Hornton’s Dun Cow crib team are still joint second in points in the Harbury and District League, despite losing a
knife-edge away fixture to The Cottage Inn at Ashorne by four points to three in the latest match. They have eight points from six games but when the points difference is taken into account, they are fourth equal.
29th November '03 - Church Services
There will be a service at Hornton Methodist Church this Sunday, November 30, at 11am. There will be no service in the
Parish Church of St John the Baptist but at 6pm there will be an Advent Carol Service at Hanwell Parish Church.
27th November '03 - Christmas Spirit
Hornton Methodist Church might not allow alcohol but there was plenty of Christmas spirit around last Saturday
evening when a yuletide fayre there raised a whopping £600! The sum was collected with the help of games,
refreshments and a raffle and the organisers were delighted.
27th November '03 - Book In
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will visit Hornton next Wednesday, December 3. It will be parked
on the village green from 10.55am to 11.30am.
27th November '03 - A Cracker of a Tail
There are just 38 tickets available for The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which is being performed at 7pm on
Tuesday, December 9, in Hornton’s Methodist Church. In the story, the arrival of Godpapa Drosselmeier with his
weird and wonderful present starts a night that the Stahlbaum household will never forget - and neither will anyone
else over the age of six who goes along to see this enchanting fairytale. Julie Stanley on 01295 670507 has those
precious tickets for sale!
25th November '03 - The Final Curtain Call
There wasn’t a seat - or a dry eye - left in the house last Thursday at St John the Baptist Church in Hornton when
villager Ronnie Emblen, who died after a short and sudden illness, was laid to rest in the churchyard. His funeral was
attended both by his friends from the village and those from the ballet world, where his performances had made
him one of the great character dancers of the twentieth century. He’ll be terribly missed by them all but his partner
of 36 years, Philip Williams, insisted that the funeral should be followed by a celebration of Ronnie’s life. So it was
off to a Hornton pavilion bedecked in sunflowers and overflowing with bubbly! What a performance - and one that
Ronnie would have been proud of.
25th November '03 - Top of the Class
A Table Top Sale will be just one of the many attractions this Saturday, November 29, at Hornton School when the
school association hold their Christmas Fayre from10am to12 noon. There will also be a tombola, a luxury hampers
raffle, a white elephant stall, craft stalls, refreshments and children’s games! And if all that is not enough excitement
for one morning, there’s also an exhibition of the children’s art in the Methodist Chapel that’s so good that the
canvasses are for sale! So come along -and buy that unique Christmas gift!
21st November '03 - Sweet Music
Last Friday's special concert in Hornton Methodist Church - by Bluesy Susie - went down a treat, so if you missed out
on that there's no time to waste in booking up for the next in the series. It's the Oxfordshire Touring Theatre's
production of the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which is also being produced in conjunction with Cherwell
District Council's Arts at Large project. It's on Tuesday, December 9 at 7pm and it's a fantastic Christmas fairytale
for all the family over six years of age. You know the ballet - now experience a unique theatrical adaptation that
combines flights of fantasy with insights into human nature.
There are only 38 Tickets Available, so book early by ringing Julie Stanley on 01295 670507. Tickets are £6 and £4.
21st November '03 - Church Services
There will be a service at 11am in the Methodist Church this Sunday, November 23. The Parish Church of St John the
Baptist will celebrate Holy Eucharist at the same time.
20th November '03 - Last Chance for Garden Grub
There are only a few days left for 3Hs Gardening Club members to make their reservations for
the annual Christmas dinner on December 9th at North Oxford and Cherwell College's Cotswold Restaurant. Please can
any members who have not returned their forms yet please contact Eileen Lewis on 01295 670449 by the end of this
coming weekend.
20th November '03 - School gets into Christmas Spirit
A Christmas Fayre will be held Hornton School on Saturday November 29th from 10am to 12 noon. There will be a
tombola, a luxury hampers raffle, a white elephant, craft stalls, refreshments, children's games and a table top sale.
And in the Methodist Chapel at the same time there will be an art exhibition of children's work to purchase just in time
for Christmas! All proceeds will go to Hornton School Association funds.
