Hook Norton Newsletter December 2001

THE

HOOK NORTON

NEWSLETTER

December 2001

Series 26 No 6

CONTENTS

FROM THE EDITORS ST PETER'S CHURCH BAPTIST CHURCH WI MILLENNIUM VIDEO and MILLENNIUM BOOK LOCAL HISTORY GROUP INFORMATION WANTED HOOK NORTON REMEMBERED TRANSPORT RAINFALL FOR SETEMBER-OCTOBER FILM SOCIETY WILDLIFE HOOK NORTON GARDEN CLUB FIREFIGHTERS THANK YOU BLOOD DONORS LOW FLYING THE WEDDING OF HARRIET IRVINE & JUSTIN BARING ANNOUNCEMENTS	PAGE 3 PARISH COUNCIL NOTICEABLE THE CHILDRENS' VOICE MEMORIAL HALL OUT OF THE BLUE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION HOOK NORTON PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP THE HOOK NORTON PRE-SCHOOL COMMUNITY MORNING PRIMARY SCHOOL HOOK NORTON OUT OF SCHOOL CLUB WEA THE BREWERY VISITOR CENTRE DEDDINGTON COMMUNITY MARKET RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE! REFUSE COLLECTIONS CARERS
PAGE 2 TWELFTH NIGHT BALL HOOKY PLAYERS ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL ST PETER'S TOWER PROJECT BONFIRE NIGHT LUCY'S PINK PARTY FOR CANCER RESEARCH CAMPAIGN LEUKAEMIA RESEARCH FUND COFFEE AFTERNOON AND SALE HOOK NORTON BRASS BAND CHICAGO HITS OXFORD	PAGE 4 A GOLDEN JUBILEE WEEKEND HOOK NORTON SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB HOOK NORTON FOOTBALL CLUB CRICKET CLUB SECOND XI

NEWSLETTER TEAM

Advertising:	Judi Leader
Calendar:	Howard Hicks
Distribution:	Julian Bolton
Postal Services:	Mrs M Padbury
Proof reading:	Nigel Lehmann
IT/Web Support:	Martin Baxter
Treasurer:	John Stratford
Directory:	Diana Barber

FROM THE EDITORS
A Happy and Enjoyable Christmas and New Year to you all from the Newsletter team.
This issue contains application forms for entries into Hook Norton Directory 2002. Residents frequently comment on the value of this publication. Please add or amend your entry as soon as you receive your Newsletter and please don't put it off until after Christmas, when you won't be able to find the entry form! A small charge of only £3 goes towards the costs and together with the completed form can be put in the box at the Post Office. Diana Barber who puts together this Directory needs all the time she can get in order to send it out with the February Newsletter. Don't delay!
Money donated in the box in the Post Office this time amounted to £56. Thank you.
Sadly we report the deaths of John Brooke, Gertrude Fowler, George (Darkie) Hall, Derek Harris and Lydia Hughes and on behalf of the village send our condolences to their families and friends.
In order to reduce some of the stress of working to a deadline the copy date for text has been brought forward to the 15th of the appropriate month. Perhaps a note in your diary now would be a good idea. The last time the date was changed it took a few people nearly two years to get used to the idea! Any copy that comes in early makes the editors' lives much easier and is more likely to get prominent placing.
This is Barbara's last Newsletter and with some sadness she would like to say 'goodbye' and thank all those people who have contributed to the Newsletter over the past ten years. Helen and Martin who have transformed the look of the Newsletter since Helen took over the part which puts together advertisements and text and prepares the Newsletter in an electronic form for the Printer. John Stratford who quietly manages our finances and Judy who has the advertisers well under control, whilst Nigel lets us know when our commas get the better of us! (The electronic glitch which took out all our apostrophes in the last issue was as much a surprise to us as it may have been to you.) Thank you to Julian and her delivery team for trudging around the village to get the Newsletter to your door and to dear Mrs Padbury who sends off the postal copies. Thanks also to Diana for her sterling work on the Directory and to Hazel whose rolling diary compliments and backs up our back page calendar.
Thank you, all of you at KMS for your always smiling faces and co-operation.
Yes, two very suitable people actually stuck their heads above the parapet and offered to become an editor. Making a final decision was extremely difficult. Andy Horne will become an editor and join Helen from the February issue. (Barbara will have 'more time to spend with her family' - poor Howard!).
Andy lives in Ironstone Hollow and will be the Newsletter's first male editor. He will introduce himself more fully in the next issue. Please show your support for him by getting your copy in on time- 15th January 2002! Post office box or email below, please.

