The first issue of the New Year is an appropriate time to say thank you to all who help produce the Newsletter; to John Stratford who quietly and efficiently keeps our books in order; to Nigel Lehmann who proof reads for us; to all those who regularly deliver the Newsletter to your door and to all who contribute in any way. Thank you Rachel Parton for the drawing on page 28, Rennison Hall for the cover and Jem and John, for technical assistance this time. Thank you to all who have sent in drawings for covers including the school. This cover is by Rennison Hall. Cash in the Post Office and Firs boxes amounted to £33.20.
With this issue you will receive the 1998 edition of the Directory brought up to date by Diana Barber and we thank her for such a splendid achievement. We know that the 1997 version was used by many people and organisations.
it is with great regret that we have to say goodbye to Liz as editor after this issue. Her personal commitments make it necessary for her to resign as co-editor. She has given many years of hard work to the Newsletter working alongside Elsie Whitehouse and Virginia Owen and she will be much missed..
This means that the time has come to ask for more help from you. We need a new co-editor and also someone to take over the advertising from Diana who also feels she must now give up. The advertising job does not require any selling, you merely wait for the copy to come to you and then send out invoices where needed. The co-editor would need to help in making decisions and to become acquainted with the putting together of the Newsletter and perhaps take on some of the work from time to time. Perhaps there is someone else who would just type the copy for instance? Please ring Barbara Hicks to find out what is involved.
Don't forget to look in the Village Issues Folder in the Post Office for information from ORRC, Carers and Cherwell District Council.
You may like to know that we do a BIG PRINT issue which can be passed around. Do you know anyone who might like one?
Sadly we report the death of Lilian Grenger and send our condolences to her husband and family.
LIZ PICKERING 737434 BARBARA HICKS 737017
Last copy in by Wednesday 18th March, please
PARISH COUNCIL
December 4th.
Tree work was continuing in the Play area - new planting would take place during the Spring. Work was still needed to tidy up after the delivery of the safety bark.
A small committee was set up to investigate the purchase of a map showing the places of interest, to be displayed in the centre of the village.
The entertainment, Treasure Island, had been a great success and it is hoped that something along similar lines will be organised again.
A survey is to be organised to see if residents in the eastern end of the village would like a bus shelter. Conditions for hiring the Hall were again discussed.
The Precept (money raised from Council Tax) was the most important item on the Agenda. Mr Whitaker presented a 'budget' which included £3000 for the interior decoration of the Hall and £7500 towards the new ladies toilets which brought the total needed to £26,000. This was considered to be too great an increase and after discussion it was felt that new toilets could be financed over a two year period. After voting, a figure of £20,000 was agreed. This is the same amount that was called for in 1997.
New signs were in evidence throughout the village although one or two were badly placed, as were the two grit bins, one on South Hill and one on the triangle of land in the High Street. A further bin is to be requested for Park Hill.
Trees overhanging the verges so far as to cause motorists to move over were again discussed. Swerford Road and some on the road to Milcombe would be reported to the County although they are the landowners responsibility.
January 8th.
The Chairman had the questionnaires - 'Would you like a bus shelter' - and the volunteers said they would hand them out in East End.
Bad weather had prevented any further work in the play area but the tree work had been completed. New litter bins had been ordered and it was agreed to ask Cherwell for a Dog Bin to be located at the bottom of Tite Lane near the lower cemetery gates. Heavy lorries had churned up the verges on Burycroft Road and overhanging hedges were still causing problems. The notice board by Central Stores had been vandalised and the 'glass' would be replaced.
M.E.B. poles carrying the power supply were in poor condition and would be reported. The fate of the Library is to be considered at a meeting on January 29th Mr N. Matthews reported.
Water from a spring continues to run down South Hill causing a problem in icy conditions and it was agreed that local action should be taken.
