Busy Bees Craft Club

 Hook Norton Baptist Hall
Last Thursday in the month
7 - 10pm
Starting March
Tel: 01608 737764


We are holding a fashion show
in aid of
Katherine House Hospice
at Hook Norton School
on Friday 25th April at 7.30pm
to celebrate our
4th birthday at Salon 2.

All the hair will be done by our new stylists,
clothes are from Emel in Shipston-on-Stour,
including evening and day wear,
lots of handbags & shoes etc..
Tickets available from the Salon
£5 each to include a glass of champagne


THE NEXT INSTALMENT FOR HOOK NORTON BRASS BAND !!
Engagements for 2008 are rolling in - the year is going to be a busy & varied one.
Our next Concert is at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford on Avon on Saturday the 12th April 7.30pm in aid of raising funds for this fine & historic building. This is followed by our ever popular Spring Concert in St.Peter's Church, Hooky on the evening of Sunday the 27th April, again at 7.30pm. Admission is free with a retiring collection for Band funds, please do come along & support us. We are busily rehearsing a new & varied programme of music to suit all tastes and the training band will also be taking part.
An engagement with a difference is planned in Finstock village for the 17th May. This is a village re-enactment of their Village Club Day March, last taking place a Century ago. This has involved eight members of the Band being measured up for Victorian high collar uniforms & peaked caps, to re-enact the photograph taken all those years ago, together with villagers in Victorian attire. We shall be recovering our own large Victorian Bass Drum for this event,currently on loan to Hooky village museum, and to ensure all is "in period" have drawn from our music library original music from the period - all very yellow & aged - having not been played for many years !!
Two of our musicians aren't well at the moment; one being Paul Roberts, those who come to our Concerts will know Paul as the fine Baritone singer. We wish both Paul & Mike a speedy recovery.
Our 2008 Annual General Meeting was held at the Brewery Visitors Centre courtesy of James Clarke, on the evening on Monday the 10th March. A full committee has been re-elected & all business was happily concluded in just over half an hour !!
The annual presentation of awards resulted in the Ernest Jones Cup for effort & commitment being awarded to Bill Randall; the Presidents Cup for most improved senior player to Nigel Greaves & the Glynn Trophy for most improved junior player to Philip Tolmie - well done to all.
After the meeting a short concert was performed for members of the public & friends of the Band.
As always, if you play brass & are interested in joining us, we are a friendly bunch of all ages - currently having 25 musicians in the main Band & approx. 6 in the training band. We practice at Banbury School each Monday evening. Please give me a call on 01608 737269 and I will be pleased to tell you more !!
Martin Quartermain
"It was a wonderful treat for Friends of the Band who were at the Brewery Visitors Centre for the AGM to have a superb concert put on for us after the business of the evening.
The annual Friends of the Band subscription was more than covered by such a fine & lively programme of music & refreshments too !!! - don't miss next year !!!"
John Wheatley - Friends of Hook Norton Brass Band



125 NOT OUT
Wigginton Methodist Chapel has been open for 125 years!

Please come and join us as we celebrate on
Saturday 3rd May:
10:30-3:00pm 		Sunday 4th May
Plant sale
Cakes
Preserves
Bric-a-Brac

Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea
10:30am Family Service led by:
Rev Alan Swann
6:00pm Evening service led by
Rev Michael Langley
OWZAT!


ABINGDON AIR & COUNTRY SHOW
Planning and preparation is now in the final few weeks for the ninth in the popular series of Abingdon Air & Country Show events held on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (4th May 2008) at Abingdon airfield, Dalton Barracks, Abingdon. For the second year in succession we will be raising awareness and funding for the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance based at RAF Benson.
As well as the hoped-for appearance of the Air Ambulance helicopter we will be staging a full three hour flying display in the afternoon. Aircraft involved should include historic aircraft inc. the legendary Supermarine Spitfire. From today's armed forces we hope to have a RAF Hawk and Merlin, Royal Navy Lynx and Grob Vigilant.
People will be able to actually take to the skies one of the historic aircraft of the Air Atlantique Classic Flight. Several other aircraft will be on static display. The day is expected to finish with a mass launch of hot-air balloons in the early evening.
We hope to have a wide selection of historic vehicles plus MG Works Car Rally and Morris Minors. As well as cars there should be buses, steam engines and ex-military vehicles with a wide range of other attractions. For information: www.abingdonfayre.com



Friends of Girlguiding
Oxfordshire
MAY DAY GARDEN PARTY
 to be held at
CASTLE HOUSE, BULL RING, DEDDINGTON
On Monday 5th May 2008, 11.00 - 4.00
 Come and have an enjoyable time whilst supporting
Oxfordshire Girlguiding. Lots to do for all members of
the family. Refreshments available.
Entrance: 50p or £2.00 per family.
Friends of Girlguiding Oxfordshire has been set up to support Girlguiding
Oxfordshire giving help not only to Jubilee House and Beanwood, but to girls
and women involved in Guiding across the county.



Test Your Wits!

