23rd February '06 - Movie Magic to Tease those Brain Cells
Movie fans can put their big screen knowledge under the spotlight at the second Hornton
Movie Quiz, coming up on Friday 10 March as part of the Hornton Film Festival weekend.
Quiz masters Ollie Fickling and Steve Woodcock are back in the directors' chairs for more
challenging rounds of questions and movie memorabilia, just one evening ahead of the film
festival itself (following at the Pavilion on Saturday evening).
So don't just slump in front of the TV at 7.30pm on 10 March - instead, talk some friends
into making up a team of four and get down to the Dun Cow to pit your wits against your
movie-loving rivals. It's only £2 each to enter and all proceeds will go to Pavilion
funds. There will also be a raffle. No need to book - just turn up and grab the limelight!
23rd February '06 - Six Quid for Salsa
It sexy, fun and it’s happening in Hornton this Saturday!
We’re talking Salsa here! Join Caliente in Hornton Pavilion at 7.30pm on Saturday, February 25, for a Salsa Party Night. Lisa Anscomb and her dance partner will demonstrate a stunning Salsa presentation to show how the dance is performed and don’t worry if you’ve never done it before. Beginners will be especially welcome!
The great thing is that you can have fun with Salsa as soon as you start learning. Just come along, enjoy the music and soak up the ambience.
Tickets are just £6 each and include free nibbles. There’s also a cash bar. So call Ann Hemmings now on 01295 670511 or Sarah Walther on 01295 670627 to book your place!
23rd February '06 - Make your Point but make it Quick
There’s just one week left for you to make your views known about the village pavilion.
Next Thursday, March 2, there’s a special meeting of the pavilion committee when villagers are invited to come along and discuss whether we should build a brand new pavilion, extend the kitchen of the existing one or go for a much bigger refurbishment.
But Parish Clerk Alan Cater has volunteered to act as a “postbox” for people’s views ahead of the meeting, so please write to him as soon as possible with what you think the village should do.
You can reach Alan at The Cottage, Pages Lane, Hornton OX15 6BX or you can email him at a.cater@btinternet.com
23rd February '06 - Hearts of Gold
The organisers of Hornton’s Valentine’s Ball, which took place last Saturday, are absolutely delighted with the huge profit the event made.
“We raised £2,020, which is above all our expectations,” said joint organiser Carolyn Barker.
The ball, at Banbury’s Whately Hall Hotel, was in aid of Hornton School and was the biggest event of its kind ever tackled by the school association.
Money was raised through the sale of tickets, an auction of items ranging from a week in a luxury Spanish apartment to a day of DIY and a special “reverse” bingo, where you lost if your number was called.
23rd February '06 - Blue for You
Alan is the man to contact if you'd like to buy a blue recyling wheelie bin because if you buy one through Hornton Parish Council for just £20, they get a commission of £5.
The bins come from Cherwell, which has launched a new Parish Recycling Programme to encourage even more recycling. Many people are finding that the small blue bins are no longer big enough as more recycling is undertaken and may be considering buying a larger blue wheelie bin.
Once the Parish Council has a minimum of five orders, they can arrange for Cherwell to deliver the bins direct to residents.
This is an opportunity to increase your recycling and benefit the local community at the same time. Anyone interested should contact Alan Cater, Parish Clerk on 01295 670530 or email him at a.cater&btinternet.com
23rd February '06 - Through the Roof
Hornton is one of many villages where there is a shortage of affordable housing for local people. With house prices going through the roof over the past few years, some families, couples and single people are forced to move away in order to afford a home of their own.
So Hornton Parish Council has invited James Alcock of Oxfordshire Rural Community Council to be a guest speaker at the Annual Parish Meeting to be held in the Church Room on Monday, April 24. He will give a presentation on what affordable housing is and the process of trying to alleviate this problem. If this affects your family or friends, please make a note of the date.
23rd February '06 - Greavous Loss
The Dun Cow crib team slumped to a 5-2 away defeat at Bishop’s Itchington against the Greaves Club. The result leaves them at the bottom of the table with eight points from 14 games.
23rd February '06 - Back from the Brink
The Dun Cow dominoes team earned an 8-8 draw with the Butchers Arms Balscote, after coming back from being 6-2 behind at the half-way stage.
Martin Hemmings and Frank Jarrett won three of their four games.
