It’s a real coup to get the four-piece girl combo – whose music was described by Radio 2’s
Janice Long as ‘absolutely gorgeous’ – to play in our village, so make sure you get along
tomorrow night!
They play a unique combination of blues, rock, R&B and folk, with lots of soothing acoustic
guitars – ust what the doctor ordered after a hard week at work.
They’re coming to Hornton Methodist Church at 7.30pm as part of Cherwell’s Arts At Large
programme.
Tickets cost just £8- £6 with concessions – and are available from Julie Stanley on 01295
670507.
27th October '06 - Go Potty in the Shed
Come on, give your garden shed a good clearout – in a good cause!
The 3Hs Gardening Club are hold a garden paraphernalia sale on Saturday, November 11, to raise
funds, so if you’ve got any pots, tools or just about anything else cluttering up your shed,
they’d be delighted to lay their hands on it.
The sale takes place at 10am in the Church Room but if you’ve got things to get rid of, do get
in touch with Malcom Cross in advance on 01295 670562.
The next meeting of the 3Hs will be on Tuesday, November 14, when members will be able to make
their own Christmas decorations but before that – on– club members are going to raise money
through a garden paraphernalia cale.
And it’s time to book for the club’s Christmas dinner on Tuesday, December 12. Once again, it
will be at the New Inn at Wroxton Heath and members who have never been before are
particularly welcome. The three-course meal, which includes a choice of turkey with all the
trimming, salmon or roast beef, costs just £15.50 and you can book your place by ringing
Eileen Lewis on 01295 670449.
27th October '06 - All Sorted Out for the 18th
Keep November 18 free because the Hornton Allsorts are back
with a vengeance!
That’s the night of their next theme night – which will have a Yuletide theme and the lucky
punters who buy tickets will be treated to a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
Next week’s column wil have details of tickets, so keep your eyes peeled and your diaries
free!
27th October '06 - Time for a Chat
It’s time to put pen to paper again, as articles for The Gossip, Hornton’s
very own village newspaper, have to be in by next Tuesday, October 31. Practically anything
that’s legal, decent, honest and truthful can find a place in The Gossip - news,
reminiscences, recipes or even…gossip. So don’t delay - contact editors Julie Stanley and
Ann Hemmings today! Julie is on 01295 670507 and Ann is on 01295 670511. Or you can email
Ann on ann.hemmings2@orh.nhs.uk or Julie at julieharrystan@aol.com
27th October '06 - In the Cannes
Back once more by popular demand, the Hornton Film Festival 2007 is already
making headlines in Cannes, Venice, Hollywood and…Banbury.
This time there’s every reason why YOU should unlock the Spielberg inside and try your hand
at making a movie. Everything you need is available, including all the latest camera and
computer gear to produce a high-quality video, which are now a village resource for everyone
to share.
The equipment comes with an idiot’s guide on how to use it (no offence intended)! But don’t
leave it too late as there is certain to be high demand for the equipment in the last
few weeks before the Festival itself, which is due to take place in mid-March 2007.
If you need any information, or would like to book the camera and / or computer for anytime
between now and March, call Pete Whitehead on 670320. DVDs of the 2005 and 2006 events are
still available at £10 each. The perfect stocking filler!
27th October '06 - Spooky Time Up for Grabs
This Saturday and Sunday, you’re in for a scary time if you pop up
to Upton House, where there’ll be a host of Hallowe-en activities including pumpkin-carving
workshop, scary basement tours, eerie woodland trails - and terrifying food in the restaurant!
There’s still time to book up for Plot to Plate if you enjoy both gardening and cooking. You
can combine your passions for both on November 7 in the last in a series of seasonal
participation events – this one concentrating on winter produce and cooking.
You’ll learn about the production of fresh produce from gardening experts in Upton’s Kitchen
Display Garden and then transfer to a cookery workshop using the produce to create
mouth-watering dishes under the supervision of an expert chef. Tickets cost £15.00 and
booking is essential.
