Hornton Online

A sell-out crowd of keen 3Hs gardeners packed a coach last Saturday for a whistle-stop tour around England’s smallest county, which included a visit to a very special garden.

Barnsdale in Rutland was the home of Gardener’s World presenter and national treasure Geoff Hamilton, who died in 1996. It was also the place where the programme was made for many years and the gardeners of Hornton, Horley and Hanwell had plenty of opportunity to look around and pick up a few tips.

“It was great because we were so very lucky with the weather,” said club secretary Sally Tweedsmuir. “We just had a couple of showers and we had a lovely day.”

“I thought it was well done and everything was very nice. We had lunch there and then we went off on a boat trip on Rutland Water, which was a few minutes’ away.

“All in all it was a good trip. We had the usual Hornton raffle on the way home and the bus was full. It was the first time we’ve had a full bus - with a waiting list!”

The club’s next outing is next Wednesday, July 14, when members will be visiting Janet Cropley’s Garden at Evenley. The cost will be just £3.50 - including coffee and cake - and the club will depart if various members’ cars at 6.45pm from the village green.

25th June '04 - Wild Rover

Car buffs will be going wild at Upton House on Saturday, July 10, when the Rover Car Club holds its centenary rally. You’ll be able to relieve motoring of yesteryear in this beautiful, historic setting when dozens of classic cars converge on the house.

And there’s an action-packed programme of events before then. Until this Sunday, Upton is holding its Open Furniture Week, when the doors of all Upton’s furniture - normally sealed to keep out the light and dust - will be open. So if you’re curious to know what secrets lie behind the door, in the drawer or under the lid, cut along!

Between Saturday, July 3rd and Wednesday, July 28th, there will be an outdoor exhibition of amazing glass sculpture in the grounds, Ever Changing Light, created by the ‘Cohesion’ network of glassmakers. And it’s Wild about Wildlife weekend on July 3rd and 4th, when there will be a host of environmental activities from midday to 4pm. It’s a must for all those who enjoy the great outdoors, the plants that grow and the creatures that live in it.

Normal admission prices apply to all events.

24th June '04 - Back on Your Bike

Hornton cyclists had a lucky escape last weekend when the rain poured down just at the time when the annual leisure cycle ride was due to be taking place. Fortunately, it had already been cancelled to avoid a clash of dates with other events, and organiser Lynn Graham is keeping her fingers crossed that the weather will be brighter on Sunday, August 29, when the cycle ride has been rescheduled.

“That’s the Sunday of August Bank Holiday and cyclists of all ages and abilities will be welcome to meet on the village green at 11.30 in the morning,” said Lynn.

“The emphasis is very much on leisure, with a stop for lunch. We’ll go on a circular route to a local pub which serves food, where walkers and drivers can meet up with the cyclists.

“In our first bike ride, the year before last, we went to the Stag’s Head, Swalcliffe and that was so successful that we had a bumper turnout last year when we stopped off at the Lampet Arms in Tadmarton.

“This year, we hope even more people will come. Please give me a ring on 01295 670673 if you’d like to come along - as a cyclist, walker or driver - so that we can give the pub some idea of numbers nearer the time.”

There’ll be further details about the route and the lunch venue in the weeks to come, so keep your eyes glued to the Guardian, the village noticeboard and the Hornton website.

24th June '04 - Falling Leaves

The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be dropping in next Wednesday. It will be on the village green from 10.55 to 11.30am.

24th June '04 - Rain Drops In

Hornton Methodist Church still managed to make a fantastic £105 in last Saturday’s soup-and-crusty-bread event, even though is poured with rain at the last minute.

“It was fine until just after 12,” said organiser Julie Stanley, whose garden was the featured venue. “Then it started to rain and everyone had to come in and squeeze round my dining room table!”

Julie said that some people must have been put off by the weather but all the soup was sold and the event was a great success.

