Hornton archive February 2009

You’ve only got a week to sign up for the social event of the year. It’s the Hornton Progressive Dinner Party and, if you’ve never tried it, you won’t want to miss out!

It takes place on Saturday, March 14, and for anyone new to the village - or who’s been on a different planet over the past couple of years - organiser Anne Joyner explains how it works.

“You either opt to be a host or a guest,” she says. “If you’re a guest you go to three different houses during the evening, one for each course and it will cost you just £25 a head - plus a bottle of wine. If you’re a host, you'll provide the meal for six people.

“The whole point of the evening is for it to be full of variety and fun! You can take part alone or with a partner and all of the proceeds will go towards Hornton's Pavilion Renovation project. It's the perfect, friendly way to meet your neighbours, particularly if you're both at work most of the time or if you're new to Hornton.”

If you’d like to take part, please fill in the form in the latest edition of The Gossip - or just put your details on a piece of paper - stating whether you would like to be a host, a guest or either. Please post it in the village post box on the wall next to the notice board on the village green by 6pm on Friday, March 6.

If you have any questions or don’t have a form, please ring Anne on 01295 670337.

26th February '09 - Right Said Fred

Calling all budding Flintstones! Hornton History Club is hosting a talk and slide show next week by David Robins called "Ten Centuries of Men in Stone", which is all about Edgehill Quarries over the centuries.

David was born in Hornton and his father was a stonemason at the quarry.

“This slide show has been shown in many places but never Hornton,” says the club’s Kevin Wain. “There will also be a chance to view some rare video footage of the old ironstone railway that used to run near Hornton, courtesy of Colin Neville.”

Everyone is welcome, refreshments will be provided and it’s all happening at the chapel on Monday, March 2, at 7.30pm, with entrance at just £3.

26th February '09 - Piece of the Pie

It’s British Pie Week next week at the Dun Cow! To celebrate it, there will be a wide selection of home-made pies available all week. On top of that, Gwyneth will be serving Roast Beef with all the trimmings on Sunday week, March 8. Please try to book by Wednesday if possible by calling her on 01295 670524.

26th February '09 - Souper

More than £300 was raised for much-needed Methodist Church funds at the recent soup-and-crusty-bread lunch. Joint organiser Julie Stanley thanked everyone who helped and all those who came along.

26th February '09 - Bookworms Welcome

The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday, March 4, from 10.40 to 11.20am.

26th February '09 - Church Services

The will be a United Service of Holy Communion this Sunday, March 1, at 11am led by the Rev. Dorothy Hewitson. There is no 8.30am service in the parish church this Sunday.

Don’t forget that Lindy Bridgeman is planning a very special Mothering Sunday service for March 21. She would like children and adults to send her a prayer, poem or picture on the subject of Mothering Sunday for a special display in the church. It will also be collated into a special booklet for each church in the benefice.

“This is not a competition,” says Lindy. “In the past, children have written some wonderful things but inevitable these get lost, stolen or they stray!”

This year, she hopes to keep them for posterity and she would prefer if you could email contributions to lindybridgeman(at)hotmail dot com or you can post them through her door at Eastgate House.

26th February '09 - Parish Council Minutes

The minutes from the Parish Council Meeting dated the 2nd February 2009 are now on the Hornton website, view them here.

19th February '09 - Clear Up

If you want to bag a bargain, look no further than David Miles’ clearance sale of second hand books, bric-a-brac and collectables in the Methodist Chapel this Saturday, February 21. The sale is on from 10am till 4pm.

19th February '09 - In The Pink

May Day just wouldn’t be the same in Hornton without the beautiful pink cherry blossom adorning the thrones of the May King and Queen. But recently a couple of the cherry trees surrounding the green have had a tough time, so it’s good to report that four new ones will be planted by the parish council in the Spring.

Councillors were given the news at their latest meeting on February 2. They were also informed that work on the Tinker Tank footpath between West End and the Church was due to begin this week. It agreed unanimously that the council would meet the costs of the footpath closure, amounting to approximately £500, and also contribute £2000 to the £12,000 cost of constructing a new culvert under the footpath to avoid flooding. The Environment Agency and Cherwell have already contributed £2500 each, which leaves £5000 to be raised by local residents.

West End resident John Wright has complained to the council about access to the end of West End. There are frequently problems due to the posts on part of the footpath along the lane and cars parked near by. He said that, at times, he is unable to reach his property by car and there could be a major problem in the event of emergency vehicles needing to reach properties. He is writing to Oxfordshire Highways and sought the support of the parish councillors, who agreed that some solution should be sought from the county council.

19th February '09 - Jump to it for Jess

Hornton’s Jess Wain has been lucky enough to get a coveted place in this year’s London Marathon - but she needs to raise £1300 sponsorship for Leukaemia Research for the privilege and she’s only half way there.

So now’s the time to sponsor her and it’s really easy. You can either drop a donation off through her letterbox at The Swallows in Eastgate or you can donate on line at www.justgiving.com/jesswain . Don’t be left out - sponsor Jess for this very good cause today!

