A fashion show last Saturday run by Smartys in aid of Hornton School’s Association was a
runaway success.
“A total of £340 was raised towards Class 1's new whiteboard,” said association joint chair Jane Wain.. “Forty children from two years
old to 15 strutted their stuff on the catwalk, modelling a large range of clothes with great flair and expertise, while their parents
and many assorted relations enjoyed a glass of wine during the show.
“Afterwards there was plenty of time to browse the rails and purchase some bargains.
Many thanks to all those who took part and came along on the night, as well as to the helpers who came early and stayed late to help with
the clearing up.”
The association’s next event is a gastronomic treat - a Ladies’ Night on Tuesday, March 9, at the Avon pub in Avon Dassett with a
delicious buffet. More details soon.
27th February '04 - Crunch Time for the Cribbers
Hornton’s Dun Cow crib team are still at the top of the Harbury and District Crib League with only three games to go. In their latest
home match, they dispatched the mid-tablers from the Cottage at Ashborne 4-3 but the Greaves Club at Bishops Itchington are only two
points behind after beating Kineton’s Carpenters Arms by the same score. Crucially,the Dun Cow have now drawn level with the Greaves
Club on all-important points difference but it’s going to be a nail-biting end to the season!
27th February '04 - Church Services
The Benefice Service will be held this Sunday, February 29, in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Hornton, at 10.30am, half an
hour earlier than usual. At 11am there is a service in the Methodist Church.
26th February '04 - Lose Pounds for a Good Cause
Bored by the Atkins diet? Tired of calorie counting? Fed up with exercise? Now there’s a new way to lose pounds - it’s guaranteed and it’s in a good cause.
All you have to do is sponsor a new table for Hornton Sports Pavilion at a cost of £75! The aim is to buy a dozen new tables to replace the tired, heavy and old ones which Horntonians have lugged around for years but they can only be bought with your help!
You can sponsor a table on your own, within a family or a group of friends - however you like. The aim is to buy 12 tables, so don't delay, pledge your table today by calling a very busy Sarah Walther on 01295 670627! Alternatively, you can email her at sarahwino@hotmail.com. No, that email address is not a misprint!
26th February '04 - Friday Night is Quiz Night
It’s not too late to book up for tomorrow night’s Fun Quiz at the Dun Cow - and help Hornton sixth-former Jason Hemmings on his way to a gap year expedition across the other side of the world.
Jason has arranged a quiz at the dun Cow pub tomorrow, Friday, at 7.30pm and every penny he raises will go towards the trip to the central Asian country of Mongolia.
Do turn up and support him if you can on the night and he’ll have a whole set of mind-bogglers all ready for you.
“My brother went on an expedition to Venezuela in 2000 and I know that he found the whole experience absolutely fantastic, so I always hoped that I would have the opportunity too,” said Jason.
“During the course of each expedition a week is spent on a local community project and our team will be working to improve facilities at an orphanage.”
25th February '04 - Top Banana
Hornton Allsorts are presenting a Night for Mike - a fond tribute evening in memory of Mike Webber, who tragically died
towards the end of last year.
Mike was the musical stalwart of the group from the time they first began and is so sadly missed that former members are returning from
far and wide for this special evening, on Saturday March 20 at 7.30pm in the village pavilion.
That far-flung band includes Jan and Jeremy Newman - now living in Mid Wales - who are returning for one more reprise of the famous but
ever-so-slightly-suggestive Banana Song, penned by Mike to the astonishment of his fellow Allsorts and already destined to be a highlight
of the night.
Tickets are just £7.50 each, including a ploughman's supper, and are available from Audrey Turner in Bellvue, Bell Street, Hornton (01295
670304). All proceeds will be divided between the Midway Centre in Banbury, where Mike was a volunteer for many years, and Hornton
Children’s Playing Field, where he was treasurer. Tickets are limited and this is an evening not to be missed, so it’s advisable to book
and pay for your tickets early!
It’s planned to hold a raffle during the evening and donations of prizes would be gratefully received. Please contact Sarah Walther on
01295 670627.
23rd February '04 - Interested in Broadband?