e-mail Barbara@news-hooknorton.freeserve.co.uk , helen@monivea.freeserve.co.uk or our new editor, Andy, on hooknorton.news@btopenworld.com

Advertising £20 per page and pro rata - text for village activities free (a small donation is very welcome.)
There is a charge for all inserts - commercial £20, village activities on request from Judi.
Final text copy date for text is 15th January next and advertising 14th January 2002
To add your events to the diary please supply details to Hazel Hope by e-mail at harkhope@lineone.net

The views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily the views of the Editors

Please note, to avoid problems with nuisance calls, personal telephone numbers are not generally included in the web version of the Hook Norton Newsletter.
If you wish to contact anyone about an article in this newsletter, please send us an email and we will supply you with the contact details.

ST PETER'S CHURCH

It was good to have November 11th falling on a Sunday this year. The usual Remembrance Service in Church, preceded by a Procession from the Green was a fitting tribute to all those who died in the two World Wars and other wars since.
We were delighted to have the Rt. Rev Colin Fletcher OBE, Bishop of Dorchester, for our Confirmation Service on Sunday 18th November. There were three adult candidates, Louise Appleton, Lisa Nottingham and Roger Hughes and two teenagers, Christopher Appleton and Rachel Pearson. We all enjoyed a lively Service and the Bishop's helpful words. Afterwards we had a Parish Lunch in the hall at the Primary School, which had been beautifully organised by Mary Powell and helpers. The Bishop came to chat with the candidates and their supporters but felt he had to get home to his Family Sunday Lunch.
Our Parish Lunch was much enjoyed, especially the delicious sweets prepared by various helpers.
Phase II of the work in the Church Tower is now in progress. See separate report on Fundraising Activities. Christmas Trees can be ordered in various places where you see a notice of same. The price is £1.60 per foot. Orders need to be in by Friday 7th December and the trees can be collected from Hook Norton Brewery on Sunday 16th December from 11.30am to 12.30pm.
There will be not be a Cake Stall and Coffee Morning in the Church during December but it will be there again on Saturday 26 January .
Christmas Services.
Sunday 9th December at 10am - Family Carol Service.
Sunday 23rd December at 6.30pm - Carols by Candlelight.
Christmas Eve at 5.30pm -The Crib Service. 11.30pm Midnight Communion.
Christmas Day at 8am Holy Communion BCP. At 10am Morning Worship.
On Friday January 25 in the Baptist Church at 7.30pm we will join our Baptist friends for a United Service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

BAPTIST CHURCH

Writing this in the middle of November it still seems to be strangely low-key in the run down to Christmas. Perhaps the events of the last two months, the general sense of unease in the world, have dampened our enthusiasm for Christmas. Its all too easy to be cynical and to see commercialism at every turn. The truth is that the birth of the baby Jesus is the only hope we have for a better life. Jesus is the only way we can return to God and his birth still fulfils all the promises God made to his people Israel. In amongst all the busyness of the preparations for holiday time, the excitement, the over spending, the over eating, take time to read again the story of the birth of Jesus. Recapture the promise that His birth brings to each one of us and ask Him to make it a really personal time for each one of us.
We would love to welcome you to any of our services during Advent.
2 December will be a Sunday Special with Ian & Elaine, so it will also be the Holiday Club reunion.
16 December we will be Carol Singing round the village during the afternoon; why not join us?
23 December our family Carol Service to be enjoyed by everyone.
24 December our late night Service will start at 11.30pm.
25 December a shorter Service starting at 10am.
6 January is our Covenant Service.
Please watch for an announcement of the January Saturday Special!
We wish you all a Happy Christmas with peace and good health for the New Year.