23rd February '06 - A Wild Night in Hornton
Graham Soden talked about Wildlife in the Shetland Isles at the latest meeting of the 3Hs Gardening Club on February 14, at 7.30pm. The next meeting takes place on March 14 and the speaker wiull be annoucned shortly.
23rd February '06 - It's a Wrap
Arrangements for the second Hornton film festival are well advanced, with a glittering champagne reception serving as the backdrop for this year's entries.
But the weekend will kick off on Friday, March 10, when Hornton's fiendish quiz maestros, Ollie Fickling and Steve Woodcock, will once again host a film quiz in the Dun Cow. Teams of four are wanted for the event, so sign up now, but don't expect too manyof the questions to actually be about film. Veterans of Steve and Ollie's quizzes will know that there's an eclectic mixes of questions!
The reception and the premieres of this year's entries take place in the Pavilion the following evening. Organiser Pete Whitehead says there's an exciting mix of films in store and this year they all have a theme - music.
The entries will all be vying for the Hornies - Hornton's very own answer top the Baftas, Emmys and Oscar - so come along on the night - all poshed up in you finery - and see what filmic talent is on offer.
23rd February '06 - Take One
Stuck for that perfect Christmas gift? Then look no further. All the award-winning films in this year’s Hornton Film Festival are now available on an award-winning DVD in time for Christmas!
If you were at the inaugural Film Festival evening, you won’t want to miss out on this special memento and it costs just £9.99 from festival organiser Pete Whitehead and all profits will go to the Pavilion Extension Fund.
“I’ve watched them again myself a few times already - and they are just as entertaining the second tiem around,” he says.
Give him a call on 01295 670320. Even if you weren’t, it’s a real treat and much better than anything that Christmas telly has to offer!
Which brings us on to next year’s Hornton Film Festival. The date is Saturday, March 11, 2006. Please put that date in your diaries right now because a new clutch of Hornies will be up for grabs in a never-to-be-forgotten night of cinematic creativity! Most important - don’t be left out.
“If you are thinking of making a film, please let me know,” says Pete. “Following the experiences of this year, there is now plenty of technical back-up available for anyone who needs it, so please don’t feel constrained by lack of experience or equipment.”
Next year’s theme is music - but that’s about as broad as it could be. It could be a pop video, a film with a title suggested by a piece of music. In fact, anything that’s a gnat’s crotchet away from a musical theme will qualify. Even those films which people started making last year but were never completed are welcome.
23rd February '06 - Church Services
Hornton Methodist Church and the Parish Church of St John the Baptist both hold 11o’clock services this Sunday, February 26. There's also a Benefice get-together at Wroxton Village Hall at 7.30pm on Shrove Tuesday, February 28.
15th February '06 - Foxtrot for Tickets
There are just three days left for you to get tickets for the social event of the season.
It’s the Hornton Valentine’s Ball, of course, which is taking place this Saturday, February 18, at Banbury’s Whatley Hall Hotel.
There will be an auction, a Grand Raffle with sensational prizes - anyone with ideas for exotic and unusual prizes, please call the organisers - and all proceeds will go to Hornton School.
The tickets are £35 each and before you think that’s a lot of money, just think how much a night out costs these days and how much you’ll get for your money at the Hornton Ball. There will be a live band and a delicious three-course meal. Dancing goes on to midnight and everyone’s going to have a great time.
Liz Hurst (01295 343556), Amanda Wray-Mitchell (01295 730402), Carolyn Baker (01295 678553) and Hilary Lidguard (01295 738258) are queens of the tickets.
15th February '06 - In the Can
If you haven’t started a film yet for the Hornton Film Festival, there’s still plenty of time - and lots of help to get you started!
No film can be longer than five minutes and every entry into this year’s festival will have a chance to win a much-coveted Hornie at a glittering awards ceremony on March 11. That’s when all the entries to this year’s festival will be shown and organiser Pete Whitehead says there are some very exciting entries being made.
“So don’t miss out,” said Pete. “If you want to have a go, we can provide all the technical advice and equipment you’re going to need after last year’s successful event.”
You can ring Pete for advice any time on 01295 670320.
Next year’s theme is music - but that’s about as broad as it could be. It could be a pop video, a film with a title suggested by a piece of music. In fact, anything that’s a gnat’s crotchet away from a musical theme will qualify. Even those films which people started making last year but were never completed are welcome.