If you want a faster internet connection then Broadband is the way forward. Edge Hill exchange currently needs 150 people
to sign up for BT to upgrade the local exchange. Currently there are 86 registrations, so we need 64 more people to
register.... please spread the word.
The waiting’s nearly over! At 6.30pm this Saturday, February 21, Hornton’s answers to Naomi Campbell and Jerry Hall will be strutting
their stuff down the catwalk for a children’s Fashion Show and Sale run by "Smartys". Clothes for children age 0-16 from top names such
as Next, Gap, M&S, Tammy, BHS etc at a fraction of normal shop prices, all modelled by local youngsters.
At the end of the show there will be a chance to browse the rails and changing rooms will be available. There will of course be the
obligatory Hornton raffle and refreshments will also be available. Tickets cost £3 each to include a glass of wine, and children are
free!
If you know of any children who might be interested in modelling - or to obtain tickets -please call Jane Wain on 01295 670716. All
proceeds for Hornton School.
21st February '04 - Iceland is Out of this World
The Three Hs Gardening Club were treated to a talk about the wild flowers of Iceland at their latest meeting and the photography was
out of this world!
“It was great, we were really pleased,“ said Joy Hillman. “Graham Soden of Banbury talked to us not just about the flowers but the
wildlife too and there was a really good turnout, especially for February.”
The next meeting, with a talk by Janet Cropley on the theme Plants that should be better known will take place at the Pavilion
in Hornton on March 9.
21st February '04 - Church Services
A service will be held at 11am this Sunday, February 22, in Hornton Methodist Church. At the same time, Holy Eucharist will be celebrated
in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist. Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and a special service will be held in the Methodist Church
at 7pm to which everyone is invited.
20th February '04 - Judy's Counting the Days
Hornton Primary School’s Class 1 teacher, Judy Pettit, is off to Canada for a special study
tour to look at numeracy in the country’s schools.
“I’m going to be looking at Catholic Primary Schools in Edmonton, Alberta, along with12 other teachers from all around Oxfordshire,”
said Judy. “We’re going to look at numeracy. I want to know how they do it differently from us here in Britain.
“I particularly want to find out at what age children go into school and find out at what age they begin formal education in numeracy,
as opposed to more play-based activities.
The other thing I’ll be looking at is their methods of calculations, because there is more than one way of doing, say, long division and
long multiplication.
“It’s going to be fascinating, just seeing how a different system goes about an entirely different way of doing things.”
As well Judy and her 11 colleagues, there will be one extra member of the party. She’s called Biff and she’s Hornton’s Class 1 Geobear,
who is taken around the world by friends of Hornton School and comes back with pictures and souvenirs to teach the children about
geography.
“She was the first thing I packed!” said Judy.
20th February '04 - Green Leaves
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.
19th February '04 - Past Hornton
I was wondering if anyone can help me? I am working on my family tree and my Father Sidney John Howard was married
in Hornotn in 1942. His wife was Marion Beatrice Needle. They have Hornton Grounds Farm as their address and I
would like to know if any one can tell me if this was an Army Barracks in 1942, or what it was then. I hope someone
might be able to help me.
Thankyou
Carol Hale
If anyone can help please send an email via the add content link on the right and it will be passed on to Carol.
19th February '04 - A Packed House for Ronnie
That was the way choreographer and former Royal Ballet star Brenda Last described the rows of well-wishers who squeezed into the pews at
St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, last week when some of Britain’s finest dancers paid tribute to Hornton’s Ronald Emblen. People flew in
from South America, Australia and South Africa for the service to join more than 200 friends, family and former colleagues of Ronnie,
who died late last year.
The former Principal of the London Contemporary Dance School, Dr Richard Ralph, told the congregation that after his death in November,
the phones at The Dancing Times were ringing off the hook with people from the ballet world calling to express their condolences.
The editor had never experienced anything like it for the death of a dancer, he said.
Other reminiscences were given by Royal Ballet principal dancer Bruce Sansom and Lizzie Garthwaite from Yorkshire, both of whom were
taught by Ronnie when he began teaching after a glittering career.