The Hook Norton Pre-School Playgroup
are holding a Quiz at the
Sports and Social Club on
May 9th at 8pm.
Teams of four - £10 per team.




THE WARRINER CHORAL SOCIETY
There can be few people in western nations who have not heard of “The Barber of Seville” and fewer still, even without a musical background, who do not recognize the overture to “William Tell”!
The music of Gioachino Rossini remains as light, enjoyable and popular as ever. “I was born for comic opera” he said, but amongst his later compositions are a couple of sacred pieces in which his operatic style and romanticism persist.
The Warriner Choral Society shall be performing Rossini's 'Petite Messe Solennelle' on Saturday 10th May in Deddington, at the Church of St Peter & St Paul. His irrepressible sparkle is characterised in a comment of the time that the Petite Messe Solennelle was “neither little, nor solemn, nor particularly liturgical”! Accompaniment shall include a harmonium as, no doubt, he would have wanted.
The performance shall commence at 7.30 pm and there shall be refreshments during the evening. Tickets (£8 and £7 concs) are obtainable from Hayward White (Deddington), One Man Band (Banbury), Bloxham Post Office, Jenny on 01295 721224, or on the door.


FRIENDS OF HOOK NORTON
COMMUNITY LIBRARY
We shall be holding our annual

BOOK and PLANT SALE
at THE LIBRARY, HOOK NORTON
on SATURDAY, 10 MAY 2008
from 9.30 am onwards
This year we are collecting books well in advance of the day, so if you have any second-hand books of any sort in good condition, please divert them from your charity shoe-box and phone Olwen Goodwin on 737283, who will give you the address of the collecting point in the Village most convenient to you.
Plants will be very welcome on the day.


ARTWEEKS RETURNS
10th – 18th May
The 26th annual Oxfordshire Artweeks takes place from 3rd to 26th May. A number of local artists and craft makers will be welcoming the public into
their homes, studios, or shared public venues during Artweeks. Oxfordshire Artweeks was the first open arts festival of its kind in the country and has gone from strength to strength, now involving hundreds of artists exhibiting at almost 400 sites, over a three week period. It opens in the south of the county from 3-11 May, moves to the north from 10-18 May, and finishes in Oxford City, from the 17 to the 26.
Artweeks is a unique opportunity to see art in the community and to meet the people who make it. If you're in a buying mood, you will be able to acquire original pieces of art directly from the artists, without any gallery mark up. But there is no pressure to buy, as Artweeks is really about offering the public and artists the opportunity to come together in a relaxed and friendly environment.
There are no admission charges. All you need is a free copy of the Artweeks' Guide which gives full information on every exhibiting artist together with maps, opening times and contact details. This 'Artweeks Bible' is available from all Oxfordshire libraries, Tourist Information Centres, museums, galleries, shops and many other public venues. Or you can visit www.artweeks.org to download the Guide or search for artists by name, location or genre.
So, put the dates in your diary and plan a local walk or cycle ride during Artweeks. There's no better way to enjoy the wonderful work being done in your neighbourhood.
The North of Oxfordshire holds its exhibitions during the period from 10th to 18th May. There are three exhibitors in the village this year, David McGill with an exhibition of photographs at Sunnybank Farmhouse, Scotland End; David Turner who will be showing a variety of sculptured ironwork pieces at Priory Cottage, Netting Street and Rita Wheatley with her paintings and drawings at Little Granary, 1 Beanacre.


HOOKY PLAYERS :- SUMMER PRODUCTION
Following on from the successful production of this years Pantomime, the Hooky Players are putting on their 15th production as a summer play to be performed on June the 5th 6th and 7th at the Memorial Hall.
The play “Strictly for the Birds” is a thriller set in a fashionable area of London in the 1950's that will keep the audience glued to their seats as the plot unfolds right to the very end. Written by Don Woods and performed in conjunction with Josef Weinberger Ltd., tickets will be available from the usual box office. Watch out for posters around the village and don't miss the opportunity to see this gripping play.
Produced by Brian Rider and directed by Richard Wheelton, the Summer Production
introduces a number of new members on the stage, a performance not to be missed.
Richard Wheelton


ADLESTROP LITERARY FESTIVAL
The inaugural Adlestrop Literary Festival is being held on Thursday June 5th at 2.30pm at Adlestrop Park. The proceeds from the Festival will be donated to St. Mary Magdalene Church, Adlestrop for urgent repairs of the building.
Charlotte Mosley, daughter in law of the third Mitford sister, will give an illustrated talk on her widely acclaimed book, 'Letters Between Six Sisters' with Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, the sixth Mitford sister whose latest book is entitled 'Counting My Chickens'.
Tickets are £45, to include champagne reception and a Dayleford Organic afternoon tea, are available from Roger Turner at Lower Farm Barn, Adlestrop, Moreton in Marsh, Glos GL56 0YR For more information visit www.adlestropfestival.org.uk or contact:
Ernest Johnson


NIGHT AT THE OPERA
This concert is an opportunity for enthusiastic and experienced choral singers to perform some of the great opera choruses by Bizet, Borodin, Mascagni, Verdi and Wagner.
The concert will be given with full orchestra and up-and-coming young soloists.
For choral participants there will be a one-day workshop on 14th June 10-4 in St Michael's Church, Summertown, Oxford plus two further rehearsals – on Thursday 19th June and Friday 27th June at 7.00pm, both in Deddington.
Apart from a small charge to cover music hire, participation in this event is free. Please email info@choros.org or telephone 01869 338325 to sign up for this event. More information is on www.deddingtonfestival.org.uk All voices, particularly sopranos and tenors, are invited to apply. Closing date is 16th May.