The scheduled speaker for October 16, Mrs Nye, was to have given a talk with the intriguing title 'What the Eye Doesn't See' but sadly she was unable to keep her appointment. We were pleased, however, to welcome Mrs Florence Cross who gave a very interesting talk and demonstration on 'Strawcraft'.
Several members attended the recent group meeting at Cropredy and were splendidly entertained by a magician and enjoyed mouth watering refreshments. The competition - A mask - was won by our President Pat Fletcher. Hooky was doubly honoured when Lee Morgan, who has been Group Convenor for seven years, was presented with flowers and a garden token in recognition of all her hard work over the years. The new convenor will be Mrs Brenda Power. A group from Hooky WI also went to 'Showtime 2001' at Exeter Hall, Kidlington although our exhibit which was produced with much expertise and hard work by some of our members, did not win. Everyone, however, was delighted that Pat Fletcher won a first for her floral art arrangement. Thanks to all who supported our stall and raffle at the November market which raised over £80.
We look forward to our Christmas lunch at the Red Lion, Little Compton December 18 .
Looking ahead to 2002 - the first meeting of the New Year on January 15 when the speaker Mr J Stevenson will give a talk on Canal Boats . Science in a Picnic Basket is the title of the talk to be given by Mrs Maureen Rhymes on February 19 . Guests are always welcome at our meetings - a small fee to include genuine WI refreshments - on the third Tuesday of the month in the Baptist Hall at 2pm.

Marion Roberts

Together the following make an historical statement for Hook Norton.
They can be bought at the Memorial Hall Saturday Market on December 8th.
Make sure your household has them for posterity:
Hook Norton c 2000 - the MILLENNIUM VIDEO

Jo Chadwick is delighted with the response from the village to her video and thanks you all. You may like to know that she has sold over one hundred copies so far which means that the Church Tower Fund will benefit by well over �300.

and
the Hook Norton 2000 AD the MILLENNIUM BOOK

REVIEW of this Local History Publication from Oxoniensia LXV2000

'Hook Norton 2000 AD: The Millennium Book has no single author. Formal history is confined to two prefatory pages, dipping from prehistory to the present day. The concept of change, so often seemingly uncomfortable to local historians, is down played in favour of continuity. ("We've changed, but we remain the same"). The main content is a fine set of photographs, largely contemporary, celebrating the village as it is in 2000, with a lively and impressive range of people and activities, summed up by one image of present-day workers bearing the tools of the 'in' trades from lap top computers to paint rollers. This is a vivid celebration of village life, created primarily for internal consumption, but providing a vivid record and a valuable source for future historians. Kate Tiller '

LOCAL HISTORY GROUP
We had a lively full meeting on November 6th when the Reverend Robert Nind came to revive memories of his childhood in Hook Norton fifty odd years ago. It turned into a happy isn't Hook Norton-the-best-village-on-earth wallow with the Reverend Nind's recollections supplemented by additions from Mrs Doris White, Chris Tobin and Nancy Pargeter.
It's hoped to arrange another visit from him in the Spring so that he can meet more of the people in his old photographs. More of that anon.
We look forward to Martin Way entertaining us with 'Golden Age of Coaching' on December 4th and to the Reverend Ralph Mann revitalising us after the Christmas break with 'Riots and Disorders' on January 8th ( second Tuesday ) in the New Year.

INFORMATION WANTED
Perhaps somebody, somewhere may have information about my grandfather, William Smith . My mother, Phyllis Ethel Sweetland Smith has been reminiscing about Hook Norton in the first World War period. Here are some of the things that she has been telling me: she attended classes for music and French at the home of Miss Dickins. She helped Miss Parrish by running errands for Miss Parrish's niece, Sybil Lardner went to Witney to school on a scholarship. Miss Parrish took in paying guests and later married a customs and excise man who was a widower. At the end of the war my mother appeared in a parade as Jill and Mr Weston was Jack. One of her sisters was a butterfly and the other was a milkmaid. There was a photograph taken of this occasion which she would dearly love to see.
From her bedroom at the back of Dial House she could watch the butcher chasing and killing the animals.
My mother and her sister Dorrie both caught the flu, and were very ill. Her mother had to go to Chipping Norton on the train to get some pills. She can still remember these very thin transparent pills which were difficult to swallow. Her father promised them both a bicycle if they got better. During this period the church bells never seem to stop their tolling for the dead.