Rain also disrupted last Sunday’s annual open air church service on the village green and it had to be moved inside to the Methodist Church. But that was a blessing in disguise because the Salvation Army band could not turn up due to illness and the church organ could be used instead to accompany the excellent turnout of 32 worshippers.

This Sunday, June 27th, there are two church services - in the Methodist Church and the Parish Church of St John the Baptist - both at 11am.

23rd June '04 - Trot Along

A pig roast will feature in Hornton School Association’s next big event - the annual fete and talent competition. It all takes place on Saturday, July 17 at 2pm in the school grounds. There’ll be lots to see and do, including a Good as New clothes stall, Plants, Toy and Games, Cakes, Tombola, Teas and, of course, a traditional Hornton raffle.

The children will be kept entertained with a free bouncy castle and a visit from Martin the Magic man, and will also be lots of games and crafts. Then why not relax with a glass of Pimms from the licensed bar? You can forget the cooking too, and enjoy a pork bap complete with apple sauce and stuffing from the pig roast. Veggie options will also be available, plus hot dogs for the kids.

To round off events the children will entertain you with a talent show, so put the date in your diaries for a fun-packed afternoon. Any budding artistes who would like more details, please contact Jane Wain on 01295 670716. Jane is also the person to call if anyone has items for any of the stalls, such as Good as New, and would like them collected.

The illness of a dance teacher didn’t stop the children thoroughly enjoying art, music and dance in a special Oriental week last week.

“Two visiting artists were invited - a parents who taught yoga for all classes and a Chinese Dance artist,” said headteacher Wendy Clifford. “Unfortunately the latter was unable to come due to illness and only managed to give us very short notice of cancellation.

“However, due to the creative and innovative thinking of the staff at Hornton School, all pupils were engaged in other similar activities. Classes 1 and 2 made up their own dances and performed them to parents and the rest of the school. Class 2 also composed some Chinese music and made up a song with Chinese numbers. For the four days everyone was involved in a wide variety of work - Geography, ICT, design technology, arts, movement and PE, music - to name a few.

“An open afternoon for parents was well attended and pupils demonstrated some of the skills they had learned during the week. Parents and friends had been very generous in sending artefacts etc. for displays to act as a stimulus to the pupils work. Pupils, staff and parents all enjoyed the week.”

16th June '04 - Ever Changing Attractions

Upton House’s upcoming events include an outdoor exhibition of amazing glass sculpture, Ever Changing Light, showcasing the talents of the Cohesion network of glassmakers. The exhibition will run from Saturday, July 3 to Sunday, July 27 and normal admissions prices apply.

This Saturday, June 19th, pack up a picnic and slip on your dancing shoes for a summer’s evening of live jazz with the Heart of England Jazz Band in Upton’s beautiful grounds. The gates open at 6.30pm, the music lasts from 7.30 to 10pm and the cost is just £12.50 per person.

Then from next Monday there’s a chance for all nosey Parkers to see inside Upton’s beautiful furniture. Normally sealed to keep out the light and the dust, for next week only Upton’s furniture will be exposing itself!

16th June '04 - Come and Join Us

The Salvation Army will provide the musical accompaniment at the annual open air Churches Together service on the village green this Sunday, June 20, at 2.30pm. Refreshments will be served after the service.

15th June '04 - Club Tour Cleans Up

The 3Hs Gardening Club ended up in the Broom Inn when they finished their mystery tour last week.

“It was great, absolutely great,” said club secretary Lady Tweedsmuir. “We went to Stratford, then drove past Charlcote, where we saw the deer and the Jacob’s sheep.

“We finally ended up in a very nice pub where we had a very good meal for £5 and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”

The next event on the 3H’s agenda is a trip on June 26 to Rutland Water and Barnsdale, home of the late TV gardener Geoff Hamilton. The coach will depart from the village green at 8.30am - not 9am as detailed in the club’s programme of events -and it’s already a sell-out.

15th June '04 - Itchy Feet

Hornton’s very own chiropodist, Carolyn Ramsey, has moved to Temple Hardwick but she’s staying very much part of the village community.