15th February '06 - Thumbs up for Pavillion Debate
Hornton Parish Council has given its backing to a debate about the future of the village pavilion.
At its latest meeting last week, the council agreed that it should encourage as many villagers as possible to contribute to the debate. Parish council clerk Alan Cater had already agreed to act as “postbox” for people’s comments and the pavilion committee’s next meeting - on March 2 - will be an open one in which all Horntonians are encouraged to come along and express their views.
There are three options up for consideration - an extension to the pavilion kitchen, a more extensive refurbishment or a bran new building.
People should write to Alan at The Cottage, Pages Lane, Hornton OX15 6BX or email him at a dot cater at btinternet dot com with their views before the March 2 meeting.
The erosion of the village greens by thoughtless drivers was also discussed by councillors, following a letter from villager David Kings.
Since some of the culprits are parents dropping schoolchildren, a note from the Parish Clerk is to be sent out via the school and advice is also being sought from Oxfordshire Highways regarding ways of overcoming the problem.
Trade vehicles are also guilty of driving over the green at times, the council was told, and a site visit from a council representative is to be arranged which will also include the issue of larger vehicles getting down West End.
Meanwhile, the amount of money the council can raise via council tax - known as the Precept - is going to be raised from £4,500 to £5,000. This measure - together with a plan for insurance costs to be shared among the council’s sub-committees rather than all coming from the parish council - should enable the council to maintain a more realistic balance to cover projects and emergencies.
The council was told that an application for outline planning permission for residential development at Varney’s Garage in Quarry Road, which the parish council had opposed, had been withdrawn. Another application further along Quarry Road, for change of use of agricultural land to community and leisure use, was going to appeal after Cherwell turned it down with the support of the parish council.
Application Forms for the Best Kept Village have been received and the council are going to approach the youth club to see if they would like to take it up as a worthwhile project.
Further discussions have taken place with Cherwell about the proposed playground fence after it was discovered that it would require planning permission. Plans have now been prepared for a formal Planning Application in order to determine what would be acceptable.
And there was disappointing news from Corus over the chances of the council buying more land for the landground. The company’s regional property manager said he was not enamoured with the proposal but he would consider putting it to the company if it were possible to link this with the development of some housing - at the full rate for residential development - by the entrance to the field. It was decided to take this no further as a similar proposal had previously been rejected.
15th February '06 - Spot Off
The Dun Cow dominoes team suffered a narrow 9-7 defeat to The Blinking Owl, North Newington in their latest match. The Hornton dominoes dynamos now stand just under mid table with about two thirds of the season left.
15th February '06 - Cold Feet
The Dun Cow crib team are back at the foot of the Harbury and District Crib League with just eight points after losing 3-4 at home to the Harbury Club. But all the teams are closely bunched, with the leaders on only 16 points so there’s still all the play for.
15th February '06 - Worms Turn
Bookworms will be wriggling their way along to the village green next Wednesday, when the mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be parked from 10.55 to 11.30am.
15th February '06 - Church Services
Matins will be celebrated at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, February 19, at 10.30am. A service in the Methodist Church begins half and hour later.
14th February '06 - Good morning Alan
Good morning Alan
Our family have been talking about Roger's sensitive article regarding
the Pavilion in the Gossip. We have been regular Pavilion 'users' and
this familiar building has been a large part of our llife in Hornton
and has quite literally been at the centre of our community. When we
first came to Hornton we were very influenced by the example set by
the volunteers who hadn't waited for some mysterious 'Them' to provide
the village with a Sports/Social Pavilion, but had knuckled down as a
united community and achieved it for themselves. There is no doubt
that we owe them an enormous debt. That independent, positive and
determined spirit underlines all that makes living in Hornton so
special, and in today's world, so precious. We've been very lucky in
that most of the people who've arrived in Hornton over the last few
years have embraced this community spirit so that all of our local
clubs and traditions are thriving and enthusiastic - witness the
success of the almost complete JUMPA project.
We feel, however, that the time has come to replace the old building
with a new one. New legislation is constantly being introduced; in
the last few years the committee have had to raise the money to
provide ramps and lavatories that meet disabled access legislation,
fire, health and safety adaptions and currently to extend and improve
the kitchen so that it can achieve the necessary standards to allow us
to continue to provide Spud lunches, Pancake days, Theme nights etc
without causing any deaths by accident or poisoning - and no, there
haven't been any so far. There must come a point when all this
adaption and 'sticking plaster' therapy becomes pointless, and we
think that that point has been reached. Perhaps people are less than
supportive of the kitchen extension project for that very reason.
