The Hook Norton Village Newsletter
August 2007 Series 32 No 4

Parish, Council and Cherwell news




ANNOUNCEMENTS
The marriage of Carlie Louise Stratford and Liam John Kelly took place at St Peter’s Church Hook Norton on 7th July 2007.
The Bride's attendants were Debbie Andrews, Annie Kelly, Nicole Kelly and Finley Brown.
The Best Man was Darragh Kelly and the Ushers were Louis Stratford and Matty Kirkby.
The happy couple
honeymooned in St. Lucia and have made their home in Leafield.





Noel Patrick Rogers And Kaye Henrietta Lloyd were married at St Peter’s Church, Hook Norton on 25th May 2007



Daniel Ryan Worby And Jennifer Anne Fry were married at St Peter’s Church, Hook Norton on 26th May 2007




Amelia Warner Hiatt And Imogen Warner Hiatt, daughters of Steven Hiatt and Lucy Warner were baptised at St Peter’s Church, Hook Norton on 24th June 2007



Megan Page Cooper, daughter of Lucinda Page and Kevin Cooper, was baptised at St Peter’s Church, Hook Norton on 16th June 2007


IVY HARRIS
The family of the late Ivy Harris would like to thank everyone for the kind messages of sympathy and support received. A total of £689 was donated in her memory which will be forwarded to the Katharine House Hospice.


ST PETER'S CHURCH
Not even the dismal June and July weather could dampen the spirits of all those involved in the recent Hook Norton Flower Festival and Open Gardens weekend (June 30th – July 1st). It may have been wet and gloomy outside, but St. Peter’s was ablaze with over 25 wonderful, creative flower displays, designed to reflect the words of some of our favourite hymns. The rain also didn’t seem to put off too many ‘garden watchers’, who braved the showers to appreciate the beautiful gardens open to view on both the Saturday and Sunday. What a wonderful way to celebrate God’s creation on earth. The Flower Festival weekend was ‘opened’ on the Friday night (June 29th), St. Peter’s Day, with a special Patronal festival service, at which the Venerable Julian Hubbard, Archdeacon of Oxford, was preaching. Many thanks to all those who made the weekend possible. Heartfelt thanks especially to a seemingly tireless Mary Powell, chief organiser and lynchpin of the event, along with the ladies and children who created the displays and all those who opened their gardens and ran the refreshment stalls both at their homes and at church. Thanks also to Tom at the village shop, who supplied the flowers and was an enormous help, the Brewery for the printing, Janet and Bill Randall, who ran the plant stall, to Laura Hines, whose cards were on sale at St. Peter’s on the Sunday, and to those who allowed the church to borrow some valuable artefacts for the displays. Thanks also to everyone who was involved in stewarding, moving furniture, organising rotas, making cakes, manning the tea urns, and generally working like stink behind the scenes. The weekend raised over £2,400 for St. Peter’s, but the joy it brought to those who came along was truly priceless.
Continuing on the ‘nature’ theme, St. Peter’s has also published an A4-sized Nature Calendar for 2008. With space to write notes for each day, each month features a stunning seasonal photograph by Patrick Fox. Priced at £5 each, the calendars will be available to purchase throughout the year, at church on Sunday mornings, or from Patrick and Sophia directly. A number of people have also requested prints of some of the photographs, and this can also be arranged. All monies from sales will go to St. Peter’s.
We are hopefully also still on track to have all the pews in St. Peter’s replaced with more comfortable, upholstered wooden and metal chairs, by the end of this year. Pending Diocesan Advisory Committee final approval, the work is due to be carried out in October. We have already received many kind donations to help cover the cost of the chairs, and any donation, however small, would help considerably, and can be gift-aided by tax-payers. Each wooden chair is going to cost £75, and if anyone would like to donate the cost of a ‘whole’ commemorative or memorial chair, a simple brass plaque inscribed with a name and date can be added. Please speak to Keith or Sophia for more details.