IN MEMORY OF JACK GREY
John Ellis Grey, known as Jack, was well known in Hook Norton where he was born and bred. He moved to Over Norton in later years after his wife died and only then when his health failed him, following a stroke, some five or six years ago. He spent some eighteen months living with his daughter, Pam, in Over Norton and following a short, temporary stay in Castle View, Chipping Norton, decided he would like to move in there permanently. Enjoying company as he did, he belonged to the Stroke Club and joined the Over 60s and even managed a little gardening when he was able.
Jack led a good and full life in the village and in his younger days he was a member of both the cricket and football teams and was a familiar figure in the lanes of Hooky. A game of dominoes in the Pear Tree with his friends was a great pleasure to him.
In his early years Jack was employed at the Brymbo Works, in the old 'pick and shovel' days. He then spent thirty years at the firm which became known as Alcan
where he was in charge of the rolling mills until, eventually, he became redundant when he was sixty three. Characteristically, with his dislike of retirement, he found a job at Parker Knoll as a storeman and worked there until he retired at the age of seventy.
When Jack died on 28th September 1997 at the age of eighty eight years and ten months he had lived a full and active life. He leaves behind two sons and a daughter, his son Roy having pre-deceased him in 1980.
IN MEMORY OF PATRICIA FISKE
When Patricia Fiske and her husband, Dudley, moved into Farthings in the High Street in 1986 no-one had any idea of the extent and value of the contribution that Patricia was to make to the life of this village. Born in Edinburgh, she spent many of her schooldays in Dorset during the Second World War. She returned to Edinburgh for her University years to gain a degree in History. Her first teaching post was in Cumbria and lasted for a year and a half. She then decided that she would get a professional teaching qualification and moved to Oxford to accomplish this. It was there that she met her husband-to-be, Dudley. Patricia had already planned to teach in Canada and this she did, only to return one year later to marry Dudley. With Dudley lecturing and Patricia teaching their work took them all over the country, including a spell in Oxford. By the time that they moved to Lewes, Dudley was an administrator in education and it was there that their first child, Alastair was born. Malcolm, their second child was born in Reading and their daughter, Caroline, in Leeds, where Dudley had become Deputy Education Officer. Whilst her children were growing up Patricia was to spend less time teaching. As this phase in her life came to an end, they moved to Manchester on Dudley's appointment as Chief Education Officer. It was then that Patricia went back to teaching. After the Manchester years there was a short time in London and then back to Manchester when her husband retired. During these years Patricia was to use her talents working with mature students in Adult Education and in an advisory role with the Open University.
It was Dudley's retirement and his increasingly poor health that led Patricia to Hook Norton in 1986. The first years were taken up with looking after her husband who died in 1991.
Patricia's own health deteriorated and the cancer from which she had suffered returned. But this did not deter her from becoming very involved with village life.
John Acreman, for the church, feels that it has lost a much loved and committed member. She was generous, kind, and particularly supportive to him. There are so many good feelings about Patricia that it is difficult to get them into words. It was through the church connection that Patricia became a foundation governor at the primary school and her talents were much in demand. She chaired the Nursery sub-committee and was committed to the setting up of the Nursery and its development.
She is also remembered with affection at Rollright School. When the present Head took on the headship Patricia was there with support and friendship and her concern for the school's well being was highly valued. Patricia is particularly remembered for her role in fighting for necessary safety measures to combat dangerous traffic conditions outside that school.
When the Day Care Centre was first suggested in Hook Norton, Patricia took part in early discussions and became its Secretary. When ill health returned she resigned this post but retained her interest in the Centre by becoming its Vice Chairman.
Patricia was a highly valued member of the Hook Norton Literature Group during the 1990s. She was strongly committed to the Group right up to the Autumn of 1997. Her perceptive insights and her knowledge of historical background, did much to help members develop awareness of, and response to, a very wide range of literature. On a practical level she often picked up Joan Golby and took her along to join the Group. For her family, their mother is desperately missed and her teachings and influence on them will always be remembered, as it will be by the people of Hook Norton.