As it is for one of Upton’s most popular tours - Putting the House to Bed on November 10.
The Conservation team will teach you some of the processes of preparing National Trust
collections for winter hibernation. Tickets are £15 and booking is essential.
On November 15, TV and radio presenter David Jones will be giving a lecture lunch on Winter
Gardening. An advisor to the Royal Horticultural Society, a Britain in Bloom Judge and a
former Director of London Parks and Gardens, David will proffer expert advice, peppered with
examples and entertaining anecdotes from his horticultural career. Coffee and lunch included.
Tickets are £20.
On on the following Tuesday, November 21, Dr. Jennifer Meir will lead a fascinating journey
through the life and works of 18th century gentleman architect and landscape designer
Sanderson Miller in a lecture lunch. Miller was a leading figure in the history of landscape
design, and an inspiration to ‘Capability’ Brown. Examples will be drawn from his many works
to be found in Worcestershire, South Warwickshire and North Oxfordshire.
You can book for all these events by ringing Upton on 01295 671122 or emailing
uptonhouse (at) nationaltrust.org.uk
27th October '06 - Leaves Drop In
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village
green next Wednesday from 10.40 to 11.20am.
27th October '06 - Church Services
There will be an 11 o’clock service in Hornton Methodist Church this Sunday,
October 29. There will be no service in the Parich Church because there’s a Benefice Service
at 10.30am at St Etheldeda’s in Horley.
Don’t forget that you can pop in for coffee, cake and a chat in the Methodist Church every
Friday morning from 9.30am to 12.30pm. There are Phoenix greetings cards for sale plus 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
17th October '06 - Outfoxed
Hornton’s allotments may be under threat because the trustees of the John Fox charity, which owns them, are being forced to resign over fears that they will be liable if anyone is injured on the land.
The Parish Council were given the news at their latest meeting by Coun. Lesley Waller, who is a trustee of the tiny charity, which has an income of just £150 a year from the allotment rents. The money goes to Hornton School.
In our compensation culture, the trustees feared that they may end up liable for anyone who comes on the land and is hurt because the income would not be sufficient to get insurance.
The council, meeting on October 2, agreed that Parish Clerk Alan Cater would write to the Charities Commission to see if there was a way to resolve the situation. One way might be to sell the allotment land to a local farmer, spelling the end of the allotments. Another could be for the council to take them over, like the children’s playground, and for the allotments to come under the Parish’s insurance policy.
It was also agreed at the meeting that James Alcock of Oxon Rural Community Council would visit potential sites for Affordable Housing after presenting his report following the village survey on the matter. Out of 136 surveys distributed, 32 were returned, and of those that responded, 59 per cent were in favour, 19% were not in favour and 22% were unsure.
The council was told that the small numbers make conclusions difficult but that six households expressed a specific need for affordable housing in Hornton.
Possible sites will now be reviewed, possibly in conjunction with another local village such as Horley, which is also due to conduct a survey.
Elsewhere, councillors heard that the new safety surfacing work on the children’s playground has not been straightforward. It’s been necessary to move some of the equipment to enable a reasonably flat surface to be maintained, which has resulted in an extra cost of £1,116.25. There have been long delays in completing the work and therefore no payment has yet been made.
And they were told that outline planning permission - which the council did not oppose - has been granted for housing on Varney’s scrapyard and garage site.
17th October '06 - Fair Witch Project
Waking the Witch are coming to Hornton!
It’s a real coup to get the four-piece girl combo - whose music was described by Radio 2’s Janice Long as ‘absolutely gorgeous’ - to play in our village, so make sure you get a ticket!
They play a unique combination of blues, rock, R&B and folk, with lots of soothing acoustic guitars - ust what the doctor ordered after a hard week at work.
They’re coming to Hornton Methodist Church on the evening of Friday, October 27, at 7.30pm as part of Cherwell’s Arts At Large programme.
Tickets cost just £8- £6 with concessions - and are available fromHornton’s ticket-queen, Julie Stanley, on 01295 670507.
