After 15 years’ running Hornton and Horley Brownies,
Brown Owl Ann Simpkins has finally decided to hang up her woggle.
“I have decided to let someone else have a chance,” said Ann. “I shall be
finishing in July when the girls break up for their summer holidays.”
Anyone interested in taking over should ring Ann on 01295 670620 and she
will pass on their name to Area Commissioner Jenny Bruton.
Ann thanked everyone for their continued support over so many years and
looked forward to the Brownies continuing to be run by capable hands in
years to come.
29th March '05 - You Need Hands
Many hands make light work, so please pop along to the
flag pole on Hornton village green for a couple of hours at 7pm on
Thursday, April 14th. That’s when the Hornton's Spring Clean is happening
–just in time for the visit of the judges in the best-kept village
competition. So please, please come along and help pick up litter for a
couple of hours. It will make all the difference!
29th March '05 - Any Old Iron?
Can’t stand the mess? Time for a clear-out? Then help is at
hand. There’s a Jumble Sale and White Elephant planned for 2pm on
Saturday, April 16th, in Hornton Pavilion. Goods can be collected the week
before or delivered to Ian and Isabel Harris at Grafton Rise in Bell
Street. Alternatively, you can come down to the Pavilion on the morning
of the sale. Further details can be obtained form Ian and Isabel on 01295
670541.
All proceeds from the sale will go to the pavilion extension fund.
29th March '05 - Retrosnax
You won’t just get a fantastic night of Elvis music if you
come along to see Retrospex at Hornton Pavilion on April 9th, you’ll get fed
into the bargain!
Yup, the £7-50 ticket price doesn’t only include a hip-wiggling evening of
numbers from the King, it also includes food!
So what are you waiting for? It’s time for a Little Less Conversation and
a little more buying of tickets – in this case from Julie Stanley on 01295
670507. Be there or be square!
29th March '05 - Phew - 5-2
The Dun Cow are still at the top of the Harbury and District
Crib League, thanks to a 5-2 win not only by them but also by their two
nearest rivals. Hornton beat the Bull Inn by the 5-2 margin in the latest
round of matches, leaving them with 22 points. But just behind are the
Greaves Club and the Red Lion, who both pipped rival teams by the same
margin and are two points behind – with a game in hand and a superior
points difference. It’s too close to call!
29th March '05 - Yoga and Out
There will be no Yoga on Thursday, because teacher
Ruth Griffiths is away on holiday. But she’ll be back next week and
anyone is invited to join her then and every Thursday at the Methodist
Chapel between 7 and 8.30pm. You can get more details from Ruth on 01295
678100.
29th March '05 - All to Play For
Hornton playground should soon get new play equipment,
thanks to the generosity of villager Mike Webber, who left money in his
will to be used for the benefit of local children.
The Parish Council’s latest meeting, on March 21st, was told that, along
with new equipment, there were plans to build a disabled ramp which should
be subsidised by grants.
The council were also told that the white electric supply box on the
village green, supplying power to the lights on the Christmas Tree, should
soon be a thing of the past. Coun Eric Turner has found a smaller, green
box and councillors agreed that it should be installed.
The next meeting of the council will be on Monday, April 25th at 7pm,
followed by the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm.
29th March '05 - Open Book
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on
the village green next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.
29th March '05 - Church Services
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated this Sunday, April 3rd,
at 8.30am in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist. At 11am there will
be a village service in the Methodist Church.
22nd March '05 - Don't be Bashful
Hornton School is only small and needs all the Tesco Computers for
Schools vouchers it can
get! So when you're at the checkout and the shopper in front doesn't want their vouchers, go on - be cheeky.
Ask if Hornton School can have them. Better still, ask the checkout staff if anyone has turned down vouchers
recently. If you smile sweetly enough, you can get loads!
The vouchers can be posted through the letterbox at the school's Church Lane entrance or you can give them in
personally on Friday, April 1st, when the children’s efforts will be on show at the end of Maths Week.
During the event, which runs from next Tuesday to Friday, children at the school will be engaged in a variety
of mathematically-related activities. Come and see what they have been doing on the final afternoon from 2.15pm.
22nd March '05 - Top of the Table
The Dun Cow’s Crib team are heading the Harbury and District Crib League after their two
nearest rivals clashed in a top-of-the-table four-pointer. Fortunately for the Hornton team, who were last
year’s league champions, North End’s Red Lion Inn triumphed over the Greaves Club from Bishops Itchington.