20th November '03 - Upton's for Christmas
An expert chef will demonstrate how to achieve that perfect festive feast at a Traditional Christmas Cooking workshop
at Upton House between 10am and 4pm on December 4. On the following day at the same time, there's a workshop
with Phillipa Kendal on folk art and Shaker style patchwork and embroidery. In both cases the cost is £24.50, including
coffee and lunch, and pre-booking is essential. Please call 01985 843601.
On the following weekend, December 6th and 7th, you can relieve your Christmas shopping stress with a
Christmas craft market at Upton.
Please note that Upton's grounds, which were due to be open during November and December, have had to be closed
until next year because the paths are too slippery to walk on.
20th November '03 - There's Only One Present
If you're looking for that unique gift, there's only one to choose! It's the video of There's Only One Hornton! There are
just a few copies left at the special sale price of just £10, so buy now while stocks last from Roger Corke on 01295
670673.
18th November '03 - Want Broadband?
If you want a faster internet connection then Broadband is the way forward. Edge Hill exchange currently needs 150 people
to sign up for BT to upgrade the local exchange. Currently there are 68 registrations, so we need 72 more people to
register.... tell your friends!
There will be a Christmas Fayre held in Hornton Methodist Church this Saturday, November 22nd, starting at 6pm.
Attractions include stalls, games, refreshments and a raffle.
18th November '03 - Cracking Christmas Cards
It's that time of year again and there are some cracking Christmas cards available from JUMPA.
The proceeds all go towards Hornton and Horley's fund for a Jubilee multi-purpose play area, so stock up while stocks
last. Steve Woodcock is the man to talk to on 01295 670795.
There's still time to sign up for the JUMPA quiz night at the Dun Cow pub on Saturday,
December 6. Teams of up to four can put their names down in the front bar or you can ring the pub on 01295 670524.
If you also want a meal that night, please making a reservation with Gwyneth on the same number.
14th November '03 - Pop up to Upton
There' a whole host of exciting events at Upton House in the run-up to Christmas. On Sunday 23rd, you can relive the
wit and music of Noel Coward in A Tribute to the Man and his Music, collection of songs and anecdotes returning to
Upton after a sell-out performance at the Edinburgh Fringe. Only £8-50 a ticket.
At 10.30am on Tuesday, November 25th, the theme of the lecture lunch will be Lesser Known English Country
Houses - an illustrated tour of the hidden gems in England's built heritage. The £15 tickets including from 10.30 to 12
noon in the Pavilion Restaurant. And at the same time, same price on the following day the lecture lunch theme is
Baddesley Clinton Inside Out - a fascinating insight into how the National Trust takes a property from acquisition to
opening. Pre booking is essential for all these events. Please call 01295 670266.
And that's also the number to ring if you're interested in taking a stall at Upton's Christmas Market on December 6th
and 7th. The Saturday is reserved for community and charity groups for fundraising purposes, whilst the Sunday is for
profit-making ventures.
14th November '03 - Crib Results
The Dun Cow team are only two points behind the leaders in the Harbury and District Crib league after pipping the
British Legion Club, Bishop's Itchington, to the post in an exciting 4-3 away win. The Hornton team have now won
three matches this season, with their only loss, back on October 14, to Kineton Sports and Social Club.
14th November '03 - Church Services
Matins will be celebrated in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, November 16th, at 10.30am. There
will be a service in Hornton Methodist Church half an hour later.
The Meeting Point fellowship and discussion group will meet this Tuesday, November 18th - and once a month until
April - at 2.30pm in the Methodist Chapel Schoolroom.
13th November '03 - Calling all Parents
Hornton School's parents are invited to attend a special curriculum
evening next Wednesday at 7pm. The theme will be Thinking, speaking and listening skills.
13th November '03 - Say Cheese
There was planety smile smile about after a cheese and wine party was held last Friday to raise money for Hornton
Methodist Church. Proceeds from the sale of Christmas cards, wrapping paper and other festive goodies raised
more than £125.
13th November '03 - Soup Success
Peach Tree Pre-School would like to thank everyone contributed to the success of last weekend's Soup Saturday
fund-raiser. A total of £88 was raised, which will go towards the purchase of new books and a paint easel. Everyone
who went would like to thank the organisers. The soup slipped down a treat!