Realistically it will take many years to raise enough money to
complete such a major project but that's not a reason to never start.
As with all Hornton's fund raising schemes the vast majority will be
entertaining and fun, and if we weren't paying into the Hornton Pot
for an evening at the Hornies we'd be paying Mr Odeon and his caterers
for possibly a less entertaining night out! We have also learnt an
enormous amount about applying for grants and sponsorship during the
JUMPA project and this experience can be put to good use.
So much has changed in the thirty odd years of the Pavilion's life.
Green technology now offers cheap efficient heating systems, design
and innovation have raised expectations and everyone enjoys more
comfortable and ameniable surroundings. Hornton has a wealth of
talented and knowledgable people to draw on. A new, purpose built,
modern building that they had united to help to build in true Hornton
tradition would reflect the strong, young and vigorous new Hornton
population we are lucky enough to have.
Regards,
Anne and Pete Joyner
14th February '06 - Tots Teetering
The Hornton Mothers and Toddlers Group may have to close unless it gets more members.
The group meets every Wednesday from 10.30amd till 12 noon but the present batch of
children are growing fast so they aren’t toddling any more.
Any new tots and their Mums would be very welcome. Please come along any Wednesday or you
can get more details from Laura Short on 01295 670232.
14th February '06 - Top Table
Hornton’s latest progressive dinner party raised a fantastic £550 last Saturday. The cash
will be split between JUMPA and the
Pavilion. Thanks must go to all the five pairs of
hosts and in particular to organiser Anne Joyner, who once again managed to manoeuvre
everyone around the village so deftly.
14th February '06 - Top Ten
The Dun Cow held a most enjoyable wine tasting evening, run by S & H Jones from Banbury,
featuring ten wines from different countries and a variety of grapes.
Tipplers had to taste and match each wine to the given descriptions in a light-hearted
competition, which was won by Steve Woodcock.
More tasting of the wines continued, with the tasters being given the opportunity to
choose some of the wines to be included in the pub’s new Wine List.
Landlady Gwyneth Gelling said the evening was a great success.
“Thanks must go to S H Jones for running the evening and we hope to invite them
back for another tasting session soon,” she said.
The pub’s next event is on Mothering Sunday, March 26, when you can give Mum a rest
from the cooking and take her out for lunch. Gwyneth is taking bookings now and menus
will be available shortly.
13th February '06 - Parish Council Minutes available
13th February '06 - JUMPA Kick-off Scheduled for Spring!
We're into the final weeks of construction at the JUMPA multi-purpose
playground site at the foot of the Pavilion.
Once basic construction is complete, the construction team will wait until the better weather in the spring to lay the final top surface. Then it's just a case of painting on the lines and setting up the posts and we are ready for the kick-off and first serve.
The JUMPA committee, who met in late January, are planning an official opening event in early summer, probably in June, details of which will be publicised nearer the time. There should be plenty to do and enjoy, even if you're not sport-mad. Everyone is encouraged to come along…
Thanks to supporters, sponsors and grant providers
There are many individuals who have donated money and time - and the Nunneley family who provided the land in the first place. Without their generosity, determination and hard work we would never have managed to make this a reality for the village. Thank you.
Thanks also to the sponsors and grant providers - Cherwell District Council, Awards For All - the National Lottery, SITA UK (nationwide waste management and recycling company) and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts. We will be inviting representatives of these bodies to the opening event.
A further grant is being sought for landscaping - so the team can buy and plant trees and bushes around the new playing area. This will help to screen it and to soften the way it looks in the landscape, as well as to create a wind-break. There is also an idea to plant a small number of Christmas trees for future use on the village Green.
"Liaison is underway with potential local users of the playing surface, including the school, who hope to make use of it during term time. The aim is to ensure that everyone is able to access it fairly," explained JUMPA chairman Steve Woodcock. He is keen to hear from anyone wanting to book the court or to use the temporary surface before the final green surface goes down. (But please be careful not to wear muddy boots on the surface.)
Calling new members:
The JUMPA committee is still eager to attract new members to its ranks: to help run and maintain the sports ground once it is open and help with mini fund-raising to keep everything in tip-top shape.
