The Hook Norton Village Newsletter
December 2005 Series 30 No 6

Village Affairs



Hook Norton Newsletter Home

  

NEWSLETTER TEAM

Directory: Diana Barber
Advertising: Judi Leader
Distribution: Bunty Reid
Proof reading: Nigel Lehmann
IT/Web Support: Martin Baxter


FROM THE EDITORS
The Newsletter Box contained £28.37 this month.
Thank you.
Sadly we report the deaths of Donald Baker (late of Hook Norton), Thomas Charles Joines aged 21 years, of Well Bank and Donald Lovat (aged 71 years) of Hutton Grange Farm, Great Rollright. On behalf of the village we send our condolences to their families and friends.

THANK YOU
As well as the contributions in the Newsletter Box in the Post Office, the Newsletter has received a substantial sum in donations since the last edition.
We'd therefore like to say a big thank you to the organisers of the Beer Festival, Hook Norton Charitable Association and the Garden Club as well as several individuals within the village and beyond. Your donations are much appreciated.


Andy Horne Helen Foster
hookynews@totalise.co.uk helen@broadedged.co.uk

The views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Editorial Team.

RATES – CHEQUES PAYABLE TO 'HOOK NORTON NEWSLETTER'
Text & advertising copy deadline SUNDAY, 15th JANUARY 2006
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.

The views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Editorial Team!

  

ST PETER'S CHURCH
Well, the run up to the Christian celebration of Jesus' birth is now in full swing, with the period of Advent upon us. The first Sunday of Advent (27th November this year) was celebrated at St. Peter's by a highly enjoyable family breakfast and family communion. Many thanks to all those who came along!
I dare say it's impossible not to start turning our thoughts and attention to Christmas shopping and the prospect of writing all those Christmas cards, but do take time to remember the true meaning of this period of celebration and what Jesus' birth all those years ago has meant for us all. It really does bring everything into perspective. And please say an extra prayer for those people both near to home and around the world, for whom December 25th will be less a day of celebration and more just another day of hardship, fear, sorrow or pain.
Before we go onto the diary dates, here is some 'catching up' news. As mentioned in the last newsletter, St. Peter's Harvest project for 2005 has been in support of Tearfund's 'Harvest in a Desert' campaign (see www.tearfund.org). Many thanks to everyone who has donated through the varied fundraising events and service collections. A total of £1824 was raised for Tearfund and has now been sent to them. A special thanks is due to Hook Norton Primary School, which raised £322.64 towards the Tearfund total through their Harvest supper, at which huge quantities of delicious soups and flapjacks, made by the children, were served to all who came carrying bowls and cutlery! Well done to all the children and staff for their fantastic effort.
Many thanks also to Jan Hughes and ALL the people who helped ensure this year's St. Peter's Craft Fair was such a success. The event (on November 5th) raised just in excess of £3,500 for church funds!
Special dates for the diary over Christmas and New Year:
Regular dates for the diary:
Some other news now … It should be evident that the disabled access path to the South door at St. Peter's has been completed and is making things so much easier for anyone who has problems negotiating the steps up into church. Also, an updated sound system has been installed, with new speakers and microphone points. This should significantly improve the acoustics in church, even for the smallest of voices. By the New Year we are hoping to have purchased some new radiant heaters for the Chancel and the Baptistry area. Winter Baptisms should hopefully then be slightly less chilly for all those attending!
On a slightly less positive note, there has been a certain amount of vandalism to some of St. Peter's windows over recent months. Unfortunately, repairs to these windows will require the whole of each damaged window to be removed and re-leaded before re-glazing, and we have also been informed that removing the windows will mean the surrounding stonework will need restoration before they can be safely replaced. The total cost of repairs to windows and stonework will be in the region of £23,000, only a proportion of which might be paid by our insurance policy. It's a hefty bill, all resulting from probably just a few thoughtless people deliberately throwing stones.
Back on to more positive news, now. We are hoping to arrange regular coffee mornings at St. Peter's, once or twice a week initially, and may have some more news on this in the next newsletter. Also, our strengthening links with Hook Norton Primary School mean we have put up a dedicated St. Peter's noticeboard in the foyer at school, and the schoolchildren will be displaying some of their work within the church. Please have a look at both, to catch up with recent and forthcoming events.
And finally, just a quick note to say that a proposal to replace the pews in church with chairs is still moving forwards. It will be a long process of consultation and applications, so I will keep everyone up to date in future newsletters.
With very best wishes to everyone for a joyful and peaceful Christmas.
Sophia Fox Sophiafox1@aol.com

