The Hook Norton Village Newsletter
February 2003 Series 28 No 1

Village Affairs



NEWSLETTER TEAM


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


FROM THE EDITORS
Happy New Year. With a month of the New Year gone, how many of those resolutions are still intact?
It's Pantomime season in Hook Norton..…oh yes it is!!
I'd like to thank everyone involved in the production of this Newsletter, be it layout, proofing, advertising or distribution. After a year, I feel as though I'm beginning to get the hang of this but there are a lot of people involved in putting the Newsletter together. All should take the credit every time the Newsletter lands on your doormat.
This month I received some anonymous copy regarding the recycling facilities at the School. I cannot publish it without knowing who has written it and therefore ask that the author contact me. I'm more than happy to publish the article in the next edition once I have a name and the piece can remain anonymous.
£66.59 was donated in the Newsletter box in the Post Office this month - thank you. The Newsletter accounts will be published in the next edition in April.
Sadly, we report the deaths of. Anthony John (Tony) Hazell aged 68 years (late of Hook Norton), Edward William (Eddie) Matthews aged 65, Kathleen Mary Pargeter aged 80 years, Christopher Brain aged 84 and Dr Adam Buchanan White, aged 89 years. On behalf of the village, we send our condolences to their families and friends.

Andy Horne Helen Foster
hooknorton.news@btopenworld.com helen@monivea.freeserve.co.uk

The views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Editorial Team.
Text & advertising copy deadline SATURDAY, 15th MARCH 2003
Text for Village activities Free (a small donation is welcome)
Inserts for Village Activities On request from Judi Leader
Commercial Advertising £22 per page & pro rata per issue
Commercial Inserts £20 per issue
Donations can be put in the Newsletter Box in the Post Office or posted to; Newsletter, c/o Hook Norton Post Office, Chapel Street, Hook Norton, Oxon.




HOOK NORTON W.I.
Christmas celebrations have been enjoyed with an excellent lunch at The Red Lion, Little Compton - thanks to the landlord and his staff for making it a very special occasion. The following week on 17th December, the committee organised a very enjoyable Christmas party in the Baptist Hall. At the November meeting, we welcomed a 'real live Santa', Mr. Derek Parker, a local actor and author who gave an entertaining talk on the occasion when he was invited to go to Lapland to pose as Father Christmas. He told how his trip included a gruelling and not very lucrative schedule of wearing the costume, whiskers and makeup, meeting plane loads of excited children and adults, distributing gifts and sitting for hours in his authentic grotto chatting to children and receiving their optimistic requests.
The New Year should have begun with a talk from a 'grandmother who went to Everest'. Alas, she is unable to keep her appointment with the W.I. but Hooky resident Mr. Len Bridgewood has come to the rescue and will give a talk on 21st January, after the Newsletter goes to press, so look forward to a report in the April edition.
On 18th February, Mr. Peter Russell will speak on his 'Royal Memories of a Former Butler'. The AGM will be on Tuesday 18th March when the programme of speakers and events for 2003/4 will be presented. The WI had two successful stalls at the Hooky market before Christmas and thank everyone for their support.
Guests and new members are welcomed at all the meetings which are on the third Tuesday of each month at 2pm in the Baptist Hall. Look out for posters. This is the Hook Norton W.I.'s Golden Jubilee year, so it should be a good one.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Marion Roberts



ST PETER'S CHURCH
The Church was beautiful for the Candlelight Carol Service, with over 1000 candles lit. The Service was full to overflowing, as was the Crib Service on Christmas Eve. It was lovely to see the Angels looking down from the Upper Room in the Tower before they came down to the Crib. There were fewer people than usual at the Midnight and 8 o'clock Communion Services.
'Wheelers and Squealers' are going strong; there is a short service followed by lunch for children of pre-school age and their parents. It takes place on the first Tuesday of each month and the next ones are on 4th February and 4th March in the Church.
The new Alpha Group has started and if anyone is interested in finding out more about it, please contact Janet Collins on 737515.
Bible Study Groups have resumed on the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month.
5th March is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. The Lent Course will take place on Wednesday evenings in the Study Centre at the School. Dates; 12th , 19th , 26th March and 2nd April.
The usual Mothering Sunday Service will be at 10am on 30th March, the day that the clocks go forward an hour.
The January Sale was held on 18th January in the Church this year and was in aid of the Church's General Fund.
The usual Church Stall will be at the Village Market in the Memorial Hall on 8th February and 8th March. Mary Powell would be glad of offers of cakes etc. for these events and for the Cake Stall and Coffee Mornings to be held in the Church on Saturday mornings 22nd February and 22nd March.
On 12th January, Plough Sunday was celebrated at the Family Service and there was an old horse drawn plough in the Church, while outside, there was a modern plough with its tractor.
Rachael Johnston



