A new venture for St Giles’ was the February Sing-Along in the Derek Kneale Hall. An enthusiastic and vocally-gifted gathering of about sixty-strong tackled a variety of songs with great gusto. Organiser and lead singer was chorister Stephanie Smith, supported by soloists Richard, Lee and Lee’s daughter Sara. Errol was a star on the piano. Master of Ceremonies was Revd Ken Tombs who, before fish and chips were served, told a number of jokes - some good and some very good! He also gave credit to Stephanie’s hairdresser, Lillian Osgood, who had the idea for the evening.
We started with songs from the music hall and implored one another “not to dilly-dally on the way.” Then we ventured into show music and started “getting to know you”. Certain members weren’t quite so polished with the Beatles’ songs, apart from all wanting to live in a yellow submarine. “Summer Loving” separated the boys from the girls and little Sara encouraged us to “have a dream.” Fittingly, we finished up by singing “Thank you for the music!” If only Simon Cowell could have been there...
It’s the hare rather than the bunny rabbit which should be the popular symbol for Easter. And with Ickenham’s proximity to Harefield, perhaps we should be looking out for some Easter eggs in the fields around us. It was once believed that hares laid eggs and although this now seems ridiculous, the probable explanation is that a bird called the plover makes its nest on the ground, often alongside the hare’s nest, or form.
The word Easter is believed to derive from the name of the Pagan goddess Eostre. The hare was Eostre’s favourite animal and represented love, growth and fertility. It is notable for being born with its eyes open, (unlike rabbits which are born blind). This, apparently, led the ancient Egyptians to believe that hares never closed their eyes so were always witnesses to the full moon, an important feature of Egyptian religion. So, in ancient times, the hare became a symbol also for the moon.
The villages of Hallaton and Medbourne in Leicestershire still celebrate the hare at Easter. The custom originated in 1770 when the Rector of Hallaton, in exchange for a piece of land, had to provide two hare pies, some bread and some ale for the community. Now, every Easter Monday, a large hare pie is paraded through the village to the church where it is sliced up and the pieces thrown to the crowd. This is followed by a very rough game using ale-filled, small wooden barrels as rugby balls. The winner is the first team to get the best of three casks to a touchline in either village. Are there any volunteers to do something similar with our friends in Harefield?
Receipt is acknowledged, with grateful thanks, for donations towards the cost of ICN, from:
Anon of Clovelly Avenue via Bill Dancer, Anon of Campden Road via Val Kershaw, Anon of Highfield Drive, Anon of Woodstock Drive via Val Kershaw, Mrs Edgley of St Giles’ Avenue, Ickenham Churches’ Women’s Group.
As unemployment passes the two million mark it is likely that, for some ICN readers, their jobs have disappeared, or are under threat. Ickenham resident and St Giles attender Jane Goodwin runs a company providing training and employment consultancy, and offers the following advice to anyone who has been affected.
If you are out of work, sign on with Jobcentre Plus as quickly as you can. Your eligibility for some of the free help available could be dependent on the length of time you have been registered, so get that underway. Then assess your current circumstances: review where you are now and what you would ideally like to do next. Work out whether your choices are feasible and, if so, what you need to do to put them into action.
Most people find their next job through personal contacts, so tell people that you are available, and what you can do. Sign up with the appropriate agencies, use the internet, and read the papers for job adverts. But also make your own contacts and follow them up. As one friend of mine in his 50s said, “I hit the phones every day for 9 months, until I was successful”. The point is that he was successful so stick at it.
Finally, do not underestimate the challenge - finding another job is a job in itself. It needs to be your main focus. This is not the time to be decorating the house or doing the garden. Save those activities for evenings and weekends, as you did whilst you were working!
If you need further help, contact the JGA Group on: 020 8426 2666 and ask for Careers Services, or email us at: careersadvice@jga-group.co.uk. JGA has been funded by the Government to offer you FREE help in finding the way forward for you. This includes help in searching for another job, in writing or upgrading your CV and in how to present yourself at interview - especially useful if you are moving into a completely different area of work, or are looking at jobs which are less well-paid than your last one.
Jane Goodwin
The open day at Swakeleys House which was to have taken place on Sun 5th April has had to be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. Sandor Property Management Services apologises for the inconvenience. Alternative arrangements will be advertised in ICN when available.