Music played at the service included an excerpt from the ballet La Fille Mal Gardée, which featured Ronnie’s most famous role, as Widow
Simone . The clogs he wore in the ballet for the famous clog dance were incorporated into a floral display created for the service by a
florist who was formerly a dancer with the Royal Ballet.
Finally, after the congregation sang Lord of the Dance, Ronnie’s partner, Philip Williams paid his own very personal tribute to
the man he had lived with for 36 years.
After the service, a collection was made for the Ronald Emblen Bursary, a fund set up to help continue Ronnie’s outstanding work as a
dance teacher.
18th February '04 - Hard Work Pays Off
The Ladies Working Party of the Parish Church of St John the Baptist raised nearly £1500 last year for a host of good causes. The
£1,458-20 was divided as follows: £600 to the Church, £50 to the Church Room, £50 to The Gossip village newspaper, £350 to the pavilion
kitchen extension fund, £50 to the youth club, £50 to the brownies, £50 to the children’s playground, £50 to the mothers and toddlers
group, £100 to the Young Stroke Club, £100 to the Heart Foundation, leaving £8-20 in petty cash.
18th February '04 - And Pays Off Again
A mountain of unwanted household items was sorted, washed and labelled for Hornton Methodist Church’s All-Day Sale last Saturday - and
raised £750 as a result! Half the money will go to the church and the other half to the Children’s playground.
17th February '04 - Make May Day Bigger Than Ever
May Day is the Hornton’s biggest day of the year but we urgently need new people to help keep it that way!
That’s the message from from a group of villagers who are trying to give the event a boost ahead of this year’s May 3 celebrations.
“We need some new and interesting sideshows and games,” says Anne Joyner. “Perhaps you have a hobby which could double up as a game for
the afternoon, or perhaps you know someone who can supply an interesting stall.
“We also need people to give some time to help on the established stalls and we desperately need muscle power before and afterwards to
help lift and carry tables and chairs. This really is one area where many hands make light work!
“And if you can’t spare much time, then perhaps you could buy a few extra bottles for the bottle stall or donate a prize or make a
couple of cakes.”
Anne said that people shouldn’t be shy about offering help. It will all be gratefully received and it’s a great way to get to know
people, especially if you are new to the village.
“Luckily, we have a large number of new families who have moved here, bringing with them fresh ideas, lots of bright-eyed children and
lively enthusiasm.”
At present, the May Day Chief Co-ordinator is Liz Jeffs, Anne explained.
“But I’m sure she’d be more than happy to become Assistant Chief Co-ordinator, so please, please give her a ring on 01295 670529 and let
her know what you can do to help.”
13th February '04 - Mitt One, Pearl One
Hornton’s knitters are clicking away to make mittens for the children of Eastern Europe and if you are handy with the needles, they need your help. Isabel Harris on 01295 670541 can lend you a pattern and is collecting the finished mittens.
13th February '04 - High Time at the Hoedown
When musicians Hilary James and Simon Mayor came back by public demand to perform at Hornton Methodist Chapel last Friday, so many people
turned up that some even squeezed into the pulpit!
The duo’s concert - Hoagy, Hornpipes, Handel and Hoedown - consisted of music from all four categories, played on a bewildering array of
unusual instruments, including a bass mandolin and a cello mandolin.
It was their second visit to the village and if their reception is anything to go by, it certainly won’t be their last. The applause
nearly brought the house down and they came back for two curtain calls.
The concert - part of Cherwell District Council’s Arts at Large programme - raised £266, with a further £88 coming from a raffle.
The money will go towards improvements to the Chapel building.
13th February '04 - Church Services
Matins will be celebrated at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, February 15, at 10.30am. Half an hour later there will also be a service in the Methodist Church. And the Meeting Point fellowship and discussion group will meet this Tuesday, February 17 - and once a month until April - at 2.30pm in the Methodist Chapel Schoolroom.
12th February '04 - Just the Job
Could you spare about two hours a day for a part-time job right in the middle of Hornton with 25 days’ holiday every year, a company
pension and a generous sick pay scheme? If so you could be just what Hornton School is looking for.
