I C E N E

B U L L E T I N

www.ickletonvillage.co.uk

DECEMBER 2006

Editors: David and Monica Lilley

monica.lilley2@btopenworld.com

Distribution: Tony Court

Hilary Rule

All contributions please to 8 Brookhampton Street. Deadline for next Icene Bulletin

12^th December 2006

EDITORIAL

As another Christmas comes round, we would like to thank our proof-readers, and Tony Court, Hilary Rule and their delivery team, for all their hard work, and Sheila Birch for the ‘Welcome to ‘ column.

May we remind everyone that, as we hope to get the January issue ‘put to bed’ and possibly printed before Christmas, 12^th December really is the absolute deadline.

Happy Christmas to all our readers. David and Monica Lilley

PARISH COUNCIL

Refuse Collections during December

Monday 4^th December - Black bin collection

Monday 11^th December - Green bin and Green box collection

Monday 18^th December - Black bin collection

Tuesday 2^nd January - Black bin collection

Monday 8^th January - Green bin and Green box collection

Christmas and New Year Collections Please note that there is no collection in Christmas week, the next black bin collection being on Tuesday 2^nd January. There is no green bin and green box collection between 11^th December and 8^th January.

The Thriplow Household Waste and Recycling Centre ' 01223 839001 (normally open daily 8.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.) is open Christmas Eve 9.00 p.m. - 1.00 p.m., but closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

December Parish Council Meeting Please note the Parish Council meeting has been moved forward a week. It will take place on Wednesday 13^th December instead of Wednesday 20^th December.

Parish Council Meeting 15^th November Items discussed at the meeting were: village parking, flashing speed signs, flooding at Cemetery Corner, Coploe Pit and risk assessment. Mick Martin (Imperial War Museum & Duxford Parish Council) spoke about the flight paths/heights of planes over the village on their approach to Stansted Airport.

Planning application

S/1881/06/F – Double Garage – 60 Frogge Street – Mr & Mrs J Raynham – No recommendation

S/1997/06/LB – Alteration - Installation of metal flexible flue liners in drawing & sitting room chimneys – 21 Church Street – P J Owen – No recommendation

Planning application refused by SCDC

S/1556/06/LB – Replacement of living room window by doorway – 30 Abbey Street – Mrs J Hurst.

Recreation Ground – Play Area We are sorry it has taken so long to repair/replace these two items. Meanwhile, we would request that children do not use the equipment.

Village Hall Car Park We currently have two newspaper and one bottle bank for the village’s use. Unfortunately, there have been some black plastic bags left alongside these banks. It appears these are not left by users of the hall, but by others who are using it as a dumping ground. Anyone leaving unauthorised rubbish could be prosecuted for ‘fly tipping’. As we have mentioned before, please help to keep this area clean and tidy.

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Unlicensed Charity Collections/Leaflet drops If you would like to check if a collection to be held in your village is licensed, please contact the Licensing Section at South Cambridgeshire District Council '08450 450 063.

Sawston Village College have been able to secure funding to allow them to upgrade their buildings significantly in the coming years. The Local Authority is offering our local community the opportunity to view the plans and discuss the project on December 11^th from 6.00 to 8.00 p.m. in the Walnut Gallery. Please go along to find out more information.

The Cambridgeshire Association of Local History This association is able to help with Parish Council Records, Parish Registers, on any archaeological, family, social or local history issues. To find out more, visit their website: www.calh.org.uk

The Parish Council would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Jocelyn Flitton – Parish Clerk

CHRISTMAS - A MIXED BLESSING?

I have to confess that my memories of Christmas past are a mixed bag. The heightened emotions of the season weren’t all about excitement and fun. In childhood, our Christmases were big family occasions with lots of aunts and uncles and cousins. And so, inevitably, there were squabbles between the children, which would end in tears. The grown ups weren’t much better, and the annual ritual of cards round the dining room table always seemed to end in loud argument. As a young man at Midnight Mass I recall my anger at the painful contrast between the affluence of the society of which I was a part and the poverty and desperate need presented in the Christmas Oxfam appeal. As a parent with young children there was the very difficult Christmas when I was unemployed and we just couldn’t afford Christmas presents. I could go on, but you don’t need telling how hard Christmas is for the housebound, those who are mourning the death of a loved one, the lonely, those facing serious illness or broken marriage.

One reason Christmas doesn’t quite work may be that it’s a Christian takeover of the pagan celebration of the winter solstice (we don’t actually know the date of birth of Jesus of Nazareth). After nearly 2000 years of the festive season, the two still don’t sit together comfortably, so our expectations are sometimes confused and often disappointed.

