slider1
Hooky decision to be legally challenged
Hooky decision to be legally challenged
A legal challenge is to be launched by Cherwell District Council after its decision to refuse 54 homes in Hook Norton was overturned on appeal.
Last month, the Secretary of State Tim Wood allowed an appeal by Gladman Homes for the erection of up to 54 residential dwellings, landscape and public open space at land at Sibford Road.
The application had originally been refused permission by Cherwell District Council in September 2014 and will now be subject to a legal challenge which is to be launched by the authority.
Cllr Michael Gibbard, Cherwell’s lead member for planning, said: “We have sought advice and believe that the decision to allow this appeal is legally flawed. The inspector has not properly understood or applied the Hook Norton Neighbourhood Plan which stipulates no more than 20 dwellings should be built in any one location at any time.
“Furthermore, Cherwell’s Local Plan includes Hook Norton as one of 24 Category A villages, which are considered to be the most sustainable for development compared with Category B and C villages. In his decision, the Secretary of State appears to elevate Hook Norton above other Category A Villages; this is factually inaccurate as reference to Hook Norton’s sustainability is in fact in comparison the Category B and C sites.”
The council will also argue the similarities between this case and an application for 95 homes in Kirtlington, which was refused at appeal due to the significant number of homes being concentrated in one village.
The Cherwell Local Plan provides for a total of 750 homes to be built at Category A villages. A significant number of sites have already been identified across the district and it is important that there is a sustainable distribution of the remainder.
Council officers are concerned that the appeal decision does not adequately explain why a relatively larger share of the 750 dwellings is acceptable at Hook Norton compared to other villages listed in Policy Villages 2 of the Local Plan. This is particularly important in the context of other developments recently approved at Hook Norton including 70 homes in Bourne Lane which are under construction.
Midday Supervisor Required
Hook Norton C of E Primary School
Sibford Road, Hook Norton, BANBURY, OX15 5JS
Tel: 01608 737379
Email: office.3044@hook-norton.oxon.sch.uk
£13,500 – £13,614 pro rata (£7.00 – £7.06 per hour)
7.5 hours per week term time only
From Friday 13 November 2015, or as soon as possible thereafter
Hook Norton C of E Primary School is looking to recruit an enthusiastic and flexible Midday Supervisor to join our small and friendly team, 7.5 hours per week, 11.30am to 1.00pm, Monday to Friday in term time only.
We require team players, warm and friendly towards the children, who will supervise pupils in the dining hall, playground and school premises, and help with setting up and putting away furniture. The role requires the successful applicant to help children at mealtimes, clean up spillages and ensure that tables are clean, caution children who misbehave and, if necessary, record and report incidents to the Senior Midday Supervisor. You must make sure that children do not leave the school premises or go into areas that are out of bounds. You will be expected to encourage children to play and help with play activities as directed, and report any concerns that arise. You will tend to sick or injured pupils and record and report any serious accidents and provide First Aid assistance if qualified.
Applications are available from the school office (via e-mail preferred) or to download via the advertisement link on the Oxfordshire School Vacancy pages at https://www.hants.gov.uk/occ/schoolvacancies/
Oxfordshire Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post involves the type of work with children and young people, that requires applicants to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post. All cases are considered confidentially and according to the nature of the role and information disclosed. Oxfordshire County Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of gender, ethnic origin or disability. Applicants will be considered solely on their suitability for the post.
Closing date: 12 noon, Wednesday 4 November 2015
Interviews: early w/c 9 November 2015
Hook Norton Community Smallholding
Orders are now being taken for free range pork from our rare breed Gloucester Old Spot pigs. Order before Thursday 17th September with delivery on Tuesday 22nd September. Please note that supplies are limited and all sales are subject to availability.
For further details such as list of cuts and prices and delivery information please contact David McGill – scotlandend@btinternet.com
Old and interesting posts from the forums
Happy Memories
by Dougie » Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:33 am
Hook Norton residents who can remember life in the village and it’s surroundings in the early to mid 1900’s are getting fewer, and memories of old Hooky related sayings and stories are being lost. If you or your friends can recall any, please share them here before they are forgotten.
