The Hook Norton Village Newsletter
June 2005 Series 30 No 3

Arts & Entertainment



Sale of Weekenders clothes
in aid of the
Medical Foundation

Going away on a short break, summer hols, a weekend away?

Need smart casual clothes?

Hate Ironing?

Great prices!
Latest fashions!
Wide range of styles!

Saturday 11th June – the Hook Norton Sale of the Year!!!

Tea, coffee, cakes on sale.

Chinese raffle

Book/video and C.D. swap

At Olwen Goodwin's – 2, The High St, Hook Norton.

For more information please contact Lucy Pickering (Email: lucyap13@yahoo.co.uk)
or Olwen Goodwin



Hook Norton
2nd Annual
Midsummer Walk
Tuesday, 21st June
7.00pm start from the Pear Tree
1 mile or 3 mile option
Families welcome!
Queries
Diane Bowen
Olwen Goodwin



 
DORSET STARS OF RADIO & TV
at THE MEMORIAL HALL, HOOK NORTON
FRIDAY 24th JUNE 2005 – 7.30 p.m.
Tickets £10 each from
Geoff James – 01608 737476
Mick West – 01608 737099

Licensed Bar Refreshments


MUSIC AT THE CROSSROADS - M@C 9


www.hookymusic.co.uk
The Twelfth Annual Hook Norton Festival of Fine Ales
Saturday 16th July 2005

featuring…
the full range of Hook Norton Ales
about seventy ales from around the country

Cider

Morris Men

Music all day

Food
Two Pig Roasts / BBQ
Fish n' Chips

All beers the same price
Free entry to Festival, but you'll need to buy a
Festival glass and tasting notes
Bar and ticket sales open at 12 noon
Bar closes at 10.00pm or when the beer runs out

Web site and email list www.hookybeerfest.co.uk

Contact
info@hookybeerfest.co.uk


STRIDE – SATURDAY 10th SEPTEMBER
It's not too soon to think about our annual day in the beautiful countryside around Hook Norton. Yes! The annual Stride takes place on Saturday, 10th September between 10.00 am and 6.00 pm. This year it will be on the first weekend of the new school term: an ideal way to get rid of the cobwebs.
Everyone can take part in some way: walking or riding (cycle – or horse!); or manning St Peter's Church to welcome them; and - the main object – sponsoring those taking part to raise funds for the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust.
More on this in the next Newsletter.
The contact is Breac MacLeod: Anvil House, High Street; e-mail: iainbreac@dial.pipex.com.

A Tomb With a View

The Hooky Players Summer Production
As I write this, the auditions have been held and the play is almost cast. The auditions were held amidst much laughter (caused by the script and not Stuart's fine ale at the Sun I hasten to add), which made it difficult to sort out who read what part. The main characters are pretty well in place and by the time you read this, we will have had our first read through.
Rehearsals proper will start in June, which will give us plenty of time to develop the wonderful characters, which led to all the hilarity on the audition night.
Book the dates now in your diaries, September 15th, 16th, and 17th, which is a departure from the June performances of previous years. This will be the Hooky Players 5th summer production and their 9th overall. The group continues to go from strength to strength and it looks like we will have a strong cast for this production.

See you there and thanks for your support
- Keith Disney, Director.


HOOK NORTON FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
It is truly wonderful just how much musical talent exists in our village. On Saturday 16th April the second Hook Norton Festival of Music was held at the Memorial Hall where singers and musicians of all styles and ages came together to share, perform and entertain.
This event is held to offer musicians, singers and songwriters who have a direct link with Hook Norton an opportunity to perform in a friendly environment and with the support of a professional sound system and mixing engineer. Profits raised were provided to Hook Norton Primary School for use in the music department.
Artists were performing from 2pm through until 10pm, great performances from Next Generation, a rock band of very young local musicians.
Frank Underwood and Dave Mortlock & Jo showed just what seasoned professionals can do. James Hayward/ played a selection of modern rock songs in a unique acoustic style, his performance was entertaining and confident, he looks set for great future. Singer songwriter Sean Watson played some well crafted songs on acoustic guitar, I hope we get a chance to hear more from him. Raven's Taunt as usual played a well rehearsed selection of traditional folk music. Sam and Sian put together an impromptu set with local jazz bassist Roger Davis and a classical cellist, Derek Lyseight-Jones, the combination was magnificent, we'll get a chance to hear more from them at the Hook Norton Festival of Fine Ales on July 16th. A newly formed contemporary acoustic trio called The Oblivion Seekers played a set of excellent original songs and these can be heard again at Music at the Crossroads on July 2nd. Becky Watkins mesmerised the audience yet again with her incredible voice. Pete Watkins played a set of original songs, Pete has gained a reputation for musical variety and as an entertainer it's great to get a chance to hear his songwriting too. The evening was wound up with a pleasing and competent performance by a young teenage rock band called The Warriner
Boys.
Special thanks go to our Village Shop for providing refreshments through the day and to Dave Cooper & One Man Band, for the fantastic raffle prizes of a violin and a selection of guitar strings.
We thank all those who came along to support this event and make advance notification for the Third Hook Norton Festival, date to be confirmed.
There's an open call for all musicians and performers of any style, experience or age!
Several of the performers listed above will appear either at Music at the Crossroads on July 2nd, which will feature Rock n Roll Hall of Fame legends The Yardbirds or at the Hook Norton Festival of Fine Ales on Saturday 16th July.
Pete Watkins


HOOK NORTON BRASS BAND
I am pleased to announce the appointment of our new Musical Director — Ms Jenny Barrie.
As well as conducting our band, Jenny has been the Musical Director of Leamington Spa Symphony Orchestra since 1985 and brings a wealth of knowledge & experience with her.
James Clarke agreed to stand as our President & chaired the Annual General Meeting in March. A full compliment of Committee members were elected for 2005.
We have already completed our first engagement at Southam — the Southam Lions Club Fete on the 2nd May — “rain” stopped play during the afternoon — thus a somewhat damp band re-commenced once the clouds had moved on — I know of at least one player who had to dry & iron his music once home that evening!
The “Best of British” Festival at the British Motor Heritage Museum, Gaydon on the
29th May promises to be an interesting function to play at, followed by Broughton
Castle Fete on the 11th June — we had a most enjoyable time here in 2003
If you can play brass & are looking for a friendly & relaxing way to make music please e-mail hnbband@aol.com — we provide uniform & if required instrument etc.
Martin Quartermain.