TIM GETS HIS FREEDOM

Timothy Noad, a Deputy Church Warden at St Giles’, has been granted the Freedom of the City of London.  His Freedom ceremony, which dates back to 1237, recently took place in the Chamberlain’s Court at Guildhall.  Tim, who is a Herald Painter at the College of Arms in the City, was escorted to the Court by the Beadle, who was wearing the traditional top hat and tails. 

Tim was required to read a declaration promising to ‘maintain the Franchises and Customs of the City and keep it harmless’ and sign the Freeman’s Declaration Book.  The Clerk of the Chamberlain’s Court, Murray Craig, then presented him with a framed copy of the Freedom together with a copy of the ‘Rules for the Conduct of Life’.  Today, contrary to popular belief, the Freedom does not bestow any special privileges, such as the right to drive one’s sheep over London Bridge.  It is, however, regarded as a special honour for people such as Tim who have worked in the City and are proud to be part of its ancient history. 

Tim has recently completed the clasped hands logo (shown on this issue’s front page) to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the forming of the Covenant between the two Ickenham churches.

 

COME BLOW YOUR OWN TRUMPET...

...or trombone for that matter!  Local musicians, the Stardust Big Band, are on the lookout for new members of a good standard (Grade 6+) to join their Jazz Band.  They meet weekly, on Sunday evenings from 6pm to 8pm, at Harefield Community Centre, and would like to invite suitable musicians – especially trumpeters and trombonists – to come along and rehearse with them, with a view to joining the Band.  Contact Thom Wilkinson on Thom@stardustbigband.co.uk for further details if interested. 

The band plays regularly at weddings, parties, dinner-dances and corporate occasions, as well as numerous charity fund raising events near and far.  One notable gig in the diary this summer is the ever popular finale to Ickenham Festival’s Gala Day, “Jazz on a Summer’s Evening” in Swakeleys Grounds on Saturday 19th June.  That evening, they will share the bill with Ickenham’s own Vyners Swing Band - an especially enjoyable occasion, given the Stardust Big Band history. 

The band originally evolved among Vyners Swing Band members who had left the school, but liked returning when they could to play with VSB under the leadership of Perry Parsons.  As this combined band grew to an unwieldy size, a splinter band of the older musicians emerged.  In 2002, the Perry Parsons Big Band was formed as an entirely independent band with Perry as Musical Director.  PPBB also attracted new musicians without a direct Vyners connection, and quickly established itself in the local area and further afield. 

Amazingly, Perry maintained involvement with both bands until Spring 2008, but with only 24 hours in a day something had to give!  With reluctance, he stepped down from his role with PPBB, and so to avoid confusion, the band was renamed the Stardust Big Band at the end of that year. 

You can keep up to date with all the Band’s latest activities on their recently launched website: www.stardustbigband.co.uk

 

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

In May Ickenham’s Christian Aid Week team will swing into action again, and that familiar red envelope will be delivered to your door on or shortly after Saturday 8th May.  A few days later, our volunteer will visit again, and will be pleased to collect the envelope filled with any donation you are able to give. 

This year there is the opportunity to help Christian Aid’s work in Kenya, where partner projects are assisting the many people living in the slums and informal settlements of Nairobi.  Your contribution can help improve basic sanitation, providing services that thankfully we in Ickenham can take for granted. 

If you are a UK taxpayer, then please consider gift-aiding whatever you give.  There will be more to help the projects at no extra cost to you. 

And if you have any queries about the collection in Ickenham please contact coordinator Juliette Guthrie on 01895 622970 or via email at jp.guthrie@virgin.net.

 

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Well the snowdrops in St Giles’ churchyard prove it.  And there is the Ickenham and Swakeleys Horticultural Society’s Spring Show in the Village Hall on Saturday 10th April.  Doors will be open to the public at 2.30pm and entrance is free.  Come along and view the results. 

The Society’s Trading Hut will be open on two forthcoming Thursday evenings, on 22nd April and 20th May, from 6.30pm to 8pm.  New members are always welcome.  Membership at just £3 per year gives you the opportunity to purchase a wide range of garden products at competitive prices from the Society in Swakeleys Drive, just near Wayfarers Tennis Club.  There will be bedding plants, hanging baskets, bird nuts, seeds and feeders, a wide range of tools and much more.  Ask for further details at the Village Hall Show, call Rosemary on 01895 633217, or see the Society’s website at www.ickenham-horticultural.org.uk.

 

BARGAIN DAY AT THE URC

This year’s Bargain Day will be on Saturday 8th May and will follow the usual pattern.  In the morning there will be a Plant and Book Sale, with a good variety of each and book prices ranging from 30p to £5.  There is also advanced viewing for the Auction of Collectables and Household Goods from 11am.  Official Auction viewing then starts at 1.15pm and the bidding itself begins at 2.15pm.  The day is always great fun and entrance is free, with Auction catalogue and bidding number costing just £1. 

If you have items to donate for any part of the day, please bring them to the Church between 4pm and 8pm on Friday 7th May, or phone Richard Piper on 01895 634348 if you want them to be picked up.  Items can also be auctioned on your behalf, on a commission basis.  For further details on this, contact Henry Gardner on 01895 674074.