FIRE SERVICE
The retained firefighters were called out twenty eight times in all during the two months up to 18th January 1998. As might be expected there were five chimney fires in the district: two in Hook Norton and three in surrounding villages. A van was destroyed by fire and there were two serious road traffic accidents: one involving two cars and the other a car upside down in a hedge in which the occupant suffered severe back injuries. There were two buildings fires; one an electrical fault in a deep freezer and the other a false alarm given with good intent. There was also a chemical spillage incident. Of the remaining seventeen calls, three were not required or re-directed and fourteen were standby calls for Banbury.
Have you suffered from a fire in your home? If you have you will know about the fear and feeling of helplessness that hits you. Think of your home burning to the ground or worse, loss of life, because help was too far away.
Keeping up numbers of retained firefighters is essential for Services such as Hook Norton's to survive. Remember that the more retained firefighters there are the less time are they committed to be on call. Women are welcomed as firefighters. (I wish I were thirty years younger! Ed) Why not call in at the Fire Station on Wednesday evenings at 7.pm
Please apply to Sub-Officer James Clarke, for details of conditions, generous training and turnout fees. Home: 730451 Work: 737210
Thomas Anfield Hambidge son of David and Katrina was baptised on 2nd November 1997 at St Peter's Church, Hook Norton
DEAR EDITOR
I would like to thank everyone in Hooky who has supported so well, the Hook Norton Video Diary. To date 95 copies have been sold and a cheque for £301 presented to the H.N. Charitable Association. Special thanks go to the Post Office, The Village Shop and the Pear Tree Inn. Copies are still available.
I have now completed two more village videos - one of the fine events over Christmas at the Primary School called 'Christmas at Hook Norton School' (all profits go to the school), and one called 'Christmas at Hook Norton' which contains clips from most events at St Peter's Church (and also the school), Christingle, The Manger Service and all carol concerts etc. Parents will love to see their children, I know! Profits go to the Church. Copies available from the School, the Church, Post Office and Jo, 737199. Jo Chadwick
COMING SOON.......
Following the highly successful Treasure Island, Cherwell District Council in conjunction with your very own Hook Norton Parish Council bring you:
Winnie the Pooh Mask Making Fun Day
- fun for 8-11 year olds by Trading Faces.
Saturday 28th February 10am-12 pm and 1-4pm.
Tickets £3 from the Post Office and Village Stores
HOOK NORTON FOOTBALL CLUB
The men's section of the club is having a good season to date. They are in a good position to gain promotion to the Premier Division of the Oxfordshire County Senior League. They are also in the quarter finals of the League Cup and in the last sixteen of the Oxfordshire County Cup.
The club still need volunteers to help out with general duties on match days. If you can spare some time please contact Dave Macfarlane (737123) or Neville Pearce (737030).
The club plan to hold a jumble sale in the Memorial Hall on Saturday February 21st starting at 10am. If anyone has any jumble please contact Neville or Jean Pearce at 41 The Bourne. Dave Macfarlane
1997 CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY
I want to say a big thank you to the people who organised the children's Christmas party on the 6th December. They worked really hard, making sure the disco, decorations, food and atmosphere were something to remember. Father Christmas arrived and gave each child a present and photograph taken with him, beautifully presented in a Christmas card. All of this for £1-50!
Brilliant! - and thanks again. Adele Reid, Sibford Road
VOLUNTEER READING HELP
Volunteer Reading Help - the National Charity that Helps a Child to Read - recruits and trains people from the local community to go into primary schools to help children on a one-to-one basis. Volunteers come from all walks of life and are all ages. No qualifications, except an interest in children, are needed. If you feel that you could spare two hours twice a week, then please contact us.
Training courses will take place during February in Banbury.
For more information please contact:- Nicola Menage, Grimsbury St Leonards School, Overthorpe Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 8SB. Tel: 01295 273900.
