CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES
There was plenty going on in Ickenham in celebration of Christmas. To start things off, the URC’s Christmas Fayre was a great success. Over 400 people came through the doors and found lots to see and do, games to play, gifts to buy and plenty to eat, all leading to the best result yet. Then those who attended the St Giles’ Christmas Festival contributed a further impressive £2,000, half of which went straight to the CLICK Rukiga project.
At the Christmas Tree Festival in St Giles’ eighteen trees, decorated by local groups and individuals were on display. The winner was the CLICK Rukiga tree. This appeared at first to be a very sorry specimen until it was realised that it demonstrated what occurs in the absence of water, one of the main priorities of the Rukiga project. In the churchyard, visitors were given the opportunity to experience carrying large containers of water and to imagine doing that every day.
The Festive Community Evening, organised by the Ickenham Festival Committee, was another winner. Hundreds of people from near and far enjoyed the Christmas lights, music, food, the hospitality offered by the shops and the library, Father Christmas and general entertainment. Particularly popular were the racing pigs in the Village Hall!
Both churches were very busy during the Christmas period sharing the real meaning of Christmas. They were supported by carol singers both indoors and out. Here, particular mention should be made of the wonderful effort by St Giles’ Junior Church, whose cheerful carol singing in the village was lovely to listen to and in addition raised over £230 for the Save The Children Fund.
The Posada figures again travelled around the village throughout Advent. Posada (Spanish for ‘inn’) is a Mexican tradition: small wooden figures of Mary and Joseph move from house to house each day, staying overnight with different families and helping us to remember to make room for Jesus during the busy time before Christmas. Did they stay with you? Or perhaps you saw them when they returned to St Giles’.
The Junior Churches also led the way with their lively nativity services (ably assisted by slightly more mature innkeepers at the URC!) The traditional Nine Lessons service at St Giles’ and the Carols by Candlelight at the URC meanwhile provided a calmer, more serene atmosphere in which to contemplate the Christmas story.
Something for everyone: we hope you enjoyed it
A MESSAGE FROM THE ICKENHAM FESTIVAL TEAM
Dear Ickenham Resident
It’s 2008 and Ickenham Festival Week takes place this year from Sat 7th – Sun 15th June, with the Gala Day at Swakeleys House on Sat 14th June. After two years of fund-raising the Festival Team are planning the biggest, best and most inclusive Festival Week that Ickenham has ever known.
We plan to have the usual walks and ramble, a Teddy Bears’ picnic, Strawberry Fair, family bicycle ride, Exhibitions and Crafts, Concerts and Floral Shows. In addition, there will be lunches, pavement art, more sports competitions and more gardens open for viewing as part of the Ickenham Open Gardens scheme.
On Gala Day, after the procession through Ickenham with fancy dress and floats, we will arrive at Swakeleys House to enjoy charity stalls, fun rides, arena events and bands. In the evening, Vyners’ Swing Band and the Perry Parsons’ Big Band concert will take place at Swakeleys followed by an even more spectacular firework display to be enjoyed all over Ickenham!
So that is the plan; but we need your help….
We need to hear how you, your business, club or organisation would like to participate in your Ickenham Festival Week.
Can you arrange a display or give a talk on your hobby, organise a sport or competition? Can you stage a production or concert in one of Ickenham’s many halls? Will you open your garden or take a stall for your charity at Swakeleys?
Will you, and/or your friends build a float or appear in fancy dress in the procession? Have you an interesting car or motorbike you can drive and display at Swakeleys? Can you offer a demonstration to be put on in the arena on Gala Day?
Do you have access to an attraction (bouncy castle or similar) that could be used in Swakeleys’ grounds on Gala day?
We are a fresh team and we are willing to listen to any suggestions on how to develop the Festival Week. But we need to hear from you as soon as possible so that all suggestions can be considered and events can be publicised in the program. With your help we can put on the best Ickenham Festival Week ever!
Please contact us 230 Hoylake Crescent, Ickenham
Phone 01895 672783
Email Hedgehog.Haven@virgin.net
or visit us at www.ickenhamfestival.org.uk
David Edington and the Festival Team
PS – There is still more fun and fund-raising before the Festival Week itself: come to the Ferret Race Night (in conjunction with ‘Karers 4 Kidz’) on 2nd February in the Village Hall, and to the Family Barn Dance on 8th March at Vyners School. Both are popular events, so it is essential to contact the team beforehand for more details.
