Category Archives: Sparkle

Rural Activities Garden Centre public meeting Friday 27th at 10:30

Posted on by

Take Action: Make Your Voice Heard

Now, for the first time, everyone in Hillingdon has a chance to show their support for RAGC staying at its uniquely safe and secure site in Yiewsley by coming to a residents’ meeting at RAGC. The meeting has just been announced by the Council and will take place on Friday 27th February starting at 10.30 am.

This is not a consultation as the Council has already made its decision, but with the local elections just over 2 months away, it would be a great time to show how much support RAGC has from across the borough.

PLEASE COME TO RAGC TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT ON 27th FEBRUARY AND LET THE COUNCIL KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AT THEIR MEETING.

more info: https://fragc.uk/2026/02/21/ragc-meeting-for-residents/

Can you support the Rural Activities Garden Centre?

Posted on by

PLEASE CAN YOU HELP!

For over 40 years people with learning disabilities and autism from all over

Hillingdon have attended the award-winning Rural Activities Garden Centre

(R.A.G.C.) in Yiewsley where they have benefited from horticultural therapy

and social support. In a hastily arranged meeting on Friday, 30th May 2025,

those with learning disabilities and autism who use the R.A.G.C. and their

families were told by the London Borough of Hillingdon that it had decided to

close the R.A.G.C.

Hillingdon Council’s press release provided immediately after the meeting

stated that it wanted to close the R.A.G.C.’s retail operations and re-locate

the R.A.G.C.’s horticultural therapy to the Civic Centre grounds. On Thursday,

26th June 2025 it was decided at the Council’s Cabinet meeting to close the

R.A.G.C.’s retail operation.

In order to protect the R.A.G.C. in June 2025 the Friends of R.A.G.C.

submitted two nominations to Hillingdon Council to register the R.A.G.C. and

its adjacent land as an Asset of Community Value (A.C.V.). However, the

Council failed to meet its statutory obligations under the Localism Act 2011 to

process the Friends of R.A.G.C.’s nominations within the eight-week legal

deadline.

Visit the Rural Activity Activity Centre Action Group Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/652974616588336/ to find out more.

Late summer sale at the URC

Posted on by

From URC

The URC’s Summer Forecourt Sale was another winner, with almost £900 raised overall and over £200 each heading towards each of The Brain Tumour Charity and Sightsavers.  Now we’re doing it once more for this year, with our Late Summer Forecourt Sale on Saturday 6th September, 10am to 12 Noon, admission FREE.  We’ll again be selling plants, bric-a-brac, books, jigsaws, toys and games, stamps and postcards, small curios and pretty well anything else except clothes and shoes.  As ever, the sale will be accompanied by a friendly coffee morning with homemade cakes.  Donations can be brought to the church on Friday 5th September between 2pm and 6pm or ring Richard Piper on 01895 634348 for collection.  We look forward to seeing you on the day and please note that we are CASH ONLY!

Hillingdon u3a update

Posted on by

It seems that, although u3a was coined as an acronym for University of the Third Age, the ‘university’ word carried too many implications. What follows is a more accurate description gleaned from the Hillingdon u3a website:

Based in West London, Hillingdon u3a provides many educational, creative and leisure opportunities for its members in a friendly environment. This is achieved by its members running over 80 interest groups. You can see the list of these in the Groups page. Hillingdon u3a is well established having formed 24 years ago and now has over 850 members across the Ruislip, Ickenham, Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Hayes and West Drayton area. It also has an active social programme of monthly meetings, visits, walks, concerts, theatre trips and a regular members’ newsletter.

Summer concert

Posted on by
Eastcote & Ruislip Choral Society Summer Concert:  A Little Light Music  

Saturday 5th July 2025 – 7.30pm 
Programme includes Gilbert and Sullivan songs, A Little Jazz Mass by Chilcott & excerpts from My Fair Lady  

Venue Douay Martyrs School, Edinburgh Drive, Ickenham, UB10 8QY  
Tickets £15 on the door, or from a choir member.  Under 12’s free.

URC news

Posted on by

From URC

Forecourt Sale on Saturday!
 
The first URC forecourt sale of the summer was a great success, with lovely weather, a good crowd, a great atmosphere and £878 raised for the church and our chosen charities for the year: The Brain Tumour Charity and Sightsavers.  We’re looking for at least as good a result at our next event next Saturday 14th June, 10am to 12 Noon, admission FREE, but we can only do it if the good folk of Ickenham are as generous again in the items you give us.  As usual, we will be selling plants, bric-a-brac, books, jigsaws, toys and games, stamps and postcards, small curios and almost anything else except clothes and shoes.  We have already had some interesting books in, including Puffin Picture Books, local history, war and Indian cricket.  As usual, the sale will be accompanied by a friendly coffee morning with homemade cakes.  Donations can be brought to the church on Friday 13th June between 2pm and 6pm or ring Richard Piper on 01895 634348 for collection.  This is also the number for queries or offers of help.  See you on the 14th June, or 13th if you’re bringing us stuff!