STOP PRESS - THANK YOU
St. Peter's January Sale held in the Church on 18th January was a great success, making in the region of £800. Many thanks to all those who helped and gave contributions.



ST. PETER'S CHURCH TOWER
Villagers may have noticed that one of the pinnacles from the top of St.Peter's Church tower is missing. The top portion of the pinnacle on the North side of the tower was dislodged during the gales in the autumn. Thankfully the masonry, about 1.5 m in length, fell inwards onto the tower roof and the damage is minimal; - a small hole in the lead and timber roof.
Investigations by the church architect, insurance company and a structural engineer have identified that there is a risk that the remaining pinnacles may also be unstable in extreme weather conditions. We have therefore been advised, and have taken the necessary action, to fence off an area around the base of the tower pending further investigation. It is expected that all the pinnacles will require additional fixing and we hope to carry this out at the same time as replacing the missing pinnacle - once we have been given approval by the Diocese, English Heritage and our insurance company.
Please respect the fencing and the reason for it being in place - it is there as a safety measure for everyone. We have also been advised not to fly a flag from the tower until the pinnacles have been secured.
If you have any questions regarding this issue, please contact either of the churchwardens; Keith Fowler or Simon Mead.



2ND HOOK NORTON BROWNIES
Harriet Nicholls (aged 10) writes; On 8th November, seven of the 2nd Hook Norton Brownies set off for a night at the Science Museum. We arrived at Marylebone station at 6:20pm and changed trains and got on the underground to South Kensington station. At 7.05pm we were sorted into groups. The first activity was Morse Code where we made a signalling device, then we had a Laser Show. Afterwards we all had a packed tea. Soon after, we went to Colourful Kaleidoscope, where we made our own kaleidoscope. At 11:35 we went to bed, but there was quite a lot of chatter. The following morning, when we had eaten our breakfast, we went to the IMAX cinema and saw SPACE STATION. It was brilliant. Afterwards we did Making the Modern World and Launch Pad. A little while later we had a prize giving from all the events. When it was all finished we set off for the journey home. It was a great experience.



HOOK NORTON GARDEN CLUB-50th ANNIVERSARY
The Garden Club was set up 50 years ago this year by a band of local gardeners.
To mark this occasion the present members will hold a celebration in the summer to which everyone will be welcome. Further details will appear in the next Newsletter but in the meantime we need the help of anyone who can remember those early years of the Club and the Horticultural Shows. If you have, or know anyone who might have any memorabilia -photographs, certificates, newspaper cuttings, stories –please telephone Yvonne Higgins so that she can co-ordinate a collection.
In the meantime the usual varied programme of Open Meetings, Outings and Shows has been organised by the Committee which we hope you will support. Follow this link for a Calendar together with a Membership Form which should be returned with the appropriate subscription to the Treasurer, Vicky Mepham or any member of the Committee if more convenient. New members are always very welcome. The garden year begins with a Wine Making Demonstration on Wednesday 19 February so do come along and join us.
Verity Calderan