It was the perfect result. Now they both have two points less than Hornton, though they do have a game in hand.
If either of their rivals win their next match they would equal the Dun Cow on points and go ahead on points
difference but, with only a handful of games left, it’s a terrific race to the finish in the league.
And as the Dun Cow are in the league cup final as well, there’s just a chance that Hornton could do the league
and cup double. Don’t count your chickens just yet…
22nd March '05 - Yoga and Out
There will be no Yoga next Thursday, March 31st, because teacher Ruth Griffiths is away on holiday.
But she’ll be back the following week and anyone is invited to join her then and every Thursday at the Methodist
Chapel between 7 and 8.30pm. You can get more details from Ruth on 01295 678100.
22nd March '05 - All the Ones
A fantastic total of £101 was raised at the bingo session held in the Church Room on March 15th.
The cash will go to the funds of the Parish Church’s Ladies’ Working Party.
22nd March '05 - Are you Lonesome Tonight?
If so, book up now to see the return visit to Hornton by Retrospex! They wowed
diners at the Harvest Supper and they’re making a welcome return to Hornton in an Elvis tribute evening at
8pm on Saturday, April 9th. All proceeds go to the pavilion’s kitchen extension fund and the tickets, at
just £7.50, are available from Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.
22nd March '05 - Are you Hungry Tonight?
JUMPA, Hornton and Horley's Jubilee fund for a multi-purpose play area, are tantalisingly
close to getting all the cash they need and now’s the time you can really help them. All you have to do it to
put your name down for JUMPA’s progressive dinner party – the next event on their
fund-raising schedule.
It takes place on Saturday, April 23rd, and if you’ve not been before, you’ve missed a treat! Either you go on a
mystery tour around the village, eating a different course at each venue, or you stage a dinner party and have
three different sets of guests. Either way, you’re sure to have a great time and JUMPA
benefits!
If you’re a host, your contribution is the food and drink. If you’re a guest, you pay £25 a head for a delicious
meal with all the wine, beer and liqueurs thrown in. It’s an absolute bargain.
Just pop your name and address on a piece of paper and drop it in to the village postbox next to the noticeboard
by 9am on Friday, April 7th. You can choose whether to be a guest or a host, so everyone can accommodated.
22nd March '05 - Run Rabbit Run!
It’s not too late to buy a ticket for the bunny bargain of the year – though you must be
quick! An Easter draw for a wonderful chocolate bunny will be made in the Dun Cow by landlady Gwyneth Gelling
on Sunday lunchtime at 2pm and all proceeds will go to the Banbury Lions. Tickets at just £1 each can be
purchased from the pub or from Hornton’s David Kings on 01295 670356. Rest assured, every penny raised will
go to good causes sponsored by the Lions.
Three-quarters of the proceeds go to the Katherine House Hospice in Banbury - the Lions have already donated more
than £50,000 to it over the years. The rest of the cash goes to other Lions-supported initiatives, such as
bursaries for local schoolchildren, drug awareness in schools and televisions for the children's ward at Horton
Hospital.
In the meantime, the Dun Cow has an action-packed April coming up. It begins on Wednesday, April 13, when there’s
a special port tasting with Mark Archer from Banbury wine merchants S&H Jones. The tasting starts at 8pm and it’s
advisable to book early as places are strictly limited.
The tasting – which will include a fine selection of ports - costs just £10 a head and if it’s anything like as
powerful at the pub’s malt whisky tasting back in November, it’ll be quite a night. A number of livers in the
village are just coming up for air…
Then the pub is holding a special English Weekend ten days later to celebrate England’s very own patron saint.
The patriotic pleasures kick off on Friday, April 22nd, when there will be a fish and chip night from 7pm.
From the same time on the following night – St George’s Day proper – there will be a home-made pie night and on
Sunday lunchtime at 1pm there will be – what else? – a roast beef lunch.
Gwyneth would like anyone coming to lunch to book by the previous Monday, April 18th, if at all possible. See you
there!
22nd March '05 - Church Services
There will be a special united service tomorrow, Good Friday, at 7pm in the Methodist Church
and another, celebrating Holy Eucharist, at 11am on Easter Sunday at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist.