  

BAPTIST CHURCH
Have you ever been persecuted for your faith?
Here is a statistic you may not have been aware of: At the present time there are approximately 250 million Christians suffering persecution for their faith. Many are imprisoned and/or tortured, some are killed. This happens in places like North Korea, China, Indonesia, Columbia, Peru, Pakistan, India, Burma, Vietnam, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, to name a few, and also several Muslim countries.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide is an organization committed to making these facts known to OUR Government and asking for diplomatic pressure to be put on THEIR Governments to do something about it. CSW also organize their supporters to write letters to these Governments on behalf of the people who have no voice of their own, and letters of encouragement to those in prison. Above all, they are asked to pray for these persecuted Christians. (For more information, the web site is: www.csw.org.uk.) But we have no real restrictions on our freedom to practice our faith in this country .... yet! However, in these "politically correct" times, we at the Baptist Church want to make it known that we WILL be celebrating CHRISTmas in the traditional way and it will not be called "Winter Festival" or anything else. We WILL be singing carols, we WILL be re-telling the nativity story, and we WILL be celebrating the birth of God's Son by sharing Holy Communion together on Christmas night. We might even put up some lights and decorations and exchange a few gifts. Why don't you join us?
Here are some dates ....
Sunday 18th December 10.30 am Family Carol Service.
Saturday 24th December 11.30 pm Christmas Eve Communion.
Sunday 25th December 10.00 am. Christmas Family Service
The next all age family service with Paul Crouch will be January 15th 2006. It was lovely to welcome the Swedish children and their teacher, and a number of other friends from the school, at the all-age service in October.
Sunday 22nd January,3pm, there will be a service for Christian Unity when members from other denominations will join us.
All of us at the Baptist Church would like to wish everybody a very Happy Christmas. Remember, Jesus Christ is not just for Christmas, He's for Life!!
  

HOOK NORTON GARDEN CLUB
The AGM on 19 October was well attended - could it have been the added attraction of another wonderful slide show by Mick West, this time on Fungi? 150 pictures of fungi in all shapes sizes and colours growing in all sorts of places. Thank you, Mick.
In his review of the year, the Chairman, Dave Coates described a club with a healthy active membership and a good programme of events with a promise of more of the same in 2006. The officers elected for the coming year were
Chairman - Dave Coates, Secretary - Nick Faulkner,
Treasurer - Tony Freeman and Vice Chairman - Verity Calderan.
The Committee Members are Christine Blackham, Sheila Cother, Ann Faulkner, Frank Faulkner, Alrys Morris and Sally Wood.
The Club year ended on 16 November on a festive note. Tom Williams with his 'girls', Suzette, Zoe and Emma gave a colourful demonstration of how to make your own floral decorations for Christmas - they made it look so easy (helped by Tom's constant patter) so if you want to have a go all the accessories and help you'll need will be available in the shop. Don't be fooled, it's all very skilful! The evening ended with wine and mince pies and a raffle including some of the arrangements made by the 'girls'. Thank you to all for making such an enjoyable village evening.
The Club year will begin in February and as usual there will be a pull out calendar in the next Newsletter. Finally a reminder that subscriptions for 2006 can be paid to Tony Freeman at any time.
Verity Calderan

  

