The 3Hs Gardening Club plant sale last Saturday made an “amaxing” amount of money”, according to the delighted
organisers.
“It went very well - we made in the region of £250, which was a lot more than last year,” said club secretary Sally Tweedsmuir. “We were
amazed.”
The money will go into club funds to help pay for the action-packed line-up of activities planned over the coming year. First up is a
Mystery Tour on June 8, but there are only a few places left, said Sally.
“Book your tickets soon. The trip costs just £3-99 for supper and the coach departs from Hornton village green at 6.15pm.”
More details can be obtained from Joy Hillman on 01295 730661. But if your were hoping to go on the club outing to Rutland Water and
Barnsdale, home of the late TV gardener Geoff Hamilton, on June 26 you’re too late.
“All the tickets have been sold,” said Sally.
26th May '04 - Open Book
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.
26th May '04 - Church Services
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, May 30, at 8.30am. There will be a service
in the Methodist Church at 11am.
It’s time to limber up for the JUMPA Golden Mile again, taking place this year at 11am on June 13th.
Since it began in 2002, this fun run has become an indispensable part of the Hornton summer calendar and in the process raised well over
£1000 for JUMPA, Hornton and Horley's Jubilee fund for a multi-purpose play area, to be built on land behind
the pavilion in Bell Street.
"The Golden Mile has proved very popular for the last two years, raising over £600 each time,” said one of the organisers, Mark Wright of
Horley. “We're expecting a good turn-out again.
“You don't need to be super-fit or a keen cross-country runner to take part - we've had dogs on leads, picnickers and three-legged pairs
participating in previous years. 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 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. , who added that plans for the project, to be constructed on land at the back of Hornton Pavilion, are well under way.
People can get sponsorship forms from Horley’s Mark Wright on 01295 730530 or from Hornton’s Ollie Fickling on 01295 670739.
19th May '04 - Church Services
Matins will be celebrated at 10.30am this Sunday, May 23, at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist. At 11am a service will be held in
the Methodist Church.
18th May '04 - WOW - Precious Places Available
Hornton’s Peachtree Pre-School has the “wow” factor - and that’s official! Who says so? The Government’s Ofsted inspectors say so, when
they reported on Peachtree in their last report. There are just a few precious places available for children for this September - but
you’ve got to be quick!
Any child more than two and a half years old can go to Peachtree and all you have to do to get details is to ring Fiona Donaldson on
01295 670505 any weekday between 9.30am and 5pm.
17th May '04 - Broadband is available from the 8th September 2004
The Edgehill exchange will be upgraded for Broadband on the 8th of September 2004, and you can now place an order
for Broadband services in advance of this process taking place.
If you would like to place an order for BT Broadband you can do so by either calling the BT Broadband Residential
Sales Team on 0800 800 060, or by visiting our secure website at www.bt.com/btbroadband,
where additional information on our service can be found. You can also compare the full range of Broadband
services available from BT by visiting www.bt.com/getbroadband.
Should you have any further questions or queries please call the BT Broadband Helpdesk on 0800 800 060 for advice.
17th May '04 - Potty to Miss It
You were potty if you missed it last year and you’d be even more potty to miss it again! It’s the 3Hs Gardening Club Annual Plant Sale,
of course, starting this Saturday, May 22nd, at 10.30am in Hornton Pavilion. The finest gardeners of Hornton, Horley and Hanwell will be
there to sell you pots of pansies, loads of lettuce, and bags of begonias - all at knock-down prices. There will also be a cake stall
with delicious home-made cakes and refreshments. So don’t be potty again this year - be there!
Everyone, not just 3Hs members, is welcome at the plant sale, so whilst you’re there, why not join the club for just £3 a year? There’s
an action-packed programme of talks, trips and events coming up, starting with a mystery tour on June 8. The trip costs just £3.99 for
supper and the coach departs from Hornton village green at 6.15pm. More details from Joy Hillman on 01295 730661.