Carolyn will be back in Hornton every day and will still be able to visit people in their own homes.

“I’m still very much a Hornton person,” says Carolyn.

If you want to get in touch with her, Carolyn’s new phone number is 01926 691260.

14th June '04 - Quids In

You can get soup and crusty bread in Hornton this Saturday for £1 – yes, you’re not seeing things, just £1! Julie and Harry Stanley are having open house in aid of the Methodist Church from noon to 2pm. There’s a bring and buy sale and a raffle as well as the delicious soup at a knockdown price. If it’s wet, the event will be held in the Methodist Church.

14th June '04 - Runaway Success

Golden rays of sunshine shone on the Golden Mile last Sunday, ensuring that the event was a winner for the third year running.

More than £400 – the exact figure will be known in a couple of weeks – was raised for JUMPA, Hornton and Horley’s fund for a Jubilee multi-purpose play area and the event saw the first five-minute mile in its three-year history, when Richard Pratt crossed the line in exactly that time.

Jane Perkin was the fastest woman at six minutes 28 seconds, Edwin Barson the quickest boy under 18 at five minutes 15 seconds and Jess Wain beat all the other girls in a time of six minutes 36 seconds.

Pete Whitehead was second fastest runner for the third time running but his time of five minutes 14 seconds was still a personal best. And joint race organiser Ollie Fickling proudly boasts that he still hasn’t been beaten by a woman since the Golden Mile was first run, so get into training early for next year, girls!

Around 50 people took part, including children, babies in buggies, dogs and a three-legged entry and everyone celebrated the event’s success with a BBQ in the Dun Cow afterwards.

11th June '04 - There's Only One Hornton

But there’s a few - a very few - Hornton videos left which the director discovered hiding in a cupboard! If you’d like one for the specially-discounted price of just £10, please ring Roger Corke on 01295 670673 while stocks last.

11th June '04 - Flowers, Furniture and all that Jazz

Upton House gardens will be the venue for an art workshop this Monday, June 14th. Local artist and tutor Chrissie Borland will share her skills and knowledge from many years of teaching and exhibiting art, guiding you to capture the drama and beauty of gardens. The six-hour workshop, starting at 10am, costs just £20 or £18 if booked with another workshop on flower painting which Chrissie will be holding on August 17th.

Next Saturday, June 19th, it will be time to pack your picnic and get your dancing shoes on for an evening of live jazz with the Heart of England Jazz Band. The gates open at 6.30pm, the music starts an hour later and it all costs just £12-50 per person.

If you’re a really nosey Parker, then don’t miss the following week at Upton. Monday, June 21st, to Sunday, June 27th, will be Open Furniture Week. Are you curious to know what secrets lie behind the doors, in the drawers or under the lid of Upton’s beautiful furniture? It’s normally sealed to keep out the light and the dust but it will be exposing itself for this week only!

11th June '04 - Booked In

The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.

11th June '04 - Church Services

Hornton’s churches will worship together this Sunday, June 13, at a United Service in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist at 11am

10th June '04 - Sweet Not Sour

Hornton’s primary school pupils will get a real taste of the exotic with a special Oriental Week starting next Monday, June 14.

Headteacher Wendy Clifford said that a whole host of artistic activities have been planned from painting to dancing.

“We’ve got a Chinese dance artist coming down on Wednesday and she’ll be bring costumes for the children,” said Mrs Clifford. “Hopefully, she’ll be performing the famous Lion Dance.

“Ruth Griffiths from Hornton is going to teach the children yoga and there will be Chinese brush painting and origami.”

The children will also be in touch by email with the Japanese teaching assistant, Masahito Hakamada, who came to the school briefly two years ago and has stayed in touch ever since.

On Thursday at 2.15pm, parents are invited in to see what the children have achieved during their week.