"We are particularly keen for anyone with a young family or belonging to a local group, who will make use of the play area, to get involved in the JUMPA committee and help to keep things on track," said Steve.
Contact Steve on 670795 or JUMPA secretary Jane Perkin on 670701.
8th February '06 - Swing to Salsa
Join Caliente at Hornton Pavilion at 7.30pm on Saturday, February 25, for a Salsa Party Night. Lisa Anscomb and her dance partner will demonstrate a stunning Salsa presentation to show how the dance is performed. Beginners will be especially welcome! .
The great thing is that you can have fun with Salsa as soon as you start learning. You don’t have to have any previous experience. Just come along, enjoy the music and soak up the ambience..
Ring Ann Hemmings now on 01295 670511 or Sarah Walther on 01295 670627 to book your place!
8th February '06 - Quicksteps Needed
The Hornton Valentine’s Ball is only two weeks away and tickets are being snapped up, so be quick and buy one!.
It takes place at Banbury’s Whatley Hall Hotel on Saturday, February 18, and and action-packed evening is in store. There will be an auction, a Grand Raffle with sensational prizes - anyone with ideas for exotic and unusual prizes, please call the organisers as soon as possible - and all proceeds will go to Hornton School..
The tickets are £35 each and before you think that’s a lot of money, just think how much a night out costs these days and how much you’ll get for your money at the Hornton Ball. There will be a live band and a delicious three-course meal. Dancing goes on to midnight and everyone’s going to have a great time..
So go on, sign up today - either individually or by making up a table of 10 or 12. Liz Hurst (01295 343556), Amanda Wray-Mitchell (01295 730402), Carolyn Barker (01295 678553) and Hilary Lidguard (01295 738258) are the people to ring for tickets.
8th February '06 - Best Bitter
“Undoubtedly the best yet” was the way Dun Cow landlady Gwyneth Gelling described the pub’s winter beer festival, which took place last weekend..
“We not only had our regular visitors but many more new faces coming to taste the seven beers and two draught ciders on offer,” she said..
“This festival’s theme was Supernatural and many of the beers’ names, like the Darwin Brewery’s Ghost Ale and Wizard Ales’ Black Magic, reflected this. The ales were all served in prime condition, even though the beers were on top of the back bar and not in the cellar as usual, and were definitely appreciated, as was the food which complemented the ales beautifully..
“Wylam's Silver Ghost was the strongest most popular and ran out late on Saturday evening. Most other beers ran out during Sunday, leaving us with only three gallons out of the 70 gallons we started with!”
7th February '06 - Are you up for It?
You just can’t get the staff these days, which is why Upton House needs volunteers - lots of them! .
You could help out as a restaurant assistant, room steward, buggy driver, produce picker, car park volunteer, garden volunteer, wildlife surveyor, visitor reception volunteer, shop volunteer, office volunteer, garden tour leader, raffle ticket seller or events assistant. Phew!.
The National Trust, which owns Upton, can only continue the fantastic work it does with the help of volunteers, so if you’ve got an hour or two spare then the people up there would love to hear from you..
If you’re interested, please give Marcus Lynch, the visitor services manager, a ring on 01295 670266 or pop in and see him any time.
8th February '06 - Off the Bottom
The Dun Cow team are off the foot of the Harbury and District Crib League after a superb 4-3 win away to The Cottage Inn from Ashorne. Well done cribbers!
8th February '06 - What the Score
The Dun Cow dominoes team now has 20 points from the 20 matches played this season after another convincing win. They beat The Baker's Arms 'B' team 11-5 win at Bodicote last week. The pairings of Richard Hillman and Colin Neville, Linda Cross and Martin Hemmings won all of their four games. Malcolm Cross and Barbara Neville won three of their four games.
8th February '06 - Church Services
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, February 12, at 11 am. As this is a United Service, there will be no service in the Methodist Church.
7th February '06 - Make your point about the Pavillion
A debate is under way about the future of Hornton Pavilion and it’s time for you to make
your point.
The pavilion needs to be revamped or replaced. Plans have been drawn up for a kitchen
extension, which will enlarge and improve the existing structure. However, there is some
feeling in the village that it’s time to raise money to build a bigger and better pavilion
rather than doing up a structure which was second-hand when it was erected in the 1970s..
The pavilion committee discussed the issue at their latest meeting and decided it would
be a good idea to consult villagers. Chairman Ian Harris said there is also a possible
third option, in addition to extending the kitchen or building a new pavilion..