At the latest meeting, club members were treated to a talk on Country Customs by the improbably-named Dusty Roades. And members are
already looking forward to the annual flower and vegetable show, even though it’s not taking place until August 21st.
“Schedules are available now,” said club secretary Sally Tweedsmuir, who can be contacted on 01295 670608 for a copy of the schedule.
14th May '04 - Church Services
There will be a United Service at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, May 16th, at 11am.
14th May '04 - The Long and Winding Road
The long-running saga of the Hornton to Wroxton Road finally seems to be near completion with the news that Oxfordshire County Council
are prepared to spend £120,000 to resurface it.
The plan - announced by OCC official Steve Bowden to the Annual Parish Meeting on April 19 - will mean that the road has a 20-year life
expectancy before it needs renewing. The road will have to be closed and the work is likely to be done during the summer holidays to
avoid inconvenience for school traffic.
The meeting also heard a proposal from former Parish Chairman Harold Hart to rename the children’s playing field The Mike Webber Field.
Mike, who was treasurer of the Children’s playing field committee, died tragically towards the end of last year. Parish chairman Coun
David Miles said the committee would consider the idea.
And it was the last Annual Parish meeting for outgoing clerk John Peace. He has stepped down and donated his closing salary to JUMPA,
Hornton and Horley's fund for a Jubilee multi-purpose play area. Coun Miles thanked him for all his help and, in return, Mr Peace thanked
the council for theirs. At the meeting, held in the Church Room, Bell Street, Coun Miles welcomed Alan Cater as the new Parish Clerk.
He went on in his report to say that there had been no new properties built in the village during the year, only renovations and
extensions. As from January 1, 2004, Hornton Small Playing Field, Hornton Pavilion and JUMPA had become sub
committees of the Parish Council. This was for insurance purposes. The committees will stay largely the same but their accounts will
be audited by the District Auditors with the Parish Council’s accounts. He thanked those who helped maintain the village by mowing the
greens and so on. Hornton has entered the Best Kept Village competition and he hoped we could win it again.
The Clerk read out the Report that County Councillor George Reynolds had forwarded.
Funding for education, though never enough, seems more satisfactory this year. Warriner was one of the schools having new buildings,
said Coun Reynolds. The idea of Drayton School being closed appears to have been dropped.
Social services has worked more efficiently this year and had a good inspection recently. A mystery bank account that had been reported
equated to a little over £100,000 per year “lost” to the budget. All local government spending is to be examined by outside consultants
to encourage better records and auditing.
Highways were always short of money, said Coun Reynolds, and possibly promising what they cannot realistically provide. Frost damage to
minor roads is enormous and without extra finance will be difficult to remedy. Villages should continue to press for highway
improvements, pothole mending etc.
And he said that the structure plan is moving through Council but will not affect North Oxon. Ironstone mining has mostly moved to
Wroxton. Arguments about the opening times of the Tip continue. Strict controls at the site are causing problems with charges being
made for excessive DIY rubbish.
John Peace, in his capacity of Responsible Financial Officer, distributed copies of the Parish Council’s receipts and payments for the
year compared with the previous year and a Consolidated Summary of the Parish Council’s account with subsidiary accounts. During the
year the Council maintained the same precept of £3,000. This has been increased to £4,000 for this current year following the
recommendation from the Internal Auditor that a higher cushion of funds should be maintained. The year-end balance of £235 was low.
The Council has kept costs to an absolute minimum. There were no major variances in the receipts and payments for the two years apart
from the John Fox charity payment of £449.40. This represents three years payments of allotment rents, which had not been reimbursed for
the two previous years, due to an oversight. The reason for the Consolidated Accounts is that the Pavilion, JUMPA
and Small Playing Field accounts have been transferred to the Council for insurance purposes. The Council now has a total inclusive
balance carried forward of £14,238.16, having received balances of £15,538.92 as at 1 January 2004, which was a convenient start date.