The School needs an enthusiastic person to take over as caretaker and the job would ideally suit someone who lives locally. The
successful candidate will have a hard act to follow, as retiring cleaner David Fox has done an excellent job, but the post is only for
12.5 hours per week morning and evening, so it can be fitted in alongside another job.
If you are interested, please ring school secretary Sally Phelan on 01295 670335 or just pop in!
12th February '04 - All the Fours
April 4th, 2004 is the day when Hornton’s United Sunday School is starting up again after a break of two years, but you don’t have to be
four years old to go along! In fact, all children from three to 11 years old will be welcome, says organiser Julie Stanley.
“We follow the Scripture Union Salt programme, which teaches children about Christianity by play, activities, craft and story
telling,” said Julie, who explained that the Sunday School will be run under the wing of both the Methodist and the Parish Churches.
“We will begin on Sunday April 4th at the Methodist Church from 9.45am to 10.45am. All children will be very welcome.”
If you would like more information, please ring Julie on 01295 670507 or Jean Burden on 01295 670664.
12th February '04 - Warm Reception
Local real ale drinkers from Hornton and beyond flocked to the Dun Cow pub last weekend to sample seven mouth-watering real ales in the
village’s First Annual Winter Beer Festival.
The beers - all brewed to keep out the cold - gloried in names like Winter Warmer, Winter Ice and Winter Storm and publican Martin
Gelling said they went down a storm!
“The place was absolutely packed on the Saturday,” he said. “It was heaving with people. You couldn’t get near the bar and what really
pleased us was the compliments people paid to the range of beers and their quality.
“We were serving what we call winter ales, ranging from four per cent alcohol by volume ranging up to a staggering 7.5per cent! That was
an ale made from pine twigs and spruce saps called Alba.
“We also had Williams’ Brothers Red from Scotland, the first time it’s ever been south of the border, an ale called Ptarmigan and a
wonderful rich Porter.”
The event was such a success that Martin and his wife Gwyneth are already planning another three-day beer festival stating on Friday
July 31.
12th February '04 - Parish Council Catered For
Hornton resident Alan Cater has volunteered to become the new parish council clerk. Alan, a retired bank executive who lives in Pages
Lane, will take over from John Peace in April, when the annual meting of the council also takes place. This will be your opportunity to
air your views and concerns about the village and everyone is invited to attend.
11th February '04 - Your Starter for Five
What is the capital of Mongolia? For just £5 you and three friends will be answering questions like that at a Fun Quiz Evening in the
Dun Cow at 7.30pm on Friday, February 27. Hornton sixth-former Jason Hemmings probably knows the answer already, because he’s hoping
to go there on a gap-year expedition to the central Asian country in the summer of next year and he’s arranging the quiz to raise
money for the trip.
Do turn up and support him if you can on the night and he’ll have a whole set of mind-bogglers all ready for you.
“My brother went on an expedition to Venezuela in 2000 and I know that he found the whole experience absolutely fantastic, so I always
hoped that I would have the opportunity too,” said Jason. “The team members are encouraged to manage their own budget, organise an
itinerary, and generally develop essential life skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication etc.
“During the course of each expedition a week is spent on a local community project and our team will be working to improve facilities at
an orphanage.”
But if Jason can’t raise the money, he won’t be able to go, so every penny counts.
“Initially, the most important objective is to finance the expedition and each team member, of whom there are 11 on the trip from
Banbury, has to raise just over £3000 to cover all costs including flights, guides, in-country travel to the community project and so
on.”
And Jason hopes the February 27 Quiz Night will help do just that. At just £5 for a team of up to four, you just can’t say no.
Please call Jason on 01295 670511 to reserve your place, as space is limited.
By the way, it’s Ulan Bator…
10th February '04 - Everyone Must Come as Everything Must Go
Exchange is no robbery! Bring along all your unwanted furniture, household items, garden tools, china, pictures, lamps, glassware and
collectables to Hornton Methodist Chapel this Saturday, February 4 between 10am and 4pm. And in return snap up a host of must-have
collectables and help Church funds and the Children’s Playground! Those are the goods causes which will benefit from the All-Day Sale
being held this weekend with a bonanza of bargains, as well as coffee from 10am, a light soup lunch between 12 noon and 2pm and afternoon
tea from 2 till 4pm.
