Hornton Archive October 2010

The Poppy Appeal starts this Saturday, October 31, and Hornton’s Maggie Higgins and Audrey Turner are doing their bit by doing a house-to-house collection next week. Wear your poppy with pride but make sure it’s a Hornton poppy! If you’re not in when they call, poppies can also be obtained directly from Maggie at Holloway House or Audrey at Bellevue.

28th October 2010 - Pounds for Pooches

Hornton School’s energetic children have raised a fantastic £230 for the Banbury-based Dogs for the Disabled charity.

The fund-raising effort – organised by Hornton School Council – involved children baking and selling cakes and getting more cash from a “doggy fete” where sideshows included “putting the tail on the doggy”! There was also a collection last week at the school’s doggy-themed harvest festival.

Term 2 begins on Monday and runs till December 17,

28th October 2010 - Material World

Do you have any old clothes, shoes, hats, belts, bags, soft toys, curtains or bedding that you would like to dispose of? Jane Wain is collecting pretty much anything made of material from people in Hornton for Warriner School’s Bags2school collection over the next couple of weeks.

Everything is recycled - much going to the Third World – and money is raised for the school at the same time. So if you have any items, please call Jane on 01295 670716.

28th October 2010 - Top of the Table

Hornton Methodist Church have been busy! A table top sale raised £150 for Chapel funds and a special coffee morning another £190 for Macmillan Nurses.

The next fund raising event is a Christmas Soup Lunch with crusty bread on Saturday, November 13 from 12 noon to 2pm, with stalls and a raffle.

28th October 2010 - Time's Pressing

The press deadline for the latest edition of The Gossip, Hornton's very own village newspaper, is nearly up. Editors Julie Stanley and Ann Hemmings need your copy by this Sunday, October 31.

Just about anything legal, decent honest and truthful can make it into The Gossip, just as long as it's signed and it's about Hornton, so please contact Julie 001295 670507 or at julieharrystan (at) aol dotcom) or Ann (01295 670511 or at ann dot hemmings (at) orh dot nhs dot uk) with your recollections, recipes and reminiscences as soon as possible.

28th October 2010 - Moria's Morsels

Moira Byast will talking to Hornton and District WI about Tasting the Christmas Past next Thursday, November 4, at 7.30pm in the Methodist Chapel. The competition is for Bonfire Night on a Plate.

28th October 2010 - On The Edge

Hornton History Group couldn’t have had better weather when they walked the Edge Hill Battlefield Trail in glorious sunshine last week. And they couldn’t have had a better guide, either – Simon Marsh of the Battlefield Trust led the walk round the site which saw the first battle of the English Civil War, sharing his encyclopaedic knowledge with the group.

The next big event for the group will be in the New Year, when they hope to learn about how the Romans came to Hornton.

28th October 2010 - Dead Lion

Hornton’s cribbers are coming good just as the season gets into full swing. They thrashed North End’s Red Lion Inn 6-1 at home and now lie third in the table.

28th October 2010 - Church Services

The Rev. Janet Jackson will lead the service in Hornton Methodist Church this Sunday, October 31 at 11 am. There is no service in the Parish Church because there is a 10.30am Benefice Service in Wroxton.

21st October 2010 - Punds for Pooches

21st October 2010 - Material World

21st October 2010 - Top of the Table

Hornton Methodist Church have been busy! A table top raised £150 for Chapel funds and a special coffee morning another £190 for Macmillan Nurses. The next fund raising event is a Christmas Soup Lunch with crusty bread on Saturday, November 13 from 12 noon to 2pm, with stalls and a raffle.

21st October 2010 - Time's Pressing

The press deadline for the latest edition of The Gossip, Hornton's very own village newspaper, is nearly up. Editors Julie Stanley and Ann Hemmings need your copy by October 31.

Just about anything legal, decent honest and truthful can make it into The Gossip, just as long as it's signed and it's about Hornton.

So please contact Julie 001295 670507 or at julieharrystan (at) aol dot com) or Ann (01295 670511 or at ann dot hemmings (at) orh dot nhs dotuk) with your recollections, recipes and reminiscences as soon as possible.

21st October 2010 - On The Edge

Hornton History Group couldn’t have had better weather when they walked the Edge Hill Battlefield Trail in glorious sunshine last Sunday. And they couldn’t have had a better guide, either – Simon Marsh of the Battlefield Trust led the walk round the site which saw the first battle of the English Civil War, sharing his encyclopaedic knowledge with the group.

The next big event for the group will be in the New Year, when they hope to learn about how the Romans came to Hornton.

21st October 2010 - Godhead to Godhead

There will be an 11am service in Hornton Methodist Church this Sunday, October 24, at the same time as Holy Eucharist is celebrated in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist.

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, DVD 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.

21st October 2010 - Worms Turn

Bookworms won’t want to miss the mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council, which will be on the village green next Wednesday, October 27, from 10.40am-11.20am.