Audited accounts for JUMPA and the Pavilion as at 31 December 2003 need to be provided by the Committee Treasurer so that the
consolidated accounts as a whole can be audited as at 31 March 2004. It was stressed that while the Council has overall control of
expenditure, it has no direct control over day to day operations. In finishing, John Peace expressed his thanks to the Council for their
help, in particular Eric Turner and David Miles as Chairmen. He also thanked Ken Hartlett the auditor.
From the floor, residents forcibly expressed their concerns regarding the danger of speeding cars entering the village from Millers
Lane and Bell Street, the lack of footpaths along the length of these roads and the narrowness of the road around the triangle green
in Millers Lane.
A variety of possible actions were suggested. Steve Bowden responded that some were too expensive to contemplate but suggested that a
log of cars speeding should be recorded to provide data as to the size of the problem before deciding what action to take. He suggested
that a combination of some form of speed reduction, such as a chicane, and a white line on the road to provide a walking lane may be the
most cost effective. This is likely to cost £8,000 with the Parish Council providing half.
The Parish Council will continue to consider these concerns and liase with Steve Bowden.
Coun Paul Burden presented the allotments report. All twelve plots are occupied. A new patch could be marked out if required. Present
tenants range from age nine years to pensioners, so there is no age limit. During the year it has been decided to raise the rents to
£5 a full plot and £2.50 a half plot with effect from 1 April 2005. As all the income goes to Hornton School it was thought that tenants
would feel the large increase is still a reasonable amount. It has been reported that some animal footprints have been seen on new seed
beds. Dogs should please be kept on leads and the area should not be used as a children’s playground. The hedge near the bungalows has
been cut back leaving some gaps. It is hoped that these can be filled with fencing. Thanks to Adrian and Bill for mowing paths etc.
Coun David Miles presented the Small Playing Field report, as acting Secretary and Treasurer following the sad death of Mike Webber.
Mike was the mainstay of the committee for 16 years and is greatly missed. The Playing Field committee is now a sub-committee of the
Parish Council and the accounts have been renamed accordingly. Don Wain has agreed to remain as Chairman for another 12 months. The
following amounts were received during the year: £208.60 from May Day; £638.57 from the disbanding of the “Young Uns” drama group;
£375 from the sale of second hand furniture and bric a brac; £250 from the “Night for Mike” from Hornton Allsorts; £50 from the
Church Ladies Working Party and a donation of £118 from the estate of the late Patrick Horsley. It is proposed to put this towards
the cost of a piece of equipment in his memory. Other donations totalling £70 were also received. The Reserve Account has a balance
of £1,860.81 and the current account £1,036.44. A piece of equipment, Hazel Hedgehog, was installed in memory of the late Mrs H Burden.
This was kindly installed, free of charge, by Glen Walther. The Annual Inspection by ROSPA took place in December and following their
recommendation, weekly inspections are undertaken by the committee. 120 people attended the 50th Anniversary celebration in May 2003.
There are plans for wheel chair access, new safety tiles and new higher fencing. It is understood that some money will be received from
the will of Mike Webber. It is planned to buy some equipment in his memory and to build a suitably inscribed stone into the Playing
Field wall in recognition of his hard work over the years.
Ian Harris, in the Pavilion Report, said that the building continued to be well used for village and private functions as well as a base
for village clubs and organisations. Replacement of a substantial part of the roof due to deterioration was an unexpected cost this year.
A grant from Cherwell District Council helped offset this. Fund raising for the proposed kitchen extension continues and it is hoped
that it will be possible to set a date for work to start in the next twelve months. Thanks to the many people who give their time and
energy to ensure the ongoing flow of cash necessary to maintain and improve the Pavilion facilities. Thanks also to all members of the
Committee (new members are always welcome). The AGM will take place on 10 June 2004 at 8pm.