St. Peter’s has now started to make use of the Norman Matthews Memorial Hall, and is awaiting transference of the lease from the Parish Council. The Hall now represents the base for the main Youth Group, and allows us to hold committee meetings in relative comfort! Whilst the full potential for use of the facility is still being explored, St. Peter’s would like to encourage wider use of the Hall by local community groups. If anyone is involved in a community activity that needs a regular or ad hoc meeting place, please contact either of the churchwardens. It’s a building that could be used for all sorts of events or get-togethers.
With August now upon us, please note that there will be no official ‘Sunday Gang’ teaching during the summer holidays. The children are still, of course, welcome to every Sunday service, and there will be a supervised activity for them at the back of church during the service itself.
Diary dates:

A new Alpha course is due to start in September, continuing the very successful Alpha courses that Janet Collins has kindly hosted at her home over a number of years. Alpha is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed and low-key setting. For a general overview, please have a look at the Alpha website, on http://uk.alpha.org, or speak to Janet Collins, Jan Hughes or Sheila Acreman.
Sophia Fox, Churchwarden; sophiafox1@aol.com; www.stpeters-hooknorton.org.uk


HOOK NORTON BAPTIST CHURCH
During the summer months every Sunday service has a few 'regulars' missing due to holidays, so it was quite exciting on July 15th to have the church and gallery filled for the monthly children's (JAM) service, augmented by approximately 60 youngsters and their leaders from the Cornerstone "Camp-Over" being held at the school playing field. Children from the 4 Cornerstone Churches apparently had a great weekend of activities, fun and Bible-teaching, with good food supplied by the Baptist Church. Their exhausted leaders probably were glad to get home for a good sleep afterwards! This is the second year the "camp-over" has been held at Hooky school, and Cornerstone are very grateful to the school authorities for allowing it.
Also on July 15th our church took part in the (now) annual summer tea party and united service at Wiggington Methodist Church, along with friends from St. Peter's, Hooky, and Holy Trinity, Chipping Norton.. This year, being the 300th anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley, the worship centred around some of his many hymns, and his remarkable contribution to the Christian Church.
Bookings are now being taken for Holiday Club which, this year, runs from Monday, 13th to Thursday 16thof August (4 days instead of the usual 5), ending with the Family Barbecue on Thursday evening. It will, as before, be led by Ian & Elaine Coules, and the theme is "Shipwrecked! A tropical adventure." Booking forms have been given out at school, but more can be obtained from the church office if necessary. Completed forms may be put into the church mail box.
Looking ahead to autumn, our Harvest service this year will be on Oct 7th, and will be led by Peter Grant, the International Director of TEAR FUND.
I mentioned various 'regulars' missing from services due to holidays. Some, unfortunately, are not there because of illness, disability or frailty, and we particularly think of Cyril & Audrey Taylor, and Ernest & Eleanor Woolley. Our love and prayers are with them.
Dorothy Smith; John Taylor; Church Office, 737315


GOT BROADBAND?
Although low-cost broadband connections are now cheaper than dial–up, too many consumers are still getting a bad deal through lack of information. Most of us now have a computer in the house and the majority of computer users now have a broadband connection to the Internet. Although the market is fiercely competitive, a significant percentage of consumers are still paying too much for broadband through lack of information rather than through choice. Changing your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can be confusing, but a little thought about what you want (and maybe what you don’t want), can help.
It’s not just the Internet One of the most significant changes over the last eighteen months has been the re-packaging of broadband, combining it with fixed and/or mobile telephone services. Both Carphone Warehouse and Orange for example, now offer broadband services with mobile phone contracts. Some operators such as BT and NTL are extending this further to include a fourth component, digital TV services. Most ISP's will allow you to switch your broadband service, usually after an initial fixed contract period, giving you the flexibility to change your provider and get a better deal. You might want to switch to an ISP offering cheaper phone calls, cheaper broadband or both. Whatever your reason for switching, there are a few things that you should consider before doing so.
Getting a MAC code To enable the transfer from your current provider you will need to contact them and get them to issue you with a MAC code, which identifies your specific broadband connection, allowing you to migrate smoothly from one provider to another. A MAC should be issued to you from your provider within five working days and is usually valid for a month.
Contract or no contract? In a fast-moving market, while you wouldn’t want to switch providers every month, you might not want a five-year contract. Check on how long you are contractually obliged to stay with your new provider and what it will cost if you choose to leave before the contract is finished. There are a few providers in the market who do not require a fixed term contract at all and this may well become more widespread in future.
E-mail Addresses/Phone NosContrary to popular belief, you don’t necessarily have to change your e-mail address when you move ISP – although your new ISP will certainly offer you a new one. Some ISP’s will allow you to go on using their e-mail indefinitely even after you have left. Most will allow you to continue using their e-mail addresses for a period of months. However, if you use Outlook Express it may have to be re-configured. Check with your ISP.
Oh - and you shouldn’t have to change your phone number either.
Howard Aiken, Oxfordshire Home Computer Service, 07732-660737, oxonhcs@hotmail.com


