Hornton’s green-fingered villagers had a special treat at the annual general meeting of the
3Hs gardening club when the holder of the national collection of clematis came to talk to them.
Mike Brown lives at Shillingford near Henley and club secretary Lady Tweedsmuir said: “He was very interesting and his talk
was packed full of fascinating information, illustrated by various examples.”
Next on the 3Hs calendar is a talk on Travels in Antarctica by Mark Tatchell, which takes place at
7.30pm in Hornton pavilion on Tuesday, May 10th.
Four days later, at 10.30am in the pavilion on Saturday, May 14th, the club holds its annual plant sale.
“Any cakes or plants would be welcome,” said Lady Tweedsmuir. “Please all come and spend your money!”
28th April '05 - Moving Story
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.
28th April '05 - Church Services
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated this Sunday, May 1st, at 8.30am in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist. At 11am there will be a village service in the Methodist Church.
27th April '05 - Pop In and Paint
On Saturday and Sunday week, May 7th and 8th, the pavilion is going to get a quick lick of paint. Please, please help if you can,
just for a couple of hours. All you need to do is to come down at 10am on either - or preferably both - days and the place will
look like a new pin before you can say…pop in and paint!
27th April '05 - Cutting the Ribbon
Hornton’s first fundraising event in aid of Breast Cancer Care’s Ribbon Walk will take place on Saturday week, May 7th, from
10.30am until noon.
There will be a bring and buy stall but no raffle. Only joking. Of course there’ll be a raffle. See you there!
Hornton and Horley's Jubilee fund for a multi-purpose play area, JUMPA, held its most successful
progressive dinner party ever on Saturday with more than 40 couples taking part.
Just before 7pm the village was buzzing as Horntonians walked to their first course at one of seven venues - the largest number
ever - and by the time people tottered home from their final port of call in the early hours everyone agreed that the event had
been a fantastic success. Several diners said that when JUMPA had completed its fundraising - and it’s
still a few thousand pounds from its target - the progressive dinner parties should continue to be held in aid of other village
causes.
Extra money was raised by the hosts organising various games, such as the dart game at Jane and Simon Perkin’s. Dinner party
organiser Anne Joyner and her husband Pete won the box of chocolates for scoring 117 with six darts. Steve and Julia Whitby will
be practising hard before the next progressive dinner after Julia could only manage 25 and Steve failed to score!
JUMPA chairman Steve Woodcock was delighted and had special praise for the organiser and hard-working
hosts.
"As usual, Anne Joyner's hard work and careful planning meant the whole night ran smoothly, even though we had more couples and
hosts than ever before taking part, so it was a real logistical challenge to get everyone moving between homes for each course,”
he said.
"Particular thanks also to all the hosts - who came up with some very imaginative dishes - and to the guests who helped raise
around £700, which will be a great boost to JUMPA funds."
The next JUMPA event is the ever-popular Golden Mile on the morning of Sunday, June 12. Last year it
raised £550 and JUMPA organisers are hoping that even more cash will come into the coffers this year,
as they get closer and closer to the fundraising target. Work must begin at the site before the end of this year or
JUMPA will lose thousands of pounds worth of grants that have been awarded.
27th April '05 - Cash is Trousered
More than £160 was raised last Saturday night for Hornton School when a fashion show of children’s clothes was held at the
village pavilion. The high point of the event, organised by kids’ clothes specialists Smartypants, came when the children got a
chance to go on the catwalk to model the clothes themselves.
26th April '05 - MayDay MayDay
It’s the biggest weekend of the year and you can’t afford to miss it! Hornton’s May Day celebrations kick off on Sunday from
3pm to 5pm with an Art, Craft and Flower Festival in the Methodist Church. The work of Hornton’s talented artists and flower
arrangers will be on display and there will also be cream teas and – of course – a raffle.
Then on Monday, it’s time for Hornton’s traditional May Day celebrations. Don’t be late, for the May King and Queen will be
crowned at 2pm sharp. There will be Maypole dancing, Morris dancing, stalls, cakes, teas, raffles galore, a BBQ and the famous
Hornton White Elephant – you name it, it will be there! And if you missed the Art, Craft and Flower Festival, it will be open
again between 1pm and 4pm.
26th April '05 - Happy to be Blue
Playing back in traditional Royal blue, Hornton football club are having one of their most successful seasons for years.
The new kit is thanks to the generous sponsorship of local engineer John Naysmith and it certainly seems to be working on the
pitch.
