Hornton Archive 2008

Tonight, Thursday, is the night to pop down to the Dun Cow for a home-made Pie, Chips and Pint Night.

From 6.30pm, Gwyneth will be serving a selection of three pies, including a vegetarian option. You can have a glass of wine instead of a pint for the price - just £6-95. As the credit crunch bites, come down and support your local!

And the pub will be serving its traditional Christmas Meals with all the trimmings on the evening of Saturday, December 20, and the following lunchtime. This is an extremely popular event and tables go quickly, so please book up as soon as possible and by Monday, December at the latest.

27th November '08 - Christmas Crafts

If you love Christmas and you like crafts, Hornton School is the place to be tomorrow, Friday, when it’ll be time for the annual Christmas Fayre!

It’s all happening straight after school at 3.30pm for two hours and there will be something for everyone to enjoy, including home made cakes and refreshments, festive games, all sorts of Yuletide goodies and raffles galore. And don’t be surprised if a very special visitor turns up in the shape of Father Christmas!

Every Christmassy person is invited, so just turn up and help Hornton School raise as much money as possible!

27th November '08 - Watch and Warm

Hornton Neighbourhood Watch are holding their Winter Warmer on Sunday week, December 7 from 5pm to 7pm.

There will be mulled wine, mince pies, sausage rolls and Christmas cheer, plus a festive Hornton raffle!

And this is one of two exciting Christmas events taking place over that weekend. On Saturday week, December 6, the traditional Christmas Fayre will take place in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist. It’s all happening a bit earlier than usual this year - at 6.30pm - so come along and don’t miss those Yuletide bargains!

The event, run by the church’s Ladies’ Working Party, will be chock full of produce, gifts and stalls piled high with Christmassy goodies. There will also be a tombola and what Hornton event would be complete without a raffle? Add to that the mulled wine to warm the cockles of everyone’s hearts and you’re sure to have a great time. the proceeds will be divided between local charities and church funds.

27th November '08 - On the House

On the following Monday, December 1, there will be Christmas Bingo in the Church Room at 7.30 pm is aid of Hornton Methodist Church funds. Is there no end to Hornton’s Christmas spirit?

27th November '08 - All the Trimmings

The 3Hs Gardening Club’s annual Christmas dinner is on Tuesday week, December 9. If you ring Eileen Lewis on 01295 670449 she might just be able to squeeze you in!

27th November '08 - Abba Gold

Brilliant - the same word was used to describe two fund-raising events for Hornton’s children.

The first brilliant event was a Table Top sale in aid of Hornton School, according to joint-organiser Emma Hamer.

“There were lots of varied stalls and we all bought from each other!” she said. “Hornton residents came too.”

And the ABBA Theme night in aid of Peachtree Pre-School was brilliant as well, says Jenny Perry.

“It was full of glitz and glitter and the pavilion was transformed with large silhouettes of disco dancers and disco balls,” she explained. “Diners were served a three-course meal of Camembert fondue-style dip with crusty bread, followed by homemade lasagne and salad and a fabulous selection of homemade desserts.

“Between courses, there was a chance to take part in a 1970s general knowledge quiz and an ABBA intros round. Everyone threw themselves into the dressing up, with plenty of cat-suits, flares, big wigs, short dresses, high boots and sunglasses to be seen, which proved useful as the evening wore on, as no-one was able to recognise anyone else!”

What’s more, the event made more than £1000 profit for Peachtree.

“The Committee would like to thank everyone involved for helping to make it such a memorable evening!”

27th November '08 - Lion is a Lamb

The Dun Cow crib team are almost half way through the season and are riding high in the Harbury and District Crib League with a 100 per cent record.

Their latest victims were the Red Lion at North End who succumbed 4-3 on their own “ground”. The Hornton cribbers now have 14 points from seven matches. Their nearest rivals have notched up just eight.

27th November '08 - Up for a Bargain

Stuck for Christmas shopping ideas? Avoid the battle of the High Street with a festive gift market at Upton House the weekend after next, on December 6 and 7.

The ground floor will be sumptuously decorated for Christmas and the children will love to visit Father Christmas in his grotto! Normal admission charges apply and it will cost just £3 to see Father Christmas.

And from Monday to Wednesday during December, you can treat friends and family to a festive day out at Upton. Enjoy lunch at the stylish Pavilion restaurant and take a stroll around the new all-weather route in the gardens.

