Caratinga come all the way from Brazil and they’re performing live for Hornton this Saturday evening!
Never heard Brazilian music? Of course you have! Just cast your minds back to those colourful TV pictures of the Rio Carnival and you’ll get some idea of what to expect at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church. So, talking of TV, switch it off and come along for a couple of hours of great entertainment - with free food thrown in during the interval!
Caratinga perform music on a variety of instruments, including the seven-string guitar, mandolin, percussion, cavaquinho and violin - along with the voice of their Brazilian vocalist, Leandra. There’s nothing like live music, as you’ll see when you come down!
Tickets are just £8 each (£6 for concessions) and are available from Julie Stanley on 01295 670507.
Since the concert is all part of Cherwell’s Arts at Large season, you’ve already helped pay for those tickets with your council tax. So do pop along and get your money’s worth!
26th October '07 - Sign up by Saturday
If you’d like to be considered for a place on Hornton Parish Council, you’ve got to sign up by this Saturday.
Lynne Fickling and Lesley Waller have had to resign because of other commitments and the council need to co-opt two people to fill the vacancies. Don’t feel you can’t do it! There are just six meetings of the parish council each year, so it’s not that onerous.
If you’ve never thought about it, now’s the time. Please ring parish clerk Alan Cater on 01295 670530 or email him at a.cater (at) btinternet.com by this Saturday, October 27.
26th October '07 - Cider House Rules
The Dun Cow is Cider and Perry Pub of the Year in North Oxfordshire. The award comes from the local branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, and follows a very successful beer festival in July, when special ciders and perrys were on tap, and praise for the way the pub keeps the real cider it serves.
The pub is holding a special Fish and Chip Night on Friday, November 16. Gwyneth will be frying from6.30pm onwards. The night has been rescheduled from the date which appeared The Gossip. And bookings are now being taken for the pub’s Christmas meals, which will be on Saturday, December 15, and Sunday lunchtime the following day.
Please ring Gwyneth on 01295 670524 for more details about both events.
Finally, please keep any chipped or cracked crockery!
“We’re hoping to hold a Greek evening in May or June and we’d like to end it with a smashing time!” said Gwyneth.
26th October '07 - Popping in for Poppy
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 almost £300. Expect to see them from next Monday, October 29, onwards.
26th October '07 - Flying the Flag
Have you got a birthday in the family? Then make sure you celebrate it in style by flying the Hornton birthday flag! For just £5 for village funds, you can have the name of the birthday boy or girl run up the Hornton flagpole - advertising your age is optional but all ages from 1 to 150 can be accommodated!
All you have to do is to ring Ian Harris on 01295 670541 and the celebrations can begin!
26th October '07 - Not a Gay Dat
The Dun Cow crib team lost a tight home match 3-4 to top-of-the-table Gaydon Inn in their latest match in the Harbury and District Crib League. That puts the Hornton cribbers in fifth place with four points.
26th October '07 - Scary Saturday and Sunday
This weekend, October 27 and 28, it’s Hallowe’en Horrors at Upton House!
Hallowe’en activities including pumpkin-carving workshop, scary basement tours, eerie garden trails and terrifying food in the restaurant from midday to 4pm.
And on the weekend of November 3 and 4 there’s a rare opportunity to enjoy a free tour of the basements beneath Upton House, peering into the 'downstairs' life of the house and finding clues to the house's early history.
And now’s the time to book for the ever-popular Putting the House to Bed tour on Wednesday, November 7, when the Conservation team at Upton invite you to learn the processes of preparing National Trust collections for winter hibernation.
The two-hour tour, which starts at 10.30am, includes coffee on arrival and lunch. Tickets are £20.
And on Thursday, November 15, it’s time for Upton’s ever-popular Winter talk on growing and cooking your own food in the From Plot to Plate series.