21st October 2010 - Eye of Newt

You’ve got just one day to join Hornton’s next progressive dinner party - and if you like things that go bump in the night you won’t want to miss it!

That’s because it’s taking place on Halloween weekend - with all the dishes having a Weird and Wonderful theme and all the guests asked to dress Ghoulish.

To take part is Dead simple: you opt to be either a host or a guest. Hosts stay in one place and provide three courses for three separate sets of guests who move round from house to house between courses.

It costs £25 plus a bottle of wine if you’re a guest, with the hosts providing the food and most of the wine as their contribution and all proceeds go to the pavilion rebuilding fund.

All you need to do is put your name and address on a piece of paper in the village postbox next to the Royal Mail box by 6pm tomorrow, Friday.

21st October 2010 - On The Edge

There’s still time to join this Sunday’s Hornton History Group walk around the Edge Hill Battlefield trail - but be quick! All you have to do is give Rosemarie Cater a ring on 01295 670530 or email her at r dot cater (at) btinternet dot com and turn up at the Castle Inn at 10am. “Simon Marsh will be the guide and also some members of the Battlefield Trust will assist him,” said Rosemarie. “The walk will finish back at the Castle Inn at around1pm for lunch and a nominal charge of £3 per head will be made to the trust.”

21st October 2010 - Material World

Do you have any old clothes, shoes, hats, belts, bags, soft toys, curtains or bedding that you would like to dispose of? Jane Wain is collecting pretty much anything made of material from people in Hornton for Warriner School’s Bags2school collection over the next couple of weeks.

Everything is recycled - much going to the Third World - and money is raised for the school at the same time. So if you have any items, please call Jane on 01295 670716.

21st October 2010 - Cheese Please

Hornton’s Sarah Walther teamed up with Horley’s Jo Gamage and raised a fantastic £760 for Macmillan Cancer Support at their annual cheese and wine party. Sarah wanted to thank everyone who supported the event but everyone who went wanted to thank Sarah and Jo for all theire hard work.

21st October 2010 - Greavous Loss

The Dun Cow have lost for a second time in the first three matches of the new crib season. The Harbury and Sitrcit Crib League champions were 5-2 away losers to the Greaves Club, leaving them just above the half way point in the table, with just two points from three matches. Come on cribbers!

21st October 2010 - Chat Up

The deadline for contributions to the latest edition of The Gossip, Hornton’s very own village newspaper, is October 31, so scribblers have still got time to hand in their contributions. Editors Julie Stanley on 01295 670507 or at julieharrystan@aol.com and Ann Hemmings on 01295 670511 or at ann dot hemmings (at) orh dot nhs dot uk are waiting for those literary pearls to drop through their letter box!

21st October 2010 - Church Services

Mattins will be celebrated in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist this Sunday, October 17, at 10.30am. Half an hour later, Katy Lee will lead the 11am service at the Methodist Church.

21st October 2010 - Bottoms Up

Claire Bottoms has already gone way past her £200 target after completing the Warwickshire Triathlon in one hour 53 minutes in aid of MS - she was up to nearly £400 when going to press - but it’s not too late to give. All you have to do is log on to www.justgiving.com/Claire-Bottoms0 and you can add more money for this very worthwhile cause.

21st October 2010 - Bottoms Down

Are you sitting comfortably? Probably not if you’ve just put your bottom down on a chair in the newly-refurbished Hornton pavilion. So we’re going to buy 100 new chairs costing £30 each and the pavilion needs people to sponsor them. If you can buy a whole chair - or even more than one - that would be great but any donations are welcome. Please contact Sarah Walther on 01295 670627 or email her: sarah dot walther (at) hotmail dot co dot uk

7th October 2010 - Hole-in-the-Wall-Gang (HITWG) - Farewll to Freddie Campbell - Founder Member

The Hole-in-the-Wall (HITW) - Group Photo

On the 'dim-and-distant' 21st of July, a group of friends met at the Dun Cow, to say farewell to Freddie Campbell (founder member of the Hole-in-the-Wall-Gang) before he and his wife, Eleanor (stalwart HITWG 'widow'), departed from the warmer climes of Oxfordshire to the extremes of the West Coast of Scotland - Portpatrick.

The group comprised HITWG members - past, present and new, plus associate members (including canines).

Back in 1999 (?), Freddie decided that the time was right to increase support for the local pub mid-week and embarked on a course of action to entice locals to have a drink and get together at the Dun Cow, on a regular basis. The name 'The-Hole-in-the-Wall- Gang' was coined and Wednesdays were adopted as the most popular night for meeting. Terry Bell and Doreen were the owners at the time, but the tradition transferred over to Martin, Gwyneth and Lynn, when Terry and Doreen decided to retire. Originally, Freddie sent a number of 'flyers' around the village encouraging membership (failure to comply at the pain of death - or some similar vile threat). The first meeting was a complete success, with what appeared to be 'vast numbers' (might be a bit of an exaggeration, but lots at least) turning up to savour the 'Hooky'. Needless to say over the years this attendance level dropped and the overwhelming numbers of the inaugural night dwindled to a 'core' membership of about 10 - 5 of those being our furry friends!