Coun Lynne Fickling presented the JUMPA report. Grant applications have been submitted to the National Lottery,
Cherwell DC and the Foundation for Sports and the Arts. A wide range of fund raising events have been held throughout the year and there
is a full programme of activities for the next twelve months. There is now over £6,000 on the account. Thanks to all those who have
taken part and have made donations. John Peace was thanked for donating his closing salary to JUMPA
Coun Miles presented the School report. The School has 70 pupils on roll. Staffing remains the same except that Frank Jarrett is now
Lunchtime Supervisor. The Caretaker is on long term sick leave and is unlikely to be able to return on health grounds so the post is
currently being advertised. The Old School House kitchen has been converted into 2 extra toilets and a disabled toilet. The access
door to the Old School House has been widened and a disabled ramp installed so that there is disabled access to the whole of the
downstairs. Other improvements and redecoration have been undertaken in the Old School House and the Peach Tree Pre School classroom.
The School admissions policy will change in September 2004 to a single point admissions policy. This offers a place to every child who
will be 5 during the academic year, although the place for younger children will be part time in partnership with the Peach Tree Pre
School. There will be no further extra funding for Beacon Status Schools after this academic year. The L.E.A. is looking into ways to
continue this work. The School now has 3 interactive whiteboards, one for each classroom. With the help of the School Association,
they hope to purchase 6 more laptop computers. In January three teachers visited Torresto School in Jerez, Spain under the Comenices
1 project. They met teachers from other partner schools in Holland, Sweden and Lithuania as well as Spain. They were able to compare
teaching methods and there are some interesting ideas which they may introduce here. In November ten pupils sang at the Albert Hall as
part of the Festival of Youth Music. Other musical and sporting events have taken place under the Warriner Partnership. The School
seems to go from strength to strength under the excellent leadership of Mrs Wendy Clifford.
Coun Bill Jeffs presented the Ironstone Liaison Committee Representative Report. Quarrying operations have moved to the Wroxton Fields
quarry with a small amount of material still being extracted from the Alkerton Road site. They are operating at 40 per cent capacity due
to a slow down in the construction industry. 60 per cent of the land at Hornton Grounds quarry has now been restored to agriculture.
All but the haul road can be restored this summer. Peter Bennie Limited are currently applying for planning permission to import inert
waste, clay/topsoil etc to back fill the haul road although the importation of soil from Hennef Way is complete. The soils will be
transported as back loads from sites where there are orders for stone so no extra lorry movements should be generated. Restoration
of the haul road should take about two years.
Ginny Britton, on behalf of Neighbourhood Watch, reported that the summer cheese and wine event raised £125.85 and that there was now
£386 in the account. No break-ins have been reported during the year.
From the floor it was reported that there had been some recent break-ins into garages and sheds. Any such incidents should be reported
to the local Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator.
Ann Simkins, in her report on Hornton Brownies, said that four Brownies left this term to join the Guides at Bodicote. Five new Brownies
have joined to make a total of sixteen. Six mothers help and the bank account is healthy. The Pavilion and kitchen facilities are well
used.
In the Hornton Youth Club Report, the meeting was told that the Club is affiliated to Oxfordshire County Council Youth Service and the
Oxfordshire Association for Young People (OAYP). It is open to young people aged 8 years and over. There are currently about 12 regular
attenders. Meetings are from 7 to 8.30pm on Thursdays during school term time. The club is funded by weekly subscriptions and is
fortunate to also receive money from individuals and organisations in the village. The Club aims to be educational as well as
recreational. Visits are welcomed from anyone willing to share their experience of hobbies, jobs or other interests. Thanks to Les
England and other helpers who have assisted in the past year.
Coun Malcolm Cross presented the Football Club report. He said that the Club has about 18 players to pick from. The playing side has
not been very good this year and it looks like the team will be relegated to Division Two for next year. The Club is in a very sound
financial position. Thanks to Mark Wright for looking after the finances. Thanks also to Glen Walther for looking after the playing
side in very difficult times.
He also introduced the 3 H’s Gardening Club Report. The Club has had another good year and the bank balance is healthy. Membership is
around 60 and meetings are well attended. There were visits to Fibrex Nurseries, Rousham House and Sudeley Castle. Talks ranged over
many subjects. The Annual Show was excellent with entries up on previous years, despite the drought. Joy Hillman is Chairman. Phyllis
Miles has retired as treasurer, having held that post since the inception of the Club seventeen years ago. Malcolm Cross has taken
over.