15th March '05 - It's Now or Never
You’ll really regret it if you miss it. It’s the return visit by Retrospex, who entertained diners at the Harvest
Supper, and are making a welcome return to Hornton in an Elvis tribute evening at 8pm on Saturday, April 9th. All
proceeds go to the pavilion’s kitchen extension fund and the tickets, at just £7-50, are available from Julie
Stanley on 01295 670507.
15th March '05 - Foxtrot Oscar
Forget the Oscars – the Hornies were a triumph! The inaugural Hornton Film Festival finished on Saturday night when
the film industry’s most prestigious “gongs” – the Hornies – were awarded in a glittering ceremony.
Much to the surprise of seasoned observers of the Hollywood scene, Hornton’s home-grown talent walked off with all
the prizes, leaving the likes of Martin Scorzese and Clint Eastwood scampering after second place.
More than a dozen short films were in the running for the Hornies and the quality, according to one industry insider
who lives in the village, was superb. What’s more, the evening – together with a film-themed quiz night at the Dun
Cow on Friday – raised more than £600 for JUMPA, Hornton and Horley's Jubilee fund for
a multi-purpose play area.
JUMPA’s Steve Woodcock said that the whole event showed why Hornton is such a special place.
“Which other village would have been able to create an event like this from scratch?” he said. “Everything just
worked.”
Steve said that special thanks should go to projectionist Ian Harris, Julie Stanley, who sold the tickets, and
everyone who helped on the bar and made the canapés for the champagne reception.
“The catering was pure Hornton,” according to Steve. “We suggested that one or two people might like to make a
few canapés to go with the champagne and on the night the tables were groaning with wonderful food from everyone.”
But the person who had done most to put the event together was Pete Whitehead, who dreamt up the whole project and saw it
through to completion, said Steve.
He justifiably received the biggest applause of all at Saturday’s gala night and everyone in the sell-out crowd
enthusiastically raised their hands when asked if they would like him to arrange another film festival next year.
So time’s up, Oscar. The Hornies are here to stay!
The fund-raising effort puts JUMPA tantalisingly close to the target it needs to build the
play area but Steve said that it was vital that the final £5,000 or so needed was raised this year.
“We have been offered a £10,000 grant by Cherwell but we’ll lose it if we don’t take it up by the end of
this year,” he said. “As the council will only give us the money when the rest of the money is raised
and the work is started, the race is on.”
So there couldn’t be a better time to take part in one of JUMPA’s progressive dinner
parties – the next event on the fund-raising schedule.
It takes place on Saturday, April 23rd, and if you’ve not been before, you’ve missed a treat.
It’s a great idea. Either you go on a mystery tour around the village, eating a different course at each
venue, or you stage a dinner party and have three different sets of guests. Either way, you’re sure to have
a great time and JUMPA benefits!
If you’re a host, your contribution is the food. If you’re a guest, you pay £25 a head for a delicious meal
with all the wine, beer and liqueurs you can drink. It’s an absolute bargain.
All you have to do is pop your name and address on a piece of paper and pop it in to the village postbox next
to the noticeboard by 9am on Friday, April 7th. You can choose whether to be a guest or a host, so everyone can
accommodated.
A week before the event, you’ll get all the details and then it’s just a case of enjoying a great evening.
15th March '05 - Bumper Crop
Janet Cropley of Evenley didn’t disappoint when she made a welcome return to the latest meeting of the
3Hs Gardening Club and talked about variegated foliage plants.
The club next gets together for its annual meeting, at 7.30pm in Hornton Pavilion on April 12th, when the timetable
of events for the coming year will be announced and Mike Brown from Shillingford will talk about clematis.
15th March '05 - Big Hand
It was all down to the last hand but Hornton’s captain Paul Burden played it superbly to put the Dun Cow team
into the Harbury and District Crib League cup final!
Hornton pipped the Shoulder of Mutton from Granborough in the semis and play the Cottage Inn from Ashorne
at the end of April.
Meanwhile, in the league, the team have won their latest match and lost the previous one to stay equal first
in points but they’ve played one game more than their main rivals.
15th March '05 - Open Book
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday from 10.55 to
11.30am.
15th March '05 - Last but not Least
The last meeting of Hornton Parish Council for this financial year takes place at 7.30pm next Monday, March 21st,
in the Church Room. Everyone is welcome to attend.