New Hook Norton residents (or ex-pats) shouldn’t feel excluded from this topic. All anecdotes start somewhere, so if your family/children have come up with a recent Hooky or rural gem, especially if it raised a laugh, please put it on here for all to enjoy!!
Here’s a starter :- I remember as a boy listening to the ironstone, brewery and farm workers as they enjoyed a pint of Hooky, outside the pub on summer evenings after a hard days graft. One of their favourite self-deprecating sayings, oft repeated in their strong Oxfordshire accent, was :-
“Hooky born and Hooky bred, strong in the arm but weak in the yed !”
This was OK if uttered by a local resident, but woe betide any visitor from a nearby village who expressed that opinion about a Hookyite. He quickly found out the shampoo benefits of Hooky beer!
Doug
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:57 am
Top
Re: Happy Memories
by John Mann » Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:36 pm
I recently spent a day up in Wales looking at the archives of the Brymbo Steel Company. These included the “Brymbo Works Magazine” from the 1920s which among information on how to buy a dog, make a wireless set or where to buy a pram in Wrexham, contains a lot of items about Hook Norton.
Reading some of these, I immediately thought of Dougie’s posting and copied them down.
DECEMBER 1924:
At a recent big dance at the [memorial] Hall a young gentleman (from the [ironstone] works) feeling a little fatigued through continuous jazzing, wended his way into the refreshment room where two ladies were talking over a cup of tea. Having called for and received his cup of tea he changed it for one of the ladies cups and proceeded to drink same. When questoned later as to why he did a trick like this he replied:
“Well I seen her been theer a good while a blowin of it, an mine wer hot so I changed em, beside her got more toime to blow it ner I ad”.
MARCH 1925, in the column “Ower Cabin”, “Famous sayings by Famous Workmen”:
“Well ower uncle sin a fox fetch one o’ ‘is cockerels an’ watched weer ‘e burid it. When ‘e went to fetch the old hen back it wer yetting a rabbut.”
“Well, ower Gramp’s over 80, an e’s as upright as ye like, bar ‘is beard rouna ‘ere (pointing under his chin) an’ ‘e sez as old men nowerdays sits lollupin’ about in cheers an’ gets stiff, instead o’ gooin’ out for a walk o’ days, an that’s why they dies sa young.”
I’m guessing that “Ower Cabin” was the nickname for the Recreation Hut used by Brymbo workers in Hooky. The Brymbo Company made a useful income (15/- a week) from renting the hut to Oxfordshire Education Committee three days a week for about 20 weeks each year, for use as a “Practical Subjects Centre”. This arrangement lasted from 1924 to 1931 when the hut was sold. Does anyone know where this hut was located and what became of it?
John.
John Mann
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:31 am
Location: East End, Hook Norton
Top
Re: Happy Memories
by John Mann » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:45 pm
From Geoff Walton’s recollections of Hook Norton, published in the Newsletter December 2000:
“Mr Alban White, nicknamed “Stosh,” (I never found out why) was a tall thin man, a loveable village character, a philosopher, full of wise words and anecdotes and awfully fond of Hookey ale (even Hunt Edmunds would do at a pinch). He was reputed to be the man, who sitting one night in the Pear Tree when the beer was a bit “off”, said to Mr Heritage the landlord after his third pint, “Landlord, this beer’s a bit rough. I shall be glad when I’ve had enough on it.” His stories included the one when he was once called to look at a sick pig “it wus so bad I had to kill it to save it’s life”.”
Geoff’s series of articles also answers my question about the Recreation Hut. It was next to the Memorial Hall, on the left. The gate is still there.
John Mann
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:31 am
Location: East End, Hook Norton
Top
Re: Happy Memories
by john smith 777 » Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:02 pm
Don Best, former landlord at The Pear Tree was “allegedly” once asked
“Don, do thee wan tee know how to sell more ale” ??