HOOK NORTON W.I.
The members of the Hook Norton W.I. had a very enjoyable and fun afternoon in October, when Mr. Patrick Bowen, who is a Fine Art Valuer, brought some of his slides. These slides contained mystery objects and the members were invited to guess what they were. To Mr. Bowen's surprise more than half the slides were guessed correctly by the members. It was a very lively and happy afternoon.
The W.I. Meetings are held every third Tuesday of the month at the Baptist Hall at 2p.m. Visitors are always welcome.
Alrys Morris

  

FIREFIGHTING - BONFIRE NIGHT – THE BEST EVER!!
All over in 2 hours, with a lot of hard work by Hooky Fire Crew all day setting up - that was our feeling at Hook Norton Fire Station. Setting up the bonfire, marking out barriers, organising the bar & BBQ's, putting up the lights had all gone smoothly until at 3.25pm, we all downed tools for a 999 call. Thankfully it was only a 20 minute Standby to Chippy. Then we went back to the field hoping the weather would hold out and at 5.30pm the first of many many spectators arrived. One crew cooking 400 burgers & bacon rolls on the BBQ's in one marquee, whilst Julie, Keith & the rest of the crew served Bonfire Bitter. All in all it was a great and, most of all, safe night for everyone. Thankfully there were no 999 calls during the event. We were called out at 11.18pm for another Standby and when we all got home at 1.30am on Sunday morning, we were all shattered but it was worth it.
We estimate over £3,500 has been raised at the event. Half will go to the Fire Services Benevolent Fund, with the other half to be decided.
Thanks go to all of the people who have supported us at the bonfire by simply turning up but also to the sponsors & helpers who include:- Julie & Keith for the bar, Jackie, Nathan, Tom & Phil for the gate, Jenny & Kate for the food, Rex & James for the fireworks, Del & Lara @ The Bell, Tom & Gloria @ The Village Shop, James & Staff @ Hook Norton Brewery, Cotswold Tool & Plant Hire, Banbury Marquee Hire, Twang & Co @ Kench's Butchers, Chippy, the lovely ladies @ Nash's Bakery, Chippy, Stowford Press Cider Co & Roger Hughes for ensuring that the immediate neighbours, the brewery shire horses were looked after throughout the event.
Finally the crew would like to say a big thank you to our families for not only their support & help on the day but throughout the year, particularly when we drop everything to assist people in need – Thank You

  

FIRE SAFETY FROM YOUR LOCAL FIRE STATION
Well, bonfire night aside over the past 2 months we have been busy answering 30 calls. Eight were standbys; four each for Banbury and Chipping Norton, two were malicious car fires at Swerford and Sibford Ferris, a chimney, bonfire, three Automatic Alarms, seven False alarms with good intent, a small fire at Hurrans Garden Centre in Banbury, a small fire at the Brewery and finally, a rescue of a woman who became trapped in a walk-in fridge at Milcombe.
We've entered the winter season with Christmas coming up. It's a time to enjoy the festive spirit, maybe at home with the family but remember these festive points:-
We welcome Richard Thornton & Frances King to our crew which will ensure that the fire engine is always available. They both have their training course in early December so should be operational by Christmas.
Have a safe Christmas & New Year – Remember, set light to your Christmas pudding not your Christmas tree…

  

HOOK NORTON PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP
Sessions:    
  Morning: 9am – 12am
  Lunch: 12pm – 12-30pm
  Afternoon: 12-30pm – 3-30pm
  After School: 3-30pm – 6-00pm


We cater for children from 2 years to 11 years old and offer a walking to and from School service. We open during term time and school holidays.

Prices:    
  £5.75 per session
  £1.25 lunch
  £1.25 walk to / from school

For more information, to book sessions or to arrange a visit, please contact Julie Riley (Playgroup Manager)

  