Church offers a way to redress the balance, to ‘touch base’ with our spiritual life, for that also needs to be part of the celebration. The story, of course, is about the way God comes to us and reaches out to us through the vulnerability and need of a poor family and a pregnant mum. Christians claim that if you want to know what God is like, all you have to do is look at Jesus, and all the hints are there. You just need to pause and watch and listen.

It’s all there in the services at church. The story is told in word and music in Carol Services, Christingles and Communion Services. And if these seem to strike a chord for you, it shouldn’t be surprising. Carols and readings, poetry and pageant, provide a vehicle for us to discover, once again, the life of the Spirit within. A final element of the Christmas festivities, and one that’s often missed, is silence, and this too can be found in church. Mostly we don’t have time for silence, and are often rather uncomfortable with it. But frenzied mums and dads, over excited children, exhausted grandparents – all need the space and quiet of silence to make Christmas complete.

In spite of disappointments and upsets, Christmas doesn’t have to be a disaster. But you do need to find a balance – a place for the life and healing of the spirit. In church you can discover that balance in the retelling of the story we know so well - the birth of the Saviour. May I wish you every blessing for the season - and the peace of God, which passes all understanding. Andrew Schofield

Andrew.schofield@ely.anglican.org

CHURCH COFFEE MORNING

Our next coffee morning is on Tuesday 5^th December when, as well as coffee, we shall have mulled wine and other festive treats. We had a large attendance at the last event and it was good to see yet more new faces – ages ranged from 5 weeks to 90+.

Hope to see even more of you next time. Rosemary McKillen

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CHURCH NOTICES – Services for December

Sunday 3^rd	8.00 a.m. BCP Communion	DUXFORD
Advent Sunday	10.00 a.m. Parish Eucharist	ICKLETON
	4.00 p.m. Family Service	DUXFORD
	6.30 p.m. Evensong	HINXTON
Thursday 7^th	12.30 p.m. Holy Communion	HINXTON
Sunday 10^th	8.00 a.m. BCP Communion	HINXTON
Advent 2	10.00 a.m. Parish Eucharist	DUXFORD
	6.30 p.m. Evensong	ICKLETON
Thursday 14^th	12.30 p.m. Holy Communion	HINXTON
Sunday 17^th	8.00 a.m. BCP Communion	ICKLETON
Advent 3	10.00 a.m. Parish Eucharist	HINXTON
	4.00 p.m. Christingle	DUXFORD
	6.30 p.m. Lessons and Carols	ICKLETON
Thursday 21^st	12.30 p.m. Holy Communion	HINXTON
Sunday 24^th	8.00 a.m. BCP Communion	HINXTON
Advent 4	10.00 a.m. Parish Eucharist	DUXFORD
	4.00 p.m. Christingle	HINXTON
	11.30 p.m. Midnight Mass	DUXFORD
Christmas Day	8.00 a.m. Holy Communion	ICKLETON
	9.00 a.m. Family Communion	HINXTON
	10.30 a.m. Family Communion	ICKLETON
Thursday 28^th	12.30 p.m. Holy Communion	HINXTON
Sunday 31^st	10.00 a.m. Parish Eucharist	HINXTON
Christmas 1

December’s Family Service

The December family Service is on Sunday 3^rd December at 4.00 p.m. at Duxford Church. It’s a short service aimed at children and young people, with active involvement and refreshments afterwards. December’s service is about getting ready for Christmas, and you’re invited to bring a toy for a needy child (wrapped as a Christmas present, with a label indicating gender and age of a suitable recipient). This is an annual appeal, to which we always get a generous response. This is church with a difference – all welcome.

Services during the week

Morning Prayer (8.45 a.m.) and Evening Prayer (4.45 p.m.) are said in church: Monday Duxford, Tuesday Ickleton, Wednesday Hinxton, Thursday Ickleton, Friday Duxford.

CAROL SINGING AROUND THE VILLAGE

Arrangements for Carol Singing are as usual on Tuesday 19^th December. Meet 6.00 p.m. at Grange Road/Coploe Road corner.

Collecting will be in aid of the Duxford Playgroup (which is attended by many Ickleton children), for much needed building renovation.

After the singing - victuals at the house of Mark and Miranda Stone-Wigg

Any questions - contact John Williams

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BUFFET SUPPER, CONCERT AND WORKSHOP IN ICKLETON CHURCH SUNDAY DECEMBER 3^RD

Update on the supper, concert and workshop in Ickleton Church on the evening of Sunday December 3^rd.