“With two games to go there is still an outstanding chance of gaining promotion to the premier league,” said Hornton FC’s Mark
Wright. “And there may be cause for a double celebration.
“The team are playing great football and we’re in the Mid-Oxon Cup Final.
“This is being played at Souldern this Saturday, April 30th. There’s a 6pm kick-off against Fenny Compton.
“If we are successful, there will be a big celebration in the Dun Cow afterwards!”
26th April '05 - Just the Ticket
Hornton’s under-threat 511 bus service to Banbury has been saved after a vigorous campaign by parish
councillors with the support of local villagers.
Parish clerk Alan Cater says he is delighted that the service, which only runs once a week on a Thursday, will continue.
“From June the service will be provided by Jeffs Coaches, instead of Cheneys, and the timetable will stay the same,” said Alan.
“The contract will run until 2009.
“The support from regular users and other residents enabled the Parish Council to make strong representations which have
obviously paid off.”
The service faced the axe after Oxfordshire County Council decided to review bus services around Banbury. But parish councillors
produced a robust response to the county at a meeting on the issue last December – saying that the axing of the 511 would be of
“great detriment” to its eight regular customers.
22nd April '05 - Parish Council Vacancy
There is a vacancy for a Parish Councillor. Anyone interested and requiring more information should contact David Miles,
Chairman (Tel 670550) or Alan Cater, Clerk to the Parish Council ( Tel 670530).
22nd April '05 - Great But Grisly
Talking of St George, there are some great legends - and grisly stories - attached to Upton House and you can hear all about them
this weekend in a special Saints and Legends Trail. St George gets a look-in, so why not pop along at it’s his feast day on
Saturday.
Normal admission prices will apply on this special weekend and the trail is open on Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.
22nd April '05 - Simon's Perky
Hornton’s Simon Perkin is over the moon about the generosity of villagers after they heard about his run in the London Marathon for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.
“I can’t get over the kindness and good wishes of everybody,” said Simon, who suffers from a serious bone marrow condition himself.
Simon finished the 26 miles 385 yards in three hours 44 minutes and he thinks he’s raised about £500.
“But there’s still time to add to that some if you’d like to,” said Simon. He can be contacted on 01295 670701.
Simon will take his running shoes off for a few days off but then he’ll be back in training for the Hornton Golden Mile on Sunday, June 12. The event is not only a bit shorter than the Marathon, it’s also not taken quite so seriously. Dogs, baby buggies and even three-legged entrants took part last year. But it also raises money for a good cause - JUMPA, Hornton and Horley's Jubilee fund for a multi-purpose play area, so be there to cheer the runners on or, better still, join in!
You can get more details from JUMPA’s Steve Woodcock on 01295 670795.
22nd April '05 - Dun In
If only…the Dun Cow crib team have lost their title in the Harbury and District Crib League after losing for the second match running by the narrowest of margins.
They were beaten 4-3 away by the Greaves Club from Bishops Itchington, who are now on the top of the table with what looks like an unassailable lead after completing all their matches. Hornton are third and the Red Lion Inn from North End, who are in second place, would need to win their last match by a whitewash to take the title.
The 4-3 defeat by the Greaves Club is an ironic twist of fate for the Hornton cribbers, who beat the very same team by the same margin in the last round of matches last year to take the title themselves. But the Dun Cow do have a consolation - they’re still in the league’s cup final.
22nd April '05 - Kitchen Kings
The fund for Hornton Pavilion’s kitchen extension has got a big boost from the King. In fact, quite a few of them…
It all happened when singing trio Retrospex made a welcome return to the village a fortnight ago with a special Elvis Tribute evening.
“We had quite a few Elvis look-alikes,” said organiser Julie Stanley. “It was a brilliant night. We had real fun and £445-50 was raised for the kitchen extension fund.”
And another £227 was raised for the fund last Saturday at a jumble sale in the pavilion.
“We were quite amazed,” said Sarah Walther. “They were queuing at the door!”
22nd April '05 - Church Services
There’s a service at Hornton Methodist Church this Sunday, April 24, at 11am. As there’s a Benefice service at 10.30am in Balscote, one will not take place at the Parish Church.
The children’s Thursday Club starts again tonight at 4.30pm in the Methodist Church School room. That’s also the venue for Sunday School, which also resumes this Sunday between 9.45am and 10.45am. All children are welcome.
And £80 was raised for the Methodist Church on Monday last week at a bingo evening.
20th April '05 - Dear Bill
Tributes have been paid to the hard work and dedication of parish councillor Bill Jeffs, who has decided to step down a year
early. If you are interested in filling the vacancy, please contacted council chairman David Miles on 01295 670550 or parish
clerk Alan Cater on 01295 670530.
