Hornton will join the eight other schools in the Warriner Partnership next Wednesday, February 4, for the annual afternoon of indoor
athletics. The event, held in the sports hall of the Bloxham school, is aimed at getting the younger children together at the school
where most of them will study and introduce them to some of the older pupils already there. .
“It’s just fun,” said headteacher Wendy Clifford. “It’s very noisy and a real experience. The children do compete against each other but
not seriously. “By the end of the afternoon we never really know which school has won!
30th January '04 - Church Services
This Sunday, February 1st, the Parish Church of St John the Baptist will celebrate Holy Eucharist at 8.30am and the Methodist Church
will hold a United Service at 11am.
29th January '04 - How Did They Do - It's All 5-2
Hornton’s cribbers are now slugging it out with just one other team at the top of the Harbury and District Crib League. The Dun Cow
pulled off a 5-2 away win against the bottom-of-the-table Red Lion from North End in the latest round of matches. Meanwhile, the Shoulder
of Mutton from Granborough - previously also at the top of the league - slip back to fourth after losing to Bishops Itchington’s Green Man
by the same margin. But The Carpenter’s Arms from Kineton stay in contention at the top of the table along with Hornton after a home win
against the Cottage Inn, Ashore - also by 5-2..
29th January '04 - Hop Down to the Hoedown
It’s not too late go get your tickets for Hoagy, Hornpipes, Handel and Hoedown - to be held in Hornton’s
Methodist Chapel next Friday, February 6. 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, it’s a snip! They can be purchased from Julie Stanley on 01295
670507.
There’s just time for your last-minute contributions to the latest Gossip, Hornton’s very own village newspaper. Have you got something
you want to get off your chest, or time to copy out Mum’s favourite recipe so that everyone can try it? If so, please contact
Ann Hemmings on 01295 670511 or Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.
27th January '04 - All Glow with Sherry and Smiles
There was the warmest of Spanish hospitality and smiles all round in store for three Hornton teachers when they went to Jerez last week for a special meeting with counterparts from other schools in Europe.
“We had a wonderful, wonderful time,” said headteacher Wendy Clifford. “The welcome we had from the school surpassed anything that we’d had before. When we arrived, we were met by big banners in English welcoming us, which had been made by the older children. All the children were dressed in traditional costume - the girls in long flamenco-type dresses - and when they sang and danced it was just overwhelming. We were just all wreathed in smiles..
“Then the headteacher came and presented each one of us with a single rose! It was just so warm. They couldn’t do more for us.”.
Mrs Clifford, along with Class 2’s Hilary Childs and Class 3’s Janet Porter were in southern Spain to plan the next year of the Comenius Project, an initiative which brings together schools in various European countries and helps teach the children about the lives of their fellow pupils abroad. Hornton finished its first three-year project last year, when it was linked to schools in Holland, Greece and Sweden. That was so successful that it had already mapped out a new three-year initiative in which brings it together with the Dutch and Swedish schools, together with new ones in Lithuania and Spain, and the Jerez meeting was arrange to plan the next year‘s work..
The teachers decided that this year’s theme will be Me and my environment..
“The younger children will be doing projects in words and pictures about the seasons and the weather which they can exchange with the pupils in the others schools,“ explained Mrs Clifford. “The older children will share three personal fact files which they‘ll compile - about their families, their school and their hobbies..
“And we agreed that once a month all the children will continue to log on to their computers together and chat to each other on line, which is something we started with the last Comenius Project.”.
All three Hornton teachers were fascinated to see how different the school system was in Spain. .
“They are much more textbook-driven than they are in the British system and they don’t seem to be as well-resourced as we are but they do have smaller classes,” said Mrs Clifford. “The younger children had 12 or maybe 15 in each class. The older children have 18 to 20 in the class. Also, they don’t start until they’re six years old.”.
The five schools had not all come together before but the ice was soon broken, especially with the help of the local tipple for which Jerez is famed. .
“It was the first time we’d met the teachers from Lithuania and I think it took them about 24 hours to settle in but the sherry helped,” confessed Mrs Clifford. “I’ve never tasted so many different sherries!” ..
22nd January '04 - Memories of Mike
All sorts of Allsorts turned up for the drama group’s latest meeting - and they brought along lots of enthusiasm with them!
“It is very encouraging,” said organiser Sarah Walther. “There are no definite dates yet, as there are still a lot of loose ends to tie
up, but the end of March looks favourable for a tribute night for Mike Webber.”
Mike, who died tragically in November, was the lynchpin of the Allsorts’ music output for the past 20 years and the entertainment will be
based on his involvement with the group ever since it was first set up.
“All profits will go to the small playing field and the Medway centre in Banbury, where Mike was a much-loved and valued volunteer,”
said Sarah.
The next planning meeting will be next Tuesday, January 27, at Sarah's house - Pear Tree Cottage, Eastgate, Hornton - at 8pm. All
Allsorts are welcome.
22nd January '04 - The Good News
Hornton’s Dun Cow crib team are equal on points at the top of the Harbury and District Crib League after snatching a thrilling 4-3 home
win against Kineton Sports and Social Club.
The Hornton team are in a three-way tie with Granborough’s Shoulder of Mutton and the Carpenter’s Arms at Kineton, thanks to the Mutton
team winning a 4-3 away against the Arms in a top-of-the-table clash during the latest round of league matches. All three teams now have
14 points from 11 matches, though with dramatically different points differences. Kineton have a points difference of 11, compared with
four for the Mutton team and one for the Dun Cow. But points means prizes and it’s all to play for as the season nears its climax!
22nd January '04 -The Bad News
This Sunday’s Burns Night Supper at the Dun Cow has had to be cancelled.
