Can you spare a few hours every month to be a Parish councillor? If so, now’s the time to put your name forward.
Hornton has to elect seven people to serve on the Parish Council for the next four years and it’s now time to put in nomination papers.
Anyone wishing to be considered can obtain nomination papers from the Parish Clerk, Alan Cater, on 01295 670530 or by email from a dot cater at btinternet dot com (replace the appropriate words for symbols). Alternatively, you can contact the Returning Officer at Cherwell District Council.
Completed nomination papers have to be returned to Cherwell after 24 March but no later than noon on 3 April 2006.
If more than seven valid nominations are received, the poll will take place on Thursday, May 4 at the same time at the poll for the District Council Elections.
29th March '06 - Egg-citement Mounts
Hornton School’s pupils finish Term 4 tomorrow, Friday, for a well-earned Easter break. Term 5 begins on Tuesday, April 18.
29th March '06 - Well Plotted
Enjoy gardening and cooking? Why not combine your passions for both in a series of three seasonal participation events at Upton House!
The first of them, entitled Plot to Plate, is on April 27, and you’ll learn about fresh produce from gardening experts in Upton’s Kitchen Display Garden, before transferring to a cookery workshop using the produce to create mouth-watering dishes under the supervision of an expert chef.
The first of the three workshops - the other two will be in the summer and the autumn - will cost just £15. Bookings can be made at Upton on 01295 671121 or you can email uptonhouse @ national trust.org.uk
See next week for details more Easter egg-citement at Upton!
29th March '06 - Worms Turn
Bookworms can wiggle their way along to the mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council next Wednesday, which will be on the village green from 10.55 to 11.30am.
29th March '06 - Church Services
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 8.30am in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist on Sunday, April 2. There will also be a United Service in the Methodist Church at 11am.
And if you’re at a loose end, please call in for coffee and a chat at the Methodist Church every Friday from 9.45am!
Next Tuesday, April 4, the rector, Jeff Chard, will be leading the final of five Lent discussions at 7.30pm in Wroxton village hall. They have all centred on favourites passages and Jeff’s is entitled Jesus Christ Superstar: Gethsemane - is there another way?
22nd March '06 - It Ain't 'arf Hot Mum
Hornton’s Peachtree Pre-School’s are getting hot and spicy tomorrow night, March 24, with an Indian evening. There will be curry and a disco and it’s all taking place in the pavilion. You can get the £7-50 tickets from Amy on 01295 738882 or Sam on 01295 730065.
22nd March '06 - Full House
Pop in to bingo this Monday, March 27, in the Church Room at 7.30pm. All proceeds will go to Hornton Methodist Church Funds.
22nd March '06 - Egg-Citing Assembly
Hornton School’s children will have the chance to compete in three egg-citing competitions at their Easter assembly next week. They can go in for the Easter bonnet contest, or they can decorate an egg or a basket.
The assembly is taking place next Thursday, March 30, at 2.15pm in the Methodist Chapel and space is limited.
22nd March '06 - Down Memory Lane
Do you remember life in the old days at Upton House?
You do? Then pop up to Upton this Saturday, March 25, from midday to 4pm, when former staff and local residents are invited to come and share their recollections in Memory Lane.
You can just turn up on the day, get more details from Upton on 01295 670266 or find out more by emailing uptonhouse@national trust.org.uk
22nd March '06 - Wild Reception
Mick West’s talk about Wild Orchids went down really well at the latest meeting of the 3Hs Gardening Club. The next meeting will be the annual meeting on April 11 in Hornton Pavilion, when you can rejoin the club - or join for the first time.
You get a host of benefits as a 3Hs member - there are talks, outings, dinner at Christmas and the chance to enter the club’s annual flower and produce show. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it, so come along on April 11 or contact club secretary Sally Tweedsmuir today on 01295 670608.
22nd March '06 - Church Services
This Sunday, March 26, is Mothering Sunday. There’s an 11 o’clock service in the Methodist Church and Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at the same time in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist.