The village’s drama group, the Hornton Allsorts held after the Medieval Night in March 2003after which it had a long resting period
due to other commitments of Allsorts members. Everyone was shocked and saddened at the death of Mike Webber, a valuable asset to the
group and very much missed. A tribute evening was arranged and the Night for Mike had a packed house. It was very much enjoyed by
participants and audience and was a fitting tribute to a man who participated in many, many village activities. £500 was raised which
was divided between the Midway Centre in Banbury and the Small Playing Field in Hornton, two organisations which Mike was much involved
in. The autumn season has yet to be decided.
The Hornton Toddlers group is thriving with lots of new children from Hornton and the surrounding villages, the meeting was told.
A sponsored “toddle” will be held in May or June to raise money for the kitchen extension. Thanks to the generous donation from the
Ladies Working Party for new play equipment. The group meets every Wednesday from 10.30 - 12 noon. New mums, babies and under 5s
always very welcome
13th May '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, details still seem a little sketchy from BT. I will keep you informed as soon as I have more news.
Information on RFS dates were taken from SamKnows.com
13th May '04 - Late Bath for Harold
Harold Hart’s remarkable 46 years as church warden of the Baptist Parish Church of St John
the Baptist has been recognised by the presentation of a bird bath made out of Hornton stone.
It was made in 90-year-old Harold’s garden shortly after he retired from the post, explained Parochial Church Council secretary Sally
Tweedsmuir.
“He told me that now he was less busy he had become quite interested in the birds that visit the table and the bath and was taking
pleasure in learning to identify different species,” said Sally.
“I think this shows that you are never too old to take up a new hobby.”
13th May '04 - Worms Turn
Hornton’s bookworms will be beating a path to the mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council, which will be on the village green
next Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.
13th May '04 - Cutting Along
If you’re cutting along to Hornton Pavilion at 10.30am on Saturday, May 22, you won’t go far wrong because that’s the time when the
3Hs Gardening Club holds its annual plant sale. Be there early for the best bargains!
11th May '04 - Off Your Bike
Hornton’s annual leisure cycle ride has had to be postponed. Organiser Lynn Corke thought she’s cracked it when she discovered that no
major sporting events - apart from the World Toe-Wrestling Championships - were taking place on Sunday, June 20, so a good turnout looked
certain.
“However, I must own the only diary in Britain which didn’t tell me that June 20 is also Father’s Day!” said Lynn. “The pubs will be
packed that day - and a good pub lunch is an essential part of the bike ride.
“On top of that, it’s also the Hornton open air church service on the village green with the Salvation Army in the afternoon, so we’re
going to put the cycle ride off to a later date.”
Hornton’s knitters have knitted 60 pairs of mittens to Eastern Europe - and this is just the start, said project organiser Isabelle
Harris.
“This is an ongoing project and in the next edition of The Gossip will be a hat pattern so that you can choose to knit either.
“Both are very acceptable and needed for street children in the Eastern countries. If you would like them collected, please telephone
me on 01295 670541.”
10th May '04 - May Blooms for Village
This year’s bumper May Day made a whopping £3000 for good causes, easily outstripping the £2500 made last year.
The cash boost is a huge vote of confidence in the May Day organisers, who managed to persuade many new villagers to become involved.
In particular, the Flower Festival at the Methodist Church and the White Elephant both raised significantly more money than last year
and the new stalls brought valuable extra cash as well. Thanks to everyone who attended for being so generous and a special thank you to
everyone who helped out.
The monthly village service will be held at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist at 11am this Sunday, May 9th.
5th May '04 - Watch Out, There's a Tealeaf About
Make sure your garden sheds are locked! Intruders took a petrol strimmer from a shed in the village last week and there have been other
reports of the contents of sheds being disturbed.