17th October '06 - Chat Up
It’s time to put pen to paper again, as articles for The Gossip, Hornton’s very own village newspaper, have to be in by October 31. Practically anything that’s legal,
decent, honest and truthful can find a place in The Gossip - news, reminiscences, recipes or even…gossip. So don’t delay - contact editors Julie Stanley and Ann Hemmings today! Julie is on 01295 670507 and Ann is on 01295 670511. Or you can email Ann on ann.hemmings2 (at) orh.nhs.uk or Julie at julieharrystan (at) aol.com
17th October '06 - Amin Quiz
If you didn’t know that one of the many honours that former Ugandan dictator bestowed on himself was Conqueror of the British Empire (Africa in General and Uganda in Particular) then the Dun Cow was the place to be last Saturday night!
That formed one of the questions in Steve Woodock and Ollie Fickling’s latest quiz, which had an African theme because it was held to raise money for Hornton’s Sam Offord, who is one of just 38 teenagers from all over the country to have been selected to go on a cadet corps trip to Kenya next year.
Sam was delighted when the quiz, which packed out the back bar and raised nearly £200 for his £1700 trip. He thanked everyone who supported the event and especially Steve and Ollie.
17th October '06 - Moths have a Ball
The 3Hs Gardening Club were entranced by beautiful slides of moths from enthusiast Mick West at their latest meeting.
“He was very interesting,” said club secretary Sally Tweedsmuir. “We saw pictures showing the life cycle from caterpilla to pupa and finally the the moth itself.”
The next meeting of the 3Hs will be on Tuesday, November 14, when members will be able to make their own Christmas decorations but before that - on Saturday, November 11 - club members are going to raise money through a garden paraphernalia cale.
Have you got unwanted gardening bits and bobs cluttering up your shed? If so, the sale in the Church Room on the 11th is the place to take them and you’ll raise lots of lolly for the 3Hs!
17th October '06 - The Perfect Gift
If you’ve started your Christmas shopping for far-flung relatives and you’re stumped for what to buy them, look no further than a DVD of Hornton’s very own film - There’s Only One Hornton!
Digitally remastered and in a special presentation case, it will remind your furthest and dearest all around the globe of home. The DVD costs just £10 from Roger Corke on 01295 670673.
17th October '06 - Cards Fail to Fall
The Dun Cow Crib team lost their second match 5-2 at home to the Harbury Club in the Harbury and Distrcit Crib League. That means that the Hornton cribbers have yet to score any points in this season’s competition but it’s early days. The teams at the top of the table have only scored four points.
17th October '06 - They Don't Like it Up'Em
If you pop up to Upton House this weekend, you’ll see a flash of the cold steel when Sir Gilbert Hoghton’s Companie of Foote of the Sealed Knot show what it was like in the English Civil War.
Upton is near the site of the firt great battle, at Edge Hill, and you’ll be able to experience the sights and sounds of the Civil War with living history and displays.
On the following weekend - October 28 and 29, it’s time for Hallowe’en Horrors. Be prepared to be sacred with a whole range of spooky activities, including a pumpkin-carving workshop, scary basement tours, eerie woodland trails and terrifying food in the restaurant from midday till 4pm.
On November 15, TV and radio presenter David Jones will be giving a lecture lunch on Winter Gardening. An advisor to the Royal Horticultural Society, a Britain in Bloom Judge and a former Director of London Parks and Gardens, David will proffer expert advice, peppered with examples and entertaining anecdotes from his horticultural career. Coffee and lunch included.
And on November 21, there will be another lecture lunch when Dr. Jennifer Meir leads us on a fascinating journey through the life and works of 18th century gentleman architect and landscape designer Sanderson Miller, a leading figure in the history of landscape design, and an inspiration to ‘Capability’ Brown. Examples will be drawn from his many works to be found in Worcestershire, S. Warwickshire and N. Oxfordshire.
