Hornton resident Pip Brooks has been so touched by all the good wishes she received through her
recent illness that’s she holding a party for everyone in Hornton!
Pip suffered a stroke brought on by a brain tumour but she’s now finished radiotherapy and she’s
on the mend.
“I’d like to show my appreciation for the tremendous support, lovely letters, cards, flowers and
gifts received from the lovely people of Hornton,” says Pip. “Wherever could there be a better
place to live?”
The party will take place at the village pavilion from Saturday, October 15, from 2 pm and, as
this is Hornton, a good turnout can be confidently expected.
“The celebration is for the end to my treatment and hopefully a successful result,” sais Pip.
“I hope everyone will come.
“There will be food and drink but catering for unknown numbers will be difficult, so maybe, if
you’d like, you could bring a bottle and perhaps a dish to share.”
Pip also used to be a keen member of the North Oxfordshire Riding Club and she’s hoping some
of the people she used to ride with will also be there.
“We’ve long considered have a members’ reunion for NOCS, so if anyone was a member when I was
there, do come along and make it a double party.”
You don’t need to reply to the invitation - everyone in Hornton is welcome - but if you did
want to call Pip in advance, her phone number is 01295 670327. See you there!
27th September '05 - Tributes to Eric
It’s a tribute to the affection and esteem in which Eric Turner was held that a full half hour
before his funeral last week, there were no seats available in the Parish Church of St John the
Baptist. Mourners estimated that 300 people were there to say goodbye to a man who has
contributed so much to the life of Hornton - as parish councillor, churchwarden and so much
else.
One of the projects in which Eric was particularly active over many years started back in the
1970s, when he led efforts to erect the village pavilion. Since then he worked tirelessly
with all sorts of jobs to keep it maintained and the most recent meeting of the pavilion
committee warmly remembered him.
Ian Harris, the current chairman, paid tribute to all the unsung time and hard work that
Eric put in over many years from the Pavilion's inception. It was unanimously agreed, as a
fitting tribute, that when the money has been raised for a new kitchen extension, it should
be named in Eric's memory.
27th September '05 - Be Cheeky at the Checkout
Hornton School is only small and needs all the
Tesco for Sports Equipment vouchers it can get. So whilst the store is holding its present
promotion, go on - be cheeky and ask the person in front of you for their vouchers if they
don’t want them. And if you ask nicely, the checkout staff will often give you a few more!
There have been lots of changes in Hornton School over the summer. For a start, there will
be a different voice on the end of the phone when you call. School secretary Sally Phelan has
left to live up in Manchester and she’s been replaced by Michelle Wythe, who will also act as
clerk to the governors. And there are two new teaching assistants - Nicola Davies and Fiona
Norris - though an Early Years teaching assistant is still urgently needed.
Colour is the curriculum topic for Class 1 this term, Communications for Class 2 and Weather
for Class 3.
Finally, an important Handwriting Workshop for parents will be held on Friday week, October
7, for guidance in supporting your child’s writing development. All parents are invited to
attend.
27th September '05 - Spot On
The Dun Cow dominoes team have gained their first win of the season with a 9-7 victory over
the Stags Head, Swalcliffe.
The pairings of Jean Gibbins and Ann Jarrett, Linda Cross and Martin Hemmings won three of
the four games played.
27th September '05 - Autumn Leaves
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next
Wednesday from 10.55 to 11.30am.
27th September '05 - Church Services
The Methodist Church hold their Harvest Festival this Sunday, October 2, at 11am. This will
be a “Bring and Share” Festival, and everyone is asked to bring already prepared food for the
harvest lunch after the service. Donations of money for your lunch will be sent to the Niger
Appeal and everyone is really welcome.
The Parish Church of St John the Baptist will celebrate Holy Eucharist earlier in the day at
8.30am.
20th September '05 - Farewell, Eric
No one has made a greater contribution to the life of Hornton over the past half century than Eric Turner and this week the village is saddened and shocked by news of his tragic and sudden death.
There was hardly an aspect of life in our village in which Eric did not get involved. He was a parish councillor for nearly 40 years, a churchwarden for more than 30. Where would the 3Hs Gardening Club show be without Eric’s wonderful display of vegetables? Only Eric’s were perfect enough to win the Vegetable Cup every year without fail.