5th May '04 - Never on a Sunday
If you’d like your children to go to Sunday school but they can never make it on a Sunday because of other commitments, Hornton has a
unique solution - Sunday School on Thursdays!
From this afternoon, May 6, and every Thursday, Julie Stanley and Jean Burden will be running an extra Sunday school at the Methodist
Church after school between 3.30pm and 4.30pm for all children aged between three and 11. The recently revived Sunday School will also
continue on Sundays between 9.45 and 10.45am.
4th May '04 - Website Raises Money at May Day
The website ran a very successful lucky squares stall at May Day with separate games for adults and children - the adults' prize was
£50 for the outlay of just £1 and the children got a sweet and the chance to win a big box of sweets. £55 was donated to village funds.
Website t-shirts were also on sale and are still available from Lynn Corke (01295 670673) at £8.50 each (medium and extra large sizes).
4th May '04 - Pretzel Poses Not Required
Hornton has a new yoga teacher for the next six months. Hornton’s own Ruth Griffiths will be taking over from Sigi Castle and her first
session will be next Thursday, May 13, at 7pm in the Methodist Chapel.
Ruth says that all ages and abilities, including beginners, are welcome.
“You don’t have to put yourself in pretzel poses” to enjoy yoga and its benefits, says Ruth.
3rd May '04 - On Yer Bike Again
It’s back by popular demand - the Annual Hornton Leisure Cycle Ride and Pub Lunch.
It’s going to take place on Sunday, June 20. Extensive research revealed that the only other major sporting event taking place on that
day was the World Toe Wrestling Championships - seriously - so cyclists of all ages and abilities are welcome to meet on the village
green at 11.30 in the morning.
The emphasis is very much on leisure, with a stop for lunch. The cyclists will go on a circular route to a local pub which serves
food, where walkers and drivers can meet up with the cyclists.
In the first bike ride, the year before last, the cyclists went to the Stag’s Head, Swalcliffe and that was so successful that there
was a bumper turnout last year when everyone stopped off at the Lampet Arms in Tadmarton.
“This year, we hope even more people will come,” said bike ride organizer Lynn Corke. “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. And there’ll be further details
in the weeks to come, so please look at the Hornton website, the notice board and the Hornton column in the Banbury Guardian for further
details.”
3rd May '04 - Bring Me Sunshine
Hornton had a bumper bank holiday weekend – thanks to a miracle with the weather. After a splendid start on Sunday, with the opening of
the two-day flower festival and art/craft exhibition at the Methodist Chapel, the May Day celebrations looked doomed on Monday morning as
the rained poured down.
But just at the point when spirits were at their lowest, the rain stopped, the preparations began in earnest and the May King and Queen
were crowned beneath blues skies and sunshine. Only the car boot sale and the bouncy castle fell victims to the weather.
There were many new attractions – as well as established favourites - to tempt the visitors to part with their money and full details of
the money raised will be in the next edition of The Gossip, due out very soon.
The flower festival also raised plenty of cash – more the £500, said one of the organisers, Sarah Walther, who was delighted.
The May Day organisers paid tribute to all the helpers – new and old – who had rallied round to make this year’s May Day such a success
but special thanks must also go to Liz Jeffs and Anne Joyner for spearheading the biggest and best May Day for years.
1st May '04 - Broadband is coming to Hornton and Edgehill
A few days ago BT announced that they are to scrap the pre-registration scheme and replace it with a pre-ordering
system.
At the end June this year, BT will
announce a rollout programme for the remaining exchanges with triggers. These will be given RFS
("Ready For Service") dates automatically.
Exchanges which have triggered and are without RFS dates, and those above 90% registrations (of which Edgehill is one with 93.33%), will
be given RFS dates automatically over the coming weeks. These 42 exchanges which fall inside the 90% bracket will
be the only ones. All the others from now on will end up in the new pre-ordering scheme.
This should mean that people will now be able to receive broadband ADSL on the day the
exchange is activated. Until now, you often had to wait up to a couple of weeks after the RFS date itself.
More information will be available in the next three weeks.
