Hornton Online - August 2008

Rock ’n’ roll on down to the Dun Cow this Saturday where our very own Mighty Firebirds will once again be headlining in the Bank Holiday weekend Blues Cruise.

And now that Hornton has its own all weather stage, even the dismal summer won’t be stopping the fun, said organiser Mark Bowes.

This year, we’ve got Jake Jacobs, Delta Flood, Big Boys Toys and Stereo Asylum playing,” said Mark. “It all kicks off at 12 noon and we’ll be playing till 7pm whatever the weather.

“As well as unlimited supply of Hooky on sale, there’ll be a BBQ and tickets are just £5, with kids getting in free.”

All proceeds to village funds.

28th August '08 - Debunked

The group dedicated to disproving the old Henry Ford adage the history is bunk hasn’t been meeting over the summer. But Hornton History Group will be resuming their action-packed schedule on Tuesday week, September 2, so see you then!

They meet at Jane and Kevin Wain’s house - The Swallows in Eastgate - at 7pm on that Tuesday. If you’d like to find out more, please come along or ring Kevin any time on 01295 670716.

28th August '08 - Who wants to be a Millionaire?

If you do, pop up to Upton House in a couple of weeks. On the weekend of September 6 and 7 between 11am and 4pm youll’ be able to immerse yourself in a 1930s millionaire lifestyle!

You’ll see the luxury and comfort, sport and hobbies of Upton House’s everyday living and catch a glimpse of the maids as well as the Master!

Normal Admission charge applies. You can get more information from Upton on 01295 670266 or by email on uptonhouse (at) nationaltrust dot org dot uk

28th August '08 - Stamp of Approval

Maggie Higgins makes a plea to keep all your stamps off your holiday postcards this year - both British and foreign.

“The Royal National Institute for the Blind is desperate for them,” she says. “They can be sold to raise funds to support their vital work in the UK

. “Please take a moment of your time to tear off the used stamp - leaving, if possible, one centimetre or so of postcard or envelope bordering the stamp.

“These used stamps can then be dropped off at Holloway House next to the green at the bottom of Bell Street and I will forward them on to the RNIB."

28th August '08 - Church Services

There will be a service at 11am this Sunday, August 24, in Hornton Methodist Church led by the Rev. David Clarkson. There will be no service in the parish church as there will be a Benefice Service at 10.30am in St Bartholomew Apostle, Wroxton.

And don’t forget that you can pop in for coffee, cake and a chat in the Methodist Church every Friday morning from 10.30am to 12.30pm. There are Phoenix greetings cards for sale plus a book and video swap - and, of course, lots of good gossip! And Thursday Club meets every week after school until 4.30pm in the Methodist Church School Room. All children are welcome.

21st August '08 - Cruise into Hornton

21st August '08 - Debunked

21st August '08 - Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

If you do, pop up to Upton House in a couple of weeks. On the weekend of September 6 and 7 between 11am and 4pm you’’ be able to immerse yourself in a 1930s millionaire lifestyle!

You’ll see the luxury and comfort, sport and hobbies of Upton House’s everyday living and catch a glimpse of the maids as well as the Master!

Normal Admission charge applies. You can get more information from Upton on 01295 670266 or by email on uptonhouse (at) nationaltrust dot org dot uk

21st August '08 - Stamp of Approval

Maggie Higgins makes a plea to keep all your stamps off your holiday postcards this year - both British and foreign.

“The Royal National Institute for the Blind is desperate for them,” she says. “They can be sold to raise funds to support their vital work in the UK.

“Please take a moment of your time to tear off the used stamp - leaving, if possible, one centimetre or so of postcard or envelope bordering the stamp.

“These used stamps can then be dropped off at Holloway House next to the green at the bottom of Bell Street and I will forward them on to the RNIB."

21st August '08 - Church Services

14th August '08 - Pop Up to the Pavvy

Hornton Pavilion Committee hold their latest meeting tonight, Thursday, at 6.30pm – in the pavilion, spookily enough. Everyone is welcome and there will be news of how many of the 98 numbers for the new Bonus Ball Lottery have been sold.

It begins in the first week of September and there are just a few numbers left – so don’t miss out! It costs just £1 per week, so contact Julie Stanley today on 01295 670507 to reserve yours.

14th August '08 - Ladies First

The first regular meeting of the newly-formed Hornton and District WI was a resounding success, with an amusing talk by Barbara Gray on hosting foreign students and more new members coming along.

There are now more than 20 members and a committee was formed. The president will be Trina Wilcox from Balscote and Hornton’s Angeline Turner – upon whose initiative the branch was formed – will be vice-president. Hornton’s Liz Jeffs is also on the committee as events secretary.

The next meeting will be on September 4 in Hornton Pavilion, when Catherine Blaxhall will talk about her early life on the wildlife sanctuary of Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel.

14th August '08 - Game, Set and Match

Love tennis but hate picking the balls up? Now you don’t have to, because Hornton has an attractive new service on offer! For just £1 a match, Tom Wain will be your ball boy on the JUMPA tennis court. Contact Tom on 01295 670716.