LOCAL HISTORY
The postponement of January's talk on Victorian Values by David Eddershaw means that we have that treat to come on Tuesday, 3rd February at 7.30pm. The following meeting is the AGM followed by a quiz which should be great fun and takes place on March 3rd. Please note that the time of this March meeting is 8.00pm.
We are also looking forward to March 31st at 7.30pm (which replaces the April meeting) when Air Commodore G R Pitchfork speaks on Aviation in the Cotswolds.
HOOK NORTON SILVER BAND
Throughout December the Silver Band played carols outside Tesco, Sainsburys and, courtesy of a brewery lorry, around Bloxham and Hook Norton. The outstanding total collected was £1400. £200 is to be donated to the Day Care Centre whilst the remaining £1200 will be equally divided between Age Concern and the Band. All those who played on 21st December are grateful to Jane and Richard at the Sun who kindly provided refreshments.
By now everyone who is a Friend of the Band will have received a request for their annual donation. Many people have returned their forms and we are tremendously indebted to all of you for your generosity. Can I take this opportunity to remind those who put the form aside to 'deal with in the New Year' that we are dependant upon donations to keep us afloat and however much you can afford will be very gratefully received and utilised! We will be contacting all donors soon with news of the annual Friends concert. A considerable number of people have expressed interest in buying the Bill Clarke concert tape - these will be sent out in the near future.
Our resolutions for the New Year are to apply for charitable status and make a successful bid to the lotteries commission. Watch this space for more news . . . . .
Charlotte Bird - Band Secretary
23 MONTHS TO GO!
The year 2000 will soon be upon us, so what would you all like to do? The Charitable Association has agreed to collect initial ideas on how the whole village would like to celebrate this event. Celebrations could be in the form of street parties, theatre, a themed market etc. etc. (Other villages seem well under way in their preparations & so entertainments & venues need to be booked now!) Many village organisations have been approached already about taking part to get the ball rolling, but inspired individuals are needed too.
Volunteers & ideas for a celebration to take us into the 3rd Millennium are needed. Please phone Andrew/Rachel Parton on Hook Norton 737617. Alternatively bring your ideas to the next HNCA Open Meeting on Tuesday 10th March at 8pm in the Brewery Function Room.
MEMORIES OF HOOK NORTON IN THE 1930s
I don't remember the first time I saw Hook Norton but it must have been in August as that was the month when my mother used to take me, my brother and sisters on our annual country holiday to see Great-Uncle Ted and Great-Aunt Harriet - Edward and Harriet Clifford. The sun always seemed to shine and once I even suffered from a mild form of heat-stroke. My mother's links with Hook Norton went back to her childhood when she was sent from her home in Torquay, to stay with her aunt and uncle, while her mother, a widow, was recovering from a serious illness. Her mother's maiden name was Clifford and the family came from Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. The Cliffords were a long line of stone masons, dating back to the 1600s and my Great-Uncle Ted was also a stone mason, who was proud of his skill. He used to show us a stone wall he had built and would look at it with a loving eye for several minutes while we were longing to go on with our walk through the lanes of the almost traffic free village.
My mother, whose maiden name was May Bennett, had romantic associations with the village, as during her long stay with her aunt and uncle, she had become very friendly with Walter Haynes, whose family owned the Hook Norton bakery. My mother was then 11 years old. She often told us how Aunt Harriet had taken away her beloved dolls, saying, 'A great girl like you shouldn't be playing with dolls'.
The dolls disappeared for ever . Despite this, Aunt Harriet, who was Uncle Ted's second wife and much younger than he was, had a kind, warm hearted personality and she was very skilled at making home-made wine. We used to bring bottles of wine home where it was stored in the cellar in our house in Derby. Elder flower was my favourite, but there were occasions when an explosion occurred in the cellar as a result of a bottle bursting its cork.