Noel Meads, 12 Dart Road, Bedford, MK41 7BT e-mail: Noel@meads.fsnet/co/uk

HOOK NORTON REMEMBERED
The New Secondary School was something that was bound to happen. The old all-age Church School was already taking in senior pupils from surrounding villages and its inadequate and widely spread facilities were stretched to breaking point. A new Senior (Secondary Modern) school, purpose built to accommodate pupils from the outlying villages of the Sibfords, Epwell, Swalcliffe, Milcombe, South Newington, Swerford, the Tews, Wiggington, and Great Rollright as well as Hook Norton, was the obvious answer. So it was decreed and the school was built on a plot of land at the junction of The Bourne and Watery Lane. It originally boasted four Horsa-type units, (made of pre-cast concrete sections with asbestos roofing), arranged on four sides of a quadrangle. The whole consisted of three classrooms, staff facilities, office, cloakrooms and toilet block, domestic science room, handicraft room, a large science/classroom, a dining room and attached kitchen. As the village had no sewage system or piped water supply a septic tank and a water tower were also included. The septic tank proved to be too small and "Lavender Joe" had to make a monthly visit with his tanker to pump out the contents.
The staff from the old school who taught seniors had to resign and apply for jobs at the new school. We were all successful and the school opened with Mr. Goddard as head, Miss Sharpe as deputy, Miss Keith for girls games and gym, Mrs Collins for needlework and history and me for woodwork and metalwork. Two newcomers were appointed; Miss Rosemary Davies for Domestic Science and Mr Norman Reece for boys games and gym. We all had to fill in for general subjects and I looked after the science department until an appointment could be made. Mrs Sharpe did not come to the new school to cook dinners and Mrs Mant was appointed as the new supervisor. Mr Bert Beale was the new caretaker and a young lady, who later became Mrs Robinson, very efficiently, and for many years, held the position of school secretary.
Robin Tanner was our designated H.M.Inspector and he met with the Oxfordshire Horticultural Adviser to plan the landscaping of the quadrangle and surrounding areas. When they discovered that I was secretary of the Horticultural Society they called me in to assist with the task. It was decided, on Robin's suggestion, that there should be a central path with an area of grass to left and right, ("Like an open book," he said), surrounding rose beds. We chose floribunda roses, the soft pink Ena Harkness and the bright red Karen Harkness, to fill these beds. Shrubs were chosen to fill other areas and hedges of the very prickly, orange flowered, berberis stenophilla around the fencing to deter intruders when the gates were locked.

Geoff Walton ggwyork@messages.co.uk

TRANSPORT

Trains to Birmingham and Reading
The winter rail timetables are now in force, and Virgin Trains have increased the number of trains between Reading, Banbury, and Birmingham New Street. There are now sometimes two an hour on this route, with through journeys or connections to the North of England and Scotland, in addition to the one train an hour on the Chiltern Trains line from Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street or Snow Hill. Timetables are available in the Post Office, subject to supply.
Stagecoach Transit Pass
Now that the Banbury-Chipping Norton bus service is operated by Stagecoach Oxford, a Transit Pass can be bought on these buses for unlimited travel between here and Oxford via Chipping Norton. For over-60s, this costs only £3, and is cheaper even than the ordinary return fare to either Chippy or Banbury (except that Hooky to Banbury return is £1.75 if you hold a Cherwell pass).
Shoppers' bus
Christmas is coming and a cheap and easy way to get to and from Banbury for your Christmas shopping or for the January sales is to take the shoppers' bus run by the Parish Council. It's a full-size bus (not like The Villager) so there is plenty of room for passengers and their bags. Shopping trolleys can be taken. Come and join us. It's only £1 return - why pay more? No parking fees! The bus leaves The Bourne (Fire Station end) at about 9.00, the Church at 9.15, and picks up at The Green and Austins Way on its way out. It returns from Banbury bus station at 12.00 sharp and is back here by 12.30. It will run on Thursdays 6 and 20 December, and 3, 17 and 31 January. Anyone can use the bus, but must put their name on the list in the Post Office first.

