HNNL August 2005 page 2

August 2005

Series 30 No 4

Arts & Entertainment

Oxfordshire County Council is now producing library statistics on a monthly basis and Hook Norton is continuing to do well. Book issues are on the increase and although visitor numbers are not collated at Hook Norton, the Library seems busier than usual. It is great news that children can reserve books from anywhere in the County, free of charge.
CALLPOINT the 24 hour renewals hotline is available to all Library members on 0845 1202811. All you need is your membership number and a PIN, which can be obtained from the Library.
The ICT taster session run on 25 May was a great success, thanks to Richard Helyer who gave individual tuition to 6 willing and enthusiastic participants. More sessions will be arranged as and when required.
The theme of the Children's Reading Challenge this summer is the 'Voyage' and there will be 4 Storytelling sessions and activities in August, to tie in with the scheme. On Wednesday 3^rd there will be a 'Pirates' theme, the following week, we will make a collage of sea animals, on the 17^th it will be 'Boats' and finally on 24^th a picnic, with a seaside feel! All sessions, which are aimed at children 3-7 years old, will start at 2 o'clock and last around 40 minutes.
A new circulating collection called 'Behind the Headlines' has just arrived and consists of about 30 titles that have been in the news for one reason or another. For example: 'Pretty Straight Guys' by Nick Cohen, a book about hostage taking and books on Michael Jackson and Paula Radcliffe. So, quite a selection! Do come and have a look, you will be made most welcome.
There is the start of a collection of Adult classification DVDs in the Library and I hope to keep the collection going with newer titles as and when they become available. Few videos are being made now and so this is a step forward.
Planning is underway for a Library Open Day on 1 October, when there will be events for all the family, including Poetry reading, live music and drama. More information nearer the time.

Sue Sinclair, Library Manager

Library Opening Times

Monday	2 - 5pm
	6 - 7.30pm
Wednesday	2 - 5pm
Friday	2 - 5pm
	6 - 7.30pm
Saturday	10 - 12 noon

FRIENDS OF HOOK NORTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY
AGM 2005
The Annual General Meeting of the
Friends of Hook Norton Community Library
will take place on Monday, 5 September 2005 at 7.30 pm at the
Brewery Visitors Centre, Hook Norton.
Everybody is very welcome. As in years past, the formal proceedings will be
followed by an entertainment - this year a 'Call my Bluff'.
Refreshments will be served.

HOOKY PLAYERS CHILDRENS' DRAMA CLASSES
Classes for this year culminated with the 6 - 10 year olds putting on a performance of Red Riding Hood. The age 10 - 16 group performed an excerpt from Alice in Wonderland, namely The Trial of the Knave of Hearts. Parents, grandparents and friends were invited along to the Baptist's Hall on Thursday evening 7th July and I am sure, were just as proud of their offspring as Jeannie, Kate and I were.
The classes have been a revelation in discovering just what exciting young talent we have for the future.
It is hoped to repeat the classes next year, but first, of course, must come our September production of Tomb With A View, directed by Keith Disney.
Then in late September there will be auditions for our next pantomime, The Sleeping Beauty, which I will direct.
Drama in Hook Norton is certainly alive and well. Watch the notice boards for further details. We hope to see many of you for the next production on 15th, 16th and 17th September so put the dates in your diary now.

Brian Rider

A Tomb With a View

The Hooky Players Summer Production

Rehearsals are well under way and the all important support team is in place. The play is set in the library of Monument House, the ancestral home of the Tomb family, or is it? And why are the bookshelves in the library empty? And is Nurse Franklin really Miss Goody-Two-Shoes or is there a darker side to her?

These questions and more will be answered on the nights of September 15^th, 16^th and 17^th, so book the dates now in your diaries. Tickets will be on sale a couple of weeks before the performance – look out for details around the village. We have a strong cast for this production and look forward to seeing you there.
Thanks for your support. – Keith Disney, Director.

MUSIC
If you enjoy the music of Delius and/or Vaughan Williams, you might like to come along to the Charlbury Music Class on Wednesday 14th September, when examples of their work will be played, compared and discussed. A tutor-led group of about 20 people, with no musical knowledge required. At the Bell Hotel, Charlbury, with parking available. It's only 20 minutes by car. Fee £14 for the day, from 10.30 to 3.30 with a lunch break.