Tickets for both events are £20 and you can book by ringing Upton on 01295 671122 or emailing
uptonhouse (at) nationaltrust.org.uk
Finally, during weekend from November 4 -26 there will be a are opportunity to enjoy a free tour of the basements beneath Upton House, learning of life 'downstairs', and seeing clues to the early house history.
Tours are at timed intervals during the day and are of restricted capacity.
17th October '06 - Godhead to Godhead
The Parish Church of St John the Baptist will celebrate holy Eucharist at 11am this Sunday, October 22, the same time as Hornton Methoodist Church holds its service.
Don’t forget that you can pop in for coffee, cake and a chat in the Methodist Church every Friday morning from 9.30am to 12.30pm. There are Phoenix greetings cards for sale plus 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.
10th October '06 - Hornton Parish Council Minutes Online
Hornton holds its Harvest Supper in Hornton Pavilion tomorrow night, Friday, and if you’re
quick there might be a few tickets left!
All you have to do is ring Audrey Turner on 01295 670304 and a delicious three-course meal
can be yours for just £7.50.
10th October '06 - More Notes Needed
Hornton teenager Sam Offord has been teaching clarinet to children at the school as part of his
bid to raise £1700 to go on an expedition to Kenya next Summer. But he needs to produce even
more notes and you can help him this Saturday night, October 14, when Hornton’s fiendish
quizmeisters, Ollie Fickling and Steve Woodcock, host a quiz for Sam at the Dun Cow.
The quiz will have an African theme and there will be basket meals to match - look out for
the Wilderbeest burgers!
Sam is just one of 38 members of the cadet corps to be selected for the trip from all over
the country. He will be climbing Mt. Kenya and doing a community project at a school.
So far he has raised about £250 so he’s hoping for a big turnout from Hornton on Saturday to
push him nearer his target.
"Just a small donation or supporting myself at one of the fund raising events would help me
to make the children's lives better through improving their school,” says Sam. “I feel school
is the most influential part of a child's life and that this should be a happy time."
10th October '06 - Wakey Wakey
Waking the Witch are coming to Hornton!
It’s a real coup to get the four-piece girl combo - whose music was described by Radio 2’s
Janice Long as ‘absolutely gorgeous’ - to play in our village, so make sure you get a ticket
for their concert two weeks on Friday.
They play a unique combination of blues, rock, R&B and folk, with lots of soothing acoustic
guitars - just what the doctor ordered after a hard week at work.
They’re coming to Hornton Methodist Church on the evening of October 27 at 7.30pm as part of
Cherwell’s Arts At Large programme.
Tickets cost just £8 - £6 with concessions - and are available from Julie Stanley on 01295
670507.
10th October '06 - Action for Lights and Camera
The Hornton Film Festival is back and pencilled in for March of next year. But now is the
time to start thinking about making a short film.
Come on, anyone can do it, so unlock the Spielberg inside you and try your hand at making a
movie! The village now has its own video camera which is really easy to use. It also has its
own computer to edit your film on. There’s an idiot’s guide on how to use it and there’s plenty
of expertise on hand too.
But film festival organiser Pete Whitehead warns people not to leave it too late.
“There is certain to be high demand for the equipment in the last few weeks before the Festival
itself,” he says. “If you need any information, or would like to book the camera and/or computer
for anytime between now and March, please call me on 01295 670320.
“And if you would like to see the sort of films made in the past, there are DVDs of the 2005
and 2006 events available at just £10 each. They’re the perfect stocking filler!”
Everything from a sack of potatoes to a holiday in Spain went under the hammer and joint
organiser Claire Bottoms said she was absolutely delighted with the result.
“It was great that it went so well and was so well attended,” she said. “We can't believe
how generous people were, both in giving prizes and bidding.”
The company of Hornton resident and Peachtree parent Jonathan Short was particularly generous
in giving a donation, said Claire.
Horley School was full for the event and people said that particular credit for the success of
the evening must also go to Clair herself, who had worked fantastically hard to raise such a
sum and persuade so many people to put up gifts for auction.