6.30 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. Free workshop (for ticket holders who would like to sing some pieces with the choir).

8.00 p.m. Supper (with wine) followed by the concert.

The music to be performed in the concert will include a medley of Christmas pieces as well as Parry’s ‘I was Glad’, Wood’s ‘O thou the Central Orb’, some organ solos and three well know carols to be sung by everyone.

The concert will last one hour and there will be no interval.

All inclusive tickets are now on sale - £10 full price / £8 concessions – from me or from any other member of the Parochial Church Council.

Although tickets will be on sale on the night, it would be really helpful if you could buy in advance to give us an idea of the numbers for catering.

Please put the date in your diary now. It should be a lovely evening and even if it is cold outside, the church is very well heated!

Look forward to see you then. Rosemary Hayes

CHAPEL NOTICES – All Services start at 3.00 p.m.

December 3^rd	Mrs. Christine Heyhoe
December 10^th	Carols Carols (led by Revd. Trevor Sands)
December 17^th	Mrs. Betty Kime
December 24^th	No Service
December 31^st	Revd. Trevor Sands – Holy Communion

Revd. Trevor Sands

MARGARET HARRISON 1919-2006

Margaret Harrison was born in Luton, but shortly after her birth her family moved to Gorleston in Norfolk. She always had very fond memories of Gorleston, and she and her sister, who was born there, were very close.

When she left Highfield School, she undertook a Domestic Science Diploma Course in Gloucestershire , and upon graduating she started teaching. This she did not enjoy! She soon found a position with Sutcliffe’s Catering Company, and joined them in 1947. By 1953 she was Managing Director!

She married Vernon Harrison in 1964, and retired four years later. Although the Harrisons had no children of their own, they embraced Vernon's young relatives, who remained devoted all her life.

In 1978 Vernon and Margaret moved from Northwood in Middlesex to Ickleton, a place that was to be their home until their deaths. Vernon died in 1991, and Margaret saw even more of her sister who lived in Trumpington. Sadly Jean died eighteen months ago, but Margaret continued to be her usual dependable and optimistic self.

She was much respected in the village, and for over 28 years took an active part in most village activities. She was a devoted member of the Church, derived much pleasure from the W.I., was an active member of the Gardening Club, and supported the Ickleton Society. She was also a very fine Bridge player, and would play as much as four times a week!

Margaret always provided the most delicious dainty teas, and was well known for running the cake stall at the village fete. She was never happier than when growing fruit and vegetables in her lovely garden, where she enjoyed sitting, always looking immaculate. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Jilly Maynard

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HARRY JAMES BURTON 1914-2006

Henry Burton, one of four children of Harry and Sarah Ann Burton was born at 53 Abbey Street where he lived for his entire life, until his death on 20^th October.

He attended the village school and at 14 went to work at Priory Farm for the Griggs family, where his father was shepherd. He spent his entire working life there as cowman and farm labourer, originally working with horses and later tractors and combine harvesters.

He never wore a watch, yet was always home at one o’clock for his dinner! He was an expert at catching pheasants and rabbits - there were probably more at his house than at the butcher’s shop up the road in peak season!

Henry was a better weather forecaster then any on television, I remember saying to him one day that I was hoping to finish some painting that afternoon, but the sky was black as thunder, and virtually everyone would expect a storm within minutes. Henry said confidently “It wont rain this afternoon,” and of course he was right.

When Henry married Bett (an Ickleton girl) she moved into 53 Abbey Street with his parents, and their son Tony was born there. Henry had a grandson Stephen and a great-grandson Ainsley.

Henry played football and cricket for Ickleton, and was captain of the Ickleton football team that was the cup winning side in the1938/39 season at Catons Lane, Saffron Walden.

Cricket wise, he was a useful bowler and hard-hitting late order batsmen, regularly smacking balls out of the ground into the old allotments or over to Mrs. Tetley’s garden. When asked where he fielded he said “In the slips,” “Were you any good?“ “I caught a swallow one day.”

He also enjoyed playing darts and dominoes at his local pub, The New Inn.

After retiring at 65, Henry enjoyed going brushing at the local shoots. He made many friends and was always on hand to give advice – when asked what he did with his beating money, he replied “I chuck it on the heap and watch it roll down the other side.”

On another occasion one of the shoot members said to him. “When you die, you old devil I’m going to jump up and down on your grave.“ Henry replied ”I hope so, because they are going to bury me at sea.”