Hole-in-the-Wall-Gang - Partners

Landlords/Ladies - Past and Present - Dun Cow

Meetings on a Wednesday night were, and continue to be, a mix of usual pub banter with various subjects being aired - world affairs are debated with pathos but more often than not, local gossip takes centre stage, along with the dogs on parade ("more like Crufts than a pub")!

The photos which accompany this narrative are a mixed bag of HITWG members, their partners, landlords/ladies, dogs (fast becoming a qualifying entry for future villagers contemplating HITWG membership) and anyone else that made a regular appearance at the DC on Wednesdays. We have to thank Eleanor for the compilation of the 'total' group picture which she cleverly composed and edited from a series of separate photo settings, where members were not available for the final Wednesday photo-call - "Many thanks Eleanor".

At great expense, we managed to obtain the services of Hornton's equivalent of David Bailey, Roger 'Give-me-a-smile' Corke, who managed extremely well to arrange people in some semblance of order to enable photographs to be taken - "Thank you Roger".

Freddie will be sorely missed at the HITW, and we have had to go to the extraordinary lengths to ensure a replacement has been found - Jurgen Fricker having moved to the village to take up the vacant spot! We hope that Freddie, in true combative style, is able to inject the same level of enthusiasm and drive, at some Portpatrick local which he may now frequent - "Cheers Freddie".

Hole-in-the-Wall (HITW) Dogs

Finally, if I have missed anyone in the photo call who feels they should have been included, I apologise.

Steve Whitby - HITWG Member

7th October 2010 - It's That Time Again

View the Minutes from the Parish Council Meeting dated 27th September 2010.

7th October 2010 - Fine Words

You can bring along an unusual item for valuation when Patrick Bowen talks to Hornton and District WI about fine art and antiques tonight, Thursday, at 7.30pm in the Methodist Chapel. The competition will be for an unusual button.

7th October 2010 - Top Table

There will be a Table Top sale at Hornton Methodist Church this Saturday, October 9, from 2-5pm. You can book your table for £5 from Julie Stanley 01295 670507 or Jean Burden on 01295 670664. Teas will be served throughout the afternoon and there will be the usual raffle. Proceeds for Chapel funds.

7th October 2010 - It's A Snip

There will be a pruning demonstration by Janet Cropley at the next meeting of the 3Hs Gardening Club this Tuesday, October 12, at 7.30pm in Hornton pavilion.

7th October 2010 - In The Bag

Do you have any old clothes, shoes, hats, belts, bags, soft toys, curtains or bedding that you would like to dispose of? Jane Wain is collecting them around Hornton for Warriner School’s Bags2school collection in the first week of November.

Everything is recycled, much to overseas aid, at the same time raising funds for the school. If you have any items, please call Jane on 01295 670716.

7th October 2010 - Tree Tops Agenda

The decision to remove the oak tree in the corner of Hornton School topped the agenda at the latest parish council meeting on September 27.

The school governors successfully applied for planning permission from Cherwell to remove the tree – with the backing of the parish council. But neighbour Jenny Bowes told the meeting she was unhappy about the decision, especially as no notice was put up outside the school after the application was made. She was also concerned about the lack of communication between the School and the village before the tree was felled. The school governors put a note on the village notice board about it but only on the day the tree was taken down.

The tree was standing where a school hall may be built but Cllr David Miles – a school governor – said that the tree had to come down for health and safety reasons regardless of whether the school hall project went ahead because electricity wires were running through it immediately above where children play. Mrs Bowes said that she didn’t think the tree would have been felled if the school hall hadn’t been a consideration.

Cllr Miles said that the county council had not yet produced any plans for the school that were acceptable to the governors but if and when plans are produced, an opportunity would be provided for villagers to see them and make comments. The meeting thanked Jenny Bowes for her contribution.

The council formally welcomed Laura Short as a co-opted member to replace Julie Stanley, who stood down recently. She signed the form of acceptance.

The meeting heard that villager Mark Bowes had arranged, under the authority of the Parish Council and Oxon Highways, for additional posts around the greens to stop thoughtless motorists parking on them. These selfish people might like to know that the parish council will have no liability for damage to cars as a result of drivers not keeping to the road.

7th October 2010 - Off The Bottom

After going through the first half of the season with no defeats, The Dun Cow crib team’s loss in the opening match of the new season was a big upset. But fortunately the Hornton cribbers made amends in their second, with a 7-0 home whitewash of The Green Man from Long Itchington.

7th October 2010 - Autumn Leaves

The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday, October 13, from 10.40am-11.20am.

7th October 2010 - Church Services

The Parish Church of St John the Baptist holds its Harvest Festival this Sunday, October 10, at 11am. As this is a Untied Service, there will be no service in the Methodist Church.