FIRE FIGHTING
Thankfully leading up to Christmas was a quiet time for Hooky's fire fighters, but it was followed by a busy spell leading into the New Year. During December and January we answered a total of 22 calls for assistance.
Out of these calls we answered 9 Standby's for Banbury and Chipping Norton,
There were 3 malicious fires involving skips and cars at Sibford Ferris, Swerford and Banbury.
There were 2 Road Traffic accidents within an hour of each other. One, outside Lodge Farm, a van had overturned and the second on the Wigginton Crossroads. In both cases the occupants received only minor injuries and were given first Aid until the Ambulance arrived.
3 Chimney fires were attended - 2 in Hook Norton and 1 in Great Rollright, 1 False alarm and a Special Service Call were also answered.
The last 3 incidents were;
In all cases there were no injuries.
Joe Williams



WILDLIFE NOTEBOOK - NOVEMBER 2002 - JANUARY 2003
On 1st December, 3 Buzzards flying together were seen on the outskirts of the village on the road to Banbury. Early on 2nd December, 2 male Bullfinches were seen on the road out of the village to Great Rollright. A Greater Spotted Woodpecker was seen on nuts in a garden in East End on 10th December. Marianne Joyce in Orchard Road had 6 Long-tailed Tits feeding in her garden on 13th December.
It may have been very wet and cold, but when the leaves are off the trees it is so much easier to see the wild birds and many Kestrels have been seen sitting at the top of trees. Tim Burchell told me that over Christmas he saw a female Blackcap in his garden and Vicki Mepham in Austins Way saw 2 male Bullfinches and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits early in January. Ann Faulkner in Beanacre phoned to say that she had seen a large number of Sparrows, Starlings, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Marsh Tits, Chaffinches, Long-tailed Tits, Dunnocks, many Blackbirds, Goldfinches, 3 Robins fighting and an inquisitive Wren. The highlight was 2 Tree Sparrows in her garden on 24th December.
Diana Barber phoned to say that in her garden in Scotland End she had seen many members of the Tit family, Sparrows, a male and female Blackcap, Treecreeper and, over Christmas, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Cedric Brain in Down End has seen Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Marsh Tits, Bullfinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. On 12th January he saw a Buzzard in a small tree near the Gate Hangs High.
On 15th January Marion Roberts in Bourne Lane, saw 8 Long-tailed Tits with their tails out like fans, 4 Blue Tits, 2 Robins, and clusters of Sparrows and Starlings. She said this was a wonderful sight. She has also seen 2 Pheasants in the field. Song Thrushes are around, but due to the cold weather and the fact that Blackbirds are guarding their food, they are often chased away. A Mistle Thrush has been seen on the outskirts of the village towards Great Rollright and there are many Pied Wagtails around.
On the morning of 17th November, Margaret Jenkins of Orchard Road saw a Fox in her garden. There have been many sightings of foxes around during the day particularly in the recent cold spell, including sightings in the middle of Orchard Road and trotting through one of the gardens to the field behind. 3 different foxes were seen in 2 days in the field behind Orchard Road.
A recent phone call suggested that it would be a good idea for me to describe how birds survive in the cold weather. Feather care is very important; birds' survival could depend on their condition. The main feathers are the contour feathers, those on the head and body that give the bird its outline. Downy feathers lie under these and have a loose, fluffy texture and provide insulation. Heat loss from bare legs is kept to a minimum by the birds controlling their circulation to the legs and feet. If it is really cold, then the bird can stand on one leg, with the other tucked into its warm belly feathers, or sit down to cover both legs. Some birds roost communally for warmth. Others roost in a protected spot where wind cannot ruffle feathers and reduce their insulating effect. It can be much warmer in the middle of a wood, village or town. Of course food is of the utmost importance and birds which eat insects in the summer, turn to berries or fruit in the winter. Some birds will also temporarily give up defending feeding territories. The ability to find good food is vital, so feeding the birds in gardens is essential and if we start doing so we must continue as birds learn to rely on us. I was really pleased to hear from those of you who phoned me and would like to hear from anyone with sightings.
Geraldine Moore email: geraldine.moore1@btinternet.com