Peter Fry, 730509

RAINFALL FOR SETEMBER-OCTOBER

What a 'Fall' as our American cousins call it, but in our case a 'Rainfall'. Although September with 3.45 ins (87.63 mm) was only the third wettest month so far this year, it was pushed into fourth place by October which easily took the lead with a massive 4.31 ins (109.47mm) so that the annual total with still two months to go now stands at 28.44 ins or 722.38mm.

FILM SOCIETY

The Film Society's updated equipment is really proving its worth. Picture quality is spot on and the sound is a dream. December's attraction The Girl on the Bridge , France 1998 Cert 15 showing on Saturday 15th is a beautifully shot movie of a showbiz knife thrower and the girl he saves from suicide. Also to come in January : Blood Simple USA 1983 Cert 18 (Jan 5) a very dark crime thriller. and our Mystery Movie on January 26th .

WILDLIFE

In East End on 12 October Jeff Longmore was attracted to a loud mewing whistling sound in the sky and looked up to see three Buzzards. These were also heard on the 11 and 12 October by Tabby Lucas whilst in Ironstone Hollow. On 18 October I saw a Hedgehog mid afternoon in the middle of the village. Cedric Brain in Down End had a Nuthatch on his bird feeder on 26 October. Tim Burchell phoned to say that he had seen a male Blackcap in Bourne Lane on 12 November. Blackcaps are seen in his garden regularly every year, but this year this one has appeared earlier than in previous years. On 14 November Nigel Lehmann saw a goldcrest in his garden at the Old Cider Mill.
Thank you all for contacting me.
After their moult it was good to see more birds around. The Robins have been singing, Wrens have been very noisy - how does such a small bird manage to make so much noise, and many Great Tits, Blue Tits and Coal Tits have been at the feeders. In winter most birds find and eat what they want on the same day, but it can be fascinating watching the Coal Tits take seeds and bury them all around the garden, in the lawn, mud and crevices and it seems amazing that they find them again to eat, usually within a day or two. Jays store acorns often buried deep in the ground, and do not remove them all until many months later.
Lunchtime on 2 October over East End saw the first Fieldfares fly over.
Butterflies such as the Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell have been seen in the sun, the last sighting being on the 3 November. Butterflies and ladybirds hibernate in the winter whilst spiders, worms and woodlice remain active. Earthworms spend much of their time pulling leaves underground from lawns and replacing them with worm casts. Some creatures use our gardens as a safe haven to survive the winter, so please be careful to check compost heaps and piles of leaves and logs for hedgehogs before disturbing. Leave dried hollow stems and seed heads of herbaceous plants over winter to provide shelter for over wintering lacewings, ladybirds and other insect helpers in the garden.
Millions of fully grown Money Spiders climb to the top of grass stems and spin an invisible thread and when a breeze catches the gossamer threads they take to the air and drift. When they land, they spin tiny sheet webs among the short grass and these can be found in extraordinary abundance and the gossamer threads completely carpet fields which was seen whilst walking in the fields on 28 October. After early morning dew, the field shimmers with silver and the idea that spiders produce silver probably gave rise to the name 'money spider'.
Please contact me with your sightings.

Geraldine Moore - e-mail geraldine.moore1@btinternet.com

HOOK NORTON GARDEN CLUB

There have been many highlights of the Garden Club year but perhaps the one that 35 members will remember most was their trip by coach to see the gardens that Prince Charles has created around his Highgrove House home in the Cotswolds. Although this took place on 3rd October we had originally requested a visit some two years previously! Even at this time of the year the gardens were beautiful and the conducted tour was over all too soon.
This visit and the other coach trip to Wisley, the two shows in Spring and Autumn, garden visits and open meetings were all mentioned by our Chairman David Coates at our General Meeting in October. The filling of officers' posts is a problem common to most village organisations and at our meeting we were unable to find a volunteer to be Secretary. Any offers for this important and very rewarding (not financially!) post? Otherwise the meeting was very successful and harmonious and we are looking forward to another successful and interesting year in 2002.