27th November '08 - Church Services

There will be an 11am service at Hornton Methodist Church this Sunday, November 30, led by the Rev. David Jackson. And this year the Parish Church of St John the Baptist hosts the annual Benefice Advent Carol Service at 6pm. This is the tradition was the Benefice starts the Christmas season and there will be Advent carols and readings, with a mix of modern and bible readings.

Don’t forget that you can pop in for coffee, cake and a chat in the Methodist Church every Friday morning from 10.30am to 12.30pm. There is a book and video swap - and, of course, lots of good gossip! And Thursday Club meets every week after school until 4.30pm in the Methodist Church School Room. All children are welcome.

20th November '08 - Look In

There will be a bingo session tomorrow, Friday, in the Church Rooms at 7.30pm. All the money raised will be added to the money raised for good causes throughout the year by the parish church’s Ladies Working Party and eyes down is at 7.30pm, so look in!

And on Saturday, December 6, the Ladies’ Working Party will be holding their traditional Christmas Fayre in the church. It’s all happening a bit earlier than usual this year - at 6.30pm - so come along and don’t miss those Yuletide bargains!

The event, run by the Church’s Ladies’ Working Party, will be chock full of produce, gifts and stalls piled high with Christmassy goodies. There will be mulled wine to warm the cockles of everyone’s hearts. There will also be a tombola and what Hornton event would be complete without a raffle? Add to that the mulled wine to warm the cockles of everyone’s hearts and you’re sure to have a great time. the proceeds will be divided between local charities and church funds.

20th November '08 - Brownie is the New Black

Hornton Brownies have come up with a novel way of looking good and helping to save the world - a recycled fashion show!

It’s all happening in Hornton Pavilion this Monday at 5.30pm.

All outfits will be made by the Brownies and there will be an entrance fee of just £1.

“We will also be having a raffle during the evening,” says Brown Owl Liz Hirst, “and the proceeds will be split between the Brownies fund and a chosen charity, so please do pop along. It should be a great evening!”

20th November '08 - Christmas Crafts

If you love Christmas and you like crafts, Hornton School is the place to be on Friday week, November 28, when it’ll be time for the annual Christmas Fayre!

It’s all happening straight after school at 3.30pm for two hours and there will be something for everyone to enjoy, including home made cakes and refreshments, festive games, all sorts of Yuletide goodies and raffles galore. And don’t be surprised if a very special visitor turns up in the shape of Father Christmas!

Every Christmassy person is invited, so just turn up and help Hornton School raise as much money as possible!

20th November '08 - Two's Company

Local musical duo Fairplay sing music by everybody from Amy Winehouse, through Eva Cassidy to Neil Diamond.

So there should be something for everyone when they come to Hornton Pavilion on Saturday, December 13. Tickets are now on sale at £6 each and to complete a great night out there will also be a bar, nibbles and of course a traditional Hornton raffle.

All profits go to the pavilion fund and you can get tickets from Sarah Walther on 01295 670627 or Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.

20th November '08 - Green Grub

Now’s the time to book up for the 3Hs Gardening Club’s annual Christmas dinner on December 9,a fortnight on Tuesday. Please ring Eileen Lewis on 01295 670449 as soon as possible to reserve your place.

20th November '08 -

CHURCH SERVICES. There will be a special Holy Eucharist service in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, November 23, because it will be conducted by the Revd Pat Freeth, Vicar of Cropredy. This is part of the annual Deanery ‘change-around’ of clergy and so please do turn up and make Pat welcome.

There’s no service in the Methodist Chapel because at 10.30am there’s a Circuit Service at Malborough Road Curch in Banbury.

Don’t forget that you can pop in for coffee, cake and a chat in the Methodist Church every Friday morning from 10.30am to 12.30pm. There is a book and video swap - and, of course, lots of good gossip! And Thursday Club meets every week after school until 4.30pm in the Methodist Church School Room. All children are welcome.

20th November '08 - Don't Be Overdue

The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will visit Hornton next Wednesday, November 26. It will be parked on the village green from 10.40am to 11.20am.