THEATRE
Despite the loss of its Art Council grant Chipping Norton Theatre continues with a varied programme over the next few months. The highlight for me is a one-night performance of "Lady of Burma" on 3rd June. I mentioned this play when it appeared at Oxford Playhouse - for those who missed this inspirational true story of Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi then do go.
The Banbury Cross Players are performing a riveting drama based on the cracking of the Nazi's complex Enigma Code in World War II. This is Hugh Whitemore's "Breaking the Code"; on at The Mill, Spiceball Park 30th April - 3rd May.
A National Theatre success of a few years ago is on at The Theatre Royal Northampton 11th April to 3rd May. Charlotte Jones's "Humble Boy" is a playful mixture of Ayckbourn & Stoppard - & you can learn a bit about bee-keeping.
The RSC at Stratford has "The Merchant of Venice" & "The Taming of the Shrew" in repertory from 24th April until September - two gooduns.
Finally that lovely rural theatre The Watermill near Newbury has a witty & stylish romantic comedy about misunderstandings & mistaken identity - "London Assurance" by 19th Century playwright Dion Boucicault. It is on between 9th April & 17th May. Make a night of it and enjoy the theatre restaurant before or after the show.
Class shows and of the last plays I mentioned we saw two magnificent performances by leading ladies par excellence - Felicity Kendal in "Vortex" (now on in London) and Greta Scacchi in "The Deep Blue Sea" (still on tour but surely destined for West End).
John Wheatley


DEDDINGTON FESTIVAL 2008
(26th June - 6th July)
Festival 2008 offers something for everyone and we do hope that you can join us. In the Library we have An Evening with Adrian Magson, local crime writer, as well as Story Time for the children. There will be the usual Art and Craft exhibitions, Primary School concert, Poetry Please, and Writing competition, together with Barbershop Singers, jazz from Stekpanna and a community concert from Wendy Burrows entitled A Celebration of England. This year, we are delighted to include Open Gardens and a Flower Festival along with the popular guided walks around the village as well as Daeda's Wood.
Sue Cave will conduct an Art Workshop for artists over 17 years, with all levels welcome.
On 5th July we will be offering a day of events for the whole family- details to follow.
Please check out our new website at www.deddingtonfestival.org.uk and the Deddington News on line Diary at www.deddingtonnews.co.uk for further information, or contact the Secretary at eileenandersonuk@yahoo.co.uk or by phoning 01869 338325.


Music at the Crossroads 2008
Saturday 5th July
Planning for this years M@C is progressing well.
The line up of bands is complete and includes a great selection of local, familiar and new acts to support the headline act THE MANFREDS. Check out www.themanfreds.com

Line up is:
THE MANFREDS
LEATHERAT
DEJA VOODOO
DUSTY MUZZLE
THE OOLITES
FIDDLE BOP
PAUL ACREMAN 		THE SIRENS CALL
THE MACHINE BREAKER
RELAY
OBLIVION SEEKERS
BECKY WATKINS
M-P-G

Tickets: With the ever increasing costs of organising M@C and pressure to keep ticket prices low, plus feedback from previous years we have a new ticket pricing for 2008, which we trust will be well received.
MMChildren: Aged 10 or under: FREE - yes FREE!
(max 3 free children per paying adult)
Youth: Aged 11-17: £7 in advance £9 on the day
Adult: Aged 18 and over: £14 in advance £18 on the day

Early booking price freeze!!
To acknowledge that M@C is a village event and to try and enable as many of the village to attend, we have a special price freeze on 2007 prices for HOOK NORTON RESIDENTS ONLY. So for tickets purchased before May 10th the prices will be:
Youth (aged 11-17) : just £5 Adult: 18 and over: £10
Watch the village notice boards, the shop and pubs for further information.

Kids:
As well as the music, planning is also underway for an even wider selection of children's entertainment for this year – however if you have an idea for a stall or activity please contact us.

Website: www.hookymusic.co.uk For 2008 we also have a great new look to our website which has some additional functions including on-line ticket ordering as well as all the details for M@C. A big thank you to Emma Kane of www.iknowthe.net for all her help.

Camping: We have arranged camping to be available this year, for a small charge, in the field by the vets. So you can now invite even more fiends and family to M@C without having to put them up! See website for details. Big thanks to Ray Gasson for all his help.

So keep July 5th free for a great Music at the Crossroads 2008. Thank you
Contact HNCA via Pete Watkins or Peter Skelton