Frank Faulkner

FIREFIGHTERS
The last two months saw Hooky firefighters answering nineteen calls. There were two alarm calls and one report of a smell of burning. Fires broke out in three houses, one barn fire was attended and a bin was set alight in a park. Standby calls amounted to seven. Four road traffic incidents took place during the period and the last involved freeing passengers from a crashed car.

THANK YOU BLOOD DONORS

Thank you to everyone who came to give blood on 23rd October. Seventy units of blood were taken during the two sessions, which was very good! Lots of new people came to sign on to become donors, 87 people registered on the day. The National Blood Services team have agreed to come to Hook Norton every six months for donation sessions. Thanks to Mr Bowen for letting us use the school facilities and to Hazel Hope who was on hand all day to help us out!
Thanks to Jan Hughes, Mary Powell and Sheila Lilley who were our gallant tea ladies for the day, serving teas to blood donors and nurses, who all had a great day enjoying lots of home made cakes made by our friends and family! A great big thank you to Kerrie Fisher and Colette Warner who did a fantastic job of running a children's creche all day whilst parents gave blood!! Well done girls!! Thank you everyone for supporting our blood doning campaign in memory of Harry. If you would like information on becoming a blood donor call Rob & Jo Bartlett.

LOW FLYING
The village of Hook Norton attracts a lot of sightseers and visitors, some by road and some by air. The flights by small aircraft, helicopters and others can be particularly intrusive to others in the village and attract negative comment. Can we ask those in the village who do own such transport, or have influence with local flying enthusiasts, to aim to keep overflights to a minimum? It would be appreciated.

THE WEDDING OF HARRIET IRVINE & JUSTIN BARING

We couldn't believe the glorious June-like weather that we had on October 13th which is also Harriet's birthday. Looking down on Hook Norton from Nil Farm there was a light mist around the Church and brilliant blue skies above. Two talented friends decorated the Church with panache and innovation - the theme being Sun Flowers. The bridesmaids and pages had sunflowers on their dresses and shirts and Philippa Collins made a spectacular cake decorated with sugared sunflowers. Jo Bartlett's solos were breathtaking and received much acclaim from our friends. (Well done Janet and Russell to produce two such talented daughters!).
The Service was most inspiring and beautifully taken - as one knew it would be - by the Reverend John Acreman assisted by the Reverend Rye Smith who conducted the funeral of Justin's father who sadly died a year ago - much too young.
Thomas Irvine trumpeted in - and out - his sister and Angus and Alice Irvine played a little Mozart on the clarinet and organ. It was uplifting and so English to hear the most happy peal of bells on arrival and after the Wedding Service.
The wedding was at 2.30pm and Justin - who is by now getting adjusted to life at Nil Farm - told me that he was somewhat surprised to go outside the Sun Inn where he had his Ushers (very good) lunching at 2.05pm, to see his future father-in-law frantically directing traffic. Angus was still wearing his jodhpurs (having of course been out riding) with one black gum boot and one green one - half eaten by Molly the bloodhound!
Back at Nil Farm there was a faint murmur of "Where's Dad?" as we assembled downstairs with the radiant bride - BUT, at 2.25pm he rushed in - looking slightly in disarray and needing a little tidying up - just in time! Leopards don't change their spots!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tim Manning and Jayne Havard were married at the Seymour House Hotel, Chipping Campden on 27th October 2001
Justin Frank Alexander Baring and Harriet Irvine were married at St Peter's Church on 13th October 2001

Jack Geoffrey son of Darren and Nicola Samways was baptised at St Peter's Church at St Peter's Church on October 14th 2001
Tallulah Olivia daughter of Gary and Sarah Brown was baptised at St Peter's Church on 4th November 2001
Sophie Ellen daughter of Steve Jackson and Jeanette Esson was baptised at St Peter's Church on 6th October 2001