” How’s that then”? was Don’s reply
“Fill t’ bleddy glasses up”. was the speedy retort
Stranded Swan
by Dougie » Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:31 pm
An unusual sight greeted walkers in The Bourne at lunchtime today – a magnificent but rather dejected mute swan,
stranded on the grass triangle near the post box opposite Old School End.
It’s likely that the swan mistook the shiny surface of the road, which was covered by a thin layer of water, as a
suitable landing strip. The sky was covered by white stratus cloud with small streaks of blue peeping through, so
from the air reflection could have made the road look like a canal or small river. (Two swans were similarly fooled
on the M40 near Banbury some years ago and caused a big traffic hold up before they were moved off).
No-one seems to have witnessed the Hooky landing, which probably ended up with an undignified run followed
by a painful walk onto the grass. The bird parked itself with it’s head partly buried under a wing.
Meanwhile nearby resident Chris Belcher had called the RSPCA and an officer arrived in commendably quick time.
Having checked that the swan wasn’t too badly injured he transferred it to his van, to be further examined before
being released on a local lake to recover from the shock of it’s crash landing.
D.
* Go here for history and info. on Mute Swans in the UK:-
http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandC … pping.aspx
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:57 am
Top
Re: Stranded Swan
by Dougie » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:04 am
It’s emerged that the swan’s bizarre landing was in fact witnessed by a resident of The Bourne, Gary Hicks, who was driving past the Surgery eastwards towards the Fire Station when the huge bird flew over the top of his Land Rover from behind, then partly blocked his view before disappearing below the level of the vehicle’s bonnet.
“It was a bit of a shock for me, and no doubt a more surprising one for the swan”, recalled Gary today. ” I slowed down to a crawl and it walked off in front of me to the left, over the path and onto the roadside grass. It didn”t appear to be injured but did look a bit bewildered and embarrassed” !
D.
Ghosts
Hook Norton Ghosts
by Jammy93 » Fri Jan 08, 2010 1:35 am
As a village with ancient roots, there must be ghost stories galore in and around Hooky. I’ve heard about a spooky cyclist seen coming down the hill towards Traitors Ford and a couple of other ghostly sightings in the village.
Does anyone else have any stories or spooky encounters to share?
Jammy93
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:55 pm
Top
Re: Hook Norton Ghosts
by Victoria harvey » Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:23 pm
I’m not sure what the place is called but a friend of mine once lived in the little wedge-shaped dwelling attached to the pottery (left hand side as you stand in the road and look at the pottery, adjoining the little lane). She’d heard that it was haunted by the ghost of a highwayman. One summer evening we were sure we heard ghostly bumpings and bangings and it went very cold, we felt sure there was a “something” around, but equally we could have been winding ourselves up. She rather wanted to be haunted by a highwayman!
Perhaps someone else knows of this particular ghost?
Victoria
Victoria harvey
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:34 pm
Top
Re: Hook Norton Ghosts
by Dougie » Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:35 am
“From ghoulies and ghosties and long legeddy beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us”. This chilling plea has been variously attributed to the Scots and the Cornish, but appliesequally well to Hooky folk who’ve seen ghastly things and been scared witless
Many years ago, Mr Turnock daily drove Gaddes’s bus load of Hooky workers back from the ‘Ally’ — the Northern Aluminium works in Banbury — after their shift finished at 10pm. They told of repeated ghostly sightings in Kissing Trees dip between Wigginton crossroads and Hooky ( called Kissing Trees because branches used to converge over the road to form an arch).
Chilly mist sometimes forms in that hollow when there is none either side. One November night the bus almost left the road when a ghostly apparition wafted across in front of it. Driver and front seat passengers
all saw it and over the next few weeks car drivers witnessed similar manifestations. Speculation was rife and pub humorists recommended buttock clenching as a precaution when approaching the Kissing Trees.
The mystery appeared to be solved when an intrepid late night cyclist, half way through the dip, saw a large white barn owl glide out of nearby railway embankment trees and start coursing the hedgerow, heading towards Hooky. Bright moonlight and only thin mist had revealed the silent-flying culprit.