13th November '08 - Having Time of your Life

Dig, Dancing Queens! You can strut your stuff this Saturday, November 15, inthe Pavilion at a special Abba evening. For just £12 a ticket you’ll get a three-course meal and be able to lose all your inhibitions! And you’ll raise money for Peachtree Pre-School into the bargain. Either buy a ticket at the door on Saturday or book in advance by calling Jenny Perry on 01295 670403. Either way, it’s time to shine up those platforms and press those flares!

13th November '08 - Police Five

From 5pm in Hornton pavilion next Wednesday, November 19, Thames Valley’s Police Community Support Officer for our area, PC Lana Smith, will be holding her monthly police surgery.

For a couple of hours you can pop along to get crime prevention advice and discuss any issues with Lana and her colleagues from the Rural Neighbourhood Team. And don’t worry if you can’t make it on Wednesday. Lana and her colleagues will be holding another surgery next month.

13th November '08 - Bread for Bread

The Homemade Soup and Crusty Bread Lunch held last Saturday at the Methodist Church was a great success.

“We raised £555.75 for much needed Church Funds,” said organiser Julie Stanley. “Thanks to everyone who came along to supported us and to all those who helped.

“We will be holding a Christmas Bingo in the Church Room on December 1 at 7.30 pm, also for Hornton Methodist Church funds.”

The Chapel wood block floor has at last been repaired and revarnished and it looks fantastic! Thanks go to David Miles, Paul, Jean and Gemma Burden and Harry and Julie Stanley who worked tirelessly throughout half term week to complete the project.

13th November '08 - Flower Power

Sarah and Ros from Rossara Flowers wowed the members of Hornton and District WI at the latest meeting with their arrangements for Christmas.

“The arrangements to grace our Christmas table were simple yet effective arrangements and I'm sure we’ll alll be trying to re-create their designs at home,” said WI member Jane Wain. "Three lucky people went home with their creations as they generously donated to the raffle."

“The next meeting is a Christmas Social in the Dun Cow, at 7.30pm on Thursday, December 11. There is a list of food in circulation, so if you were not at the meeting but are coming to the Social, please give a member of the committee a call to see what else is needed.

“There will be no meeting in January, so the next meeting is on the first Tuesday in February.”

13th November '08 - Cribbers have their Chips

The Carpenter’s Arms at Kineton proved no match for the Dun Cow when they were overwhelmed 5-2 at home in their latest Harbury and District Crib League match. The Hornton cribbers needed to bounce back after their shock defeat in the knock-out cup and they did so emphaticially with a win which means they are still riding high at the top of the league with five wins out of five and four points above their nearest rivals.

13th November '08 - Stamp of Approval

Maggie Higgins makes a plea to keep all your stamps off your Christmas cards this year - both British and foreign.

13th November '08 -

“The Royal National Institute for the Blind is desperate for them,” she says. “They can be sold to raise funds to support their vital work in the UK.

“As Christmas is fast approaching, I thought this would be a good time to start a collection in Hornton, though stamps can be collected throughout the year. During the festive season, many cards are received and I would like to take this opportunity to ask you all to take a moment of your time to tear off the used stamp - leaving, if possible, 1cm or so of envelope bordering the stamp.

“These used stamps can then be dropped off at Holloway House next to the green at the bottom of Bell Street and I will forward them on to the RNIB."

13th November '08 - Church Services

Mattins will be celebrated at 10.30am in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, November 16. Half an hour later there will be a service in the Methodist Church, led by Wally Lishman.

Don’t forget that you can pop in for coffee, cake and a chat in the Methodist Church every Friday morning from 10.30am to 12.30pm. There is a book and video swap - and, of course, lots of good gossip! The Thursday Club meets every week after school until 4.30pm in the Methodist Church School Room.

6th November '08 - WI Not?

The next meeting of Hornton’s burgeoning WI is tonight, Thursday, at 7.30pm in the pavilion, when there will be a demonstration by Rossara Flowers of arrangements for Christmas. And please keep December 11 free, when the usual monthly meeting will be replaced by a Christmas Party!

6th November '08 - Good Friday

Pop along to Hornton School after class tomorrow, Friday, and you can take your pick of all the goodies available at its Table Top Sale.

Tables so far booked include children's toys, books, Christmas crafts, cards, jewellery and home-made cakes. There will also be a chance to preview the beef available for Christmas from Horley’s Meadowsweet Farm.

It’s all happening between 3.15 and 5pm and it’s not too late to book a table at just £5. Please ring Emma Hamer as soon as possible on 01295 730668.

