There will be plenty of chances this month to sing our favourite festive carols in the churches, but there is nothing like wrapping up well and using some outdoor carolling to work up an appetite.  The first opportunity is at the Ickenham Festive Community Night on Friday 7^th December between 7pm and 8pm.  (Further details of that are on Page 4.) 

Then there will be carols in aid of Shelter at Uxbridge Tube Station, Wednesday 19^th December from 5pm till 6.30pm.

It’s the turn of St Giles’ Junior Church on Saturday 22^nd December, outside the Village Hall.  This is in aid of Save The Children.  Whilst the Juniors may be leading the singing that morning, they will always welcome more voices to swell the volume.

The final event is at Harefield Hospital on Christmas Eve at 8pm.  Not outdoors, but a trip around several wards, and an event that is always appreciated by the patients.

In all cases, just turn up and join in: for the Harefield event, meet at the hospital entrance.

 

Tuesday morning and rained off the golf course.  “Not much chance of the Holy Mowers being out today,” I thought.  How wrong I was though, when I found St Giles’ churchyard a hive of activity and good humour despite the inclement weather.  This is the team, mostly knocking on the senior side of 70, who mow, hoe, cut and strim to keep pristine that hallowed piece of land.  Fittingly, they also compost the leaves and mowings which are then re-cycled.  They’ve been at it for 17 years now, after a plea was made to the congregation for volunteers.  Prior to that, John Ralph and John Harris had struggled to keep things tidy between the graves but now the team is 13 strong, including one lady.

A spadeful of Holy Mowers. – l to r: Bob Bower, Bob Roker, David Thorpe, John Harris, Roger Kissane, Bernard Chapman, and John Ralph

It was the late and much missed Daphne Kissane who coined the Holy Mowers moniker and obtained their sweatshirts and tee-shirts which they wear with such pride.  Their prowess was formally recognised in 2001 when the churchyard was judged (from 800 original candidates) to be the second most attractive in the country.  An award of £500 and equipment was made, as well as the inclusion of a picture of the church and churchyard in the esteemed Ecclesiastical Insurance’s calendar.  Another much-treasured occasion was the appreciation registered during the visit to the churchyard by the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres.

Howard Mellor with the Millennium Yew

Not only do the team tend the church’s garden but they also turn their hand to some ad hoc maintenance in the church, the church hall and, on occasions, the rectory garden.  John Ralph (St Giles’ Verger) is their Chairman and Howard Mellor is their ‘Alan Titchmarsh’.  Howard is one of those people who knows the real names of plants and when and where to put them.  Consequently, he looks after the Garden of Remembrance, affectionately referred to by the Mowers as ‘Howard’s End’.  This garden was formally dedicated in April 1999 when the demand for a place to inter ashes was becoming urgent.  The result is a small area, professionally designed and landscaped for the purpose, accommodating previously-abandoned pieces of stone and specially-selected shrubs and plants.  Members of the congregation contributed towards the latter.

Nearby is the Millennium Yew, now nearly six feet high, grown from a tiny cutting from a tree in Newington in Kent, which is believed to have been born in the same year as Christ.  It was Derek Kneale (sadly, no longer with us) who made the arrangements for the tree to be supplied and Howard who planted and has since nurtured it.  In a way this is symbolic of the devotion that the whole team, come rain or shine, gives to that beloved patch of land that is St Giles’ churchyard.

Alan Noad

(Holy Mowers not present that day were Colin Kershaw, David Millen, Brian Reid, Patricia Lee and David Denham.)

 

Congratulations to four local guides who were recently presented with Jack Petchey awards.  The Jack Petchey Foundation aims to encourage and recognise achievement by young people aged between 11 and 25, and by the youth workers who give their time on their behalf.

Clockwise, from left: Hannah, Ruth, Elkie and Marjorie

Hannah Hughes, Ruth Piper and Elkie Forman each received certificates and £200 for their services to guiding in Ickenham.  Hannah, who helps with 4^th Ickenham Guides, and Ruth and Elkie, who help with 1^st Ickenham Brownies, can choose how the money should be spent.  Current plans are to purchase some sports equipment, a digital camera, and to fund an ever-popular outing.

Marjorie Brooks was awarded £1000, which will go towards a new cooker for the kitchen and lightweight folding tables for Guide HQ in Community Close.  There should be money left over to fund a 4^th Ickenham Guides’ sleepover too.  Marjorie has been guiding in Ickenham for 21 years, mostly with the Brownies but latterly also with the Guides.  As a result, she is a well-known figure with practically every girl under the age of 30 in the village, and their parents.  A well deserved award indeed!

 

Kati-Ann Willans (Snowy Owl with 1^st Ickenham Brownies until 2000) was married to Keith Bennett on 22^nd September at St Mary’s and All Saints Church, Beaconsfield.  The ceremony was conducted by John Wynburne, the son of Vic Wynburne who was Rector of St Giles’ until 1977.  Congratulations to the happy couple!

 

They are listed among the additional services on Page 1, but worth a special mention are those events where our Junior Churches ‘take to the stage’ at this time of year.  At the URC, we’ll be enjoying a nativity performance during the 11am service on Sunday 9^th December, whilst at St Giles’ the action takes place at 9.45am the following week, Sunday 16^th December in the Church Hall.

 

A new parking scheme seems likely to be implemented in Ickenham centre in the near future.  Proposals include “Stop and Shop” along Swakeleys Road in the vicinity of shops and parking restrictions in the slip roads and adjacent residential roads.  At the same time, changes could be made to the parking arrangements near shops in Glebe Avenue.  Provision would be made for disabled drivers’ vehicles and loading vehicles.

 

Don’t miss this event which starts at 6pm on Friday, 7th December.  The Ickenham Festival team will have festooned the village centre with Christmas lights and many of the shops along Swakeleys Road and Glebe Avenue will be open, offering warm hospitality.  There will be bands and singers alongside food stalls in the streets.  The Village Hall (with Father Christmas) and the Guide Hut will be hives of activity including plenty of interesting stalls, games and competitions for all ages.  Children can also try their hands at craft-making in the Library. If you can come without your car, all the better.