10th October '06 - Be a Sport
Hornton School is only small and needs all the help it can get when it comes to collecting
Tesco Sports Equipment tokens. Go on, be cheeky and ask for extras!
10th October '06 - Sealed for Sunday
You can experience the sights and sounds of the English Civil War when Sir Gilbert Hoghton’s
Companie of Foote of the Sealed Knot visit Upton House on Sunday week.
There will be living history and displays on October 22 near to the site where the first
great battle of the wartook place - Edge Hill.
On the following weekend, October 28 and 29, it’ll be time for Hallowe’en Horrors. Spooky
activities will include a pumpkin-carving workshop, scary basement tours, eerie woodland
trails and terrifying food in the restaurant.
If you enjoy gardening and cooking, you won’t want to miss the next of Upton’s Plot to Plate
talks, on November 7.
This one is entitled Winter Feasts and you’ll learn about the production of fresh produce
from gardening experts in Upton’s Kitchen Display Garden, then transfer to a cookery workshop
using the produce to create mouth-watering dishes under the supervision of an expert chef.
Tickets cost £15 and booking is essential.
As it is for one of Upton’s most popular tours - Putting the House to Bed on November 10. The
Conservation team will teach you some of the processes of preparing National Trust
collections for winter hibernation. Tickets are £15 and booking is essential.
On November 15, TV and radio presenter David Jones will be giving a lecture lunch on Winter
Gardening. An advisor to the Royal Horticultural Society, a Britain in Bloom Judge and a
former Director of London Parks and Gardens, David will proffer expert advice, peppered with
examples and entertaining anecdotes from his horticultural career. Coffee and lunch included.
Tickets are £20.
You can book for all these events by ringing Upton on 01295 671122 or emailing uptonhouse (at)
nationaltrust.org.uk
10th October '06 - Autumn Leaves
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday
from 10.40 to 11.20am.
10th October '06 - It's a Gift
The organisers of the Gift Day at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist on September 9
raised a whopping £700-plus.
Churchwarden Sally Tweedsmuir said she was very pleased and the money would be put to good
use in the upkeep of the church, which costs around £250 a week to maintain.
There will be a service at 11am in Hornton Methodist Church this Sunday, October 8. At the
same time, the Parish Church will celebrate Mattins.
Don’t forget that you can pop in for coffee, cake and a chat in the Methodist Church every
Friday morning from 9.30am to 12.30pm. There are Phoenix greetings cards for sale plus 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.
3rd October '06 - Quiet Excitement
There’s a host of exciting goodies on offer tomorrow, Friday, when Peach Tree Pre-School holds a silent auction.
You can bid for a meal for six cooked in your own home by a Cordon Bleu chef, or a day’s hawking, tea at the House of Commons, a family holiday in Spain, a glider flight, a Christmas cake, a round of golf, an hour’s shooting lesson and much more.
There’s also a wine tasting to get you in the mood, so pop along to the Old School at Horley at 8pm. Tickets are just £5 reach in advance from either Clarie Bottoms on 01295 670776 or Peach Tree. Alternatively, you can pay on the door.
3rd October '06 - Lucky for Some
When you’re planning to hold the Harvest Supper on Friday The Thirteenth, you might as well take the bull by the horns and call it The Pot Luck Harvest Supper!
That’s what the organisers in Hornton have done and if you come along to Hornton Pavilion tomorrow week, you’ll get a three-course meal for just £7.50.
Tickets are available from Audrey Turner on 01295 670304 and please get your tickets early to ensure this traditional part of a Hornton Harvest continues.
3rd October '06 - Kenya Come?
Hornton’s Sam Offord has been selected to go on a cadet corps expedition to Kenya next summer - one of only 38 from from all over the country.
And you can help him raise money for the trip and enjoy a cryptically quizzical evening on October 14 at the Dun Cow from 7.30pm.
That’s when Hornton’s fiendishly clever question setters, Ollie Fickling and Steve Woodcock, have agreed to host a quiz with an African theme. There will also be special African-themed nosh in a basket, so put the date in your diaries now!
