HAVING recently completed my first festival as the Ickenham Festival Team chairman, I must write and thank everybody in Ickenham and round about for the fantastic nine days we all enjoyed.

When the programme was first compiled I questioned whether such an ambitious calendar of events would be successful. Any fears on that front were dispelled when I attended some of the events on the first Saturday.

The glorious flower display in

Saint Giles's church depicting lots of the facets of past festivals, the local artists displaying around the village pond, the model engineers running the miniature railway and the Glebe School fete.What a day!

The number of people attending these events was phenomenal; the week carried on with the same enthusiasm from all involved.

A teddy bears' picnic in Swakeleys' House grounds was enjoyed by toddlers and teddies alike. The sun shone for the 15 residents that opened their gardens during the week to raise money for charities close to their hearts.

Residents learnt about local history and natural history on the evening walks. A top class pianist played at the Compass Theatre. And so the list goes on.

Saturday, Gala Day, the weather was set fair and the longest procession for many a year set off from Milton Court exactly on time to tie up with the RAF fly past.

It meandered its way to Swakeleys House grounds where the local charities and groups had set up their pitches alongside some festival attractions for the whole community to enjoy.

In the evening we had the sell out Vyners Swing Band and Perry Parsons' Big Band concert, with the firework display set to their final two numbers.

Sunday saw the long awaited rededication of the Gospel Oak site and the final festival event; The Ickenham Festival Duck Race, where 200 plastic ducks raced down the River Pinn to raise money for festival funds. What a week we've had.

I would like to publicly thank everybody who contributed to the success of this year's festival and especially the rest of the festival

feam, who have supported me through the two years' planning and delivery of The Ickenham Festival 2008.

DAVID EDINGTON,

Ickenham Festival team chairman, Hoylake Crescent,

Ickenham.