6th February '04 - Friday Night is Music Night
You’ve just got time to get your tickets for Hoagy, Hornpipes, Handel and Hoedown, which will be in Hornton’s Methodist Chapel
today, Friday, February 6th. The concert, featuring Hilary James & Simon Mayor, is back in the village by public demand, and with the
tickets at just £8 for adults and £6 for OAPs and children, you can’t say no! They can be purchased from Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.
6th February '04 - Church Services
The churches of Hornton will come together in a United Service this Sunday, February 8th, at 11am to celebrate Holy Eucharist in St
John the Baptist Parish Church.
5th February '04 - Photo Finish on the Cards
The Dun Cow cribbage team are still joint equal at the top of the table in what’s turning out to be a nail-biting end to the season.
In the latest round of games in the Harbury and District Crib League, Hornton beat the British Legion Club, Bishop’s Itchington, in a
5-2 home win. Meanwhile, the only other team matching the Dun Cow on points - Kineton’s Carpenters Arms - were lucky to scrape a 4-3
away win at Harbury from bottom-of-the-table-proppers The Crown Inn.
The Dun Cow and the Carpenters Arms now both have 18 points from 13 games - though the Kineton team does have a much better points
difference. And just over their shoulders are the Greaves Club from Bishop’s Itchington and Granborough’s The Shoulder of Mutton, both
with 16 points, so it’s still all to play for!
5th February '04 - Open Book
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.
3rd February '04 - Don't Keep Quiet
If you’ve got anything which you can donate, from a box of chocolates to an evening of baby-sitting, then don’t keep quiet about it -
Hornton‘s Peachtree Pre-School is going to hold a silent auction!
Organisers need gifts to be donated for the auction, being held at the end of March, and just about anything can go under the hammer.
Could you offer to cook a dinner for two or wash a car, perhaps? All imaginative ideas are very welcome and all proceeds will go to
Pre-School funds.
One item that will definitely not be in short supply on the night is wine because the event - at 8pm in the Old School Rooms, Horley,
on Friday, March 26 - will be combined with a special wine tasting hosted by Banbury merchants S&H Jones. Tickets for the combined event
will be just £6.
If you’ve got something you could donate for the auction or you would like to buy tickets, please contact Peachtree at 01295 678550,
Amanda Wray-Mitchell on 01295 730402 or Fiona Donaldson on 01295 670505.
2nd February '04 - Brand New
Children will soon be modelling on the new clothes from top high street names catwalk in a special fashion show in aid of
Hornton School.
All the clothes at the event - run by Smartys on Saturday, February 21 at 6.30pm in Hornton Pavilion - will be sold at a fraction of
normal prices. There will be clothes for children aged from the year dot to the age of 16, made by the top names such Next, Gap, M&S,
Tammy and BHS.
“The clothes will be modelled by local children showing off their talent on the cat-walk and will last approx 45 minutes,” said organiser
Jane Wain. “At the end of the show there will be a chance to browse the rails and changing rooms will be available.
“There will, of course be the obligatory Hornton raffle, and refreshments are available. Tickets cost £3 each to include a glass of
wine, and children are free!”
If you know of any children who might be interested in modelling or would like to buy tickets, please call Jane Wain on 01295 670716.
2nd February '04 - Nearly New
If you’re looking for good-quality second-hand Hornton School uniforms, look no further
than school secretary Sally Phelan. She has an excellent selection for sale and can be contacted at the school on 01295 670335.
1st February '04 - Police on the Beat
The Mobile Police Station will be on the village green on Saturday, 7th February between 12.30 and 13.15
1st February '04 - Boredband?
If you want a faster internet connection then Broadband is the way forward. Edge Hill exchange currently needs 150 people
to sign up for BT to upgrade the local exchange. Currently there are 84 registrations, so we need 66 more people to
register.... tell your friends and get them to tell their friends and if they have any cousins....