Sam will be working for a week in a school and also climbing Mount Kenya.
"Just a small donation or supporting myself at one of the fund raising events would help me to make the children's lives better through improving their school,” he said. “I feel school is the most influential part of a child's life and that this should be a happy time."
He’s been busy this summer raising cash by teaching clarinet to Hornton Primary School children, cutting neighbours’ grass and repairing his parents’ conservatory. So far he has raised about £250 but he has to reach £1700 to be able to go.
3rd October '06 - Flutter By
The next meeting of the 3Hs Gardening club is at 7.30pm this Tuesday, October 10, when Mick West will give a talk with slides about moths.
3rd October '06 - International Stars to Twinkle for Allsorts
The Hornton Allsorts are back. And they are bringing in talent from abroad to make sure that their first event - a Theme Night on November 18 - is a rip roaring success!
OK, the stars may be former Allsorts regulars Jan and Jeremy Newman, who used to live in West End and are coming back from their new home in Wales, but since it’s a Christmas Theme Night, they should help make the evening a real cracker!
The bumper-packed evening will include a Christmas dinner, games and entertainment and more details will be available very soon.
3rd October '06 - A Christmas Date for your Diaries
As Hornton’s the Christmassiest village in Banburyshire, it’s not too early to tell you about the Ladies’ Working Party Christmas Fair, which traditionally kicks off our Yuletide celebrations.
There will be the usual mix of stalls with a Christmassy theme, all washed down with home-made mince pies and glasses of wine. It all takes place from 7pm in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist on December 2, so put the date in your diaries now!
3rd October '06 - Cheese Please - and Thank You
Sarah Walther and Jo Gamage would like to thank everyone who supported their Cheese and Wine Party last Friday in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief.
“So far a whopping £582.72 has been raised with more donations still promised,” said Sarah. “By the time they come in, we should have made more than £600 for this fantastic cause - and it’s still not too late to drop by with a late donation!
“Many thanks for all the generous gifts of raffle prizes - it was truly a bumper raffle with 28 prizes, including a first-prize luxury hamper won by Linda England.
“And a special thank you to Jean, Lynne, Anna, Jennie, Ben and Nikki who manned the
stalls, raffle, bar -and Indian Head massage! We couldn’t have done it without you.”
3rd October '06 - Be Cheeky for the Children
Hornton School is only small so it needs all the Tesco Sports Tokens it can get! So when you stop at the checkout or the petrol station, go on - be cheeky. Ask if anyone hasn’t taken their tokens recently and see if you can have theirs!
One Hornton resident managed to get £300 worth of tokens at a Tesco in London this week just by asking!
3rd October '06 - Green with Envy
The Dun Cow crib team narrowly lost their first match in this year’s Harbury and District Crib League competition 4-3 to TheGreen Man Inn from Long Itchington.
3rd October '06 - Knot one to be Missed
Pick up your quill pen and put this date in your diaries. On Sunday, October 22, there’s going to be a helluver battle at Upton House.
Don’t worry, no one should get hurt but you’ll be able to see a re-enactment of the first big battle of the English Civil War at Edge Hill.
You’ll be able to experience the sights and sounds with living history and displays by Sir Gilbert Hoghton’s Companie of Foote of the Sealed Knot.
More information can be obtained from Upton House & Gardens on 01295 670266 or you can email uptonhouse (at) national trust.org.uk
3rd October '06 - Church Services
The Parish Church of St John the Baptist will holds its Harvest Festival this Sunday, October 8, at 11am. As this is a United Service, there will be no service in the Methodist Church.
And don’t forget that you can pop in for coffee, cake and a chat in the Methodist Church every Friday morning from 9.30am to 12.30pm. There are Phoenix greetings cards for sale plus a book and video swap - and, of course, plenty of good conversation!
The Thursday Club meets every week after school until 4.30pm in the Methodist Church School Room. All children are welcome.
