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Swakeleys House Bowls Club
We are in a position where we can accept new members for the
season just starting. While we would particularly welcome experienced
bowlers, those wishing to take up the sport for the first time
would also be very welcome. It does not matter if you have not
played before as help and coaching are available. The green is
in a wonderful setting between Swakeleys House and the lake.
The entrance is at the bottom of The Avenue. Contact any member
or the Secretary, John Foxford, on 01895 623676.
(A donation supporter of ICN
Help Wanted For New Ickenham Book
Dear Editor
I am currently researching a book on Ickenham history during
the twentieth century, with particular reference to the social
and community life of the Village. If anyone has photographs
of the area, whether of streets, houses, shops, societies, organisations,
events and of course people, during the past hundred years or
so (older if available). I should be pleased if you would kindly
contact me on 01895 446507.
If you will be able to lend any pictures, they will be treated
with the utmost care, but would be required for a few months
before being returned.
With thanks, and in anticipation.
Yours sincerely
James Skinner
James Skinner is the author of the current local history
book, "Around Uxbridge", to be found in all good local
bookshops
Ickenham Festival 12th - 20th June
 Congratulations
to Alan Noad who was presented with The Swakeleys House Shield
at our Festival Dance in March. The Festival Committee awards
this each year to a person who it is felt has served Ickenham
in the spirit of the Festival, contributing to the Community
Spirit, which is so important to all who live here. A well deserved
recipient.
This year's Festival is nearly upon us. Programmes for the events
will be on sale in local shops later this month and application
forms for the numerous competitions and the Carnival Procession,
are available in Ickenham Library. There are a number of new
events and attractions this year and we hope all residents and
their friends will support them during the week. For further
information call David Millen on 01895 637932. More details will
appear in next month's ICN.
16th May - Rogation Sunday
Rogation means an asking of God for blessing on the seed and
land for the year ahead. It is appropriate in any emergency,
war, plague, drought or foul weather.
The practice began with the Romans, who invoked the help of the
gods Terminus and Ambarvalia. In those days a crowd moved
in procession around the cornfields, singing and dancing, sacrificing
animals, and driving away winter with sticks. They wanted to
rid the cornfields of evil.
About 465 A.D. the Western world was suffering from earthquake,
storm and epidemic. So Mamertius, Bishop of Vienna, aware
of the popular pagan custom, ordered that prayers should be said
in the ruined or neglected fields on the days leading up to Ascension.
With his decision, 'beating the bounds' became a Christian ceremonial.
Rogation-tide arrived in England early in the eighth century,
and became a fixed and perennial asking for help of the Christian
God. On Rogation-tide, a little party would set out to trace
the boundaries of the parish. At the head marched the bishop
or the priest, with a minor official bearing a Cross, and after
them the people of the parish, with schoolboys and their master
trailing along. Most of them held slender wands of willow.
At certain points along the route - at well-known landmarks like
a bridge or stile or ancient tree - the Cross halted, the party
gathered about the priest, and a litany or rogation was said,
imploring God to send seasonable wealth, keep the corn and roots
and boughs in good health, and bring them to an ample harvest.
At one point beer and cheese would be waiting.
In the days when maps were neither commonplace nor accurate,
there was much to be said for 'beating the bounds' - still very
common as late as the reign of Queen Victoria. Certainly parish
boundaries rarely came into dispute, for everyone knew them.
(Do you know yours today?)
20th May - Ascension Day - Forty Days
with the Risen Christ
May continues the season of Eastertide, the period of 40 days
between Easter and Ascension Day, which falls this year on Thursday,
20th May.
It may seem crazy to call it Eastertide when Easter is clearly
over! - but if you look in your diary, you will find the Sundays
are numbered Easter 1, Easter 2, and so forth. These are
the forty days during which the Risen Christ appeared again and
again to his disciples, following his death and resurrection.
The Gospels give us little of Christ's teachings and deeds during
those forty days. Numerous disciples saw Jesus: on the
road to Emmaus, by the Sea of Galilee, in houses, etcetera.
He strengthened and encouraged his disciples, and at last opened
their eyes to all that the Scriptures had promised about the
Messiah. Jesus also told them that as the Father had sent him,
he was now going to send them - to all corners of the earth,
as his witnesses.
Eastertide ends with the Ascension of Christ.
If you want to add more detail to Christ's appearances, the stories
can be found in Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; and John 20.
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