** The youthful cyclist was me, but even after hearing of my sighting, speculation continued. I switched to coming home from the Tech College via Broughton — just in case ! ((( )))
D.
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:57 am
Top
Re: Hook Norton Ghosts
by david mcgill » Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:01 pm
Alban Clarke of HNB fame was killed after falling off his bike. However, that was on the road by Temple Mill. That’s almost parallel to the Traitor’s Ford road so could it be him?
There is supposed to be a ghost that comes through our garden. He walks in at the front and goes through the garden emerging by The Bourne. I’ve not seen him or the other we have been told about who walks round the side of the house to try and get in the non existent door – there was probably one there in his time.
david mcgill
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:15 pm
Top
Re: Hook Norton Ghosts
by Dougie » Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:45 am
Jammy93 wrote:
As a village with ancient roots, there must be ghost stories galore in and around Hooky. I’ve heard about a spooky cyclist seen coming down the hill towards Traitors Ford and a couple of other ghostly sightings in the village.
Does anyone else have any stories or spooky encounters to share?
Hello Jammy.
Please tell about your other couple of sightings —– the suspense is almost unbearable !
** The forthcoming Hooky streetlight switch-offs may produce more sightings— especially when going home after a good night out. The problem would be remembering the what where and when of the happening. ((^ ^))
D.
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:57 am
Top
Re: Hook Norton Ghosts
by Dougie » Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:36 am
david mcgill wrote:
Alban Clarke of HNB fame was killed after falling off his bike. However, that was on the road by Temple Mill. That’s almost parallel to the Traitor’s Ford road so could it be him?
There is supposed to be a ghost that comes through our garden. He walks in at the front and goes through the garden emerging by The Bourne. I’ve not seen him or the other we have been told about who walks round the side of the house to try and get in the non existent door – there was probably one there in his time.
Hi David
Intrigued by your reference to Mr Alban Clarke’s tragic bicycle accident, I sought and found his memorial stone in the bottom end of the cemetery.
It is the third one in a row of eleven large stone crosses.The inscription reads :-
“Alban Alfred Clarke. Died May 26 1917 aged 59 years.Gods Will Be Done”.
I think Mr Clarke had been part owner of the brewery. Coming in the third year of the Great War of 1914 -18, his demise would have been an additional shock to Hook Norton, which lost 32 of it’s young men in that war.
(see the Memorial Plaque in St Peters Church).
Your references to happenings near your home are interesting.. Could the two sightings be of the same ghost ?
Maybe the poor thing isn’t feeling very well and seeks medical help from the nearby Doctor’s Surgery — although an injection would be problematical !
If it’s trying get in via your non existent door it can’t be fully fit because wafting through walls is traditional for ghosts !
However we mustn’t be too be too flippant. If people became reluctant to admit “seeing something” for fear of ridicule, we could loose a fascinating part of our folklore. Ghosts are part of our national heritage and a great asset to the tourist trade.
*** Think how frustrating it would be for ghosts if nobody believed in them — as in Noel Coward’s still popular 1941 comedy play Blithe Spirit. A film was made of it in 1945. Here is a link to the section ” Introducing Madame Arcati ” :-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiFDc7OZ-f0&NR=1, and the ” BLITHE SPIRIT(1945)original trailer”, plus lots of excerpts from live performances of the play, can also be viewed on YouTube.
D.
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:57 am
Top
Re: Hook Norton Ghosts
by banburyitwizard » Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:36 pm
Hi Everybody,
I have just stumbled upon your thread about spooky things going on in and around Hooky, I can safely say I have had two very strange things happen to me.
I am a computer engineer called the Banbury IT Wizard and I frequently visit customers in and around Hooky and the two things I am going to describe to you will follow me to the grave.
The first strange thing happened on a dark night in the winter of 2008 whilst on my way back to Banbury from an appointment along the Milcomb road at the blind left hand corner after Turpins Riding School.