13th November '03 - It's the Perfect Gift
Looking for the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for person? Then look no further! There are a few precious videos left
of There's Only One Hornton! and they're going at the special price of £10. If you would like one, please ring Roger
Corke on 01295 670673.
13th November '03 - Opening Chapter
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will visit Hornton next Wednesday, November 19. It will be parked
on the village green from 10.55am to 11.30am.
12th November '03 - Bring a Friend
You won't be able to phone a friend, so bring one with you! It's time to sign up for the Quiz Night in aid of
JUMPA, Hornton and Horley's fund for a Jubilee multi-purpose play area, which is being held at the Dun Cow Pub
on Saturday, December 6. The grilling starts at 7.30pm and teams of up to four people can join in at just £2 per
person. Please sign up in the pub or just come along on the night - though Gwyneth behind the bar would like to
know in advance if you'd like to have dinner. There are exciting prizes and a raffle - of course - so don't be shy!
12th November '03 - You'll be Blue if you miss it
On Friday November 14th, the brilliant jazz duo Bluesy Susie will be performing music from the 1920's to the present
day in Hornton Methodist Church. They'll cover everything from jazz to blues to folk to rock 'n roll, salsa and pop.
If you haven't got your ticket yet, there's still time. Please call Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.
11th November '03 - Smack on with Baby Bottoms
Claire and Graham Bottoms would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in their Baby Bottoms
competition to guess the sex, weight and date of their new arrival, Bethan. Keith Palmer, who predicted a
seven-and-a-half-pound girl would be born on October 30, was right on the button. Half the £72 raised goes to him
and the other half to the children's playground.
11th November '03 - Complementary Therapy
Start your Christmas shopping in a relaxed and sociable way - with complementary wine and nibbles! Hornton villagers
Fiona Donaldson and Ruth Griffiths have organised a Retail Therapy Evening at the pavilion at 8pm next Tuesday,
November 18, to raise funds for Hornton School.
On sale will be Tomolly Toys, Phoenix cards, wrapping, ribbons and accessories, Weleda and Aromatherapy skin care and Merry-Go-Round discounted designer children's wear - now available up to the age of 12.
Fiona and Ruth have also acquired a large and very lovely Forever Friends teddy worth £60 as the star prize in a
Guess the Name competition and other donations for a raffle would be appreciated. Fiona (01295 670505) and Ruth
(01295 678100) need to know numbers for catering so give them a call and reserve your place!
8th November '03 - Bluesy Susie
The jazz duo Bluesy Susie will be performing music from the 1920's to the present day in Hornton Methodist Church on Friday, November 14. Their repertoire will cover classics from the jazz, blues, folk, rock 'n roll, salsa and pop periods on vocals and guitar. Tickets for the event, sponsored by Cherwell District Council's Arts at Large programme, are available from Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.
8th November '03 - Events at Upton House
The gardens, shop and restaurant of Upton House will open at weekends throughout November and during the first two weekends of December.
On November 13 from 10am to 4pm in the restaurant, there will be a Christmas Workshop with the theme Holly and Spice, where festive decorations will be created using natural ingredients. The cost is £24-50, including coffee and a light lunch. And on Monday, November 17, there will be an opportunity to work side-by-side with the Upton conservation team and acquire new skills at a Conservation Workshop. The cost is £ 8.50, including coffee. Pre-booking for these workshops is essential by telephoning 01985 843601. The Putting the House to Bed tour on November 14, where the conservation team show how the house is closed down for the winter, is already sold out.
On Tuesday, November 18, you can find out how art reflects the changing moods and passions of the age at a lecture lunch on the theme Changing Taste in 18th Century Britain. The lecture will be illustrated with paintings from Upton’s collection. The following day, the lecture lunch theme will be Restoring the Bosch, where the Hamilton Kerr Institute will reveal the fascinating techniques of painting restoration used when Upton’s famous Hieronymus Bosch triptych was restored. Both lectures cost £15.00, including lunch in the Pavilion Restaurant. For further details please call 01295 670266.