Details from Peter Fry

HOOK NORTON FILM FESTIVAL
Film lovers are in for a special treat this year as Hook Norton Film Society prepares to celebrate its 25th Anniversary with a film festival. As well as transforming the Memorial Hall into a cinema with its usual annual programme of world class films every three weeks or so (see calendar), members and friends will be able to escape the January gloom and experience a whole weekend of classic greats and modern masterpieces.
Programmes available from the library and other outlets or ring 737417.

MUSIC AT THE CROSSROADS 2005

The sun shone (briefly), the music rocked and the beer flowed!
Over 1300 people from the village and the area attended M@C9 and had a great day out.
This jewel in Oxford's musical calendar presented the legendary Yardbirds, a unique opportunity to catch one of the most influential bands in British music history, the Rock and Roll hall of fame members were only playing two dates in the UK after a long US tour and we had the pleasure of their company! They performed their classic hits including a scintillating rendition of 'Dazed and Confused' which was later a classic track for Led Zeppelin.

Click images for larger versions

All the support bands played absolutely out of their skins providing us with an eclectic mix from acoustic folk to out and out rock, the feedback has shown that this event just gets better and better! It wouldn't be fair to select any bands for mention because they were all so good! Two stages were buzzing with musical excellence from 1.30 until 11.15!
Keeping true to our aims, the event provides great family entertainment for our village while providing high quality music and raising funds for our charities and local organisations.
The food stalls and children's entertainments were very popular including the 'temporary' tattoos provided by the Playgroup – still seen 2 weeks later!
This year we have seen rising costs in almost all areas but we were still able to improve on the profits raised in 2004 and donations to charities and local groups will be made as usual later in the year. So thank you to all the villagers who came and supported the event so well - we hope you had a great day, spread the news!

A big thank you to everyone who helped make M@C9 such a great success and gave their time so generously, we hope we haven't missed anyone but we would especially like to thank Nigel Matthews and family, John Barton at Sea Bea, our sponsors (the Brewery, the Gate Hangs High, the Sun, the Bell, the Pear Tree, Village Shop and One Man Band in Banbury). Also to Dennis Mill, Steve Hatt, MarkMaking design, KMS printers, the Stewards, Hilary Wiseman, Mike Hemmings, the Village Playgroup, the Fire Brigade and all those who donated raffle prizes…and not least to all the musicians who entertained us so well!
Please remember that Music at the Crossroads is for the benefit of the village - so we are very keen to hear any feedback, comments and suggestions to help us plan for next year's event. So please let us know - email hookymusic@hotmail.com or call Pete Watkins.
Saturday 1^st July 2006 will see the 10^th M@C and it will be another spectacular event! So put the date in your diaries and tell your friends! See you next year.

The Hook Norton Charitable Association committee.

HOOK NORTON FESTIVAL OF FINE ALES - 16TH JULY 2005

Once again the Festival enjoyed its customary dry day and folk in their hundreds from far and near gathered at the Pear Tree to sample a wider selection of beers than ever before - 87 barrels, which amounts to over 6000 pints consumed for charity!

Donations this year included 2 lagers, which several confirmed real ale drinkers were heard to grudgingly admit was actually 'not bad at all'! Hook Norton Brewery donated the usual fine selection, including a special beer brewed for the festival and named 'The Wrong Trousers' in recognition of Jem Hayward's 11 years on the festival committee.

Click images for larger versions

The beer festival was supplemented by musical entertainment of various styles, including many musicians from Hook Norton itself. The net result was a day enjoyed by all and a handsome sum for charity.
This year we introduced voting slips for people to nominate their favourite beer of the festival. We are very pleased to announce that the winning beer was Druid's Fluid, brewed at the Wizard Brewery in the Norman Knight Pub in Whichford. Second was Belhaven Fruit Beer and in third place was our very own Hook Norton's Trafalgar Trial.
Our thanks are, as always, due to the Directors and staff of the Brewery; Ian Miller (this being the first festival since he assumed the role of landlord of the Pear Tree) and all the stalwart band of helpers who assisted in setting up, taking down, selling tickets and serving beer (without whom the day could not possibly operate). Organisation of the musical entertainment was in the capable hands of Pete Watkins, who managed to present a rich variety of local talent.

Thanks should also go to all the people who turned up to entertain us for free.
A final thanks to that merry (often!) group affectionately labelled "The Beer Beggars". It is they who have spent the past few weeks cajoling brewers around the country into donating the raw material for the event (the beer!); particular thanks go to Margaret Daisley, our transport coordinator who exercised incredible ingenuity in finding ways to get all that beer to Hook Norton!
We are already talking about next year's Festival so "watch this space". For more information about the festival, visit our website at www.hookybeerfest.co.uk

Sam Smith