top of all this our Gospel Oak is to be replaced for the second time the first having been allowed to die for lack of water in the 2004 dry season. If it is to flourish this time, then it will need a lot more TLC than before because it seems spring and summer seasons are becoming dryer than ever before!

JOINT CHURCHES' SHOEBOX APPEAL
Operation Christmas Child

This year our two church congregations combined to ensure that Operation Christmas Child was an even bigger success than usual. The recent International ban on sending food items meant that just a few sweets, but no chocolates, were permitted. The decorated shoeboxes were filled with all kinds of children's items and in addition single items of cuddly toys, scarves, hats, gloves, pencils and notepads were provided. Monetary contributions towards the shipping costs were also sent.

By 23rd October all the shoeboxes had been checked and were then forwarded to a local collection point where the national organisers, Samaritan's Purse International, collected the gifts and stored them ready for delivery to a poor, needy or suffering child in another part of the world.

Since 1990, Operation Christmas Child, a unique project of Samaritan's Purse, has brought the joy of Christmas to more than 23 million boys and girls. Last year, Samaritan's Purse in the UK sent over 1 million gifts to children across Eastern and Central Europe.

With the help of thousands of volunteers, Samaritan's Purse collects and processes these gift-filled boxes in its warehouses across the United Kingdom. Then, working with national churches and charities, the gifts are delivered through them to children in hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps, homeless shelters and impoverished neighbourhoods across the globe, regardless of nationality, political background or religious beliefs.

Where culturally appropriate, and again working in partnership with local people, children will also be offered a booklet of Bible stories in their own language explaining the true meaning of Christmas - God's gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.
To find out more, the website is - www.samaritanspurse.uk.com

HARVEST FESTIVAL

St Giles' Church Harvest Festival Family Service on 2nd October was packed out with worshippers to praise God for His bounty to us. The floral arrangements were quite beautiful and the base of the altar was filled with copious harvest gifts to be distributed. Many of these have been taken to the elderly and housebound of our Parish. Others were taken to a central distribution point at the Baptist Church in Lansbury Drive, Hayes, where the Refugee Support Group for Minors will use them. These are unaccompanied young refugees aged between 15 and 25 years.

U.R.C. CHRISTMAS FAYRE
SHOP EARLY DON'T MISS IT!

THE U.R.C. IS HOLDING ITS CHRISTMAS FAYRE ON SATURDAY 19TH NOVEMBER from 10.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. in the Church Hall, Swakeleys Road.

Entrance is only 50p and under 12s are FREE!   
Last year was a great success and this time we'll be offering even more, including bowls of bulbs (hyacinths crocuses, and mini daffs), which can be delivered to your home. Other attractions include:
Christmas Gifts, Cards, Wrapping and Decorations, Jewellery, China and Glass, Toys, Quality Used Books, Bric-a-Brac, and CDs. A Bran Tub and Games for the Children. MONSTER Raffle (drawn at 2 p.m.) Home Made Cakes and Preserves.
Refreshments and Food (including Lunches) available throughout.

For any further information or if you have something to donate, please contact Richard Piper on 01895 634348 or richardjpiper@btopenworld.com