Next Tuesday, March 28, the Rev Michael Hoy will be leading the fourth in the series of five Lent discussions at 7.30pm in Wroxton village hall. They all centre on favourites passages and Michael’s features CS Lewis’ book Mere Christianity.
And call in for coffee and a chat at the Methodist Church every Friday from 9.45 am.
And children, don’t forget Thursday Club in the Methodist Church schoolroom this Thursday and every Thursday in term time after school.
15th March '06 - Fancy Football
The long-awaited official opening of JUMPA,
Hornton and Horley's Jubilee multi-purpose
play area, will be celebrated in June by a five-a-side fancy dress football match.
The dates of June 3, 4 or Father’s Day on June 18 have been pencilled in and a member of the
Nunneley family, who generously donated the land for the area, will cut the ribbon.
Afterwards, there’s going to be a BBQ and bar, with perhaps a disco in the pavilion that
evening.
The JUMPA committee are also busy arranging
for spectators’ benches, nets and special
equipment lockers to be bought, signs to be erected and the necessary risk assessments
to be carried out. There will be £7,000 left in the bank when all the bills have been paid.
Up for the Cup
The Dun Cow crib team, who are languishing at the bottom of the
Harbury and District Drib League after losing their latest match 5-2 at home to Long
Itchington’s Green Man, have some good news to celebrate at last!
They are in the final of the league’s cup competition and so there’s a chance of silverware
this season after all. Good luck, cribbers!
15th March '06 - Domino Theory
The Dun Cow dominoes team have won their third game in a row with a
10-6 win against The Plough from Little Bourton. The pairings of Malcolm Cross with Malcolm
Parker and Linda Cross with Adrian Horsley won three of the four games they played.
15th March '06 - Give Mum a Rest
There’s still time to book lunch at the Dun Cow for Mother’s Day,
March 26. Mum can put her feet up and eat a two or three-course meal, which will be served
at 12.30 for 1pm. Please look in the pub and around the village for details of the menu.
15th March '06 - Green Leaves
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the
village green next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.
15th March '06 - Church Services
Matins will be celebrated this Sunday, March 19, in the Parish
Church of St John the Baptist at 10.30am. There will be a service in the Methodist Church
half an hour later.
Next Tuesday, March 21, the Rev Pamela Smith will be leading the third in the series of
five Lent discussions at 7.30pm in Wroxton village hall. They all centre on favourite
passages and Pam’s features Dylan Thomas’ poem Do Not Go Gentle.
14th March '06 - Golden Gongs for the Silver Screen
A packed house had a wonderful time at Hornton Pavilion on Saturday night at the village’s second annual Film Festival.
There were 11 films entered and to surprise and delight of all, everyone who entered won a coveted Horny, Hornton’s answer to
the Oscars, which this year were golden-face statuettes - a bit like the Baftas but must more prestigious, of course.
Organiser Pete Whitehead, who once again did a fantastic job in arranging the event and was presented with a well-deserved
Horny of his own, was delighted with the evening.
“The gala got off to a fizzing start with champagne and canapés and, like last year's event, there was a fantastic mix of
films, all to a stunningly high standard,” said Pete.
“Awards were given to Freddie and Eleanor Campbell for Best Art House movie; to Roger Corke for Most Unconvincing Item of
Facial Hair seen in a Movie; to Neil Madden, aka Beastie, for Best Soundtrack; to Tom Fickling for Most Imaginative Use of
Paint in a Film; to Sophie McNamee for Best Documentary; and to Kevin Wain for Best Family Contribution to the Festival.
Special prizes were also given to Dave Dunlop and Mark Bowes.
“The finale to the evening, involving the entire audience participating in a rousing sing-a-long to the soundtrack of Village
People's YMCA was Hornton at its best and most energetic. This was filmed on the night and may well form the basis for one of
next year's movies!
“As well as providing a great night of entertainment, the event raised nearly £500 for the Pavilion fund.”
Pete said that thanks should go to everyone who helped and supported the event, especially Steve Woodcock and Ollie Fickling,
who organised one of their fiendish quizzes for a special film festival quiz night at the Dun Cow on Friday.