The next meeting of the council takes place at 7pm this Monday, April 25th in the Church Room, followed by the Annual Parish
Meeting, which takes place half an hour later.
“Residents are welcome particularly to the Annual Parish Meeting where there will be reports from the various clubs and
societies in the village,” said Alan.
20th April '05 - Floral Art
Calling all potters, painters and photographers! Hornton Methodist Church is once again holding an Art and Flower Festival
over the May Day weekend.
“In order to make this weekend a success we are looking for exhibits,” said joint organiser Sarah Walther. “It would be
really helpful if anyone taking part to contact us in advance, so that we get an idea of numbers.”
The festival will run from 3 pm to 6 pm on Sunday, May 1st, when there will be cream teas, and 1.30pm to 4.30pm on May Day
itself.
Entry forms are available from Sarah on 01295 670627 or Jean Burden on 01295 670664.
20th April '05 - Archer Hits the Spot
The port tasting at the Dun Cow on Wednesday last week was a great success, with nearly 20 people present.
“We had 6 completely different types of port from £8.99 a bottle up to £37.99,” said landlord Martin Gelling. “Mark Archer
from S and H Jones wine merchants in Leamington Spa gave a very informative talk.”
And this weekend, the pub will be celebrating St George’s Day in style. On Friday, April 22nd, there’s a traditional fish and
chip supper. That’s followed by a homemade pie evening on Saturday and a traditional roast beef and Yorkshire pudding Sunday
lunch. Vegetarian options are available every day and Martin asks that anyone wanting the Sunday lunch should book in advance
on 01295 670524.
And when you’re down at the pub, why not try the special real ale Martin’s brought in for the occasion? It’s called Sprit of St
George. It couldn’t really be called anything else!
19th April '05 - SmartyPants
There will be a fashion show and sale of children's clothes
and sportswear in Hornton pavilion this Saturday, April 23th. The event - run
by Smarty's - starts at 6.30pm and will feature clothes to fit any children from
babies to age 15. They’re all from chainstores and they’re at knockdown prices!
The sportswear sale features famous names too. Please contact Hilary on
01295 738258, Louise on 01295 730392 or Harriet on 01295 670075 for tickets or just turn up on the night.
19th April '05 - Peach Pavlova
There’s a range of mouth-watering desserts on offer at Peachtree Puddings – a special pudding event this Tuesday, April 26th,
in aid of Peachtree Pre-School.
It all kicks off at 8pm in the pavilion, when there will be a demonstration and sale by the cookware specialist, The Pampered
Chef. The £3-50 tickets will include a sample of at least three puddings.
“All pudding donations gratefully received!” said joint organiser Kate Fletcher.
You can tickets in advance from Kate on 01295 670608 and Carolyn Barker on 01295 678553. Or you can just turn up on the
night to be tempted!
14th April '05 - Gow It 'N' Grill It
If you love gardening and cooking, Upton House is the place to be next week. You can combine your passion for both when the first
of three seasonal sessions called From Plot To Plate is held next Thursday, April 21st. Sponsored by Rachel’s Organic, you’ll
learn about the production of fresh produce from gardening experts in Upton’s Kitchen Display Garden, and then there will be a
cookery workshop using the produce to create mouth-watering dishes under the expert supervision of Upton’s chefs. You can get
more details by calling Upton on 01295 670266
On Monday week, April 23rd, there will be a special demonstration at Upton of the conservation techniques used by the
National Trust to care for its many delicate objects. Come along and see Conservation In Action between 1.30 and 3.30pm.
Normal admission prices apply.
14th April '05 - School's In
Term 5 in the new six-term year at Hornton School starts next Thursday, April
18th, and ends on May 27th.
14th April '05 - Flying Fiction
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.
14th April '05 - Church Services
Matins will be celebrated this Sunday, April 17th, at 10.30am in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist. At 11am there
will be a service in the Methodist Church
13th April '05 - Full House
A fantastic total of £120 was raised for Helen House Children’s Hospice in Oxford last week when it was eyes down, look in for
Bingo in the Church Room. The organisers - the Small Playing Field Committee - were delighted with the turnout and especially
with the amount of money raised.
13th April '05 - Rumble in the Jumble
Can't stand the mess? Time for a clear-out? Then help is at hand. There's a Jumble Sale and White Elephant planned for 2pm this
Saturday, April 16, in Hornton Pavilion. Unusually for a Hornton event, there will also be a raffle and teas!