My mother's friendship with Walter Haynes flourished and eventually they became engaged and even the wedding cake was made in the bakery. Alas, my mother had met my father, an engineer working in Rolls Royce in Derby, which was where she had gone to live with a married sister when her mother had died. The charms of the engineer proved superior to those of the young baker. Walter, heartbroken, left Hook Norton but after many years he and my mother met again in Hook Norton. Walter never married and a family called Hudson took over the bakery when the Haynes family sold the business. The bakery is still to be seen in the centre of the village although it was unoccupied when I saw it in 1997.
Uncle Ted who was born in Stow-on-the-Wold in 1851 had lived in Hook Norton since his first marriage to Emma Lynes on 11 November 1878. He owned the thatched cottage now called Bean Acre but then simply known as Southrop because of its location near the little river Rop. The cottage, in his day, had a porch, a living room and a kitchen combined and a little sitting-room, reached by a step down from the main room. There were three bedrooms, although the middle
one was the large space between the two rooms. My sisters and I slept in this middle area on a soft feather bed. There was no electricity, but in summer, who needed electricity? There was also no mains water, only the spring, still flowing in 1997 at the back of the house. This, in the hot summers of the 1930s, was a more serious problem, as the spring often almost dried up, but somehow we managed to wash and the cooking and cleaning were done. Cooking was by means of the coal-range and I, as a fussy eater, was told by Uncle Ted "snap up your victuals". He was a quiet, gentle man, who in my mother's childhood used to have a donkey cart and had an allotment, which he worked diligently, distributing vegetables to the poorer villagers. When I knew him he had a black and white terrier called Trixie and he was a devoted owner. We used to hear Trixie pattering up the stairs to sleep with Aunt Harriet after the death of Uncle Ted.
I remember playing in the field by the Rop and looking across to the elegant viaduct which ran over the valley. My brother recalls looking out of the bedroom window and, in the moonlight, seeing a train crossing the viaduct. Now, only the mutilated stumps remain.
Uncle Ted kept a pig in the pig-sty and Aunt Harriet kept hens. Mrs Hughes lived in the cottage at right angles to ours. For many years I thought her name was Mrs Yews. She was a contrast to our easy going aunt, as she was very neat and tidy. She grew beautiful sweet peas and we were always given a bunch to take back to Derby. Her curiosity was legendary and we were warned by mother to be careful what we told her. Behind the cottage was the Wheatsheaf Pub, now a private house. The Wheatsheaf was too far out of the village to have any but the occasional customers.
Once we spent Christmas in Hook Norton, just after Uncle Ted's death. Christmas in the country was magical to me. The fields were frosty and all was quiet. Mr Cox, a large cheerful man, became Aunt Harriet's lodger until her death in 1951, and he died shortly afterwards. My mother inherited the cottage as Uncle Ted had no children, but she decided to sell it. Uncle Ted and Aunt Harriet are buried in the same grave in St Peter's churchyard. The inscription is neat and the last word sums up their happy marriage. It is 'Reunited'.
Jean Lindsay,(Doctor Jean Lindsay), 65 Upper Garth Road, Bangor, LL57 2SS
ST PETER'S CHURCH
Christmas was celebrated very happily at St. Peter's. The church was filled to overflowing for the Candle-light Carol Service on Sunday 21st December. 1157 candles were lit, a record number, and the church looked very beautiful for the lovely service. The next morning helpers were in very early to take down the candles and clean up.
In the afternoon the Flower Ladies started to decorate and by Christmas Eve their many flower arrangements were adding to the beauty of the church, with the Christmas Crib and Christmas Trees.
The Crib Service was as inspiring as ever and the hard work put into it's production by Janet and others was well repaid by the result. The many small angels and shepherds played their parts well and the Three Kings sang their solos confidently. It was interesting to know that Philippa, who took the part of Mary, had taken part 12 years ago as the Baby.
A few people worked very hard afterwards clearing up - (straw bales shed an incredible number of pieces!)
There was a large congregation at the Midnight Communion Service and also a good number at the 8am service on Christmas morning.
The annual sale in aid of the Church was held on January 17th and raised £845.