“That option is to consider extensive refurbishment and/or alterations to the existing
building in addition to the proposed extension,” said Ian..
“There is quite a strong case for this as we know of a potential donor who will fund
improvements to existing buildings but will not consider new buildings even if they
replace existing ones.”.
Parish Clerk Alan Cater has agreed to act as a postbox for villagers’ views and those
views need to be in by Thursday, March 2, when an extraordinary meeting of the pavilion
committee has been scheduled..
So what would you like, Horntonians? A kitchen extension, a big refurbishment or a new
pavilion? The choice is yours but please put your views in writing to Alan Cater at The
Cottage, Pages Lane, Hornton OX15 6BX or a dot cater at btinternet dot com by March 2.
7th February '06 - A Wild Life in Hornton
Graham Soden will give a talk about Wildlife in the Shetland Isles at the next meeting of
the 3Hs Gardening Club this Tuesday, February 14, at 7.30pm in the pavilion.
7th February '06 - Jumping for Joy
Hornton and Horley’s Jubilee multi-purpose play area, JUMPA, is almost ready for use. .
“We’re into the final weeks of construction at the playground site at the foot of the
Pavilion,” said chairman Steve Woodcock. ..
“Once basic construction is complete, the construction team will wait until the better
weather in the spring to lay the final top surface. Then it's just a case of painting
on the lines and setting up the posts and we are ready for the kick-off and first serve!”.
The JUMPA committee are planning an official opening event in early summer, probably in
June, details of which will be publicised nearer the time. There should be plenty to do
and enjoy, even if you’re not sport-mad, and everyone is encouraged to come along..
“There are so many people to thank - the many individuals who have donated money and time
and the Nunneley family who provided the land in the first place. Without their generosity,
determination and hard work we would never have managed to make this a reality for the
village.” .
But this is just the start for JUMPA, rather than the end and the committee are still
eager to attract new members to help run and maintain the sports ground once it is open
and help with mini fund-raising to keep everything in tip-top shape..
"We are particularly keen for anyone with a young family or belonging to a local group,
who will make use of the play area, to get involved in the JUMPA committee and help to
keep things on track," said Steve. .
If you can help, please contact Steve on 01295 670795 or JUMPA secretary Jane Perkin on
01295 670701.
5th February '06 - Hornton Village Tote
The Pavilion Committee is planning to re-start the Tote this April. To cut down on
administration we are planning to have an annual subscription of £5 for each pair of
numbers rather than a monthly collection. Draws will take place on the last Friday of
each month at the Dun Cow and four winners will be picked. The amount winners will
receive each month will depend on the number of tickets sold but it is anticipated that
each prize will be in the region of £20.
To reserve your numbers you can speak to any member of the Pavilion Committee, or contact
Ian Harris on 670541 or email: ii dot harris at virgin dot net
4th February '06 - JUMPA Kick-off Scheduled for Spring!
We're into the final weeks of construction at the JUMPA multi-purpose
playground site at the foot of the Pavilion.
Once basic construction is complete, the construction team will wait until the better
weather in the spring to lay the final top surface. Then it's just a case of painting on
the lines and setting up the posts and we are ready for the kick-off and first serve.
The JUMPA committee, who met in late
January, are planning an official opening event in
early summer, probably in June, details of which will be publicised nearer the time.
There should be plenty to do and enjoy, even if you're not sport-mad. Everyone is
encouraged to come along…
Thanks to supporters, sponsors and grant providers
There are many individuals who have donated money and time - and the Nunneley family who
provided the land in the first place. Without their generosity, determination and hard
work we would never have managed to make this a reality for the village. Thank you.
Thanks also to the sponsors and grant providers - Cherwell District Council, Awards For
All - the National Lottery, SITA UK (nationwide waste management and recycling company)
and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts. We will be inviting representatives of these
bodies to the opening event.
A further grant is being sought for landscaping - so the team can buy and plant trees and
bushes around the new playing area. This will help to screen it and to soften the way it
looks in the landscape, as well as to create a wind-break. There is also an idea to plant
a small number of Christmas trees for future use on the village Green.
Liaison is underway with potential local users of the playing surface, including the school, who hope to make use of it during term time. The aim is to ensure that everyone is able to access it fairly.
Calling new members:
The JUMPA committee is still eager to attract new members to its ranks: to help run and maintain the sports ground once it is open and help with mini fund-raising to keep everything in tip-top shape.