10th June '04 - Flying The Flag

You don’t have to wait for England to compete in Euro 2004 to fly the flag - you can fly it in Hornton whenever you like! If you - or someone you love - has a birthday or anniversary coming up you can celebrate in style with your name on the Hornton celebration flag, fluttering at the top of the flagpole on the village green! All you have to do is to ring Ian Harris on 01295 670541, slip him a fiver to go into village funds and the Hornton flag will flutter just for you.

9th June '04 - Pop Along to the Pavillion

On June 10th, the pavilion Annual General Meeting is being held. No prizes for guessing where but if you can pop in please do and give the committee your support. You’ll be even more welcome if you volunteer to join the committee and help run it

9th June '04 - There's No Escaping The Golden Mile

No sponsorship form? No time for training? Unfit, fat and over forty? None of those excuses will wash for this Sunday’s JUMPA Golden Mile. Runners, walkers and hobblers are all welcome at 11am in Quarry Road, Hornton, where the third annual Golden Mile will be staged to raise money for Hornton and Horley's Jubilee fund for a multi-purpose play area.

You don’t have to run it - you don’t even have to be fit! You can walk the dog, do it three legged, in fact you can complete the one mile course in any way you like, just as long as you cough up £10 sponsorship if you are an adult or £5 for a child, with special targets for families who want to take part.

This year, to add to the occasion, there will be a family BBQ at the Dun Cow after the run.

"We're hoping to get plenty of families turning up again and to capture some of the great spirit we had last year," said JUMPA chairman, Steve Woodcock.

4th June '04 - Magical Mystery Tour

There are only five days to go to snap up tickets for the 3H's Gardening Club mystery tour. The trip costs just £3.99 and the coach departs from Hornton village green next Tuesday, June 8 at 6.15pm.

More details about this magical occasion can be obtained from Joy Hillman on 01295 730661.

4th June '04 - Say Cheese

All Hornton's Primary's children should try to look especially smart next Wendesday, June 9th, because the school photograph will be taken.

4th June '04 - Where Else?

The Pavilion AGM will be held at 8pm next Thursday, June 10 in…the pavilion. Please come along and give your support. Volunteers to join the committee will be particularly welcome.

4th June '04 - Pop Up to Upton

The gardens of Upton House will be alive to the sounds of the Kenilworth Consort Singers this Sunday, June 6. The popular local group will be singing a selection of period songs from 2.30 to 4.30pm - at no extra cost to visitors!

And on Monday, June 14th, you can spend a summer day painting in Upton's stunning gardens. Artist and tutor Chrissie Borland will share her skills and knowledge from many years of teaching and exhibiting art, guiding you to capture the drama and beauty of gardens. The course - for which you should bring your own materials - runs from 10am to 4pm and can be booked by ringing 01295 670266. It costs just £20 or £18 if booked with the workshop being held on August 17th.

4th June '04 - Church Services

There will be a United Service at Hornton Methodist Church this Sunday, June 6th, at 11am. There will be no service in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist because a Benefice service will take place at 10.30am in Shenington.

3rd June '04 - Hornton's Miles Better

The third annual Golden Mile Fun Run takes place this year at 11am on June 13 - a week on Sunday - and there's still plenty of time to enter.

Every penny raised will go to JUMPA, Hornton and Horley's fund for a multi-purpose play area and this year's Golden Mile will be run in celebratory mood because JUMPA has just received confirmation of its first major grant.

Cherwell District Council has given the project £10,000 from Cherwell District Council and JUMPA are delighted but committee member Jane Sanior says there still a long way to go.

"I thought they were only going to give us £5,000 so it was a ncie surprise when we found out it was £10,000 but we need £40,000," said Jane. "We've raised £6,000 and we've got grant applications in with the National Lottery and the Foundation for Sports and the Arts."

Golden Mile organiser Mark Wright is hoping this year's event will be as successful as the those in 2002 and 2003.

"It's proved very popular for the last two years, raising over £600 each time," said Mark."We're expecting a good turn-out again."

