SHE SAYS IT WITH FLOWERS!
When two men in green interrupted the April meeting of the Uxbridge and Ickenham Floral Arts Society to make an important announcement, Chairperson Gill Roker stood aside, wondering what was going on. She shortly had to step back centre-stage, for they were there to proclaim “Gill Roker, Supreme Floral Artist” as the 27th winner of the Swakeleys Shield.
Gill may have been “totally taken aback”, but she is a very deserving winner of this much-coveted honour, which is awarded every year for “Commitment to the Spirit of the Festival of Ickenham”.
Reading from the citation which accompanied the trophy, Alan Noad explained: “Gill learnt about flowers from her mum, who was an accomplished flower arranger, and has been gracing Ickenham with flowers for 30 years. She has long been doing the flowers at St Giles’, building up a team of dedicated ladies in the process. She has also been an inspiration to local flower-arranging societies and is a much respected figure in the world of floral art, having successfully competed in international competitions. It is no surprise that Westminster Abbey calls upon her at Christmas time to arrange the high altar flowers. All this and she’s a modest lady, shunning publicity and always quick to give support and credit to others.”
David Edington, Ickenham Festival Committee Chairman, then presented the Swakeleys Shield to Gill. Looking through the names of previous winners, Gill said, “It is surely an honour to be counted in the company of the likes of John Hillier, Perry Parsons and David Millen and many others who have all contributed so much to both the Festival and life in Ickenham.”
The Swakeleys Shield and Gill’s citation are on display in a showcase in Ickenham Library.
GQT COMES TO ICKENHAM
A full house at the Compass Theatre attended the recent recording of an episode of Gardeners’ Question Time here in Ickenham. These keen gardeners were eager to seek the advice of regular experts Pippa Greenwood, Chris Beardshaw and Matthew Wilson, who were there along with resident compere Eric Robson.
The audience was invited to submit questions shortly before the recording began, so the experts don’t have much time to prepare their advice. Ten questions were short-listed and those questioners sat in the front row, ready for the moment when they could take to the airways.
We heard from individuals needing advice on growing potatoes in bags, and on getting more flowers on their summer Jasmine climbers; Lulu Carolan’s wild flower meadow has been overrun with anthills – great for the local green woodpeckers who are enjoying the feast, but the birds are eyeing up the content of her bee hives for dessert!
There was help for local groups and societies too, with recommendations on bulb planting and ground cover to the Holy Mowers team, which does such a great job looking after St Giles’ churchyard. And the Swakeleys Home Guard Association got some advice on an easy maintenance approach to planting out their recently prepared sitting out area.
When the programme was broadcast on Radio 4 a week later, listeners nationwide got the benefit of the advice too – as well as an impression of the variety of life and gardens in Ickenham. Well done to the Ickenham and Swakeleys Horticultural Society for organising the event, and getting Ickenham well and truly on the GQT map!