On the 31st December the Sunday School members had an outing to the Pantomime in Chipping Norton.
In Dorchester Abbey on 2nd February Bishop Anthony who is our Area Bishop is celebrating his ten years as a bishop.
Lent will soon be upon us and there is to be a Lent Course, entitled "Body Building Exercises". This will take place on Wednesdays March 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th at 7.30pm in the Music Room at the School.
At 7pm on Sunday 29th March, Passion Sunday, there will be a joint Service of Christian Praise and Worship with the Baptists, in St Peter's Church.
In the next Newsletter you will find times of the Easter Services and also details of the Alpha Courses which will start after Easter.
BAPTIST CHURCH
Here we are already well into the New Year; the days are beginning to lengthen and the snowdrops in our garden are about to flower: Spring is not too far away. Perhaps you have already failed to live up to some resolution made to improve your life or you are finding it difficult to keep to the decisions made. Each Sunday morning until Easter we are working through the Letter to the Hebrews which was originally written to a group of Jewish believers in Messiah Jesus who were considering giving up or turning back. As we seek to find some answers to life's difficult questions - the who, how, why, when, what and where? - you are most welcome to join us.
On Sunday 29th March at 7pm in St Peter's Church we shall be gathering with, we hope, many others for "Passion Praise", a time of Christian worship, fellowship and ministry.
Mums and Tots: We meet every Friday morning, term time, at the Baptist Church Hall, Netting Street. Please feel free to come along with your baby/toddler for a cup of tea/coffee and a chat.
We have plenty of toys, puzzles, books etc. 50p per session. 9.30 -10.30am toddler session; 10.30 - 11.30am babies up to 2 years old.
Contact Janice Quartermaine 737269
W. I.
Members and friends of the W.I. have had two recent very enjoyable evenings, one before Christmas on December 9th for an excellent Christmas dinner at The Gate Hangs High, and on Tuesday January 13th members braved the January rain to have a sociable 'get-together' with refreshments and a discussion on the programme for 1998/99. Several interesting suggestions were put forward including a possible trip to Chipping Norton Theatre and a visit to Brooke Cottage garden and speakers on a range of subjects including reflexology, physiotherapy, travel, the supernatural, cosmetics, natural history and tracing
ancestors. It was agreed that, having received a request to donate towards the purchase of a much needed new minibus for the school, the W.I. should make a contribution and look forward to borrowing it for future outings! The next Group Meeting will be held at Tadmarton W.I. on Wednesday April 8th.
On Tuesday February 10th a talk on 'Embroidery' will be given by Rachel Christie. Nominations are invited for election of the next committee and officers, ready for the AGM. on March 10th.
We are not a boring group of geriatric Jerusalem singing jam makers; always welcome guests and new members of all ages and look forward to some fresh ideas to make meetings and outings even more enjoyable.
Meetings are held at 7.30pm in the Baptist Hall on the second Tuesday of each month. For further information contact Joyce Stuchbury - chairman - 737694, Sue Winspear 737528 or Marion Roberts 730214 - joint secretaries.
WELCOME CLUB
The Club has completed its programme for 1997. First we had the Christmas Lunch held on 19th December at The Gate Hangs High. A delightful lunch was very much enjoyed by the members. The Club's guests were our (dare I use the term?)
"Transport Section" - Mr Bishop, Mr Wood and Mr Thompson and their ladies.
The last planned event of the year was a visit to the Pantomime. When we say "planned" we mean it arose from a request by some of our members at the December meeting. Names were taken, phone lines became overheated when booking tickets, two journeys to Oxford were made and on the 2nd January thirty members went to the Playhouse to see "Jack and the Beanstalk". All thoroughly enjoyed the show, a genuine "traditional" Pantomime with many time honoured gags we all know and expect - I would not have been surprised to see a Harlequinade!! So our programme ended on a high note - now we have to plan for 1998.
