A congregation of around 200 happy people came to witness the Confirmation of thirteen candidates at St Giles’ Church on 16th November.  The Right Reverend Peter Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden, was on hand to perform the ceremony in his own friendly and effective style and afterwards joined the party in the Derek Kneale Hall.

With the exception of Timothy Ezat from St John’s in Ealing, all the candidates were from St Giles’ and consisted of five adults and eight young people.  Bishop Pete told them how much the Church had been looking forward to this service.  He pointed out that so much of life these days seemed to be about getting knocked out of things.  “This is not what tonight is about”, he said. “God wants you to be included in his family and you are saying that you want to be a part of it.”

He explained that the two bible readings, read by candidates Estella Noad and George Stone-Sobol, emphasised the vision of Jesus Christ as both all-powerful and also a humble and caring person.  “With God’s help,” he said, “we also can go out and do good things.”

Receipt is acknowledged, with grateful thanks, for donations towards the cost of ICN, from:

Mrs Wilman of Wem, and Mrs Lawrence, in memory of her husband.

Please remember there is no separate January edition of ICN.  Copy for the February edition should be with the team by 12 noon on 13^th January.  Meanwhile, the ICN team wishes you a joyful Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year.

There are plenty of opportunities to do some carol singing in and around the village this month.  The first is during the Ickenham Festive Community Night on Fri 5^th December.  Meet outside the Village Hall from 6pm and join in.

On Sat 20^th December it’s the turn of St Giles’ Junior Church to lead the way.  They will start outside the Village Hall at 10am.  After 40 minutes or so, they will break for hot drinks and mince pies in St Giles’ Church Hall, then it’s time for another half hour of singing.  Proceeds raised will go to Save The Children.  Although the youngsters are leading the charge on this one, everyone is welcome, so do come along.

Carols in aid of Shelter will be sung at Uxbridge Station, at 5pm on Mon 22^nd December.  Again, just turn up and join in.

The final event is at Harefield Hospital on Christmas Eve at 8pm.  Not outdoors this time, but a trip around several wards, which is always much appreciated by the patients.  In this instance, meet at the hospital entrance.

Marking the anniversary or birthday of a loved one who has died can be difficult.  Similarly Christmas can bring intense feelings of loss and loneliness.

The Ickenham Churches’ Pastoral Support Group will be displaying a ‘Tree of Remembrance’ in the Christmas Tree Festival at St Giles’ Church this month.  Further details are given on page 6.  If you want to remember someone dear to you, do visit the Tree on Fri 5^th December (between 6pm and 9pm) or on Sat 6^th December (between 10am and 4pm).   There you will be invited to write the person’s name, or a message, on a star to be hung on the Tree of Remembrance.

The stars will be removed from the tree on the evening of 6^th December and placed on the altar in the St John’s Chapel where they will stay until after Christmas.  Prayers will be said for those named on the stars.

The Gospel Oak site will soon be planted out by the Council.  The scheme will include a thousand daffodil bulbs.  This project follows the landscaping of the area to mark the rededication in June of the Gospel Oak and restoration of its memorial tablet (July ICN).  Expect a photograph of the outcome in the spring! 

Ickenham hasn’t had its own blacksmith since the early 1900s when a smith named Llewellyn Wood (Woody) worked his forge in a lean-to building attached to the Fox & Geese pub and then moved to the great barn next to the Coach and Horses.  However, Ickenham horses today need not feel neglected, thanks to a farrier named Simon Preston who practises his art in the village every six weeks on a horse named Milo. 

Milo belongs to Ickenham resident Lorraine Handley who explained that horses need re-shoeing every six weeks, not because their shoes wear out but because their hooves are always growing so have to be trimmed back by people like Simon. 

Simon learnt his trade in the army, serving with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.  “It took four years of training and I qualified in 2001”, he said, “Then, when I left the army, I earned my living as a farrier in and around Harefield.  Now I’ve moved to Dorking but I still have a few customers about here, including Lorraine. 

“Shoeing horses looks easy but it’s very physically demanding, especially when you get an awkward horse or one that likes to lean on you.  It’s very important to trim the hooves regularly otherwise they grow unevenly and that puts stress on the joints, reducing the working life of the horse.” 

Most of the horse-shoes that Simon uses are mild steel but occasionally he fits rubber or plastic shoes which are glued rather than nailed.  The steel ones are heated up, burnt onto the hoof and then nailed in place. It doesn’t hurt the horse but I bet most of us would prefer a pair of carpet slippers!

AFN