EILEEN PLAYLE – URC CHORISTER

Eileen Playle has been a member of the Ickenham URC choir (previously the Congregational choir) for an incredible 77 years, apart from three years during WWII and a short period when her two daughters were young.  She sang her first solo at Sunday School in 1932 but now, just beginning to feel her age of 91, she has recently stepped out of the choir stall to join the rest of the congregation.  In October, her fellow-choristers gave her an unforgettable send-off, to her great delight.

Eileen’s family came to Ickenham in 1927 and it was as a pupil, aged eleven, at Bishopshalt that she first met her husband-to-be, Tim.  He said, “She was a lovely blonde then and the school’s best netball player”.  After school, Eileen became a Civil Servant and was posted to Buxton for the first part of the War, becoming a volunteer fire-watcher on her return to Ickenham.  Meanwhile Tim saw service with the REME in India, but the two kept in touch and got married in 1946. 

Eileen vividly remembers her early days in Ickenham.  She attended services in the old Congregational Church in the High Road and later, whilst the URC was under construction, in the Village Hall.  “My father used to collect the pulpit and carry it across Swakeleys Road for each service”, Eileen recalls.  Now, she is the URC’s archivist and oversees a big tin chest of papers and photos.  These will be much in demand next year when the two churches celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their joint Covenant, of which Tim is one of the signatories. 

Presenting parting gifts and a tribute to Eileen’s sterling 77 year service, URC choirmaster Peter Williams said, “Eileen has many, many qualities which we recognise and admire, and dedication is certainly high on that list”.

 

HENRY FARWELL – ST GILES’ TENOR

Henry Farwell has been a tenor in St Giles’ choir for 40 years – early days by Eileen’s standards perhaps, but still one of St Giles’ longest-serving members!  He came to live in Ickenham during 1968 and still lives in the same house. 

Born in Wisconsin in 1921, he spent most of his career with the US Air Force.  He was in World War II and, during the Vietnam War, was the Chief Controller of Ground Control Approach (a facility for guiding aircraft to the proximity of the runway).  During WWII, as a Radio Operator Air Gunner, he carried out 68 missions over France, Belgium and Holland, was injured during the 67th and awarded the Purple Heart.  By the end of his service he had also received a DFC, the Air Medal, the Air Force Commendation medal as well as a dozen other campaign medals.  When Ken Tombs wore his WWII medal on Remembrance Sunday, and asked Henry why he wasn’t wearing his set, Henry explained that it would have taken too long to put them all on! 

How did he come to be in the choir?  “When we came to Ickenham we wanted our two daughters to sing there, so I went along with them”, he said.  “I had no previous experience in singing, but I ended up as a tenor and I’ve never looked back.” 

Henry met his wife-to-be in 1952 at an Oxford dance hall.  She was a nurse with the Red Cross and he gave her a lift on his motorbike back to her lodgings.  Lottie’s Matron advised her against getting involved with a motorcycling American serviceman, but despite this, they have now been happily married for 57 years!  

 

YOUR TURN TO SING

You may not have the singing talents or years of experience of Eileen and Henry, but all that is needed is enthusiasm – and possibly some warm clothing! – and you can join in a host of outdoor carol singing events this month.


Friday 11th December
Festive Community Night
Carol Singing with the Salvation Army
Meet outside the Village Hall from 6pm

Thursday 17th December
Uxbridge Tube Station
Carol Singing for CLICK Rukiga
From 5.30pm to 7pm
Contact Mair on 0777 800 8620 for further details

Saturday 19th December
Join St Giles’ Junior Church and friends of all ages in aid of Save the Children
Meet outside the Village Hall at 10.30am
There will be singing for 40 minutes, then a well earned break at St Giles’ Church Hall for coffee and mince pies!  Another 30 minutes of singing back at the Village Hall rounds off the event.  Help us top last year’s effort of £200 raised.

Monday 21st December
Uxbridge Tube Station
Carol Singing for Shelter
From 5pm to 7pm
A URC-led event that has been going strong for 40 years, and raised over £425 in 2008.
Contact Alfred Moon on 01895 232196 for further details

Thursday 24th December
Harefield Hospital
Meet at hospital entrance at 8pm
Not outdoors, but a trip around several wards, which is always much appreciated by the patients.  Refreshments then provided

There will be singing too at all the Christmas services detailed on page 1.  So please come along and join us at this special time of year.