CASH FOR COUNTRYSIDE IMPROVEMENTS IN NORTH OXFORDSHIRE
People in rural parts of North Oxfordshire are being offered the chance to bid for cash to improve access to the countryside.
Grants of up to £5,000 in normal cases and £10,000 for exceptional schemes are available. The project builds on the success of last year's Community Rights of Way Improvement Fund. What could money support?
Work that is being proposed without the permission of a landowner would not be considered. Further information is available from the administrator at TOE - toe@ruralnet.org.uk or by calling 01865 883488 (Wednesday and Thursday only). You can also download information from www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/placesforpeople.


THE LIONS CLUB OF CHIPPING NORTON
July brings a change of the Lion President. Robert Caswell hands over to Sian Arnold of Hook Norton who becomes Chipping Norton Lions’ second lady President.
We thank Brian Talbot and his family for arranging the Pub quiz and all the pubs and participants who helped to make it a successful evening. The Lion Tombola proved fun at Music @ X-Roads and we hope to run it again at local events.
The Lions Club will be supporting the Hook Norton Sports and Social Club with a Race night on Saturday 6th October 2007. It should be a great night and the more people the better, so make a note in your diary.
The Lions “Charter” will be held in November, date to be confirmed, and finally we have arranged for Santa to be in Chipping Norton on December 15th and he will visit Hook Norton as well. More on this in the next newsletter.
If you would like to get involved with the Lions Club please call Sian Arnold.


BRAVE ROTARIAN TO CYCLE ACROSS 5 COUNTIES IN AID OF LEONARD CHESHIRE
Bob Campbell, President of the Rotary Club of Banbury Cherwell, is embarking on a 200 miles cycle challenge in aid of Leonard Cheshire.
Starting from Cheltenham on 27th July, Bob will ride to Burcot (South Oxfordshire), Gerrards Cross, Hitchin and Ampthill to finish at Banbury on 30th July. During his cycle tour, Bob will visit seven Leonard Cheshire Homes. Bob said: "In addition to simple sponsorship, I am asking people to guess the total time (hours/mins/secs) it will take me to complete the ride. The nearest guess will win a case of wine. Visit my sponsorship webpage, donate and take a guess."
Bob is looking for organisations, individuals and companies to sponsor his efforts and has set up his own sponsorship webpage at www.justgiving.com/bobcampbell
Funds raised will help Leonard Cheshire to provide more choice, independence and mobility to local people with disabilities.
Keen or amateur cyclists are also invited to join the challenge and cycle along with Bob for a few miles, one day, or the full 4 days 200 miles challenge!
For further information, please contact Bob Campbell bob_campbell74@hotmail.com or Claire Thompson cthompson@ellacotts.co.uk

ROTARY IN BANBURY “YOUNG CHEF OF THE YEAR” COMPETITION
As a joint venture, the two Rotary Clubs of Banbury are organising the 'Rotary in Banbury Young Chef of the Year' competition involving local schools and colleges - with the key aim of promoting healthy eating.
Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland are organising the contest and are keen to drum up support from local children wanting to compete along with local organisations.
The competition will be held at 6:30 pm on Monday 12th November at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, Banbury and is free entry for anyone of secondary school age. The winner will then be put forward to the district finals, then to a regional final and ultimately to the final for Great Britain and Ireland.
The challenge is for all competitors to plan a menu costing no more than £10, source the ingredients and prepare a healthy meal.
We need the invaluable time of local chefs to 'partner' a school or college.
According to Jill Brand, Rotary Club of Banbury Cherwell member: "Our hope is that the chefs would spend an hour or so at a mutually agreeable local school in the immediate area and would then 'partner' the school. For further information on the Young Chef Award please contact Jill Brand.


DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Victim Support is an independent, national, voluntary organisation for crime victims, witnesses, their families and friends. We provide services and promote the rights of people affected by crime. The bulk of our service is delivered by trained volunteers who help us in a variety of ways. Some volunteers work for the community side of the service while others support victims and witnesses in the crown and magistrates’ courts. We are also looking for people who might want to help us with fund-raising or administration. If you think you might be interested and would like to know more, please contact us for an information pack: Area Office, 45 the Slade, Headington, Oxford OX3 7HL. Telephone:01865 751511/12