As I rounded the blind corner there was a man standing with his back too me in the middle of the road, I must of been driving around 50 and slammed on the brakes and closed my eyes for a split second expecting to hear a thud.
Nothing happened and as I opened my eyes nobody was there.
I turned around and went back and I never saw anybody. I only saw this man for about half a second, I can’t describe him but It really shook me up!
The second incident was a few months later at the dip in the road between Hooky and the Wigginton crossroads —
I think its called Kissing Trees.
Driving again back to Banbury I passed by the dip towards the crossroads and on the right of me in the direction of Wigginton I saw what I think was a UFO.
I pulled over and switched off my car and the air was so still with no sounds except the sheep in the field near by.
I have attached a picture which I had taken on my mobile. Sorry for the poor quality
ATTACHMENTS
hooky ufo.jpg (25.42 KiB) Viewed 5981 times
banburyitwizard
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:17 pm
Top
Re: Hook Norton Ghosts
by Jammy93 » Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:45 pm
Dougie,
My apologies for not replying sooner to your post. I just noticed the new entry to this thread, and it brought me back to read all the stories collected so far.
I’ve only really heard of two ghost sightings from ‘trusted sources’.
The first is the cyclist on the hill towards Traitors’ Ford as previously mentioned. The other is from a good friend who watched a figure of a man walk through the hosts’ dining room during a dinner party. That would have put me off staying for dessert, that’s for sure!
Jammy93
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:55 pm
Top
Re: Hook Norton Ghosts
by Victoria harvey » Tue Jun 14, 2011 10:43 pm
The first strange thing happened on a dark night in the winter of 2008 whilst on my way back to banbury from an appointment along the milcomb road at the blind left hand corner after turpins riding school.
As I rounded the blind corner there was a man standing with his back too me in the middle of the road, i must of been driving around 50 and slammed on the brakes and closed my eyes for a split second expecting to hear a thud.
Nothing happened and as I opened my eyes nobody was there.
I turned around and went back and I never saw anybody. I only saw this man for about half a second, I can’t describe him but It really shook me up!
I wonder if this is the ghost of the chap who regularly used to walk between Hook Norton and Bloxham for a night out(regrettably I can’t remember his name) and who was killed (run over) during one of his trips. I had not long moved to the village when he died but often used to have to take avoiding action on a weekend night when I was driving back from Banbury. I remember a lot of shock and sadness around the village when it happened. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to hear that he’s still making his journey on a night.
Victoria
Victoria harvey
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:34 pm
Top
Re: Hook Norton Ghosts
by thundercat1969 » Tue May 01, 2012 11:33 pm
I wonder if the chap you are refferring to was pat neville? indeed a regular visitor to the hooky pubs.
Re: Hook Norton Ghosts
by maria-freeman » Mon Nov 17, 2014 12:49 am
As a past owner of Lincoln’s Inn , in the East End , i thought I might share the fact that there was a siting of a ghostly figure within it’s stonework………
In the early hours of one morning (approximately 1:15 a.m ) a small grey figure was seen to walk across the bedroom floor towards my daughter’s cot , bend down over the cot …. and then walk out of the room again.
This same figure was also seen by a previous owner of next doors half of the building……..This had been mentioned in a letter to the new owners…..
As Lincoln’s Inn also backed onto the graveyard , I can vividly remember some nights when taking the dog out , that I would NOT go to the end of the garden as there was a sense of coldness in the air that caused me unrest……….
BANBURY FAIR IN THE 1940’s.
by Dougie » Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:37 am
Once again we welcome the start of the three day Banbury Michaelmas Fair. As usual Hookyites will spend hard earned cash being ear-bashed by loud music and hurled from pillar to post on high gravity effect rides. Afternoon is the best time for the little ones — it’s not quite so noisy and the mini roundabouts start up before the bigger rides.
The fair was a lot different in the 1940’s. In the boxing booth three darkie brothers from Leamington, Dick, Randolph and Jackie Turpin took on all comers. Huge beery labourers climbed in full of confidence, hoping to win a cash prize but usually left bloodied and subdued. ( Randi Turpin beat Sugar Ray Robinson for Middleweight Championship of The World in 1951 but after 66 winning fights his career declined and in 1966 he became depressed and shot himself ).