You’ll enjoy an exclusive tour of Upton’s kitchen garden, with an introduction to their history and tips on the techniques and benefits of growing your own fruit and vegetables. The event then transfers to the restaurant, for a demonstration of cookery using produce fresh from the garden to create mouth-watering dishes. Lunch is included in the £20.00 ticker and it begins at 11.30am.
You can get more information on all these events from Upton on 01295 670266 or by email on uptonhouse (at) nationaltrust.org.uk. Bookings can be made on 01295 671121.
26th October '07 - Worms a Wiggle
Bookworms will be making their way slowly down to the village green next Wednesday, October 31, when the mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be there from 10.40 to 11.20am.
26th October '07 - Church Services
The Rev John Myer will be preaching in Hornton Methodist Church this Sunday, October 28, at 11am. There will be no service in the parish church because there’s a Benefice Service in Balscote Church at 10-30 am.
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 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.
18th October '07 - You'd be Nutty to Miss it
Especially as Caratinga come all the way from Brazil and they’re performing in Hornton on Saturday week!
Caratinga perform music on a variety of instruments, including the seven-string guitar, mandolin, percussion, cavaquinho and violin - along with the voice of their
Brazilian vocalist, Leandra.
They’re coming to the village on October 27, so do turn the telly off and come along to the Methodist Chapel for a couple of hours of great entertainment. There’s nothing
like live music, as you’ll see when you come down!
Tickets are just £8 each (£6 for concessions) and are available from Julie Stanley on 01295 670507. Since the concert is all part of Cherwell’s Arts at Large season,
you’ve already helped pay for those tickets already with your council tax. So do pop along and get your money’s worth!
18th October '07 - Celebrate with a Banger
This Saturday, you can celebrate England’s (certain) win in the Rugby World Cup Final with …a banger. The Dun Cow is holding a special Bangers and Mash night from an hour
before kick-off at 7pm.
Gwyneth will have a variety of sausages - including vegetarian ones - and they’ll all be served with being served with mash, onion gravy and vegetables.
On Friday, November 16, there will be a fish and chip night and you can book the pub’s Christmas dinner for Saturday, December 15, or festive lunch for the following day.
18th October '07 - Picking Poppies
All Poppies are equal but some are more equal than others, so make sure you buy your Poppy for this year’s crop in Hornton!
Audrey Turner and Maggie Higgins will be calling door-to door from October 29 onwards and they’re really keen to beat last year’s total of £300 raised. But that depends
upon you, so please, please keep your money in your wallet and purse till you get back from the village and make sure you buy a Hornton poppy!
18th October '07 - Be Cheeky for a Computer
Hornton School is collecting Tesco Computers for Schools vouchers again this year, so please pop yours through the letter box of the front door in Church Lane.
And when you pick them up - go on, be cheeky and ask for a few extras. Some checkout staff can be really generous if they know you’re collecting for a small school!
18th October '07 - Progressing Nicely
If it wasn’t the best Hornton Progressive Dinner Party ever, it came pretty close.
Last Saturday, five couples hosted the latest progressive dinner party and 11 progressed round, eating a different course at three separate venues.
At least £450 was raised for the Pavilion refurbishment fund and organiser Anne Joyner - whose hard work all the participants praised - said she was particularly pleased
that so many progressive dinner party “virgins” had taken part.
“About half of the people had never been involved before,” she said. “I was really pleased that so many of them took part.”
Hosts Simon and Jane Perkin raised extra cash by asking their guests to guess the final result of the England-France match and a bottle of bubbly went to Simon & Alice who
guessed the score of 15 - 10.
The next progressive dinner party will take place in the spring, so watch this space for more details.
18th October '07 - Best Foot Forward
You could be just the person Hornton is looking for!
The village is searching for two people to take over as parish councillors because Lynne Fickling and Lesley Waller have had to resign due to other commitments.
Do you have what it takes? Actually, it doesn’t take a lot. There are just six meetings of the parish council each year, so it’s not that onerous. Please give it some
thought and you can get more information from parish clerk Alan Cater on 01295 670530 or email him at a.cater (at) btinternet.com by a week on Saturday, October 27.
