This year the prestigious Ickenham Festival Shield was awarded to George Richman at the Festival of Ickenham Family Barn Dance held at Breakspear Junior School on 18th March.

George is a long standing Ickenham resident, and a Chartered Engineer by profession. He sailed in the Merchant Navy, as an engineer officer, and had a multinational industrial work background. George is a member of the Institution of Marine Engineers and of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He belongs, also, to the British Horological Institute and has a great interest in clocks and watches.

George enjoys dancing, especially square and line dancing, as well as gardening, travel, cars, and naturally, anything mechanical.

The citation reads:
“This is presented to George Richman in recognition of his work within the Community of Ickenham through his service to Ickenham Village Hall Association.

George has been an active member of the Association since he first attended a Committee meeting in January 1993. In July that year, following the sudden death of the Chairman, George was asked to take over the Chairman's duties and although he felt he needed more experience he rose to the occasion.

At the March A.G.M. in 1994 George was formally elected Chairman and remained so for 11 years. He is now still very active as Vice-Chairman.

George - supported most ably by his wife Joyce - has steered the Association most successfully for nearly 12 years, leading the Committee in maintaining a most valuable community asset, appreciated by all the residents and groups who use the Hall.

This shows great commitment to the day-to-day management of the Hall and in dealing with planners and contractors.

Among the projects George has been involved with are:-
Complete new Roof
Double glazed windows to the Main Hall
Modernisation of the kitchen and electrics
Millennium Clock
Forecourt refurbishment
To say nothing of coping with arson, vandalism, graffiti, and such modern day obscenities.

This award goes some way to show Ickenham¹s appreciation of his hard work in our community and recognises George’s Commitment to the Spirit of the Ickenham Festival by contributing to the enhancing of the neighbourliness which is such a valued aspect of life in Ickenham.”

Our two Ickenham Churches have decided to launch a number of initiatives in support of Festival Week.

There will be a motorised Junior Church Float decorated to the theme “Celebrate Real Life With Us.” This is going to require the help of lots of adults and children. There will also be a large marquee, based in the Festival grounds, picking up the theme of “Faith in the Community.” This, too, will require many volunteers. In addition there are to be three short ‘street plays’, and an “Open Air Act of Worship.”

This all adds up to lots of hard work, and lots of fun with a serious intent. How is your organisation, business, society, or club, going to celebrate Festival Week? Let your editor know before 13th May!

Plans are progressing towards this year's 30th Anniversary Festival to be held 10th to 18th June. As in previous years there will be a large variety of events occurring. Some old favourites and some new ventures are planned and all details will be listed in our Official Programme available in local shops during May. Much coverage will be given in the June edition of ICN.

Competition and procession entry forms are now available from Ickenham Library or telephone 01895 637932 for details.

We would like to draw attention to the ever popular Children's Art Competition, which will be displayed in the Library during Festival week and the week afterwards. We would like to invite primary school children who live in Ickenham, but attend schools outside Ickenham, to enter the competition. Please contact Sarah Kershaw on 01895 477877 for further details. Children attending Glebe and Breakspear schools will enter through their classes.

During the Festival week, the Church Flower Arrangers are combining with the Uxbridge and Ickenham Floral Art Society to decorate the church. The Flower Club is celebrating its 50th year, so the theme will be ‘Golden Celebrations’. We expect to have 15 to 20 arrangements created by members from both groups, though several of us belong to both.

We will be preparing the exhibits on Friday 9th June and the flowers will be on display from Saturday 10th until Wednesday 14th June. We will be dismantling on Thursday afternoon.

We do hope that you will come and enjoy the flower arrangements and, to help us keep the church open for as many hours as possible, that you will volunteer to steward for an hour or two.

Thank you.
Gill Roker and Jean Wilson

As spring approaches it’s time to flex those muscles and get some fresh air and exercise. Wayfarers Tennis Club in Swakeleys Drive by Swakeleys House, is pleased to announce a beginners’ coaching programme for all the family. For only £6 for six one-hour sessions our coaching team will introduce you to the joys of tennis.

Sessions begin in May:
Adults have the choice of Monday evenings or Thursday mornings:
Thursday mornings 10 – 11 a.m. (sessions commence May 3rd and continue weekly to June 7th) Monday evenings 7 – 8 p.m. (sessions commence May 8th and continue weekly to June 12th).

Mini Tennis sessions for children 5 – 9 years will take place every Monday evening 5- 6 p.m. from May 8th through to June 12th.

For young adults (10 -18 years) there are “Raw Tennis” sessions every Monday evening 5- 6 p.m. from May 8th through to June 12th.

Please contact our head coach Anthony Mills (telephone 07771 531 783) to get more details of the programme and for enrolments. Places are limited so first come, first served.