"We are particularly keen for anyone with a young family or belonging to a local group, who will make use of the play area, to get involved in the JUMPA committee and help to keep things on track," said Steve.
Contact Steve on 670795 or JUMPA secretary Jane Perkin on 670701.
4th February '06 - Bottom of the Table but up for the Cup
The Dun Cow crib team have dropped to bottom place in the Harbury and District Crib League
after two shock defeats.
The Hornton cribbers lost away 4-3 to Granborough’s Shoulder of Mutton and the following
week lost 5-2 at home to the Kineton Sports and Social Club.
But the team are in the semi-final of the league’s cup competition and they’ll be hoping
the cards fall better for them on February 21, when once again they’ll be up against their
rivals from Kineton.
3rd February '06 - Spring in your Step
It’s not too late to snap up a ticket for the social highlight of Hornton’s Spring season
but you’d better get your skates on!
Hornton Valentine’s Ball takes place at Banbury’s Whatley Hall Hotel on Saturday, February
18, and a fantastic evening of food, drink, dancing and prizes is in the offing.
There will be an auction, a Grand Raffle - anyone with ideas for exotic and unusual prizes,
please call the organisers - and all proceeds will go to Hornton School. Already a day’s
hawking, a year’s membership at a local gym and a backstage trip round BBC Television
Centre are amongst the items put up for auctioning.
The tickets are £35 each and before you think that’s a lot of money, just think how much a
night out costs these days and how much you’ll get for your money at the Hornton Ball.
There will be a live band and a delicious three-course meal. Dancing goes on to midnight
and everyone’s going to have a great time.
So go on, sign up today - either individually or by making up a table of 10 or 12.
Liz Hurst (01295 343556), Amanda Wray-Mitchell (01295 730402), Carolyn Baker (01295 678553)
and Hilary Lidguard (01295 738258).
3rd February '06 - Not too Late to Take Out
A film for this year’s Hornton film
festival, that is.
The date is Saturday, March 11, so please put that date in your diaries right now because a
new clutch of the film world’s most prestigious awards - the Hornies - will be up for
grabs in a never-to-be-forgotten night of cinematic creativity!
Most important - don’t be left out yourself. No films can be longer than five minutes, so
it won’t take you for ever to put one together.
Even if you haven’t got a video camera, don’t worry, says festival organiser Pete
Whitehead.
“If you are thinking of making a film, please let me know,” he says. “Following the
experiences of this year, there is now plenty of technical back-up available for anyone
who needs it, so please don’t feel constrained by lack of experience or equipment.”
Next year’s theme is music - but that’s about as broad as it could be. It could be a pop video,
a film with a title suggested by a piece of music. Or just take one of your home videos
and set it to a piece of music. Even those films which people started making last year
but were never completed are welcome.
And if you want to find out what last year’s films were like, ring Pete on 01295 670320.
All the award-winning films in this year’s Hornton Film Festival are now available on a
DVD.
It costs just £9.99 from festival organiser Pete Whitehead and all profits will go to the
Pavilion Extension Fund.
“I’ve watched them again myself a few times already - and they are just as entertaining
the second time around,” he says.
3rd February '06 - Here for the Beer
A delectable array or real ales is ready
for the discernable drinker at this year’s winter beer festival, which starts at the Dun
Cow tomorrow night, Friday.
The festival runs for the whole weekend and there will be at least seven winter warming
real ales plus draught ciders to tempt your tastebuds. You can even drink them in a
special Dun Cow Beer Festival glass!
And with those tastebuds suitably limbered up, why not pop along to the pub next Wednesday,
February 8, when there will be a wine tasting at which you can help choose the wines for
the pub’s new wine list. On the following Wednesday, February 8, the Dun Cow is holding a
Wine Tasting Evening in conjunction with S H Jones. There will be a selection of five red
and five white wines from different areas. Spaces for this are limited so please book
your place early. Tickets are £6 per head and the tasting begins at 7.30pm promptly.
3rd February '06 - Worms Turn
Bookworms will be wiggling along to the village
green next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am, when the mobile library from Oxfordshire
County Council will be visiting.
3rd February '06 - Church Services
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 8.30am
this Sunday, February 5, in the Parish church of St John the Baptist. Holy Communion
will be celebrated at a United Service in the Methodist Church at 11am.