6th November '08 - Kicking Off Christmas

If Christmas seems to start earlier everywhere else each year, it’s hardly surprising that it’s about to get under way in the Christmassyist village in Banburyshire!

Hornton Methodist Church are beginning the festive season this Saturday, November 8, with a Christmas Soup Lunch.

As well as a bowl of delicious homemade soup and crusty bread, there will be a cake stall, a festive raffle and a stall full of Christmas goodies. So pop along between midday and 2pm!

6th November '08 - Remember Them

As this Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, so you’ve got just a few more days to buy that precious Poppy in memory of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Hornton is hoping to raise more money than ever this year in the Poppy Day appeal, so when Audrey Turner and Maggie Higgins pop by, please buy your poppy from them! That way, the village can do even better than last year’s superb response of just over £300.

“ People can always come directly to us at Holloway House or Bellevue if they miss us when we do the house to house collection,” said Maggie.

“It is a very worthwhile cause and there was a fantastic response last year. We hope to match that sum or do even better this year! Many thanks.”

6th November '08 - Fair's Fair

6th November '08 - You Can't Win 'em All

The Dun Cow were knocked out of the Harbury and District Crib League after a tense 4-3 away defeat to the Green Man at Long Itchington. But don’t despair. The Hornton cribbers are still riding high at the top of the league!

6th November '08 - Yule Be There

The 3Hs Gardening Club’s next meeting is a demonstration given by Freefields florists in Banbury on Tuesday week, November 10. Pauleen, Susan and Helen so wowed the club with their demonstration of Christmas flower arranging two years ago that they were immediately booked to come back last year, so this will be their third visit. You won’t be disappointed, so pop along to the pavilion at 7.30pm.

And now’s the time to book up for the club’s annual Christmas dinner, on Tuesday, December 9. Please ring Eileen Lewis on 01295 670449 as soon as possible to reserve your place.

6th November '08 - Past Times

Hornton’s History Group are planning to launch a special Hornton History Website, with a link to the village website.

“This will have some of the old photos we have collected, some of the interesting historical information about the village and also keep people up to speed with what we are doing,” said Jane Wain. “We are also editing some of the interviews we have done with our more experienced villagers and ex-villagers.

“We want to do many more of the interviews as we know there are many more people who have interesting lives spent in Hornton that we would love to talk to.

“And we are still in the hunt for old village photos, documents and interesting stories about the village that we could put on the website so please check your loft, we need your help. All photos will be returned.”

Paul Clark, whose parents live in the village, has been doing a survey on some of the older houses in the village, pointing out the historical architecture in the buildings. This is now complete he has compiled a very interesting compilation document listing the houses and there features. This is available for anyone who took part in the survey or if you would like to see the history of the older properties in the village.

And the group has come across two unpublished books about the early life in the village, chronicling the early years of the chapel, church and general daily life in Hornton. They are very interesting reading material and if anyone would like to read them we have one in a suitable condition for lending out but need to do some work on the second book before we can lend it out.

6th November '08 - Strut Your Stuff

It’s time to book your tickets for the sparkliest night of the year in Hornton! Peachtree Pre-School are holding an Abba night on Saturday, November 15, and it’s an absolute bargain at just £12 per ticket because it also includes a three-course meal! You can get those must-have tickets from Jenny Perry on 01295 670403, so shine up those platforms and press those flares today!

6th November '08 - Slam in the Lamb

Gwyneth’s next Sunday lunch at the Dun Cow will be this Sunday, November 9, when she will be serving up roast lamb with all the trimmings. If you’d like a table, please ring her on 01295 670524 by Wednesday if possible.

6th November '08 - Take a Peek

Next Thursday, November 13, you can look round the Upton House While the Master’s Away. That’s the title of Upton’s conservation tour and now’s the time to book up for this rare opportunity to see what went on behind the closed doors.

The £20 ticket includes coffee on arrival and lunch and booking is essential. You can get more information from Upton on 01295 670266 or by email on uptonhouse (at) nationaltrust dot org dot uk

6th November '08 - Church Services

The annual service of Remembrance takes place in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, November 9, at the slightly earlier time of 10.55am. There will be no service in the Methodist Church.

6th November '08 - Open Book

The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday, November 12, from 10.40 to 11.20am.