THANK YOU
Ann and Frank Faulkner wish to extend their sincere thanks to all their neighbours and many friends who supported them during and after Ann's recent serious illness. Everyone's kindness was really heart-warming and uplifting with prayers, good wishes, flowers and the many delicacies to tempt a somewhat jaded appetite, were absolutely marvellous. Thank you so much everyone. Hopefully Ann is now well on the way to recovery.
GARDEN CLUB
Here we are in the middle of January and some small daisies in full flower have been spotted in the grass - it looks as though we may well be looking forward to another year of mixed seasons. What you will be able to look forward to with some certainty is another year of varied and interesting meetings and events organised by the Committee of the Garden Club.
We are kicking off with another quiz/cheese and wine party on February 18th. The previous two were very much enjoyed by those attending and be assured that many of us do not have a great knowledge of gardening. The cheese and wine that follows is an opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones.
On 18th March we are looking forward to welcoming again our own Mr Bob Hopkins who this time will talk about Diascias. Both of these meetings will take place in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm.
The Spring Show this year will take place a week before Easter on Saturday 4th April with Entry Night on Thursday 2nd April. This is two weeks before the date last year so perhaps there will be an even bigger display of Spring bulbs. Schedules will be available about four weeks beforehand in the Post Office and the Village Shop, so please make an effort to enter something and if you cannot, then come along and admire the exhibits of others.
We have more meetings and outings planned for the rest of the year so look out for the notices in the Newsletters, posters and in the Banbury Guardian.
HOOK NORTON CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION
An open meeting was held on a damp night in mid-January and those present were astonished when we received a cheque for £301 from Jo Chadwick. This was the results of the sale of her video Hook Norton 1996/7 Diary . We thank her very much for her efforts which must have been considerable, despite the pleasure and satisfaction which she said pursuing this new hobby has given her. Keep up the good work.
That was the good news. It was with regret that we had to accept Shirley Phipps' resignation as secretary to the Association. Thank you, Shirley, for your hard work and your contribution to its running over the past years and your intention to help when you can in the future.
Folk in a Field Two - Saturday 4th July 1998
Advance Notice: A full programme of varied and vibrant music is being planned for this year's concert and, once again, CLARION have agreed to top the bill.
The band enjoyed themselves so much last year - "better than Glastonbury" - that they are delighted to take time out of their European tour to entertain you and support our fundraising.
Make a date for your diary now. Villagers, friends and families will be given the first opportunity to buy tickets. Full details in the next edition. Further information and enquiries from Pat Groome, Chapel House, Chapel Street,730396
Race Night
The Association will be holding another race night on: Saturday 21st March 1998 at the Sun Inn. The event will be again organised by Scott Orchard and his "Fitness for Men" team. Watch out for posters to update yourselves on this event.
PRIMARY SCHOOL
January is a time to reflect on the events and changes we experienced at the end of 1997 and to look forward to the year ahead. In the Autumn term we welcomed Mrs Helen Robertson as class teacher of Year 2 and welcomed back Mr Dave Newman. We said goodbye to Mrs Maureen Crowe who will be remembered by many children as their first teacher in the Nursery. Mrs Tanya MacDonald has taken over as teacher in charge of the Nursery. Michelle Watson has left her post of dinner supervisor, this position is now filled by Mrs Sheila Acreman.
The school was saddened by the death of Patricia Fiske in November. Patricia had been an invaluable member of the Governing Body for several years and frequently spent time in the school.
Children will remember the visit by the poet John Foster, the whole school visit to Cogges Farm at harvest time as well as the 'sponsored spell' which raised an amazing £1,837 towards a new minibus. Class activities included visits to the Motor Museum, Ashmolean Museum, Hook Norton Brewery and a Saxon Day. Senior citizens from the village enjoyed extracts from the Christmas productions and a festive tea. At the start of the New Year, Mrs Pryor's class visited the Day Centre where they talked to the guests and gathered information about life during the war. They hope to visit again later in the year. The school values contact with the local community and is grateful to all who visit the school to talk to the pupils or assist in many ways.