15th March '05 - Church Services
There will be two special Palm Sunday Services in Hornton this weekend. At 10.30am Matins will be celebrated in
the Parish Church of St John the Baptist and at 11am there will be a service in the Methodist Church. Then, at
7.30pm on Wednesday, March 23rd, there will be a special Stations of the Cross service at the parish church,
followed by a special United Service two days later on Good Friday in the Methodist Church at 7pm.
8th March '05 - It's a Peach of a School
Peachtree Pre-School is a friendly village pre-school which is based at Hornton Primary School. It
offers high quality education for youngsters, find out more today.
7th March '05 - Spot a Star
It’s nearly here – the most glamorous night of the year! It’s
the inaugural Hornton Film Festival, of course, and the most prestigious
prizes of the silver screen – the Hornies – will be awarded at a special
gala night in the pavilion this Saturday, March 12th.
You can be there at just £6 a ticket, and £4 for children, including canapés
and a glass of bubbly ! The dress code is “Hollytwood glamour”- what else!
Ring Julie Stanley on 01295 670507 straight away for tickets to the gala
night or email her at julieharrystan at aol dot com.
The festival actually kicks off tomorrow night, Friday, at a special
festival quiz in the Dun Cow set by Hornton’s fiendish quizmeisters, Ollie
Fickling and Steve Woodcock. There will be a host of prizes. Either pop down
on the night and join a team or book in with Martin and Gwyneth on 01295
670524 beforehand.
And tomorrow’s film makers will have their chance to shoot and star in their
own film on Saturday afternoon in the Pavilion when Hornton's children get
the chance to make their own film. More details from festival organiser Pete
Whitehead on 01295 670320.
7th March '05 - Be in it to Win it
If you’re not at next week’s bingo session, you won’t
win! Eyes down is at 7.30pm on Tuesday, March 15th, in the Church Room. All
proceeds got he the Parsh Church’sl ladies Working Party.
7th March '05 - Closer to the High Jump
Hornton’s Jubilee Fund for a Multi- Purpose Play
Area, JUMPA, has been awarded a grant of £5000 by the National Lottery. This
brings the total raised through fund-raising and grants to almost £24,000,
only a few thousand short of the total needed.
The race is now on to raise the last money, as the Lottery grant is only
valid for a year. Whilst there are still grant applications outstanding,
there are plenty of events coming up where, not only can money be raised,
but also a good time had by all!
After this weekend’s film festival, there’s the ever-popular Progressive
Dinner Party is on Saturday, April 23rd and now is the time to sign up. You
cen get more details fro, JUMPA's Chris and Steve Woodcock on 01295 670795.
Summer events include the Golden Mile (date to be confirmed) and a Midsummer
Barn Dance on June 25th with live music. Details for both will be confirmed
nearer the time.
The JUMPA committee are always keen for volunteers or bright ideas, so if
you feel like joining in please come along to the next meeting on Wednesday
April 20th at 8.15pm in the Dun Cow.
7th March '05 - Paint the Pavillion!
Detailed plans have now been drawn up for the new
extension and are currently with the District Council for building
regulations guidance, but in the meantime the interior is going to be given
a fresh lick of paint. Fancy lending a hand? Come along on the weekend May 7th
and 8th with a brush and do your bit for keeping the Pavilion looking spick
and span!
Forthcoming events include an Elvis night with the rocking Retrospex
pencilled in for April 9th so please look out for more details. Later in the
year, the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar is being celebrated,
and Hornton will be joining in. It’s not until Friday October 21st but plans
so far include a beacon and suitably nautical supper event!
The next meeting of the Pavilion Committee is the AGM at 8.15pm on June 8th
in the Pavilion and all are welcome.
7th March '05 - Peach of a Sale
Thank you to everyone who helped to make Peachtree
Pre-school's nearly-new sale such a sucess last Saturday! Thanks especially
to all the committee members, parents and staff who gave up most of their
day off and thanks to all those who braved the wintry weather to come and
snap up the bargains. We had a really enjoyable day and made over £300 to
buy books, equipment and craft materials for Peachtree.
7th March '05 - Eggstra Help for a Good Cause
It’s the Banbury Lions Club special Easter
Egg raffle and at just £1 a ticket you can’t say no! The Lions are raffling
an egg made of the very best Belgian chocolate in the Dun Cow this Easter,
so dig into your pockets for a little eggstra cash.