1ST HOOK NORTON BROWNIE NEWS
It seems a long time ago, but 12 brownies came to a pack weekend away in June at the Study Centre in Hook Norton. We were very lucky with the weather that weekend, and did lots of outdoor activities such as hiking across the fields to pick strawberries, playing wide games on the school field, painting T-shirts and having a barbecue on the Saturday evening. We went swimming on the Sunday at Sibford pool which was fun, and everyone went home very tired on Sunday afternoon! Congratulations to Teresa Hughes, one of our guiders, who passed her pack holiday licence that weekend, which should enable us to go further a field on our pack holidays in future.
By the time you read this, we will be into the second half of the Christmas term, and the girls will have been working hard towards their Toymaker and Hostess badges, having also enjoyed ten pin bowling in Banbury and a joint sing-a-long with the 2nd Hook Norton Brownies.
At the end of the term (5th Dec) we will be holding a fashion show for parents, when we will also be trying to raise some money for Dogs for the Disabled, who visited us in October at the Memorial Hall - this is our chosen charity for the year. It costs £500 to train a dog for a disabled person, and we will be aiming to raise as much as possible for them throughout this year.
Hook Norton is lucky to have two very active brownie packs, and although both are currently pretty full, there is a waiting list if your daughter is interested in joining - please contact me on the number below if you would like more information.
Sarah Gardner (Star) 1st Hook Norton Brownies

  

REMEMBERANCE DAY
Click the thumbnails to see photographs of the Remembrance Day Parade at St Peters.

  
FRIENDS OF HOOK NORTON SCHOOL (FOHNS)
Christmas Cheer
Yes, Christmas is coming folks, so don't miss the chance to support the school Christmas Fair on Friday 2 December, 5pm to 7pm. It's a great way to get your Christmas started with Santa, the school choir, raffles and a tombola. Also on sale are our famous Hooky Christmas Puds, which won a prestigious Gold at the Great Taste Awards (and are offered complete with the FOHNS and school logo on each pud). The Fair will include crafts for sale. The orchestra will perform at what promises to be a memorable evening for all the family. You can also order your puds at the school office, if you can't make the fair.
If that's not enough to warm you up, then why not try Caliente! Salsa Party Night on Saturday 10 December at 8pm. Lisa and her partner from Salsa Oxford will give a demonstration, followed by lessons, and we will all be dancing to Latin/Cuban rhythms by the end of the evening. There will be a bar serving tapas, sangria and the tequila. You don't need a partner, so if your other half can't/won't dance, come along and find someone who will! Tickets from the school office at £10 and £8 (concession) for all the salsa you can dance and a light supper.
In case you thinking of having a pre-Christmas clear out of worn out clothes, don't be too quick going to the dump. In January, Bag2School will be dropping by our school to collect any worn out clothes (does not matter how poor the quality is) and the school will receive a donation for every bag we can deliver. Its money for old clothes – and you feel the satisfaction of a clear-out and helping the school. Watch for the school newsletter for more details.
Finally, how about taking part in this year's School Lottery? There are 10 monthly draws, two of which are “mega” draws, attracting a first prize of up to £100. Annual membership costs just £10. Joining details from the school office – but, if you already signed up last year to pay by direct debit, then you need do nothing. Your number is secure. Remember the lottery is open to all friends and relatives linked to the school. Good luck!
Sally Scullion, FOHNS chair Sally.scullion1@btinternet.com

  

SALON 2 HAIRDRESSING
We would like to welcome Mel to our Salon. Mel is a stylist from Chipping Norton and works with us on a Thursday and Friday. Give us a call to make an appointment. Mel is a ladies and gents hairdresser and also works until 8pm one evening a week.
Our Macmillan Coffee Morning raised £62.19 – thank you to everyone who donated. Also, an extra thank you to Val, who made our wonderful 'squidgy' chocolate cake – mmm!!! We're looking forward to our next one already.
Jill, Mel, Ruth and I would like to wish all our clients a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Thank you for all your support. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.
Sandra

  