All proceeds will go to the pavilion extension fund, so don’t be shy. Get those unwanted goodies out of the bottom drawer today!
Goods can be delivered to Ian and Isabel Harris at Grafton Rise in Bell Street before the event. Alternatively, the goods can be
collected or you can come down to the Pavilion on Saturday morning with any items. Further details can be obtained from Ian and
Isabel on 01295 670541.
13th April '05 - Pampered with Puddings
Confused by crumbles? Perplexed by pavlovas? Then pop along to the pavilion at 8pm on Tuesday week, April 26, and all your
pudding problems will be solved!
That’s when Peachtree Pre-School will be holding Peachtree Puddings, a demonstration of pudding preparation by Oxfordshire-based
cooking company The Pampered Chef.
The £3.50 ticket will include three puddings in the price and all proceeds will go to Peachtree, so pop along and be pampered
with puddings. If you can buy your tickets in advance, the organisers would be really grateful, so please contact Carolyn Barker
on 01295 678553 or Kate Fletcher on 01295 670508.
Pudding donations will also be gratefully received!
13th April '05 - Legion Throws a Lifeline
The Dun Cow are still in with a chance of retaining their Harbury and District Crib League title with just one match to go,
thanks to the efforts of Bishops Itchington British Legion. BIBL sensationally beat the Greaves Club, Bishops Itchington, 6-1,
to leave them equal on points at the top of table with Hornton but with a better points difference.
The Dun Cow are now rueing their last match, on March 29, when they were pipped 4-3 by the Carpenters Arms at Kineton. Had they
won just one more game then and they would be two points ahead.
But now it’s all down to the last nail-biting round of matches. The Dun Cow team need to win their last match and the Greaves
Club must lose for Hornton to keep their title and stay in with a chance of a league and cup double.
12th April '05 - Spring into Action for the Big Clean-Up
Your help is needed on Thursday, when it’s time for the big spring clean of Hornton! Many hands make light work, so please pop
along to the flagpole on Hornton village green for a couple of hours at 7pm if you can.
And very soon the judges in the best-kept village competition will be paying us a visit, so it’s more important than ever that
the village is spick and span! Please, please come along and help pick up litter for just a couple of hours. It will make all
the difference!
12th April '05 - Bone Idle
Well, you might be but Hornton’s Simon Perkin most certainly isn’t! He’s taking part in Sunday’s London Marathon and it’s not too
late to sponsor him for a really good cause.
Simon is raising money for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Campaign, which does fantastic work building up a bank of donors for
people who need bone marrow transplants.
And super-fit Simon has a special reason for supporting the charity. He may be able to run 26 miles 385 yards – the marathon
distance – but he also suffers Aplastic Anaemia, a condition which results from malfunction of the bone marrow.
And just in case you need a even bigger incentive to sponsor Simon, he’s even offering a prize draw in which every sponsor
will be asked to predict his time for the distance.
“The sponsor with the closest prediction will win a bottle of bubbly!” said Simon.
You can’t say fairer than that, can you? Please ring Simon as soon as possible on 01295 670701 to pledge your support. And
don’t worry if you don’t read this until after Sunday morning. Simon will still be delighted to relieve you of your money, so
please get in touch anyway.
6th April '05 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
When you take part in JUMPA’s progressive dinner party, you won’t know who’s coming until they
walk through the door! Thursday, is the very last night to put you name down to join in what has become a much-loved
fixture of the Hornton social scene and if you haven’t done it before, now’s your chance.
It takes place on Saturday, April 23rd, and it works like this: you can choose to be a host or a guest. If you’re a guest, you
go on a mystery tour around the village, eating a different course at each venue and you pay just £25 a head for a delicious
meal with all the wine, beer and liqueurs thrown in. Or you can be a host and stage a dinner party, including all the food
and drink, with three different sets of guests for each course. Either way, you’re sure to have a great time and
JUMPA, Hornton and Horley's Jubilee fund for a multi-purpose play area, benefits!
Please be quick, because anyone wanting to take part must drop their names in village letter box next to the notice board by
tonight! If you aren’t able to put in a note, please ring organisers Lesley Kings on 01295 670356 or Anne Joyner on 01295
670337.
And after all that delicious food, you’ll need a bit of exercise, so it’s good that JUMPA’s annual Golden
Mile is just round the corner. It really is just one mile but you can run it or walk it how you want. Three and four-legged
entrants are welcome, and there were some of both last year.