He packed up the shoots aged 84, due to a hip operation. In his later years, he enjoyed watching cricket over at Weston Colville, sitting in the press box with the other critics, complaining when they lost.

Henry enjoyed walking and he, Cyril Webb and Jack Bridgemen walked many miles together and became known affectionally as ‘The Last of the Summer Wine’. He was a popular member of the Over Sixties, enjoying his game of dominoes. After retirement, Henry did a bit of gardening at Durhams for nearly twenty years. His own garden was always well kept, and even in the last years, when Tony would dig it for him, he would put his beans in using his walking stick to make the holes! He gave many of his vegetables away to his neighbours.

Henry still cooked for himself, but he enjoyed his Tuesday trips to Saffron Walden, with Cyril Webb for a meal.

I remarked when Hilda Woodley died at nearly 101, that she had set Ickleton people a target. Henry has set us another – a lifetime of 92 years in the same house!

David Lilley

Thanks

We would like to thank everyone who sent cards and attended the funeral.

Also a special thank you to kind neighbours for helping him, inviting him into their home for meals, delivering his paper and calling in to see that he was coping on his own, especially when we were away on our holidays.

We will all miss him, but are thankful he was a part of our lives.

With our heartfelt thanks. Tony and Sandra Burton

HOW OTHERS SEE US!

Ickleton is featured in the book ‘England’s Thousand Best Churches’ by Simon Jenkins.

However, it says ‘Ickleton is a suburbanised village close to the Hertfordshire Border.’ And we thought we lived in a farming community close to the Essex Border! Editors

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ICKLETON SOCIETY

New Year’s Day Walk As usual, the Ickleton Society will be helping you with that resolution to take more exercise by leading a walk on New Year’s Day. Everyone is welcome, including dogs (though they must be on the lead). Blow away that hangover and meet on the Village Green at 11.00 a.m. Refreshments will be provided afterwards.

Trip to Welney – the Society is organising a trip to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserve at Welney on the Ouse Washes, early in the New Year, probably on a Sunday. The reserve is home to some of the most spectacular winter gatherings of wild swans. If you are interested in coming, please let me or any other member of the Committee know.

Rachel Radford

DUXFORD CHURCH OF ENGLAND COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL

With Christmas just a few weeks away, parents, carers, family members and members of the local community are warmly invited to come and watch our Christmas productions which are on the following dates:

The Innkeeper’s Breakfast (Key Stage 1 and Foundation)

Wednesday 6^th December at 9.30 a.m.

Thursday 7^th December at 6.00 p.m.

Christmas Songs (Key Stage 2)

Friday 15^th December at 2.00 p.m.

Please come along and support the Christmas Fayre which will be on Monday 11^th December at 6.00 p.m. This event is organised and run by the children, and the money raised goes to Action Aid and to the two children the school sponsors in Nepal and Uganda.

Finally we would like to thank Mr Alan Featherstone, who wrote in November’s Icene about the Autumn Air Show, for paying his £5 entrance fee to the school. As well as having a fantastic view of the aeroplanes, Mr Featherstone would have received two complementary hot drinks and have been able to buy homemade cakes, hot dogs, bacon rolls, sandwiches and food from the barbeque all at great prices. The revenue raised from public support on the Air Show days in 2006, and from other PTA events, has enabled the PTA to fund an outdoor pavilion that will be a great addition to the school’s outdoor facilities, and will be used for teaching as well as recreational purposes. Miranda Stone-Wigg

CHESTERFORD & DISTRICT GARDENING SOCIETY

Gordon Reid, our guest speaker, took us on a tour of Cape Province to show the beautiful flowers growing wild in great profusion, in extremely poor acid soil. Maybe we treat our garden flowers too kindly!

We were pleased to welcome two new members from Sawston.

The best bloom competition was won by Valerie Clift.

The speaker for December will be from RHS Hyde Hall, when the best bloom competition will be a spray of holly. Christmas refreshments will be served, and a grand raffle will be held.

Dobie’s seed orders must be returned to me, please, at the December meeting.

Cynthia Rule

TUESDAY BUS SERVICE

The Myall’s 101 service from Whittlesford to Saffron Walden now extends to Tesco in Saffron Walden. The times are:

Whittlesford 09.20 Tesco 11.33

Ickleton 09.28 Saffron Walden 11.40

Audley End 09.39 Audley End 11.49

Saffron Walden 09.48 Ickleton 12.00

Tesco 09.53 Whittlesford 12.08

Pensioners free passes may be used on this service. David Lilley

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OVER SIXTIES

The members were all saddened by the death of Henry Burton. Although he was the oldest member, it was so sudden.