WILDLIFE NOTEBOOK - MID SEPTEMBER TO MID NOVEMBER
Week commencing 5th September John Stevens found three Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars in the front gardens of 6 and 7 Whittons Close. On 28th September David Newton of Crooked Thatch in East End had a Hummingbird Hawkmoth on a Bizzie Lizzie in his garden. In October we saw Red Admiral, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies flying around in the sunshine, but the last one we saw was on 9th November. In September there were Grasshoppers and Crickets in our garden. A Cormorant was seen flying over East End on 19th September. Tim Burchell phoned to say that on 7th October about 2.00pm he is quite sure he saw a Peregrine Falcon in a field whilst walking on a footpath at Fanthill Farm. Peregrine's are an uncommon bird, but are more likely to be seen at this time of the year. They are a large Falcon with pointed wings with a span of 95 - 115cm and the body length of between 39 - 50cm. I have had telephone calls before saying that someone has seen one of these birds, but it is more likely to be a Sparrowhawk. At a distance this bird often looks grey with contrasting pale breast and it has a broad conspicuous black moustachial stripe. I would like an expert to point one out in the sky to me so that I could be sure of what they look like, so that I could make a positive identification. I suppose this is all part of the fascination (or frustration) of bird watching! It is rather interesting as there have been a few sightings of Herons this last couple of months. They have been seen flying over East End on 24th September, the 5th and 11th October and on roofs, one in East End for about 10 minutes each morning the first week in October, and Mrs Watts saw one on 30th October on a roof in Whittons Close. Elsa Hathaway in Austins Way had one in her garden at about 5.30pm on 12th October. Fortunately for the fish her pond is covered by a trellis and as soon as she moved the Heron took off, albeit with difficulty as her garden is small and surrounded by trees. At about 6.10pm on 25th October Keith Fowler was taking his dog for a walk and on the wildlife pond he saw 35 Canada Geese which took off and flew south west over the village. At 6.20am on 27th September Richard Monelle saw what he thought was a Barn Owl in the middle of the road from Hook Norton to the Wigginton crossroads. It was foggy, but he remembers a white face with dark fringes and white belly. The Barn Owl took off towards fields around Manor Farm. David Shirt was in his garden on 1st November when a Barn Owl screeched very close by, but he could not see anything as it was too dark. I first heard from Warren Morris in Orchard Road on 29th September saying that a number of months ago he filled some of their feeders with niger seed to attract Goldfinches and on this particular day he was looking out of his window over his small garden and could see 10 Goldfinches. By the 14th October he could see 15 Goldfinches at one time. Every morning from 1st to 6th November John Stevens of Whittons Close had seen about 12 - 15 Goldfinches on their low lavender hedge. The last sighting of a House Martin appears to be 16th October - has anyone seen one of these birds, a Swallow or Swift any later than this date? On 29th October David Shirt saw a Raven fly fast and low over White Hills Farm calling. An hour later one flew back over the house and Sandy is pretty sure she saw two Ravens together. On 5th November he saw another Raven flying over being mobbed by a pair of Carrion Crows. Three Buzzards were seen over East End on 27th September, two on 4th October and one on 16th October. Jays have also been seen quite a few times recently. For five days from 5th November a Nuthatch had been seen in a garden in East End and Paul Bendon in Hollybush saw a small bird on his feeder at the end of October which he did not see again until 5th November when it was flitting back and forth to the feeder and he managed to take a photo and identify the bird as a Nuthatch.
I know it is a little early, but I would like to wish all the readers of my article a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope 2006 will be a good one for us all. I have been really pleased to hear from you over the last year, please keep phoning and emailing me. Most of all Happy Bird/Wildlife Watching!
Geraldine Moore geraldine.moore1@btinternet.com


UPDATE

RSPB   Big Garden Birdwatch  

"The 2006 Big Garden Birdwatch takes place at the end of January and all you need to do to take part is watch the birds in your garden or local park for an hour." Click the link above for more information.