19th February '09 - Cribbers get their Chips

The Carpenters Arms at Kineton came to the Dun Cow and beat them 5-2 to set up a nail-biting end to the season. The defeat - only the Hornton cribbers’ third of the season - still leaves them at the top of the Harbury and District Crib League but they need to win two of their remaining four matches to be sure of taking the title. Come on cribbers!

19th February '09 - Church Services

There will be a Benefice Service in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, February 22, at 10.30am. Half an hour later, there will be a service of Holy Communion in Hornton Methodist Church. And next Wednesday, February 25, there will be a special Ash Wednesday service in the Methodist Church at 7pm.

Elsewhere in the Benefice next week, there will be a Shrove Tuesday Benefice Quiz and Bring and Share Supper at 7.30pm in Wroxton village hall. On Wednesday, there will be two services of Holy Eucharist with imposition of Ashes - at 10.30am in Drayton and 7.30pm in Horley.

12th February '09 - 'Sno Problem

Hornton’s WI had to cancel their meeting last week because of the snow but, undeterred, their have rearranged it for tonight, Thursday.

Liz Hirst will be giving a hands-on demonstration on makeup techniques and how to look younger. She will provide cleansers and moisturisers but she asks everyone to bring their own make up to experiment!

It takes place at 7.30pm in the pavilion and new members are welcome.

12th February '09 - Back to the Stone Age

Calling all Hornton Historians! Hornton History Club is hosting a talk and slide show by David Robins called "Ten Centuries of Men in Stone", which is all about Edgehill Quarries over the centuries.

David was born in Hornton and his father was a stonemason at the quarry.

“This slide show has been shown in many places but never Hornton,” says the club’s Kevin Wain. “There will also be a chance to view some rare video footage of the old ironstone railway that used to run near Hornton, courtesy of Colin Neville.”

Everyone is welcome, refreshments will be provided and it’s all happening at the chapel on Monday, March 2, at 7.30pm, with entrance at just £3.

12th February '09 - Dun but Nout Out

The Dun Cow crib team went down to only their second defeat of the season when they lost by the narrowest of margins - 4-3 away - to the Biship’s Itchington’s British Legion.

But luckily for the Hornton cribbers, their closest rivals - the Green Man from Long Itchington - also lost, so they are still leading the Harbury and District Crib League with just five nail-biting games to go.

12th February '09 - Flying Fiction

The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday, February 18, from 10.40 to 11.20am.

12th February '09 - Church Services

Mattins will be celebrated at 10.30am in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, February 15. Half an hour later there will be a service in the Methodist Church, led by M. Gent.

And on Tuesday week, February 24, there will be a Shrove Tuesday Benefice Quiz and Bring and Share Supper at 7.30pm in Wroxton village hall.

5th February '09 - WI Not?

Hornton’s newly-formed Women’s Institute will be holding its first meeting of the year tonight, Thursday, when Liz Hirst will be giving a hands-on demonstration on makeup techniques and how to look younger. Liz requests that everyone brings their own make-up for the talk.

It takes place at 7.30pm in the pavilion and new members are welcome, so why not make a New Year’s resolution to come along!

5th February '09 - Early Doors

The Dun Cow Winter Beer Festival really is taking place this weekend, February 6 to 8, and not last weekend as your correspondent reported! Please accept his apologies and do come along from tomorrow, Friday, to sample a tempting range of Winter ales - and there will also be nosh to nibble.

As usual the theme of the festival is being kept a closely-guarded secret by licensees Gwyneth and Martin Gelling but the names of the beers will all have something in common.

And Gwyneth will be serving roast lamb with all the trimmings at the Dun Cow on Sunday week, February 15. Please book by next Wednesday.

5th February '09 - Lucky For Some

£113 was raised for JUMPA at the latest quiz. It was standing room only in the back bar of the Dun Cow and once again Hornton’s quizmeisters Ollie Fickling and Steve Woodcock assembled another formidable display of fiendish questions. Many thanks to both of them.

5th February '09 - A Rose By Any Other Name

Barry Locke will be talking to the 3Hs Gardening Club next Tuesday, February 10, about the Shakespeare Trust’s Houses and Gardens. It should be fascinating, and you can pop along to hear him in the pavilion at 7.30pm. Don’t worry if you’re not a member - you can join on the night!

5th February '09 - Tight Squeeze

The Dun Cow crib team just squeezed through 4-3 against the Harbury Club their latest away match. Now that two thirds of the season’s matches have been completed, Hornton are on their way to the Harbury and District Crib League title, with only one defeat so far. Keep it up, cribbers!

5th February '09 - Flying The Flag

Have you got a birthday in the family? Then make sure you celebrate it in style by flying the Hornton birthday flag! For just £5 for village funds, you can have the name of the birthday boy or girl run up the Hornton flagpole - advertising your age is optional but all ages from 1 to 150 can be accommodated!

All you have to do is to ring Ian Harris on 01295 670541 and the celebrations can begin!

5th February '09 - Church Services

There will be a service at 11am in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, February 8. As this is a United Service, there will be no service in the Methodist Church.

But 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 is a book and video swap - and, of course, lots of good gossip!

The Thursday Club meets every week after school until 4.30pm in the Methodist Church School Room. All children are welcome.