JUMPA chairman Steve Woodcock said that you don't need to be super-fit nor a keen cross-country runner to take part.

"We've had dogs on leads, picnickers and three-legged pairs participating in previous years," he explained. "Just complete the mile in the best way you can and you are sure to receive applause as you cross the finish line on Quarry Road, near the Millers Lane entrance to the village. The sponsorship target is £10 for adults and £5 for children, with special targets for families who want to take part.

"This year, to add to the occasion, there will be a family barbecue at the Dun Cow after the run. We're hoping to get plenty of families turning up again and to capture some of the great spirit we had last year."

If you haven't got a sponsoship form already, don't worry! You can ring Mark on 01`295 730530 or just come along on the day.

3rd June '04 - Deducation not Relegation

Hornton FC's supporters are relieved and delighted that the team managed to finish the season just avoiding relegation. It was nail-biting to the end and players and supporters say that particular credit is due to manager Glan Walther for keeping the team together during this difficult season.

Glen is now stepping down and so is club secretary Malcom Cross, who has held his demanding post for 23 years. All players past and present would like to express their tremendous gratitude for his dedication. Glen and Malcom will still be helping the club by continuing to prepare the pitch and support the team from the touchline.

This Sunday, June 6, at 10.30am there will be a short match between the under 40's and over 40's finishing - where else? - but in the Dun Cow. Any players past or present who would like to take part, please contact Mark Wright on 01295 730530.

3rd June '04 - Full Steam ahead for Speed Campaign

Hornton is pressing on with its campaign to persuade the county to introduce speed reduction measures to the village. At a meeting between the parish council and Oxfordshire Highway Authority's Steve Bowden on May 27, councillors asked for quotes on various speed reduction options which will then be communicated to villagers. The move follows anxieties expressed by several villagers at the annual parish meeting. They are worried about the speed of traffic coming into the village down Millers Lane and Bell Street. At one stage residents near the top of Bell Street were so concerned that they parked cars strategicaly so as to create a chicane to slow speeding cars down. At the meeting with Mr Bowden, reduction of the size of the triangular green in Millers Lane was also formally requested.

At the latest parish council meeting, on May 24, Cllr David Miles was elected unanimously at chairman for the coming year and Cllr John Offord as vice chairman.

The Council agreed the membership of the following committees: Roads and Highways - Cllrs Malcom Cross, Miles and Eric Turner; Allotments - Cllrs Paul Burden and Bill Jeffs; Planning - all members of the council; Small Playing Field -Cllrs Burden, Miles and Offord; Pavilion Cllrs Lynne Fickling, Jeffs and Offord; Finance and General Purposes - Cllrs Fickling, Jeffs, Miles and Offord; Website - Cllrs Fickling and Offord; JUMPA - Cllrs Fickling, Jeffs and Offord.

It was noted that under the Standing Orders, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman automatically become members of a committee where they are not specifically allocated.

The cheque from the John Fox charity to Hornton School for £113.30 was signed after the meeting was told that all allotment holders have paid for 2004/05. Nominations as School Governor Representatives on board of trustees were the Rev Jeff Chard and Roger Corke. A Chairman will be elected at the next meeting.

Cllr Miles reported that the Small Plyaing Field Committee has purchased a plaque to go on the Hazel Hedgehog ride costing £37.08 and a mower and strimmer bought for a total cost of £688.81. The safety tiles for the roundabout have arrived and it is hoped that, with the help of Tim Nunneley, these will be laid shortly.

An extra seat is to be purchased for the Playground using the funds from the estate of Pat Horsley.

The next parish council meeting is to be held on 26th July 2004 at 7.30pm.

3rd June '04 - Broadband Coming Soon

BT have released the RFS (Ready For Service) dates for the Edgehill Exchange. The date for the Edgehill Exchange is September 8th 2004. However, there is a 8 week bag log for orders, so if you want your Broadband service on the 8th September you will need to order it at least 8 weeks before that date.