14th August '08 - Pop Up

You can come face to face with the sights and sounds of the English Civil War if you pop up to Upton House this weekend.

Between 11am and 4pm on both days you’ll see 17th century living history and dramatic displays by the Sealed Knot - close to the very spot where the Civil War began. Normal admission charges apply and you can get more information from Upton on 01295 670266 or by email on uptonhouse (at) nationaltrust dot org dot uk

14th August '08 - Church Services

Come along and sing some of your favourite hymns in a special Songs of Praise service this Sunday, August 17, at 6 pm in Hornton Methodist Church. As this is a United Service there will be no morning worship in the parish church.

And you can raise money for Hornton’s two churches by taking part in the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust Ride and Stride on Saturday, September 13. You get sponsored for cycling or walking to as many churches as possible. Half the money goes to the trust and the rest to your nominated church or churches. Julie Stanley has sponsorship forms and you can call her on 01295 670507.

14th August '08 - Booked In

The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday, August 20, from 10.40 to 11.20am.

7th August '08 - Jam In Tonight

Hornton and District’s newly-formed branch of the Women’s Institute has its first regular meeting tonight, Thursday, so now’s the time to join!

And it won’t all be jam and Jerusalem. In fact, tonight’s highlight will be a talk by Barbara Gray of the Oxfordshire Federation of Women’s Institutes on hosting foreign students.

“There will also be a chance to vote in the committee but don’t fear that you’ll be roped onto the committee if you come to the meeting,” said WI member Jane Wain. “There are already enough volunteers!

“So please drop in at 7.30pm tonight. The more the merrier!”

7th August '08 - Double Top

The new Lottery Bonus Ball draw to raise money for Hornton Pavilion has been such a runaway success that more than half of the 98 numbers have already been snapped up!

But the organisers want to sell all the other numbers before they start, so they’re delaying the start of the first draw until September 6.

“We still need to sell just over 40 more numbers to enable us to run the two sets of lottery draws,” said pavilion committee member Sarah Walther. “So for those who did not brave the chilly wind at the Neigbourhood Watch Cheese ’n’ Wine, we still have numbers to sell.”

If you would like to purchase a number, please ring Sarah Walther on 01295 670627, Claire Bottoms on 01295 670776or Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.

7th August '08 - Off The Drawing Board

Plans for the refurbished pavilion are about to be submitted for planning permission, Hornton Parish Council were told at their latest meeting.

The news came in a report from the Pavilion Treasurer, Coun Julie Stanley. She also said that the access road to the pavilion has been patched up and that the committee have agreed to clean the Pavilion on a rota basis until a new cleaner can be found.

On the cash front, the council were warned that expenditure on electricity is likely to become above budget following a 25 per cent increase but that all other expenditure was on track. The council agreed to pay £300 for grass cutting in the churchyard.

The Cluster Care Group, which provides a day centre in Cropredy once a week for the elderly, contacted the council to appeal for volunteers to provide transport on a rota basis for one elderly resident from Hornton. Councillors decided that this should be advertised.

And after positive views on the Dial-a-ride bus, the council has agreed to send a favourable response about the service.

The legal tangle over the John Fox charity, which owns the allotments, has revolved itself, after Ruth Griffiths kindly agreed to become a School Representative Trustee. The council was told that there are now sufficient numbers and it is hoped to hold a meeting shortly.

But there is an ongoing problem with rabbits destroying crops up at the allotments. The cost of fencing all round would be exorbitant, so Coun Paul Burden will explore other options.

A quote has been obtained to renew the fencing at the far end of the children’s playground for £6,000. Playground chairman Coun David Miles may obtain another quote but it was agreed unanimously that the quote of £6,000 was very reasonable and acceptable.

And the meeting was told that Oxfordshire County Council have now obtained funding to repair the footpath from West End to the Church but the Parish Council needs to establish whether the affected residents are in agreement regarding the culvert work and that they have the appropriate funds.

Because this is a “Public Highway” there will need to be a formal closure of the path which requires eight weeks’ notice. This will cost approximately £1,000. In addition Listed Building permission will be required as the walls and footpath are considered to be curtilage to the Grade 1 List Building Church. Letters have been sent to the affected residents. It was agreed unanimously that if, for any reason, the residents are unable to proceed with the culvert work in the near future then it will be necessary to go ahead with the footpath work, to ensure that the funding is still available.

7th August '08 - All Knotted Up

You can come face to face with the sights and sounds of the English Civil War if you pop up to Upton House the weekend after next, August 16 and 17.

Between 11am and 4pm on both days you’ll see 17th century living history and dramatic displays by the Sealed Knot - close to the very spot where the Civil War began. Normal admission charges apply and you can get more information from Upton on 01295 670266 or by email: uptonhouse (at) nationaltrust dot org dot uk.

7th August '08 - Church Services

There will be a United Service for the whole village in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist at 11 am this Sunday, August 10.

And don’t forget that you can pop in for coffee, cake and a chat in the Methodist Church every Friday morning from 10.30am to 12.30pm. There are Phoenix greetings cards for sale plus a book and video swap - and, of course, lots of good gossip!

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