Plans for the Hornton Film Festival 2007 are already underway, so watch out for more information over the coming months. Pete’s
going to arrange for a number of film weekends, when people who have an idea for a film but little knowledge in shooting or
editing it, can produce it in a couple of days with help from more experienced film-makers. So next year you’ve got no excuse
for not coming up with a film and trying to win a Horny!
14th March '06 - Look In
There’s a bingo evening at 7.30pm next Tuesday, March 21, in the Church Room in aid of the
Church Ladies’ Working Party.
14th March '06 - Some Like it Hot
Hornton’s Peachtree Pre-School are spicing things up tomorrow week, March 24, with an
Indian evening. There will be curry and a disco, so people can put their Salsa steps to the test. It’s taking place in the
pavilion and you can get the £7-50 tickets from Amy on 01295 738882 or Sam on 01295 730065.
14th March '06 - Tiny Ten get the Grand Slam
Hornton School’s rugby team have gone one better than England - they’ve
won their own Grand Slam!
The squad - Myles Senior, Alex Caviezel Cox, Daniel Hirst, Tom Wain, Joe Walther, Alex Tuckwell-Buckland, Ffion Ribbons, Verity
Saunders, Ellie Paynton and Amy Brookes - beat 22 other teams to lift the tag rugby cup last week.
Class 3 teacher Janet Porter said the Hornton squad - and the intrepid Mums supporting them - braved high winds, driving rain
and, at times, sleet to win four matches and put them into a “local derby” semi-final against Shennington.
“The Hornton children were brilliant,” she said. “They were focussed, enthusiastic and very hardy, considering the weather
conditions. It was a delight to see them working so well together as a team producing some superb passing sequences, nail
biting tries and a very exciting afternoon!”
The children then beat Shennington by four tries to two in a very exciting semi-final.
“It was a credit to Shennington that they played so hard and well but were so sporting in defeat.
“The final against Dr Radcliffe's school from Steeple Aston was won by a 'golden try' - the first try scored won the game -
because the tournament was running out of time. This was achieved by Myles Senior in the first minute of the match , ably
assisted by Alex Caviezel Cox. ”
Hornton were jubilant and the squad were all presented with medals from Banbury Rugby Club, where the tournament was held,
plus the precious a cup.
You can help the school do even better in sports by collecting Sainsbury’s Active Kids vouchers for PE equipment. The school
is also collecting Nestle Box Tops for free books, Persil Stars for free arts and crafts materials and Tesco Computers for
Schools vouchers.
And when you pop into Sainsbury’s or Tescos, go on - be cheeky! If you say Hornton’s only a little school and needs all the
vouchers it can get, some checkout assistants are very generous!
Meanwhile, Dawn Williams is doing her bit to buy books for the school by entering the Stratford Half-Marathon on May 7. If
you’d like to sponsor Dawn, please contact the school on 01295 670335.
8th March '06 - Take One
Or maybe two free glasses of champagne when you come along all dressed up to Hornton’s most
glamorous night of the year!
It’s this Saturday, March 11 - the Hornton film Festival. For the second year running, the
cream of Hornton’s film-making talent will be aiming to win Hornies - the prestigious awards
already rivalling the Emmys, the Baftas and the Oscars!
And it all kicks off at 8pm with that glittering champagne reception -the bubbly donated
from the sixpence-a-line cash generated by village activities via the Hornton column of the
Guardian.
Organiser Pete Whitehead says he is delighted with the array of entries this year - all of
which are based on a musical theme.
There will also be a cash bar, free canapés and, of course, a traditional Hornton raffle,
so don’t miss it!
You can reserve your £6 tickets - £4 for children under 16 - by ringing Julie Stanley on
01295 670507. See you there in your finery!
8th March '06 - Take Two, Three or Four
That’s the number of people who can be in a team in the special film quiz being held in
the Dun Cow at 7.30pm tomorrow night, Friday, as part of the Hornton Film Festival
celebrations.
Once again, Hornton’s fiendish quiz maestros, Ollie Fickling and Steve Woodcock, will
be providing the questions and there are exciting prizes on offer if you can come up
with the most answers!
There will also be food, which you can order beforehand to be served in the interval.
