ST GILES’ CHURCH MONTHLY STREET PRAYER LIST
Each Sunday at St Giles’ Church we pray for all the people who live or work in a particular road in the Parish. During November we will pray for the following roads:
Nov 2nd Stedman Close
Nov 9th Silverbirch Close
Nov 16th Shoreditch Close
Nov 23rd Shipton Road
Nov 30th Sussex Road
If you live in one of these roads why not join us at our 8am or 9.45am services? You will be most welcome.
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 The Ickenham Festival Team is holding a Charity Quiz Night on Sat 22nd November at St Giles Church Hall in Ickenham High Road. We are looking for teams of 6-8 people to take part and to enjoy a ploughman’s supper, all for just £6 a head.
The winning teams will be presented with cheques, from the profits of the evening, payable to their nominated charities, causes or clubs.
To download a booking form, or for further information, please see our website at www.IckenhamFestival.org.uk. You can also call or text us on 07513 405850.
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During the regular Sunday service on 12th October, we had our first experience of the URC’s new Yamaha grand piano. This beautiful instrument was dedicated by Bernie, in memory of long-time URC members Charles and Joyce Wolff, and organist Peter Williams delighted us on the day with a fine rendition of some Schubert.
Charles and Joyce were much loved throughout their many years in our midst, and have been remembered fondly ever since. They moved to Ickenham back in 1959 after their marriage. Their involvement with the musical life of the village and of the URC in particular was extensive. They were both members of the church choir, and of other choirs locally. Charles also took a lead in the work to refurbish the church organ back in 1963, and he was involved in finding the church a number of good organists over the years.
Charles also served the church in many other ways – as Church Secretary, Chair of the Property Committee and Treasurer. A ‘hands-on’ approach to getting things done was characteristic of him, and with his kindness, wisdom and sense of humour, he had the knack of always being there when needed.
Joyce had even earlier associations with the church, having attended the then Ickenham Congregational Church during the war years, travelling from her home in Ruislip Manor. Her adult life revolved around children – as a mother, a teacher, a leader of Holiday Club, a supporter of the YPG, Junior Church, KidsZone and as leader of Friday Club. She was a flower arranger of some distinction, a serving Elder many times, and she organised the annual ‘Carol Sing’ with refreshments for many years. Even with this full diary of activity, she always found time for people. Hers was a life of generosity in serving others.
With Charles’ death in 2001, and Joyce’s in 2005, the URC lost two great friends. Peter Williams had the idea of using a legacy given in Charles’ memory for the purchase of a new piano for the church, and members were happy to agree to this.
“It’s a wonderful instrument”, said Peter “and will give a fine sound here in the church. We will obviously use it for the church choir and for general worship, but it will also be of benefit to the other choirs and musical groups that practise and perform here. We will regularly be reminded of our good friends Charles and Joyce, and this gift in their memory will bring pleasure to so many.”
During July, when Approval in Principle was given to the development of the ex-RAF / USAF base in Ickenham High Road, ever vigilant Pam Jeffries, Chairperson of the Ickenham Village Conservation Panel, laid great emphasis on the importance of preserving Austins Lane, which lies alongside the site, from any adverse effects of the development. As a result, a proposal to extend Ickenham’s Conservation Area to include Austins Lane, has now been approved by the Council. So Austins Lane will be formally recognised as an area of special local character and afforded special protection.
Austins Lane is an ancient highway. For several centuries it was one of the four principal routes in Ickenham, and remained so until the 1920s. The others main routes were Long Lane, Back Lane (now Swakeleys Road) and Glebe Lane (now Glebe Avenue). Austins Lane was particularly important to the farming community of Ickenham because it led to the many fields in the south-east of the parish.
In 1475 it was called Oldstreet Lane, in 1596 Ossstreet Lane. By 1824 this had been corrupted to Auster Lane and later to Austins. The lane is shown prominently on the local map from 1780. Also included in this map is Hill Farm, (situated on the present site of Northolt Aerodrome Control Tower), the then end point of Austins Lane.