  

DONALD BAKER
As many people in the Hook Norton area will already know, my husband Donald Baker, died in St Richard's Hospital, Christchurch on 29th September just a few weeks after we moved to Westbourne, West Sussex to be near our family. I am very grateful for all the support and friendship during Donald's illness while we were living in Hooky and to all the people who visited him while he was a patient in the Horton Hospital and in Katharine House. Many thanks too for all the wonderful cards, letters and phone calls received recently which have been a great help and consolation to all of us. Thank you also to so many people who travelled down on Wednesday October 12th for Donald's funeral; it was lovely to see so many familiar faces and to hear enthusiastic singing. Because he had to spend time in hospital just before we moved, Donald was unable to say goodbye to many friends and he regretted it very much. I would like to include a poem read by Heather and Clare at Donald's funeral. I think that it says everything he wished he could say himself to all our friends.
Valerie Baker

The Parting Glass

Oh all the time that e'er I spent,
I spent it in good company;
And any harm that e'er I've done,
I trust it was to none but me;
May those I loved through all the years
Have memories now they'll e'er recall;
So fill to me the parting glass,
Goodnight and joy be with you all.

Oh all the comrades that e'er I had,
Are sorry for my going away;
And all the loved ones that e'er I had
Would wish me one more day to stay.
 But since it falls unto my lot
That I should leave and you should not,
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
Goodnight and joy be with you all.

Of all good times that e'er we shared,
I leave to you fond memory;
And for all the friendship that e'er we had
I ask you to remember me;
And when you sit and stories tell,
I'll be with you and help recall;
So fill to me the parting glass,
God bless, and joy be with you all.

IRISH TRADITIONAL

  

A TRIBUTE TO DONALD BAKER –from one organist to another
Soon after Don and Valerie moved to Hook Norton, my uncle met Don in the Pear Tree: 'Ah, you must be Mr Baker? I hear you play the organ! My brother's in the choir and my nephew plays. Welcome to Hook Norton'. Well that was nearly 40 years ago. We met at Banbury Choral Society. Don became Chairman and later Treasurer, a friendship that has lasted all these years. The Society had a good social side under the leadership of Conductor Geoffrey Furnish. We had some memorable outings that included Waddesdon and Malvern, where we climbed the Worcester Beacon. Then there was bowls at the "Isis" at Iffley, and we sang "Elija" at the Sheldonian, recorded Sunday Half Hour – the finest recording of that programme ever made and Faure's Requiem at a Holy Communion service. There were also the RSCM courses each year. I remember at St Giles P.C. it was so cold we went to the Eagle and Child to warm up and have a drop of "Holy Spirit". Also there were the Archdeaconry Festivals with our choirs every year usually held at Keble, Magdalen, New College or Christ Church, under the baton of the most eminent musicians; Sir Thomas Armstrong, Dr Sydney Watson, Dr David Lumsden and Simon Preston to name a few. Sometimes my choir and Hook Norton joined together. Good Friday was a speciality.
As both our choirs got thin on the ground we helped each other out, later joined by Sybil Stevens and Aynho Choir. The greatest accolade was when Hook Norton Choir was asked to sing at Christ Church Cathedral for the Memorial Service for Canon Elliot Wigg. I was asked and privileged to play the cathedral organ and Don conducted. After the service Don came to meet me as I came down from the organ loft and said, "Did you see who was listening and waiting to go to practice"? No! Now the noted organist and choirmaster from Kings College. Over a glass of beer Don and I decided that we would both benefit from a day off from our work. We planned to visit Cathedral cities, have lunch and go to Evensong. Our first was to Hereford, lunch at the Green Dragon (Beef Wellington) a lovely old Edwardian hotel. Later we saw the Mappa Mundi, then in the news. Don said to me years later. "Can you remember what you said about it? No? Well what a disappointment it was, 5 million for that! "Other visits included Worcester, Gloucester, Winchester, Chichester, Salisbury, Warwick, Eddington Priory and Portsmouth where we lunched with Don's' brother and sat on the quayside watching the Idaho, the world's' largest battleship leave the harbour with just a few feet to spare. Another visit was to Great Witley where we played the organ that George Frederick Handel had played. At Bredon, Don and I gave a recital during a weekend flower festival. Hook Norton Choir sang Choral Evensong at Beaulieu Abbey, Don conducting. I played. The organ was at the back of the Abbey which had a very long nave and a time lag. I gave Geoffrey the note "O Lord open …. Well, he hit the wrong note! Don over sang the note but retrieved the situation with great skill and the congregation did not even notice. I received a call from a desperate choirmaster in another diocese for a bass and tenor to sing "The Crucifixion". That evening on the way home we both said, little did we think we would be singing the solos.
Organists sadly are an endangered species. We practised psalms and canticles in freezing cold churches. Little wonder we have arthritic fingers and hit the odd wrong note at times. One other anecdote; we sang at a peer's wedding held in their private chapel with no electric! I asked the Dowager if we could run a cable from the house for an electric organ. Certainly not, she said, we have a perfectly good harmonium. It was in such a state and so exhausting to play we had to take turns and we had to abandon the organ continuo for the anthem. The Alto didn't turn up and again, Don came to the rescue, singing counter tenor. We earnt and enjoyed our champagne that day! I have a legacy of memories and have been privileged to have played the organ at the family weddings, at Don's 40 years in church music, when we sang Purcell's "Rejoice in the Lord", at Don and Valerie's Ruby wedding and Don's retirement service on 12th September 2004. Dear Valerie and the family heartfelt condolences. To Don, may all the heavenly choirs be there for you, may you rest in peace and rise in glory, thou good and faithful servant.
© Richard Stevens

