WOMEN’S INSTITUTE - INSPIRING WOMEN FOR ANOTHER YEAR
 ICN’s Forthcoming Events on page 8 lists the activities of the many women’s groups that regularly meet in our village. One of the longest running of these is the Ickenham Branch of The Women’s Institute. Each April it happily celebrates its birthday, and this year is its 87th!
At their meeting in the Village Hall on April 21st, as part of the celebrations, members will see a display of RAF dog handling (arranged by WI members Debbie and Maryanne.) There’s bound to be a high turnout for this occasion, which will be accompanied by a competition, a raffle and a birthday tea. All this will be preceded, in accordance with tradition, by a stirring rendition of ‘Jerusalem’.
With over 205,000 members attending 6,500 branches (or chapters), representing ladies of all ages and walks of life, the Women’s Institute is the largest women’s organisation in the UK. The WI movement started in Stoney Creek in Canada in 1897 at a meeting of farmers’ wives and the WI first landed in the UK in Anglesey in 1915. It was formed principally to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to produce food during World War I. Since then their aims have broadened and they now offer a wide range of activities and educational opportunities, particularly at their own delightful residential Denman College near Oxford. However, probably what the majority value most is the chance to enjoy each other’s company on a regular basis, with entertainment and refreshments laid on.
Many prominent people have been associated with the WI, including HM the Queen. Certainly its biggest publicity lift of recent years came through the film ‘Calendar Girls’, relating the true story of a group of enterprising WI members in Yorkshire, who decided to raise funds for a local project by featuring themselves in a tasteful but nude calendar. The efforts of those ‘Calendar Girls’ raised more than £2million for Leukaemia and Lymphoma research. No plans currently exist, however, for this to be repeated in Ickenham!
 The Ickenham branch meets every third Thursday in the month at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. A typical evening consists of ‘Jerusalem’, then 30 minutes of business, three-quarters of an hour with a speaker, followed by tea and biscuits or cakes, socialising and a raffle. Auctions, competitions, quizzes, entertainers or other diversions are always in the offing – in fact, something for everybody.
The WI is always on the lookout for new members. If you’d like to join or just learn more about the Ickenham WI ring Avril Tucker on 01895 636075. For more about the WI further afield call 020 7371 9300 or see their website at www.thewi.org.uk.
PRAYER WALK AT THE URC
From Monday to Wednesday of Holy Week (18th – 20th April) a Prayer Walk will be established in the URC Church Sanctuary, inspired by the centre flower of the Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth.
The flower will be recreated in an arrangement of chairs (so that you can sit down at any point!) providing a contemplative and interactive prayer walk within the petals of the flower. Each petal, representing lines from the Lord’s Prayer, will contain aids to help you reflect on their meaning, and activities for you to undertake if you wish.
You are invited to make the journey round the walk in your own time, using whatever materials you want then moving on. This is aimed at all ages. There will be quiet activities for children, and some for families to do together. No need to book – just drop in and out at your leisure. Refreshments will be available in the Hardwick Room throughout the opening times, which are shown below.
Mon 18th April Tues 19th April Wed 20th April
10am – 12 noon 10am – 12 noon
2pm – 8.30pm 2pm – 8.30pm 2pm – 4.30pm
ANY MORE CHINESE VASES?
 Now we don’t expect to be rivalling local auctioneer Peter Bainbridge, (see ICN Dec 2010) but the Auction at the URC Bargain Day is always a popular event. It’s taking place on Saturday 7th May, and following the usual pattern. That means a Plant and Book Sale on the forecourt in the morning (10am – 12 noon) when as ever there will be a good variety of each, with book prices ranging from 50p to £5.
There will be advance viewing for the Auction between 11am and 12 noon, then the Official Viewing with Catalogue begins at 1.15pm, with bidding itself starting 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 3pm and 7pm on Friday 6th 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 our auctioneer Henry Gardner on 01895 674074.
In the meantime, why not clear out the attic? And if you do happen to find a Chinese vase or two, Henry will be especially pleased to hear from you!
A LONG RUNNING STORY
 35,000 entrants from all walks of life will be starting this year’s London Marathon on April 17th, and one to look out for is ICN Editor, Heather Piper. Heather will be wearing number 5881 and running in aid of Cancer Research UK. The race, from Blackheath to The Mall, brings together the world’s top distance athletes with serious club runners, committed if slower amateurs, celebrities and a host of fun runners, many in fancy dress, and with the majority raising money for a huge variety of charities.
This will be the first time Heather has run a full Marathon but she has been in training with half-marathons and twenty-mile races, one of which took place through Ickenham last month. In that race she wore the number 1 but was somewhat short of achieving the same position on the finishing line. “There were four laps of five miles each,” said Heather. “And I was quite pleased that the winner only lapped me once!” Still, it’s not all about winning – it’s taking part, finishing if possible and raising hopefully £2,000 for her charity. And good luck to anyone prepared to run 26 miles 385 yards for such a good cause!
Heather has been running occasionally for around 25 years, but it was five years ago when she stopped work that she found time to take longer distances more seriously. She now tries to get in several runs a week (more recently, in training for this event.) No, she doesn’t get bored and says it gives her time to think and count the smiles of people she passes. “It doesn’t cost much to run”, she said, “all you really need to have is a decent pair of shoes. Fortunately, I’ve suffered no serious injuries so far and I want to get at least one London Marathon in while I’m fit and able.”
 So why don’t you enter next year? Or, perhaps you would rather sponsor Heather for her effort this time? She and Cancer Research UK would really appreciate your support. If you are interested, speak to Heather after URC Sunday services, call her on 07900 828059, or visit her fundraising website at www.runningsponsorme.org/heatherpiper.
AFN
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