ANOTHER GREAT SHOW!

After last year’s lack of summer, Ickenham’s gardeners may have been fretting about what this year would bring – but they needn’t have worried if the Ickenham and Swakeleys Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show is anything to go by.  Held as usual in the Village Hall and brilliantly organised by Show Secretary Patt Trigg and her helpers, it was well-supported and a great success.  

Chairman Graham Tarling noted that the vegetable entries were the highest for years, the children’s displays were most impressive and the men rose valiantly to their cookery challenges.  All the entries in over a hundred different categories were a joy to behold. 

Our guest speaker was Nick Alford, Headteacher of Glebe Primary School.  “I was overwhelmed by the sheer quality of the produce”, he said.  “Perhaps I’ll even try some cake-making for the gentlemen’s class myself next year!”  The Show gave Nick particular pleasure since Glebe is one of Ickenham’s Schools that has its own Gardening Club, inspired and closely supported by the Horticultural Society, particularly Margaret Mayes who visits Glebe School every week, come rain or shine, to assist and offer advice to the young gardeners.  Nick was pleased to see his pupils and their produce well represented at the Show, along with that of the Breakspear School Gardening Club too. 

Somehow, Margaret still found time to attend to her own plants as well as helping the pupils, and she picked up an amazing seventeen awards in a variety of categories.  Other winners included 80 year-old Harry Dixon (pictured) who received a Certificate of Merit for his beautiful onions.  Harry caught the gardening bug at an early age from his mother, and reckons that his garden gets bigger every year! 

Also pictured are Sophie Cason, previously of the Glebe School Gardening Club although now at Vyners, and Breakspear School’s Catherine Tipton.  Sophie is displaying her ‘Creation of Fruit and Vegetables’ - a rabbit that looks like it has been at someone else’s vegetables!  Catherine meanwhile is shown receiving her Certificate from Nick Alford for the quality of her vegetables entry.  It looks like the future of Ickenham gardening is safe for years to come! 

AFN

HARROW BEREAVEMENT CARE - ALIVE TO THE ISSUE OF DYING

Each edition of ICN gives details of future meetings of the Drop In for the Bereaved (on the third Monday of the month at St Giles’ Church Hall, from 2pm to 3.30pm.)  At these meetings there is an opportunity to chat, over a cup of tea, with other bereaved people and trained members of the Ickenham Churches’ Bereavement Support Group. 

This Group is one of a number attached to Harrow Bereavement Care, (registered charity number 1081257).  HBC has been operating for more than thirty years, training volunteers to provide support to bereaved people of all ages – men, women and children – irrespective of race or religion. 

Over one hundred volunteers visited many hundreds of bereaved people last year, and saw others at drop in centres such as the one in Ickenham.  We are here to help you, your family, your friends, in times of loss.  And there is no time limit to worry about.  We sometimes visit a bereaved person over many months, or even years, after their loss.  If I had to describe our volunteers’ key role in just two words, they would be ‘to listen’. 

Can you help us?

Now every coin has two sides: whilst we can help you in times of loss, perhaps you can help us now?  We would welcome enquiries from anyone who feels they might like to become involved in our work.  We are, as you would expect, a friendly lot!  Perhaps you might consider becoming a Trustee.  Maybe you would like to become one of our much valued visitors and take part in our Initial Bereavement Training Course.  Or you could play a part in helping us raise funds or simply enjoy one of our fund-raising activities.  Do call the office on 020 8427 5720 or you can visit the HBC website at www.harrowbereavementcare.co.uk.  Thank you. 

Jack Lynes, HBC Chairman