His extraordinary efforts on behalf of the people of this village didn’t stop there. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the lights in Eric’s tree at the top of his garden and the illuminated sails of the windmill gaily spinning round. And over the years, thousands of people have enjoyed walking round his beautiful hillside garden in Bell Street when he and his wife, Audrey, have opened it for all sorts of good causes. They’ve also marvelled at the way Eric was able to keep it looking so pristine up a seemingly impossible slope!
Last Sunday a minute’s silence was held on behalf of Eric at the Ironstone Benefice Service which took place at Wroxton. Yesterday, he was buried in the churchyard of the Parish Church of St John the Baptist which he loved and served for so long as churchwarden.
David Miles, who succeeded Eric as chairman of the parish council, this week paid tribute to his friend and colleague.
“His massive contribution to the life of Hornton will be missed by everybody,” said David. “ It’s difficult to think of life in Hornton without Eric. Whenever something needed doing, Eric was there. We’re very sad and we’ll miss him.”
20th September '05 - All in Black and White
Match reports from the Dun Cow’s dominoes team will be joining the crib team this year in the Banbury Guardian and it’s good news after a sticky start. The team have picked up their first point of the season with an 8 - 8 draw against Tadmarton’s Lampet Arms, after losing their first game of the season to The George Misfits from Brailes.
20th September '05 - Crib On
The Dun Cow are playing the first match of the season away against Kineton Sports and Social Club next Tuesday in the Harbury and District Crib League. The Hornton team are hoping to reproduce their form from the season before last when they won the league and forget last season’s team competition, when just a couple of crucial games in two matches proved to be the difference between victory and success. You can find all the highs and lows of the season each week in the Banbury Guardian.
20th September '05 - Church News
To celebrate the 40 years since his ordination, Hornton Rector Jeff Chard was present with a cheque and a case of Ironstone wine by the parishioners of the Ironstone churches at last Sunday’s Benefice Service in Wroxton.
It was, of course, a celebration tinged by sadness at the tragic death of Eric Turner but Hornton churchwarden Sally Tweedsmuir said everyone in the congregation was thrilled for him.
“Everybody was so thrilled for him,” she said Sally. “It was a lovely celebration. He was terribly thrilled and rather speechless.”
Meanwhile, the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Hornton has raised more than £650 in its annual Gift Day - a very valuable contribution to church coffers, as it costs £200 a week to maintain the mediaeval building.
This Sunday, September 25, there will be an 11 o’clock service in the Methodist Church and Holy Eucharist will be celebrated in the Parish Church at the same time.
13th September '05 - 40 Not Out
It’s not only the England cricket team who have got a fine innings to celebrate this week. So
has Hornton’s Rector, the Rev Jeff Chard. On Sunday, September 18, it’s exactly 40 years since
he was ordained at Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral in his native Wales.
To celebrate, there’s going to be a Benefice Service of Holy Eucharist at 10.30am in All Saints,
Wroxton, and all parishioners from the nine churches in the Ironstone Benefice are invited.
“I am so pleased to be here amongst you for this occasion which is, for me, a special day,” says
Jeff. “As a Priest can only function with his parishoners, I hope you might feel able to celebrate
this day too.”
For this reason, there will be no service at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Hornton
but at 11 am on Sunday there will be a service at the Methodist Church.
And Hornton’s two churches are well in the money this week after five intrepid villagers cycled
and walked round the area in the annual sponsored Ride and Stride, organised by the Oxfordshire
Historic Churches Trust.
Beth Birkbeck was the youngest participant, who ended up in Shipston-on-Stour after tackling a
rain-soaked course on two wheels with her Dad, Anton.
Julie and Harry Stanley raised £100 by walking to eight churches.
“It was going to be ten but we got so wet!” said Julie. “Even then, we were sheltering under a
hedge for a very long time!”
Lynn Corke raised just over £200 by pedalling to 12 churches - although she almost lost all her
sponsors after her sponsorship form blew off the back of her bike on the way back from Horley!
Fortunately it was retrieved later - very wet but still legible - from the middle of the road.
Well done to all the walkers and riders. The money they raised will be divided between the Trust
and Hornton’s churches.
