Derek Parker died on 20th April, aged 84. After a brave fight with cancer he leaves his wife Luise, their son Christopher, and two grandchildren. He will also be much missed by the Ickenham community and, in particular, those at St Giles’ Church, where Ken conducted the funeral service.
Derek was born in North London on 14th February so, much to his embarrassment during his youth, Valentine is one of his middle names. He attended Christ’s College grammar school and later University College, London where he studied Radio Physics and Chemistry. He worked firstly for British Drug Houses then joined the RAF as an Education Officer. During a posting to Malaysia he volunteered to help organise church services and was made a Lay Reader, a role he later often pursued at St Giles’.
After leaving the RAF Derek joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment which led to his career’s main interest, the science and technology of rubbers and plastics. At Farnborough he met Luise, who would become his wife, when they sheltered together from the rain under the church’s lynch-gate. A few years later he accepted a lectureship at Brunel University and in 1958 they moved to Ickenham, joining St Giles’ and supporting it ever since. Derek continued studying at Brunel, earning his Doctor of Philosophy. Turning to full-time administration within the university, he studied Law, Psychology and Theology.
Derek and Luise loved travel and visited Thailand, China, Nepal, and Borneo as well as journeying widely throughout Europe. Their favourite relaxation was attending classical music concerts together. And then there was their garden, with its nesting birds, which was regarded “as a memory of Eden and a foretaste of Heaven”.
Derek was also fond of books and wrote two or three non-fiction ones. Above all, he loved the Bible and the Anglican Book of Common Prayer (1662). Modern writing, whether secular or liturgical, he did not greatly care for. He often said he had been granted a wonderful life, having studied the wonders of nature, preached from a pulpit, read great literature and heard great music. His wonderfully happy marriage had resulted in a family of whom he was very proud. Above all, in his own words, he “had a wife whom he loved devotedly and by whom he had been devotedly loved”.
Luise and Christopher wish to thank everyone who attended the funeral, sent cards and letters, and offered prayers which were greatly appreciated.
The Players2 production of ‘My Fair Lady’ at the Compass Theatre on 23rd April was stunning. It was the 
most professional presentation my companions and I had ever seen at the Compass and we have been attending musicals, plays, concerts and other shows virtually since it opened. Most importantly, we could hear and comprehend every word, both spoken and sung.
The main players, Eliza Doolittle (Catherine Carter), Professor Higgins (Tim Redman) and Alfred Doolittle (Richard Doughty), were beautifully cast and stars in their own right. The supporting cast, in particular the Ascot Gavotteers, were pure harmony.
Eliza was played with panache; a credit to Catherine Carter’s early training at Suzanne’s School of Dance in Ickenham. The Professor handled his challenging role with commendable restraint and Alfred Doolittle was just the opposite – oozing enthusiasm!
With the neatest of choreography, the dual piano orchestration, and the slick staging, we had come to the perfect show. And the costumes, especially Eliza’s outfits, were delightful. Players2 will be back at the Compass in November. They’ll do well to reach the standard they set themselves on St George’s Day, but we’ll definitely be there to see them try!
AFN
The people of Ickenham responded magnificently to the appeal for plants, books and auction items for the URC Bargain Day in May, and a fantastic £1600 was raised for the Church and for the good causes being supported this year.
Now we’re appealing for items for our Early Summer Forecourt Sale on Saturday 6th June: plants and books again please, plus CDs and DVDs, boxed games and jigsaws, and bric-a-brac of all sorts (in fact almost anything except clothes and shoes). Please bring items to the Church on Friday 5th June from 6pm – 8pm, or ring Richard Piper on 01895 634348 if you need them to be picked up.
And don’t forget to support the event on the day. It runs from 10am to 12 noon, entrance is free and there will be games for the children as well as the usual stalls. With coffee, tea and home-made cakes available in the Hardwick Room, it will be as ever, a not to be missed occasion. We hope to see you there!
Receipt is acknowledged, with grateful thanks, for donations towards the cost of ICN, from:
Liz Cooke of Gillingham; Ickenham Women’s Institute; National Trust West Middlesex Centre; Anon of Eleanor Grove
Please note that copy for the July edition of ICN should be with the team by 12 noon on 13th June.