Two grant applications have been prepared to set JUMPA, Hornton and Horley’s fund for a Jubilee multi-purpose
play area, off on another successful year of fund-raising. Another - to the National Lottery - is also in the pipeline and both
Hornton School and the Youth Club are being approached for letters
of support.
The JUMPA committee hope that the applications will bite a big chunk out of the money they have to raise for
construction of the play area to begin but they’re also planning new fund-raising activities throughout this year. At the end of March,
there will be a wine tasting evening with wine merchants S & H Jones of Banbury and there is already public demand for another of
JUMPA’s immensely successful mobile dinner parties. An Aunt Sally competition at the Dun Cow is also planned,
together with a Hallowe’en Party, the now traditional Golden Mile race and a trip to the theatre. Watch this space!
16th January '04 - Hoagy, Hornpipes, Handel and Hoedown - at Hornton
They’re back by public demand! Hilary James and Simon Mayer were such a hit when they last played in Hornton that they’re coming back to
Hornton Methodist Church on Friday, February 6. The tickets are just £8 for adults, £6 for OAPs and children and can be purchased from
Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.
16th January '04 - Church Services
Matins will be celebrated at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, January 18, at 10.30am. Half an hour later there will
be a service at Hornton Methodist Church.
15th January '04 - Chat Away
Anything from recipes to reminiscences are eagerly sought for the next edition of The Gossip,
Hornton’s very own newspaper, which is due out soon. The deadline for contributions is January 31, so please put pen to paper as
soon as possible! Julie Stanley on 01295 670507 and Ann Hemmings on 01295 670511 are the people to contact.
14th January '04 - Haggis and Hooch
The Scotch will flow to the sound of live music and the taste of Haggis when the Dun Cow holds its special Burns Night Supper on
Sunday, January 25th. The celebrations will begin at 7.30pm for 8pm, there’s a vegetarian haggis for those who don’t eat meat and, at
just £8-25 per person, you can’t say nae! Please ring Martin or Gywneth on 01295 670524 to book your table.
14th January '04 - Thursday Night is Yoga Night
The new yoga class begins this Thursday, between 7pm and 8.30pm at the Methodist Chapel in Millers Lane,
with Sigi Castle once more returning as teacher. It’s £4 per session plus 50p towards the running costs of the Chapel. Winter classes
are now even more comfortable there, thanks to the superb new heating system installed last autumn, and the yoga style is focused on
flexibility and balancing breathing with movement. Anyone is welcome to turn up on the night, but yoga works best if you can sign up and
commit to a whole term of classes rather than one or two occasional sessions.
13th January '04 - Be quick or the shop will shut
Thames Valley Constabulary’s mobile police station is making its first visit of the New Year to Hornton village green between 10.45 to
11.30 this Thursday morning.
9th January '04 - Turn over a New Leaf
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday, January 14, from 10.55 to 11.30am.
9th January '04 - Make Their Day
Come and visit Thames Valley Constabulary’s mobile police station when it make its first visit to Hornton of the New Year. It will be on
the village green next Thursday, January 15, from 10.45 to 11.30.
9th January '04 - Churches Together
There will be a special shorter village service specially designed for all the family at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this
Sunday, January 11, at 11am.
The Meeting Point fellowship and discussion group will meet next Tuesday, January 13 - and once a month until April - at 2.30pm in the
Methodist Chapel Schoolroom.
7th January '04 - Lotus Blossoms Fight the Flab
It’s time to take off all that weight you piled on over Christmas and what better way to do it than squeezing into the lotus position at
Hornton’s yoga class! The new term starts on Thursday 15 January, with Sigi Castle returning as teacher, and now
is the time to sign up.
“The yoga style is focused on flexibility and balancing breathing with movement,” said organiser Chris Woodcock. “Classes are from 7pm to
8.30pm at the Methodist Chapel in Millers Lane. It’s £4 per session plus 50p towards the running costs of the Chapel. Winter classes are
now even more comfortable at the chapel, thanks to the superb new heating system installed last autumn, and we have developed a short
routine and are practising stretching and flexibility movements.
“We now have a regular membership of around 12, though anyone is welcome to turn up on the night. But yoga works best if you can sign up
and commit to a whole term of classes rather than one or two occasional sessions.
“Anyone new who would like to join should contact Sigi 01295 254601.”
7th January '04 - Victors crowned in Crib Win
It couldn’t have been tighter! Harbury’s Crown public house team sent Hornton’s Dun Cow crib team to an early bath in the Harbury and
District Crib League Cup - but by the narrowest of margins. Hornton lost the nail-biting quarter final away tie by 4-3. But look on the
bright side - now they’ll have more time to concentrate on the league, where they are standing in a very handy joint-second place.
6th January '04 - New Year - New Roof
Hornton Pavilion has been given a 50 per cent grant by Cherwell District Council towards the cost of roof repairs. The roof section at the
far end has been leaking and is in need of replacement because the fibre cement panels which are now more than 20 years old have failed.
It is hoped to complete the work in the Spring.
6th January '04 - Allsorts of Ideas Needed
It’s time to put your thinking caps on because Hornton’s drama group, the Allsorts, are holding a meeting next week to prepare for their
action-packed 2004 season and need ideas! The meeting will take place at Rosemarie Cater’s house - The Cottage in Pages Lane, Hornton at
8pm next Tuesday, January 13. New members who have never trod the boards before and can lose their inhibitions after a couple of glasses
of pre-performance wine are particularly welcome and further details are available from Linda Cross on 01295 670562 or Sarah Walther on
670627.
6th January '04 - Feel the need for faster web access?
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 81 registrations, so we need 69 more people to
register.... tell your friends and get them to tell their friends and if they have any cousins....