The event takes place on Quarry Road on the morning of Sunday, June 12, after which there’s almost certain to be a BBQ to
put back on all the weight you took off during your training! And once again, JUMPA – tantalisingly
close to reaching their fund-raising target – will benefit.
6th April '05 - BettergettoBingo
It’s eyes down this Monday, April 11, in the Church Room when there’s bingo at 7.30pm. All proceeds
will go to Methodist Church funds.
6th April '05 - MayDay, MayDay - It's MayDay
Mayday is the biggest day on the Hornton calendar and the organisers are pulling out all
the stops for everyone to join in and help this year.
2004’s Mayday Celebrations were the biggest for years, and exciting new attractions helped raise a whopping £3000 for
village good causes. If you helped last year, please don’t make it a one-off. In fact organisers Liz Jeffs and Anne
Joyner will be counting on you to make the same contribution this year! And this time, they’d like you to bring a
friend who hasn’t helped before so that there can be even more attractions.
“We’re especially interested in any new ideas people have to pull in the crowds and raise more money,” said Anne.
“At the moment, we’re looking for a fire-eater, for instance, so if anyone knows one, please get in touch.
“The same goes for anyone with other new ideas. Maybe they’ve been to an event which had a particularly successful
stall or attraction. We’d like to hear about it.
“And helping on May Day really is fun, so please don’t be bashful in coming forward to offer your services.”
If you haven’t helped at a Hornton May Day before, you don’t know what you’re missing. Please ring Liz on 01295
670529 or Anne on 01295 670337.
6th April '05 - Spring into Action
Hornton needs your help for just a couple of hours next Thursday, April 14th, when the village
is going to get a Spring Clean. Please pop along to the flag pole on Hornton village green for a couple of hours
at 7pm, when there will be a concerted effort to pick up all the litter in the village. And since the judges in
the best-kept village competition will be here soon, that couple of hours will make all the difference!
And on the weekend of May 7th and 8th, it will be time to put down your broom and pick up your paintbrush. That’s
when the pavilion is going to get a quick lick of paint. All you need to do is to come down at 10am on either –
or preferably both – days and the place will look like a new pin before you can say… spring and port wine.
6th April '05 - Spring and Port Wine
If it’s Spring, it must be time for a drop of port! And the Dun Cow is the place to drink
it with a special port tasting at 8pm next Wednesday, April 13th.
There are just a few places left, so book up soon. If it’s anything like the pub’s whisky tasting a few months
ago, it should be quite a night…what customers could remember of it. And it’s being conducted once again by Mark
Archer of Banbury’s S&H Jones wine merchants, so a convivial evening is assured.
Tickets are just £10 each and can be booked with Martin and Gwyneth Gelling at the Dun Cow on 01295 670524.
The tasting will be followed by a special St George’s Day event over the weekend of our national saint’s day. On
Friday, April 22nd, there will be traditional fish and chips, the following evening a home-made pie night and a roast
beef and Yorkshire pudding lunch on the Sunday.
“We are also hoping to have Spirit Of St George beer on tap that weekend, as this was
very popular last year,” said Martin.
Gwyneth said that she is taking bookings for all three evenings but would be particularly grateful if those wanting
to come to Sunday lunch could book in advance.
6th April '05 - Eggceptionally Generous
The Easter Raffle at the Dun Cow in aid of Banbury Lions Club raised a fantastic £203 for
local charities. And the Children’s ward at Horton Hospital also benefited. Villager Freddie Campbell won the very
large chocolate bunny and immediately donated it to the youngsters there!
6th April '05 - Retrospex Comes Back
This Saturday, it’s Elvis night at Hornton Pavilion with a welcome return visit by Retrospex.
The three men in specs delighted diners at the Harvest Supper last year and are making a welcome return to Hornton at
8pm this Saturday, April 9, in a tribute evening to the King. All proceeds will go to the pavilion’s kitchen extension
fund and a few tickets, at just £7-50, are still available from Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.
And you won't just get a fantastic night of Elvis music if you come along to see Retrospex, you'll get fed into the
bargain. Yup, the £7-50 ticket price also includes food!
6th April '05 - Annual Event for Gardeners
The 3Hs Gardening Club get together at 7.30pm next Tuesday, April 12th, when it’s time
for the annual meeting. The club’s exciting timetable of events will be revealed and officers will be re-elected.
Members will also hear from Mike Brown of Shillingford who will talk about clematis.
6th April '05 - Church Services
A United Service of Holy Eucharist will be celebrated this Sunday, April 10th, in the Parish Church of
St John the Baptist at 11am.