HOOK NORTON REMEMBERED
Mrs. Crossman, who lived in The Manor, asked me to pay her a visit. She told me that as she was sorting through her sister's belongings she had found a collection of craft tools and materials. As she knew I was a practical man she would like me to have them. Her sister Miss Youell had lived next door to us in The Laurels and of course I knew she had recently died but I did not know she was an accomplished artist and craftswoman. I thanked Mrs. Crossman for thinking of me and enquired the price. She laughed and said there was no price as she was sure her sister would be pleased to know that her equipment had been passed on to a craftsman. I received a large box containing a good selection of tools and materials for leatherwork, silverwork, jewellery making, macramé, and rugmaking.
After The Laurels was cleared and redecorated it was let to a young couple, Mr. and Mrs. Sayle, who were soon to expect an addition. Mr. Sayle was a bank manager working for Barclays in Banbury; Mrs. Sayle was of course waiting patiently at home for the great event. We had a few pleasant chats over the garden wall and they soon settled in as quiet neighbours. A few weeks after the birth of the baby I was working in the garden on a warm afternoon when I suddenly heard a scream coming from The Laurels. I went over the wall to investigate and found the poor lady sobbing hysterically. I looked for the baby who was sleeping peacefully in its pram in the garden protected with a cat-net, obviously unharmed. So I went to console the lady and find out why the scream? I made her a cup of tea and after a few minutes she told me the story. As she had difficulty in drying the terry napkins for the baby, her husband had fixed up a rope line in the kitchen which passed over the cooker, as residual heat would speed the drying. On this day she had decided to prepare a beef stew which was simmering quietly on the stove. She had walked into the kitchen to check that all was well and had seen a mouse doing a tightrope act on the line. She screamed, the mouse panicked, lost its balance and fell into the stew. Hence the hysterics. What should she do? The stew and the unfortunate mouse went into the hole I had been digging in my garden for a very different burial. A quick visit to Arthur Dumbleton's butcher's shop for more beef, a few fresh vegetables and a new stew was under way. I don't know if Mrs. Sayle ever told her husband about the stewed mouse he might have had, but it was never mentioned over the garden wall. A few months later they moved to South Africa and The Laurels was empty once more.
The stories that circulate in a village are a vital part of the life of the community and about this time one story concerned Mrs Crossman's chauffeur-driven Bentley, which had not been seen for several weeks. It was said that the chauffeur had noticed that the engine ran more sweetly on wet days than it did when the weather was dry. This led him to the belief that if moisture could be mixed with the petrol/air mixture in the manifold, the engine would always run sweetly. To test this theory he tapped a tube into the inlet manifold from a small water tank fixed above the engine and controlled the flow with a tap. Satisfied with the result he left the tank and tube in position. A day or two later Mrs Crossman required the Bentley for a trip to London. All went well until on the A40 near High Wycombe the engine began to stutter followed by a loud bang and the car stopped suddenly. It was alleged that the tap on the water tank had vibrated to the fully on position, filling the engine with water. As every science student knows, water cannot be compressed, so something had to go and in this case it was the cylinder head. The story was never confirmed of course, but the Bentley was missing for a very long time.
Geoff Walton
An invitation to all Parents
STUDY SKILLS & OVERCOMING THE HORRORS OF HOMEWORK
Lee Pascal made his name nationally as a consultant on study skills for dyslexic students, but his talk and strategies are for everyone
£5 at the door
Sibford School, Sibford Ferris
Monday 3rd February, 6 - 7pm
Please ring 01295 781200 to reserve your place



National Blood Service


Blood Collection Sessions 2003

Thursday 20th February :– 14:00 to 15:55 & 17:00 to 18:45
Monday 11th August : 14:00 to 15:55 & 17:00 to 18:45
Monday 29th December : 10:00 to 12:25 & 14:00 to 16:15

All sessions will be held at the Primary School
Contact Hazel Hope on 01608 737379 for further details
or visit www.blood.co.uk

Please support this very worthwhile cause



ANNOUNCEMENTS


Daisy Sarah Elizabeth Bartlett, daughter of Robin and Joanne was baptised at St Peter's Church Hook Norton on December 15th 2002.

Shania Jane Wallis daughter of Grant and Berenice was baptised at St Peter's Church Hook Norton on 1st December 2002.

Amber Charlotte Twyman, daughter of James and Amanda was baptised on 23rd November 2002 at St Peter's Church Hook Norton