He was there at every meeting and he and Cyril Webb were always first to arrive.

He enjoyed his games of dominoes with the men. We will certainly miss him very much.

We send our sympathy to Tony and all the family. Ruby Lilley

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

As in the past years, Barry and I will be decorating our garden for Christmas. We will be raising money for The Breast Cancer Unit at Addenbrooke’s again. We hope you will all come and have a look and bring the children. Happy Christmas everyone. Carol and Barry Turton

17 Birds Close

THE CHESTERFORDS, ICKLETON AND HINXTON W.I.

I apologise for having omitted in the report of the last meeting that a minute’s silence was held in respect of the late Margaret Harrison and Joy Goodwin, both long time members of the W.I.

Why did we have to wait for our speaker to arrive at the November meeting? Because the poor lady missed the turning and ended up on the M11 at Bishop’s Stortford. Her portrayal of 18^th century shops in London and the Georgian’s method of buying their wares was demonstrated on excellent slides. It was an entirely different shopping experience to what we enjoy today.

Names were taken for a Christmas visit to Scotsdale’s on 7^th December at 6.30 p.m.

The next meeting will be one week earlier on 13^th December, starting at 7.30 p.m. If desired Christmas presents to the value of £3 can be brought to the meeting, but this is not obligatory.

Whilst we were waiting for our speaker to arrive, we had an uninvited guest, a little mouse, which took a lot of persuading that it wasn’t wanted at the meeting, and was finally shown the door!

Cynthia Rule

LETTER

I read in a recent Icene (sent to me, as usual, by Betty Igglesden) of two deaths connected with my living in Ickleton. I spent many happy times at Ickleton Lodge with the Forbes girls, the mutual attraction being the horses they had! I always remember Mrs. Forbes made sure we left the tack clean and ready for the next time of riding. We went to shows in a lorry hired from a farmer in Duxford. Not like today, as in my work with dressage competitions you see huge horse boxes, and the children seem to have everything done for them and expensive equipment in abundance - times certainly have changed.

Many of the junior friends (1946/47) will be coming up for our 70^th year, so will remember well P.C. Alder and the police house on the Green, so when did it cease to be our police house? The previous one, of course, was on the corner opposite the village shop.

It will soon be the Christmas season once again. I never like wishing time away, but once the New Year arrives it’s always nice to think of pleasant events happening, and God willing, a good meeting of ‘Comehomers’ in 2007.

Molly Dagley (nee Clements), Solihull

BLUE PETER SHOEBIZ APPEAL – supporting Unicef

Please can I have any pairs of shoes that you have for recycling, to help orphaned children in Malawi?

Please leave them at 10 Southfield.

Thank you very much! Dominic Rugg-Gunn

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WEA ICKLETON AND CHESTERFORDS BRANCH

For the Spring 2007 term, the course will be: About Face – A History of Portraiture

Tutor – Mary Conochie.

This will take place every Wednesday morning from 17^th January 10.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. in the Congregational Chapel, Carmel Street, Great Chesterford for 10 weekly sessions.

The course will study work from 1400 to 1950 to assess society’s perception of itself through the centuries.

For more information, please contact Margaret Beston.

Course fees are £40, concessions £35, and free to those on certain means tested benefits. The first two sessions may be sampled at £4 (concessions £3.50) per session, deductible from the course fee if continuing.

ICKLETON DIARY

December 2^nd	Murder Mystery Evening 6.45 p.m. Village Hall
3^rd	Workshop 6.30 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. followed by Supper 8.00 p.m.
	and Concert in Church
4^th	Mobile Library
5^th	Church Coffee Morning 10.00 a.m. – 12 noon
6^th	Chesterford and District Gardening Society Meeting 8.00 p.m.
	Chapel, Carmel Street, Great Chesterford
11^th	Duxford School Christmas Fayre 6.00 p.m. Duxford School
13^th	Parish Council Meeting 7.30 p.m. Village Hall
13^th	W.I. Meeting 7.45 p.m. Great Chesterford Community Centre
18^th	Mobile Library
19^th	Carol Singing 6.00 p.m. meet Grange Road/Coploe Road corner
January 1^st	New Year’s Day Walk 11.00 a.m. meet Village Green

PUBLISHED BY ICKLETON PARISH COUNCIL