An excellent evening is in store.
8th March '06 - Time to Join the Party
A working party is being set up to consider the future of the village pavilion. Can
you help?
The initiative follows a meeting last week of the pavilion committee to which everyone
in the village was invited. There were three options on the table - to continue with
the present plans for a kitchen extension, to go for a more extensive refurbishment
or to build a brand new pavilion.
Parish clerk Alan Cater, who had acted as a “postbox” for people’s views in advance
of the meeting, said that none of the 30 responses he had received favoured the kitchen
extension. A big majority - 23 - wanted a brand new building and seven were in favour of
a big refurbishment of the existing pavilion.
But he also stressed that, where replacement was favoured by respondents, there was
recognition of the hard work and energy that many people - now and in previous
generations - had made to the pavilion.
The meeting was told that there were arguments in favour of the limited kitchen
extension. Some funding was already ear-marked for this from previous fund-raising
and investment had been made to get planning permission. The extension was affordable
and probably achievable in a relatively short time period, whereas other options would
cost much more and possibly take years.
The big refurbishment was the half-way option, and those supporting it believed it was
more deliverable/affordable than a new build, but addressed the weaknesses of the
current Pavilion. These were identified as heating, insulation, roof, kitchen, ventilation
and changing facilities.
Those in favour of a new building thought that trying to bring the Pavilion up to current
standards would be very costly and still would not deliver the type of building needed for
the 21st Century. The experience of JUMPA
had shown what could be achieved when Hornton
raised funds and more people would use a new building.
It was agreed that more information was required - particularly the cost of a new building
and a major refurbishment - and the likelihood of getting grants for a bigger project. So
a working party is to be formed and volunteers asked to participate.
A number of people immediately agreed to help. Andrew Higgins will seek advice from a
colleague who has been involved in a recent village hall project, Ian Donaldson will check
school legislation and David Kings also offered to follow up contacts.
Andy Perry offered to head up the working party. Ann Joiner, Ollie Fickling, Ian Harris,
Gill Offord, Ian Donaldson and Steve Woodcock all offered help in some measure. The next
step is to recruit a team and get as many people involved as possible.
So if you’d like to help, please get in touch with Ian Harris on 01295 670541 or Steve
Woodcock on 01295 670795.
And that goes for any ideas you might have about the future of the pavilion. Maybe you
haven’t got time to take part in a working party but have got some thoughts about what a
pavilion should contain - facilities for badminton, perhaps, a bar, a stage? Whatever
your views, now’s the time to air them.
8th March '06 - Tipped at the Top
The Dun Cow dominoes team had an excellent away win in their latest match when they
beat top-of-the-league Kineton Social Club 9-7.
Jean Gibbins and Barbara Neville won all of their four games, while Frank Jarrett and
Richard Hillman won three out of four.
8th March '06 - Fun for Mum
The Dun Cow is now taking orders for lunch on Mothering Sunday, March 26, so why not
give Mum the day off cooking. A freshly-cooked two or three-course roast lunch will
be on offer and you can either book with Gwyneth in the pub of by calling her on
01295 670524.
8th March '06 - Many Memories
Do you remember life in the old days at Upton House?
You do? Then pop up to Upton on Saturday, March 25, from midday to 4pm, when former
staff and local residents are invited to come and share their recollections in Memory
Lane.
You can just turn up on the day, get more details from Upton on 01295 670266 or find
out more by emailing uptonhouse@national trust.org.uk
8th March '06 - Church Services
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this
Sunday, March 12, at 11am. As this will be a United Service, there will be no service
in the Methodist Church.
2nd March '06 - Make your Pavillion point Tomorrow
The vast majority of Hornton villagers who have expressed a view so far about the future
of the pavilion have come out in favour of a complete rebuild.
“We have had a very good response,” said parish clerk Alan Cater, who volunteered to act
as a “postbox” for people’s views prior to a public meeting about its future which is
being held tonight, Thursday.
“Of the three possibilities on the table, only one couple has opted for a major refurbishment, no one has supported a limited kitchen extension and all the rest have wanted to build a new pavilion.”