18th October '07 - Greavous Win
The Dun Cow have stormed into second-equal place in the Harbury and District Crib League after a 5-2 away win over the Greaves Club, Bishops Itchington.
They have now got four points after just two games, with a game in hand over the league leaders.
18th October '07 - All Knotted Up
It’s Civil War at Upton House this Sunday, October 21, when Sir Gilbert Hoghton’s Companie of Foote of the Sealed Knot have a skirmish on the eve of the anniversary of the
nearby battle of Edge Hill.
You’ll experience the sights and sounds of the English Civil War, with living history and displays.
And on the weekend after next, October 27 and 28, it’ll be time for Hallowe’en Horrors!
Upton House Hallowe-en activities will include a pumpkin-carving workshop, scary basement tours, eerie garden trails and terrifying food in the restaurant between midday
and 4pm.
You can get more information on all these events from Upton on 01295 670266 or by email on uptonhouse (at) nationaltrust.org.uk. Bookings can be made on 01295 671121.
18th October '07 - Harvest Home
Last weekend the Parish Church of St John the Baptist looked magnificent after the Ladies Working Party and the ladies of the Methodist Church transformed it with beautiful
flower arrangements to celebrate harvest.
This Sunday, October 21, Mattins will be celebrated at 10-30 am and half an hour later there will be a special service in the Methodist Church entitled Telling Tales.
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 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.
13th October '07 - Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
Pop into the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this weekend, as it will be covered in beautiful flowers! There’s a special Harvest Flower Festival and the church will
be open from 2pm on Saturday and on Sunday for everyone to see the arrangements created by the church’s Ladies’ Working Party and the ladies from Hornton Methodist Church.
All the arrangements will be based on Harvest Hymns, poems and all things Harvest related!
The Harvest Festival Service will take place at 11am on Sunday and, as this is a United Service, there will be no service in the Methodist Church.
But 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 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.
12th October '07 - Bang On for Saturday Week
The Dun Cow is holding a special bangers and mash night on Saturday week, October 20, from 7pm – a week later than originally advertised.
A variety of sausages - including veggie ones – will be served with home-made mash and onion gravy and vegetables.
And there will be a new date for the fish and chip night. It’s now taking place on Friday, November 16 – a different date from the one which appeared in The Gossip due
to change of Bangers & Mash night.
This year’s Christmas meals will be held on Saturday, December 15, at 7.30pm for 8pm and the following Sunday lunchtime at 1pm for 1.30pm. Menus will follow but bookings
are being taken now.
12th October '07 - Turn Off and Tune In
Caratinga are coming to Hornton! Caratinga perform music from their native Brazil on a variety of instruments, including the seven-string guitar, mandolin, percussion,
cavaquinho and violin – along with the voice of their Brazilian vocalist, Leandra.
The music’s infectious, it’s live and it’s in the heart of our community, so turn the telly off on Saturday, October 27, and come along to the Methodist Chapel for a
couple of hours of great entertainment.
Tickets are just £8 each (£6 for concessions) and are available from Julie Stanley on 01295 670507. Since it’s all part of Cherwell’s Arts at Large season, those tickets
are already with your council tax. So do pop along and get your money’s worth!
12th October '07 - Pick your Poppy with Pride
Hornton is hoping to raise more money than ever this year in the Poppy Day appeal, so when you’re buying your poppy, please buy it here.
Audrey Turner and Maggie Higgins will be calling door-to-door from October 29 onwards, so please have lots of money ready! That way, the village can do even better than
last year’s superb response of almost £300.
12th October '07 - Opt in for Six Nights a Year
Could you spare six evenings a year to help Hornton? If you could, then you may be just the person the village needs to fill a couple of vacancies on the parish council.
