On a sunny August afternoon (what a well chosen day!) the Ickenham Afternoon Townswomen’s Guild’s Music Group held their 7^th Annual Charity Garden Party at the local Scout Hut grounds.  After a delicious buffet prepared by Beryl Scott, 74 members and friends enjoyed various stalls, raffles and competitions, followed by a delightful cream tea. 

The hard work of many members raised over £1,000, a magnificent sum from which the Group’s many charities will benefit.  And a happy afternoon of fun and friendship was had by all.

Daphne Warden

 

 

When he’s not counting his chickens at Long Lane Farm, Richard Dalton is hitting the road, latterly in a Citroen 2CV.  Recently, he returned from his biggest adventure so far – 2,600 miles in eleven days, rallying through Belgium, Germany, Austria and Slovenia.

The Liege-Brescia-Liege Rally was a reincarnation of an event held exactly fifty years ago.  Originally designed as a test for the durability of some of the smaller production cars of the time, the requirement for this year’s romp was to use a contemporary vehicle.  Having chosen to go in a Citroen 2CV, often regarded as the snail of the road, Richard’s challenge was that much greater than most of the other 53 competitors.

Richard did all the driving but depended on his friend Bob Green, also from Ickenham, to navigate.  The rally was un-marshalled, so to prove the entrants had stuck to the prescribed route, they had to provide photographic evidence of where they had been.  Then, after an exhausting day, they had to set to and undertake their own car maintenance, using the few spare parts they’d crammed into the car.  

Highlights of the experience, in more ways than one, were the Stelvio Pass (2,750 metres) and the Gavia Pass (2,600 metres) in the Alps which the Citroen just about made in first gear.  “However”, said Richard, “it was worth it for the wonderful views and it was lots of fun coming back down.”

Apart from the conventional rallying, the participants had to undergo three timed auto tests - not too hard for those with more powerful cars but onerous for Richard and Bob in their super-slow vehicle.  Overall winner of the rally was a Dutchman driving a rare Vespa 400 two-stroke four wheeler.  However, Richard and Bob achieved a very creditable sixth place out of 54 and were third in their class of eight.  They haven’t finished yet though, and are already busy looking out for more mountains to climb from behind the wheel.