The sun shone on over fifty members of the two churches and other residents who joined the Walk of Witness on Good Friday. Led by Adrian, we walked from the URC to West Ruislip Station and back to St Giles’. Generally, we were silent in prayer and thought. At the Village Hall a prayer was said for those who work in our community; at the Pump we prayed for our leaders and at the ex-military base we said prayers for the planners, builders and residents who will live on the new estate. Reaching St Giles’, the moving hymn, “When I survey the wondrous cross”, was sung followed by The Lord’s Prayer.
The acting talent of members of the two churches emerged on Maundy Thursday when “The Vigil” was presented in the URC. This thought-provoking courtroom drama by Ladislas Fodor seeks to put a new slant on the Easter story of the rising of Jesus from the tomb. A scenario is presented whereby the Jewish authorities, wanting to disprove that Jesus was the Messiah, attempt to demonstrate that He did not rise from the dead but instead His body was stolen by a gardener and secretly buried. The action is “time-travelled” to the present with the cast wearing modern dress still appropriate to their individual parts.
Prosecuting Counsel, played with appropriate self-satisfaction by Leigh Smith, took an impressive assortment of witnesses through the trumped-up story whilst Defending Counsel Pat Smith more gently attempted to confirm the truth of the Resurrection. The dozen or so witnesses all played their role with great gusto, and Helen Blakely was particularly convincing as Mary Magdalene.
The good-sized audience was invited to act as the Jury and, with much encouragement from Judge Bernie Collins, came to the unanimous conclusion that their Faith in the Resurrection remained unshaken.
Alan Noad
Fred died at his home in Ickenham on 10th March at the impressive age of 101. He leaves his wife Mary and daughter Jean. Fred and Mary, who enjoyed a very special companionship, were often to be seen in the village as they took part in many of its activities. Despite his modesty, everything that Fred took on, he did to the highest standards and that applied particularly to gardening. He created a beautiful garden and won numerous prizes at the annual Ickenham Horticultural Society’s shows.
Fred and Mary met in 1978 when attending a Workers’ Educational Association course about birds, and married a year later. They had both lost their previous spouses and, although apparently very different in character, found they had much in common. This included a love of London’s art galleries and museums which they frequently visited together. Fred had previously worked in London as a Chartered Surveyor and, in his spare time, acquired an intimate knowledge of the City. Having also been a keen theatre-goer he was especially familiar with Shakespeare and its famous actors such as Olivier and Gielgud.
As a couple they visited several countries, often under the guidance of the WEA. Their particular love was Italy, about which Fred made a point of learning more than most.
Fred’s daughter Jean recalls her contented home life with her father who could turn his hands to most things and carpentry in particular. He would do conjuring tricks to amuse the children, and later for his grandchildren and great grandchildren who thought the world of him. Fred was blessed with two happy marriages – the first was to Bess in 1936 when they set up home in Hanwell. Curiously enough, they lived not far from Mary but she was not to meet him until well after Bess had sadly died.
Fred’s funeral service, movingly conducted by Revd Ken Tombs, was held at Breakspear and was well attended by family and friends, many from his beloved Ickenham.
Alan Noad