Two splendid sculptures of a lion and a coil pot now grace the entrance to the school. They were made by groups of children under the direction of Artist in Residence Rebecca Buck and are a lasting reminder of her visit. All classes look forward to a Multicultural Arts Week in February when each class will study a different country and come together at the end of the week to share their experiences.
As always 1998 will be a year when such activities and outside visits will be carefully chosen to enhance and consolidate the daily work that goes on in the classroom.
WILDLIFE NOTEBOOK
The periods of wild and windy weather do not appear to have blown any unusual
birds into the parish but on a good day it's still been possible to see forty species.
It's been a particularly good winter to see the diminutive Long-tailed Tit which roves around winter woodlands and hedgerows in small flocks often in the company of other small birds. They are wonderfully acrobatic in their search for small insects. Increasingly they are visiting peanut feeders and at least one flock has been regularly visiting gardens in the village with reports from Margaret Stevens, Nigel Lehmann, Beryl White (on 19th Jan) and my wife Gill. Birds are able to convert quickly the fats in peanuts into energy to help maintain their body temperature on cold nights. Long-tailed Tits also roost communally, the birds huddling together for warmth.
Among other reports this month were two Mute Swans seen flying over the village by Tim Burchell on 26th December. Tim's garden attracted a male Blackcap on 4th January, the first record this winter.
Scarce birds for the parish included two Grey Partridges on a ploughed field, a pair of Green Woodpeckers, a Kingfisher in the valley near the sewage treatment works on 11th January, a Tree-creeper in woodland near the viaduct and four records of Redpoll. Reports of all wildlife welcome.
Steve Holliday, 8 Whittons Close, 737038
HOOK NORTON RANGERS
On Friday 19th December we all met at Banbury station ready for our trip to Dover. The train journey was long but everything fitted in well. We raced down the underground, thinking we were going to be late, and then we had to wait at Charing Cross station for what seemed like ages. We eventually got to Dover and found the Youth Hostel. We were self catering so had to cook for ourselves! Once we had eaten and refreshed ourselves, we kept ourselves amused by either watching TV or playing Pool.
We had been told that we had to leave the Youth Hostel by 6.30am so that we could walk down to the port. A couple of people were planning to get up at about 6.25am but, when someone's alarm went off at 5.40am, it spoilt all our plans.
The walk to the port seemed so long. Once we got there we went through passport control and then made our way to The Pride of Burgundy.
Most people were hungry by this stage so we made our way to the cafeteria. A fried breakfast was on the cards for most people.
We had written in advance to P&O to ask if we could go up to the bridge (where the ferry is controlled) and they said that we could. We were escorted to the bridge and then left in the hands of the Captain and his colleagues. It was fascinating to see how such a large ferry was controlled. Five of the Rangers made their Promises there. We were lucky enough to stay up there whilst the ship docked. Once in the middle of Calais we went off in two groups to do our shopping, although a few of us did head straight for a cafe! The weather was wonderful and sunny, we couldn't believe our luck.
We met up for lunch but, split up straight away because some wanted a cheap lunch and others were there to splash out a bit! More shopping was on the cards after lunch. We met up again and 3 people went ice-skating on the outdoor rink whilst the others stood around eating roasted chestnuts and discussing the days events. We all went on the carousel and then had our photo taken with Pere Noel (Father Christmas), the French must have thought we were mad! All too soon it was time to get back on the ferry. We played charades to keep busy and then we were back in England and had the walk back to the Youth Hostel to come. Everyone enjoyed a meal of French cheese and bread and then fell straight asleep.
On Sunday we took a walk to Dover Castle and then went through the secret war tunnels and hospital which was very interesting. We then had to go back to the train station to get the train home. It was a very tiring, low cost weekend that we all thoroughly enjoyed.
Since then the Rangers have been back-stage at the Chipping Norton Theatre and been to the pantomime which was enjoyed by all.