  

A TRIBUTE 'EMPORIUM OF EUPHORIA' – A CHIPPING NORTON SHOP
I am sure that I am not alone in feeling regret and a sense of loss on hearing of the death of Ronnie Barker. Not only had he given us all many years of pleasure on television with his stupendous talents as a comic, actor and writer, but many people in our area also knew him as an antique dealer, shop keeper and a very charming man.
I was lucky enough to meet him on the very first day that he opened his shop in Chipping Norton. I love such shops and had no idea that I would find Ronnie Barker himself manning the counter. I believe that, on that early morning in 1987, I was one of the first customers, if not the very first.
At the time, I was heavily pregnant – 'bursting to pop' as he said. When Marianne was born, I presented her to him in the shop and he gave her a present from his stock, making a great fuss of her.
I was always careful to pretend that I didn't know who he was, as I knew from his lovely wife Joy (who often was to be found manning the shop) that he had 'quit while he was ahead' after problems with his heart and general health. I deplored people who would invade his shop just to claim him as their own. There was an occasion when a coach load of American tourists had invaded the shop to do just that; dismaying and overwhelming him, as I heard from his lady assistant.
I always referred to him and addressed him as Mr Barker and treated him as the proprietor of the shop, nothing more, nothing less.
He always went out of his way to save bits and pieces for me that he knew I would like; from stings of beads to pictures, Victorian plates and old books.
As a life long collector of antiques, bric a brac and of course old postcards, it was natural for him to use some of his personal collections to start an antique shop and when he learnt that I shared his love of old picture postcards, he would go to great lengths to sort out postcards from his private collection for me that he thought I would be interested in, particularly ones of Music Hall stars. He would pick out certain heroines of the stage for me, especially those of Gertie Miller, whom we both admired.
Three years later when he found me rummaging among his postcards, hugely bloated, expecting twins, he joked and laughed with me. When the twins were born in 1990 again he gave them a present from his stock, pressing it into their tiny hands in the pram.
He personally signed his books of postcards to me, to my mother in law and to my grand mother. He always asked me for their names, their circumstances, their interests etc. He would always ask after my family, especially my children.
Always patient, kindly and charming, he was generous and warm. Many local people will remember him as this – a very nice man. He will be much missed.
Kate Underwood.

  

ANNOUNCEMENTS




Joshua Jake Brown, son of Clive and Yvonne Brown
of Hollybush Road, Hook Norton
was baptised at St Peter's Church on 18th September 2005


Elliott John Sabin, son of Brendon and Sarah Sabin
of Austins Way, Hook Norton
was baptised at St Peter's Church on 9th October 2005.



Nick RONSON and Emma Caroline VAUGHAN
were married at St Peter's Church on 30th July 2005.
Heart felt thanks to all who contributed to their special day.