Alan also said he had been very impressed with the thoughtful nature of the letters. A
number had mentioned that people’s past efforts in building the present pavilion should
not go unrecognised.
What do you think? Maybe you don’t want a new pavilion. Maybe you would like a big
refurbishment instead of a new build, or want to go for a kitchen extension instead of
either. Whatever your views, it’s not too late to express them and make a difference.
You can either drop a note into Alan at The Cottage, Pages Lane or email him at a dot
cater at btinternet dot com
Or you can come along to the pavilion at 8.15 tonight when the committee will be holding
their special public meeting and make sure your voice is heard.
And the pavilion committee is reintroducing the village tote in April to raise much-needed
funds.
“We’re planning to have an annual subscription of £5 for each pair of numbers than a monthly
collection,” said pavilion committee chairman Ian Harris.
“The draw will take place in the Dun Cow on the last Friday of every month and Ian
anticipated that the four winners would win about £20 each.
You can get more details from Ian on 01295 670541.
2nd March '06 - Foxtrot Oscars
Forget the Emmys, the Baftas and the Oscars. The only awards which matter on Saturday week will be the Hornies!
They’re the prestigious awards for the talented winners in this year’s Hornton Film Festival, which returns to the pavilion for a second sparkling year on Saturday week, March 11.
Once again Hornton’s glitterati will be out in their finery to see which of the village’s film makers will be talented enough to win one of the coveted statuettes. Festival organiser Pete Whitehead says the array of films on offer is even better quality than last year’s immensely successful event.
It all kicks off at 8pm with a glittering champagne reception - with the bubbly donated from the sixpence-a-line cash generated by village activities via the Hornton column of the Guardian!
There will also be a cash bar, free canapés and, of course, a traditional Hornton raffle, so don’t miss it!
You can reserve your £6 tickets - £4 for children under 16 - by ringing Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.
2nd March '06 - Wild West
Mick West will be talking to the 3Hs Gardening Club at their next meeting, in Hornton Pavilion, on March 14. His subject will be Wild Orchids.
2nd March '06 - Red, White and Gold - and Brown
Put this date in your diaries now! It’s Monday, March 27, which is when Hornton Brownies will be performing Hurrah for the Red, White and Gold at the pavilion.
It’s written by their own Gillian Ellis and promises to b a fantastic production and tickets will cost just £1. As the very sweet poster on the noticeboard says, ‘ Don’t Forget!’
2nd March '06 - Squeezing in for Salsa
Hornton Pavilion was full to the brim on Saturday night when Salsa came to town.
“We had around 50 people,” said joint organiser Sarah Walther. “We couldn’t have squeezed more people in!
“Everyone had a really good night and we made £206-40 profit.”
Hardly anyone had danced the Salsa before but with the help of dance-teaching duo Caliente, they soon picked up the steps - and stepped onto each other’s toes into the bargain!
The event was part of Cherwell’s popular Arts at Large series. It was so popular that there the idea of a Friday night Salsa class is being mooted.
2nd March '06 - Peach Curry
Hornton’s Peachtree Pre-School are spicing things up on Friday, March 24, with an Indian evening. There will be curry and a disco, so people can put their Salsa steps to the test. It’s taking place in the pavilion and you can get the £7-50 tickets from Amy on 01295 738882 or Sam on 01295 730065.
2nd March '06 - Hit for Six
The Dun Cow dominoes team won at home for the first time in six games against The George Hotel, Brailles. The winning score was 10-6 and the pairings of Barbara and Colin Neville, and Malcolm Parker and Adrian Horsley won three games each.
2nd March '06 - A Good Read
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.
2nd March '06 - Church Services
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 8.30am this Sunday in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist. There will be a United Service of Holy Communion at 11am in the Methodist Church.
The Ironstone Benefice is also holding a series of Lent talks over the next few weeks in which members of the ministry team introduce a discussion centred on favourite Bible passages.
They’ll take place on Tuesdays at 7.30pm in Wroxton village hall and in the first one next Tuesday, March 7, Jeff Chard will be talking about Ezekiel 37: Dry 201