Lynne Fickling and Lesley Waller have had to resign because of other commitments and the council need to co-opt two people to fill the vacancies. It doesn’t take up very
much time - there are just six meetings of the parish council each year - so if you’ve never thought about it, now’s the time.
You can ring parish clerk Alan Cater on 01295 670530 any time or email him at a.cater@btinternet.com by a fortnight on Saturday, October 27.
The work done by Lynne and Lesley was praised at the latest meeting of the council, held in the Church Room on October 1. Lynne was Hornton's first lady parish councillor
when she joined seven years ago and Lesley continued a fine family tradition – her grandfather Harold was on the council for half a century and chairman for most of that
time.
At the meeting, the council came out strongly against a plan for a new school hall in the corner of the playground. Councillors were in favour of a hall but believe it’s
in completely the wrong place.
The proposed position and size and height of the extension would adversely affect the open visual impact in the centre of the village, overlooking the Village Green in the
heart of the Conservation Area, they were told. The access to Church Lane would appear more built up with less vision for the safety of children and vehicles.
Instead, the council wants a new school hall further to the rear of the site. It could be potentially larger, it may not be necessary to use such expensive stone as it
is further out of vision. What’s more, the existing playground and open access to the school would be retained. It is understood that the proposals are being reviewed.
The meeting discussed the John Fox Charity allotment land following advice from the Charity Commission. The rents from the allotments – which go to the school - bring in
such a small amount of money that it costs more to insure the land than the income generated from the allotment holders.
All the trustees, fearful that they would become personally liable if anyone injured themselves, tried to resign but the Charity Commission says that three trustees have
to stay in place. So the parish council - subject to approval by the Commission - has offered to subsidise the cost of insurance in order to protect the Trustees while
decisions for the future are considered.
The plight of Hornton residents Lord and Lady Tweedsmuir, who were flooded during the summer, was also raised. Letters have been sent to Cherwell District Council and the
Environment Agency supporting attempts to find a solution to the problem. The Environment Agency believes that the pipe under the footpath and the garden of West End
House should be doubled in size to 18 inches diameter. Councillors were told that it is not clear whether they are suggesting that the stream should be open through
the garden, which would not be really be acceptable and this needs clarification when a site visit takes place.
The meeting also heard that Cherwell were still insisting on York stone for the Tinkertank footpath running between West End and the Church, under which the existing pipe
runs. This is causing considerable delay, despite the unfortunate accident when a villager tripped on the uneven surface. A strongly worded letter has been sent to the
Chief Executive of Cherwell about the flooding and the condition of the footpath reminding him that his council must take full responsibility for any health and safety
issues as they are causing the delay.
Councillors supported an application for a ramp up to the children’s playground for wheelchairs and the disabled. They agreed to investigate the possibility of a solar
power light in Eastgate via Cherwell, regarding planning and availability of grants to meet the potential cost of £2,500.
And they agreed to send a letter of appreciation to David Kings, who has kindly repaired the seat on the top village green. The Neighbourhood Watch Committee has
offered to reimburse the Parish Council for a new seat to be placed on the small green to help prevent cars from parking on it. It may also consider providing another
seat on the main Green.
12th October '07 - Best of British
The Dun Cow crib team got the better of their rivals from the British Legion, Bishop’s Itchington, in their opening match of the season.
They beat them 4-3 at home and the win puts them fourth in the Harbury and District Crib League with two points from one match.
12th October '07 - Turn Up for a Punch Up
It’s Civil War at Upton House on Sunday week, October 21, when Sir Gilbert Hoghton’s Companie of Foote of the Sealed Knot have a skirmish on the eve of the anniversary
of the nearby battle of Edge Hill. You’ll experience the sights and sounds of the English Civil War, with living history and displays.
And on the following weekend, October 27 and 28, it’ll be time for Hallowe’en Horrors!
Upton House Hallowe-en activities will include a pumpkin-carving workshop, scary basement tours, eerie garden trails and terrifying food in the restaurant between
midday and 4pm.
