Festival of Ickenham

The Festival team is comprised of local people in Ickenham who meet to discuss and plan the Festival.

Please contact us via "Contact Button" above. As of January 2007, the Festival Team is:

David Edington - Chairman	David Thorpe - Treasurer	Nickki Summerfield - Secretary
Doug Neilson - Vice Chair	Dave Kershaw	Gayle Metcalfe
Alan Noad	Neil Sherry	Jake Shurey
Danielle Taverner	Richard Tosdevin

It is my pleasure and privilege to once again report on the Festival Committee activities since our last General Meeting in October 2004.

There have been ups and downs during that period which have at time challenged us somewhat. We aim to organise events which result both in being conducive to community benefit as well as hopefully to raise necessary funds.

Events such as our Jumble Sales, Family Barn Dances and a new venture Family Race Nights all fall into this category and were successful. Unfortunately our Annual Dance planned for St George’s day in 2005 was not supported and had to be cancelled. As St George’s Day fell on a Saturday it seemed that the world and his wife were attending the many similar special events that day.

We have continued to present Ickenham Festive Community Night (This year on Friday 8^th December). The Committee has been fortunate to have secured a grant each year from the L. B. Hillingdon towards the provision of decorative lights. With the financial support from most of the local shops we have moved away from using rather inefficient decorated Christmas trees to purchasing and erecting Christmas Motive decorations as these are more obvious to the eye. This year we have purchased an additional eleven Motives at a cost on £1000.00.

Since our last General meeting we have also purchased two large marquees, stakes and netting and some public address equipment which saves on hire costs.

Returning to Festive Christmas Night, we would welcome more stalls and activities suitable for outside the shops to attract visitors to explore all the shopping parades where shops are open; not forgetting Glebe Avenue shops which last year featured a popular Hog Roast and music from Vyners Swing Band. The Salvation Army Band have promised us faithfully to play carols from 7 to 8 pm having sorted out their previous double booking problems!

Other successful events held over the past two years included Girls’ Discos for ages 6 to 11 and a Boys’ Quiz Night ages 8 to 11. Both considered successful - if noisy!

The Swakeleys Shield for services to the Community of Ickenham was presented to David Crane in 2005 for his editorship on the ICN and in 2006 to George Richman for his long service with the Village Hall Association. Both well deserved.

Our relaunched Web site is now available and is kept up to date with the latest Festival News.

Turning to Festival Week, once again we were blessed with excellent weather which permitted all our planned events to take place. We even managed to offer Hot Air Balloon Rides - before the fuel ran out.

The Festival events themselves were very well supported in general and the Committee are grateful for the many expressions of appreciation we have received.

However, support for the Secondary School boys 5 -a -side football and the Family Rounders competitions was not forthcoming and to be cancelled although the Primary School football entries came flooding in. Perhaps it was something to do with the Football World Cup starting that week.

That was certainly the reason why Glebe School moved their Summer Show to Sunday. This gave the Committee the opportunity to present a very successful Community Concert of local musicians in the URC Church on the opening Saturday evening.

A new venture was a Scarecrow competition which proved very successful. A lengthy Gala Procession led this year by the 114 Sdn Royal Air Force Cadet band provided an opening attraction to Gala Day at which we were able to welcome the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Catherine Dann and her husband. I cannot claim any credit for the magnificent RAF Fly past over Ickenham just prior to the procession setting off.

Our new Ticket to Ride scheme for rides during Gala Day afternoon worked very well and eased the problems of collecting the money.

None of these activities and events are possible with out the support of local shops and traders; Friends of the Festival, who give their time distributing leaflets setting up and taking down, manning stalls and Jumble Sales, marshalling, stewarding and giving general help. The Committee are most grateful to all of them.

I would like to thank my Committee (all CRB Registered) for all their hard work, enthusiasm and support which made the Festival and our other events such a success and to thank you the Community of Ickenham for your support and encouragement for our endeavours.

Regards