The large conifer tree near Ickenham pond is, once again, to be illuminated during the Christmas season. The Ickenham Festival team will be lighting up the shopping areas but the task of installing 2000 lights all over the 22 metres high tree was a bit beyond even their scope, so they called in a specialist. Lamps & Tube Illumination Ltd obliged, with the help of two hydraulic platforms capable of reaching 26 metres. Three men, plus one to control the traffic, completed this formidable task during the last Sunday of September. The LED (light-emitting diode) light bulbs used are so efficient that the total power draw is only 38 Watts!
The tree is a Dawn Redwood which, since it sheds its foliage in winter, makes it ideal for being lit up. Until 1941, this species was thought to be extinct but then a specimen was discovered in south-west China. It can grow up to 40 metres high, has light green feathery foliage in summer and turns rusty brown in winter.
The lighting project has been partly funded by income from events such as the Ickenham Festival Jumble Sale and Family Race Night. Hillingdon Council has also generously supported the venture.
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URC CHRISTMAS FAYRE
Saturday 15th November -10am till 2pm
Entrance 50p (under 12s FREE) – Don’t miss it!
Make an early start to those Christmas preparations, and raise some funds for the URC at the same time. Last year, you helped us raise almost £2,700 – Thank you!
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You’ll find a wide range of gifts, Christmas decorations, jewellery, china and glass, quality bric-a-brac, bulbs and plants, boxed games, jigsaws and quality books.
There will be plenty of activities for the children, and the ever popular 101 Surprises tombola.
Enjoy home-made cakes and sweets, refreshments and lunches, and buy some FairTrade Christmas goodies.
Our Grand Raffle Draw will take place at 1.30pm, with its £100 cash star prize, plus a host of others, including vouchers from local butcher Steve Williams as well as generous donations from other local traders.
(If you can donate items for any of the stalls please bring them to the URC Church Hall on Fri 14th November between 5pm and 8pm, or contact Richard Piper on 01895 634348 to have them collected.)
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ST GILES’ CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
Friday 5th / Saturday 6th December
The Christmas Tree Festival in St Giles’ Church will be open on Friday 5th December from 6pm – 9pm to coincide with the Festive Community Evening. It will also be open on Saturday from 10am – 4pm.
Decorated Christmas Trees are invited from groups, families, shops or businesses.
A variety of Christmas gifts, cards and decorations will be on sale in St Giles’ Church Hall on the Saturday from 10am.
Further details from David Millen, on 01895 637932
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The churches looked a treat during Harvest Festival, bedecked with a wonderful array of autumn flowers and produce. During the services, members of the congregation were invited to bring their gifts forward when thanks and praise were given to The Almighty.
As with previous Harvest Festivals, donations of fruit, flowers, vegetables, other foodstuff and money were made as well as specific items for the Upper Room, a Christian charity with a mission to “feed the community in need”. Items for the latter included clothing, dried goods and toiletries.
Anne O’Brien organised the St Giles’ distribution process which resulted in parcels being delivered locally to: Charles Curran House, Abbeyfield, Ickenham Cottages, Woodlands and the Upper Room.
Anne remarked on people’s generosity, saying, “It’s good to know that Harvest Festival is still a time for giving. The old traditions of giving sheaves of corn and freshly-baked loaves may have changed but today we have proved we can still make a practical contribution to others who are not as fortunate as ourselves.”