Three-quarters of the proceeds go to the Katherine House Hospice in Banbury
– the Lions have already donated more than £50,000 over the years. The rest
of the cash goes to other Lions-supported good causes, such as bursaries for
local schoolchildren, drug awareness in schools and televisions for the
children’s ward at Hornton Hospital.
You can either buy your raffle tickets from Martin and Gwyneth at the Dun
Cow or from David Kings on 01295 670356.
7th March '05 - Church Services
There will be a United Village Service at 11am this
Sunday, March 13th, at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist. The Presence
prayer group will meet next Monday, March 14th, at 7pm in the Methodist
Chapel.
1st March 2005 - Nearly New But A Surefire Bargain
Peachtree Pre-School is holding a nearly new sale this Saturday, March 5th, at Hanwell
Village Hall. Just bring along all your unwanted children’s clothes, toys and books by 11.30am and you’ll split the profit
50:50 with Peachtree. It’s that easy.
The sale is on between 1.30pm and 3pm and Peachtree also needs all the help it can get during those hours behind the
counter, so please contact Emma Hamer on 01295 730668 if you can assist.
1st March 2005 - Good Crop Assured
Janet Cropley will be the star speaker at the next meeting of the 3Hs Gardening Club, at 7.30pm
next Tuesday, March 8. She will be talking about foliage plants.
1st March 2005 - Better Goto Bingo
It will be “eyes down” at 7.30pm in the Church Room on Wednesday week, March 15th, when there will
be a bingo session run in aid of the Ladies Working Party of the Parish Church.
1st March 2005 - Bend Zee Knees
Don’t forget that there’s Keep Fit every Wednesday in the Pavilion between 7pm and 8pm. It’s
suitable for all ages and abilities and new members are very welcome.
1st March 2005 - Tinsel in Town
There’s only a week to go to the most glittering occasion in Hornton this year, so if you haven’t
snapped up your ticket yet, be quick! It’s the Hornton Film Festival, of course, with the gala night in the pavilion
on Saturday week, March 12th. You’ll see Hornton’s finest film makers pitted against Hollywood’s finest in hot
ompetition for the most prestigious “gongs” around – the Hornies! And as tickets are just £6 each, and £4 for children,
don’t be surprised to see a star of two there, especially as the price includes canapés and a glass of bubbly ! The dress
code is “Hollywood glamour” – whatever that means. Ring Julie Stanley on 01295 670507 straight away or email her at
julieharrystan at aol dot com.
And don’t forget that on the night before - March 11th - you can pit your wits in a special festival quiz set by
Ollie Fickling and Steve Woodcock at the Dun Cow. There will be special prizes and a packed house is assured,
so book in soon with Martin and Gwyneth on 01295 670524.
And the kids won’t be left out of all the fun, because tomorrow’s film-makers will have their chance to shoot and
star in their own film on the Saturday afternoon in the Pavilion. All children are welcome and more details can be
obtained from festival organiser Pete Whitehead on 01295 670320.
1st March 2005 - Standing Room Only
The House of God was packed last Friday when classical guitar duo Divertimento played in Hornton
Methodist Church.
“It was brilliant,” said concert organiser Julie Stanley. “It was sold out and there were other people who didn’t have
tickets but we squeezed them in!”
1st March 2005 - Cuttled!
The Dun Cow were trounced 6-1 by the Cuttle Inn at Long Itchington in the latest round of the Harbury and
District Crib League. The shock result leaves the Hornton team – last year’s league champions – equal on 20 points
at the top of the table with the Greaves Club from Bishops Itchington but they have played one game more.
1st March 2005 - Heartbreak Hotel
The Elvis Tribute evening by Retrospex due to take place at Hornton Pavilion on Saturday, March 19th,
sadly cannot go ahead. It has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 9th.
1st March 2005 - Book In
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday, March 9th,
from 10.55 to 11.30am.
1st March 2005 - Church Services
On Friday, there will be a special service at 2pm in Hornton Methodist Church for The Women’s
World Day of Prayer. On Sunday, Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist at 8.30am and
then there will be a special Mothering Sunday service at 11am, to which young families are very welcome. The Methodist
Church is also holding a Mothering Sunday Service at 11am, with refreshments afterwards. And don’t forget that all
children are welcome to Sunday School, which meets every Sunday from 9.45am to 10.45am and Thursday Club meets
every Thursday in term time after school until 4.30pm