8th November '03 - Church Services
As this Sunday, November 9, is Remembrance Sunday, there will be a United Service of Remembrance at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist at the slightly earlier time of 10.55am.
7th November '03 - Soup Saturday
There’s still time to join Peachtree Pre-School this Saturday, November 8, for a chat, a bowl of soup, warm crusty bread, coffee and cake. Soup Saturday will take place in Hornton Pavilion between midday and 2pm, and at just £2-50 a ticket, you just can’t say no! Peachtree would like to know numbers in advance if possible and Carolyn Barker is the person to contact on 01295 678443 to reserve a place.
And Peachtree are also looking for people to take part in their Bonus Ball Lottery. It’s a really simple idea - you pay just £1 a week for one of the national Lottery’s Bonus Balls. If your number comes up when the Lottery is drawn on a Saturday, you win £25. Peachtree’s Kate Fletcher says there are still a number of bonus balls left and anyone who would like to take part should ring her on 01295 670508. For those already taking part, it’s time to pay your next instalment.
This month’s meeting will feature a workshop in which Philip Williams will demonstrate how to make a Christmas table centrepiece. Would any members attending please bring with them a candlestick or any table centre with a candle holder, plus a candle, any greenery or other decoration they wish to use and a pair of secateurs or scissors. The workshop will take place at 7.30pm this Tuesday, November 11, in Hornton Pavilion.
7th November '03 - School News
Ten children from Hornton School had the chance on Monday to sing in Britain’s most famous musical venue, the Royal Albert Hall.
They were part of a 540-strong choir of children from all over the county called the Oxfordshire Young Singers and teacher Janet Porter said they loved every minute of it.
“The choir was taking part in the Music for Youth Festival, which includes children from all over the country,” she said. “Our children sang a selection of songs from a cantata called Along Came Man by Lin Marsh, who is herself a county music teacher.
“The children enjoyed it immensely and they were very enthusiastic. What was lovely about it was that the children were able to see performers of all different musical genres and older children in their teens who were extremely talented musicians. Our children were really inspired by the different types of music and these older youngsters.”
Hornton School’s Design and Technology week was also a big success.
“The theme of the week was Space,” said head teacher Wendy Clifford. “We had a big turnout of parents for the open afternoon and the children showed them what they had done and how things worked.”
Class 1 made pop up puppets, Class 2 made rocket launchers and Class 3 designed posters for the school musical to be performed later in the term.
“Then we had a Great Egg Race,” said Mrs Clifford. “The children were in teams and their brief was to design a rocket launcher that would hold the weight of something that went into space. We tested the weight with a cup full of marbles.
“Each group could earn points for co-operation, planning, skill in making, the height of the structure and the weight it held. It was excellent - they learned a lot, not only about structures but about co-operation too.”
Class 1 are asking for donations of lightweight silky/chiffon scarves for their movement programme. Any size or any colour, plain or patterned, will be very welcome.
6th November '03 - Farewell Mike
What can you say about the death of a man who gave so much to our village? He was treasurer of the church and the children’s playground, he gave dozens of youngsters a musical start in life with piano lessons, he narrated the Hornton Millennium film in his rich Banburyshire brogue. Whenever anything needed doing, Mike was always there to help and we’ll miss him for all that he did for our village. But perhaps, most of all, we’ll miss hearing him play those vibes. He was just so talented - and self-taught into the bargain. All of us in this village are very sad.
Yesterday, Mike was due to have been laid beside his mother in the churchyard of St John the Baptist Parish Church. It will have been standing room only at the service, as it should have been for a man who had given so much to this village. If you wish to give something in his memory, the funeral directors are accepting donations in aid of Cancer Research. Please send them to J&M Humphris, 32 Albert Street, Banbury.
We’ll miss you, Mike.
6th November '03 - Cheese and Wine Party
A cheese and wine party to raise funds for the Methodist Church will be held tomorrow, Friday, November 7, at 7pm in Jubilee House, Bell Street. Christmas cards, wrapping paper and other Christmas goods will be on sale.
And there will be a Christmas Fayre in Hornton Methodist Church on Saturday, November 22, starting at 7pm. Attractions include stalls, games, refreshments and a raffle.