You can get more information on all these events from Upton on 01295 670266 or by email on uptonhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk. Bookings can be made on 01295 671121.
12th October '07 - Moving Story
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday, October 17, from 10.40 to 11.20am.
5th October '07 - Still Just Time to Progress
You’ve got only one more day to sign up for the latest of Hornton’s highly-successful progressive dinner parties - and you’ll regret it if you don’t!
It’s all happening on Saturday week, October 13, and a Hornton progressive dinner is a great way to meet new people, eat good food and raise funds for a good cause all at
the same time.
For anyone new to the village - or who’s been on a different planet over the past couple of years - organiser Anne Joyner explained how it works.
“You either opt to be a host or a guest,” she said. “If you’re a guest you go to three different houses during the evening, one for each course. The week before, you'll get
a letter telling you who and where and what time your first course is and you'll take that host a bottle of wine. Afterwards, they'll send you off to your main course hosts
and thence to your final hosts of the evening who will present you with a bill for £20 a head. Simple!
“If you opt to be a host, you'll provide a three-course meal for six people, including yourselves. This isn't as daunting as it may seem - the courses can be as simple or
as elaborate as you like and people can be seated however and wherever you please.
“The whole point of the evening is variety and fun! Your guests will change with each course but don't worry, that bit's all organised for you and you'll get all the
necessary info the week before.
“You can take part alone or with a partner and all of the proceeds will go towards Hornton's own Pavilion Renovation project. It's the perfect, friendly way to meet some
of your neighbours, particularly if you're both at work most of the time or if you're new to Hornton.”
If you ‘d like to take part, please fill in the form which came through your door recently and post it by 6pm tomorrow, Friday, in the village post box on the wall next to
the notice board on the village green.
If you have any questions or don’t have a form, please ring Anne Joyner on 01295 670337.
5th October '07 - Mash Won't Clash
The Dun Cow is moving its Bangers and Mash evening, scheduled for the same night as the progressive dinner party, to the following Saturday,
October 20.
From 7pm onwards, Gwyneth will be cooking a whole range of superb sausages - with mash, veg and onion gravy, of course. You can just turn up or reserve a table beforehand
by ringing her on 01295 670524.
And there are another couple of culinary Dun Cow dates for your diary. There will be a fish and chip night on Friday, November 16, and the pub’s Christmas dinner will
be on the evening of Saturday, December 15, and Sunday lunchtime the following day. More details will be available soon.
5th October '07 -
GRAND RESULT. The Parish Church of St John the Baptist had a “magnificent” response to its annual Gift Day.
That was the verdict of churchwarden Sally Tweedsmuir, who said that more than £1,000 will have been raised by the September 15 event by the time Gift Aid is recovered
from the donations.
Since it costs about £200 a week just to keep the church running, that’s more than a month’s upkeep raised in just one day!
5th October '07 - Nuaghty but Nice
A lot of very naughty children had a wonderful time last Saturday - and every one of the children was old enough to know better!
They were all at Peachtree Pre-School special School Dinners night, which drew a fantastic crowd of more than 50 all dressed up smartly in their best school uniforms,
and paper aeroplanes, sweets and even bits of food being were thrown around Hornton Pavilion.
There was shepherd’s pie for firsts and jam roly-poly for seconds, plus spelling and maths tests, and even a retro disco to take everyone back to their youth.
For anyone who missed it, you missed a treat and the organisers were delighted to have made £600 clear profit on the evening.
“I think that’s a fantastic amount,” said joint organiser Laura Short. “and it was fun clearing up afterwards. There were sweets all over the floor from naughty children
having thrown them around!”
The next Peachtree fundraising event is next spring, when another of its very enjoyable race nights is planned. What thi
s space for further details.
5th October '07 - Church Services
There will be a Harvest Festival in the Methodist Church this Sunday, October 7, at 11am, when the Rev Dorothy Hewitson will be preaching. As this is a United Service,
there will be no service in the parish church.
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 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.