13th September '05 - Final Flourish
The third of Upton House’s fine art study tours takes place next Thursday, September 22, when
expert Oliver Lane takes a look at the collection of British works hung there and celebrates the
talents of home-grown artists. The tour runs from two hours from 10am, it costs just £10 and
pre-booking is essential. You can get more details by calling Upton on 01295 670266.
Upton House has also got a new leaflet, highlighting 12 of its best paintings through the ages.
13th September '05 - The Nursery End
Hornton’s very own nursery, Quarry Nurseries, opened again this week for its autumn season.
Philip Gilbert will be on hand to help you with all your winter bedding plants and green-fingered
advice from 10am till dusk on Wednesdays and weekends and 6pm to 8pm other days.
13th September '05 - Leaves Drop In
The mobile library from Oxfordshire County Council will be on the village green next Wednesday
from 10.55 to 11.30am.
8th September '05 - Gift For The Future
It costs an astonishing £200 a week to maintain our
beautiful Parish Church of St John the Baptist. Even if you’re not a regular
churchgoer, you may still recognise the enormous value of having such a
beautiful mediaeval building in our midst and this Saturday, September 10,
you can help save it for future generations.
The church is holding its annual Gift Day from 10am to 12 noon, so please
pop in for coffee and a chat. Any donations, of course, will be most
welcome.
And on Saturday, there’s a second chance to raise much-needed cash for our
village’s two beautiful churches by walking or cycling round our beautiful
countryside.
The idea behind the annual Ride and Stride is simple: you get sponsored to
walk or cycle to as many churches in a day as you want, then half the money
goes to the church or churches of your choice and half to the Oxfordshire
Historic Churches Trust.
There’s still time to pick up a sponsorship form, so please ring Julie
Stanley on 01295 670507.
If you’d like to sponsor someone, please leave a message for Lynn Corke on
01295 670673 as she’ll be pedalling to as many churches as possible. Lynn’s
going to give her sponsorship money to the Historic Churches Trust, the
Methodist Church and the Parish Church. Alternatively
Meanwhile, a total of £228-15 was raised through a coffee morning, raffle
and bring-and-buy stall at Hornton Methodist Church last Saturday. All
profits will go to church funds.
8th September '05 - Say It With Flowers
Peter Sheasby will be giving a slide show entitled
Mediterranean Flowers to the 3Hs Gardening Club at their meeting next
Tuesday, September 13, in the Pavilion at 7.30pm.
8th September '05 - Blues in the Pink
The annual Hornton Summer Blues Cruise made a fantastic
£660 profit when more than 200 fans squeezed into the garden of the Dun Cow
to hear sets from local favourites The Mighty Firebirds, led by Hornton’s
Mark Bowes, and three other bands. The support acts included The Shenlow
Rakes – featuring the village’s John Wright and Ian Harris.
The money raised is going to the pavilion kitchen extension fund.
8th September '05 - Say Cheeze
Lots of cheese and wine, a stupendous raffle and a bring-and-buy
stall will be tempting allcomers at the end of this month, when Hornton’s
Sarah Walther and Horley’s Jo Gammage hold a cheese and wine evening in air
of MacMillan Cancer Relief.
It’s taking place at Jo’s house in Gulliver’s Close, Horley, at 7.30pm on
Friday, September 30, so be there or be square!
8th September '05 - Woodland Spells
This Saturday and Sunday, woodland events will take centre
stage at Upton House in a special event entitled Wood Wizardry. There will
be hands-on art and craft activities in the grounds of Upton celebrating
woodlands, trees and the natural versatility of wood. The event runs from
noon to 4pm and normal admission prices apply.
On Thursday, there’s a special day for those with a passion for fine art.
Art connoisseur Oliver Lane will be taking enthusiasts around Upton's
magnificent collection of Dutch pictures on his second of three tours.
The final tour, on September 22, examines the works of British artists.
Pre-booking for the sessions is essential and they cost £10 for one session
or £18 for two. The sessions run from 10am to 12 noon and coffee is
included.
You can get more details by calling Upton on 01295 670266.
8th September '05 - Church Services
There is a United Service this Sunday, September 11, at
11am in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist. As a result, there’s no
service in the Methodist Church but don’t forget that Sunday School takes
place there every Sunday for an hour from 9.45am and, for children who can’t
make it, Thursday Club is open to all small ones from after school till
4.30pm.