One favourite was The Wall of Death, a noisy spectacle of brave speedway bikers, who circled round and up and down the inside of a ramshackle circular structure. Roaring bikes held onto vertical walls by centrifugal force, belching smoke from alcohol enriched fuel, defied gravity. Behind a barely adequate metal safety barrier the coughing, eye watering patrons loved it.
Tantalizing spectacle was the Strip Tease, where three bored looking ladies, who looked about 50, strutted provocatively along a platform outside the ‘Club’. Clad in glittering figure hugging corsets and black fish net stockings, the delectable trio beckoned enticingly.
Under sixteens weren’t allowed in. Big schoolboys age-lied, then were disappointed as the gyrating lovelies gradually removed scanty garments, only to keep their interesting bits covered with ostrich feather fans.The performance climaxed, curtains were pulled across and the premises were quickly cleared ready for the next gullible intake.
Personally I got more satisfaction eating one of Miss Biddle’s Toffee Apples.
D
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:57 am
Top
Re: BANBURY FAIR IN THE 1940’s.
by Dougie » Wed Oct 15, 2014 5:14 pm
Today (Wednesday October 15th 2014) sees the start of this years’ three day Banbury Michaelmas Fair, so I had a quick walk round to compare the modern day Fair with the above memories of 60 years ago.
Most striking today is the dominance of huge new gut wrenching rides. Health and Safety Rules and the possibility of expensive litigation has resulted in prominent notices near pay booths such as ‘People with neck, back, heart or blood pressure problems, or pregnant women , should not use this ride’. There are also height restrictions to prevent small people slipping out below safety barriers.
The absence of the popular amusement emporia with their ‘Roll a Coin’ and zany, noisy Arcade Car Racing / Game of Chance attractions was noticeable. A fairground man said they had been killed off by new gambling and licensing laws and by home computer consoles.
The big ‘Galloping Horses Rodeo’ roundabout with it’s traditional old Fair Ground Organ is near Banbury Cross — appropriately opposite the Fine Lady Statue. A beautiful mini version for children near Debenhams entrance is believed to be the fair’s oldest ride. Built as a hand cranked ‘horses on chains’ roundabout in 1870, it’s been in John Rawlngs’ family ownership for three generations since 1912 and now comprises car, motor bike, steam engine, aeroplane and double decker bus models in addition to some of the original mini horses.
D.
HOOKY’S BIG AIRSHOW
by Dougie » Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:33 am
Sixty one years ago today (15th July 1953) saw the biggest RAF fly past this country has ever staged, with more than 600 aircraft flying and a 300 more lined up on the ground at the RAF Royal Review, RAF Odiham, Hampshire.
Among the six hundred were 18 Shackleton Maritime Recon. bombers, 9 from RAF St.Eval, Cornwall and 9 from RAF Ballykelly, Ireland. For two days prior to the event these planes rehearsed their timings for slotting into the aicraft stream, and their route brought them straight over Hook Norton and Banbury.
Flying at around 1500 feet these massive machines, each having four engines with contra rotating props, roared over Hooky in two closely packed formations of nine. Youngsters in the village’s Air Training Corps 2207 Squadron were enthused, windows shook and hens laid premature eggs.
Unlike last weekend’s big airshow at Fairford and this weekend’s at Farnborough, there were no aerobatic displays at Odiham, just an aerial convoy over the runway. But 640 aircraft was impressive, and considerably more than the present day RAF’s entire fleet
This Pathe News film shows the newly crowned (June 2 1953) Queen and her Duke of Edinburgh husband/consort at Odiham. Nine of the Shackletons appear 7 mins 20 seconds in (see timeline under the film ).
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/raf-coronation-review
Here’s the sound of just one Shackleton with it’s four Rolls Royce Griffon engines. Imagine 36 such engines (each with two propellers) in close formation roaring over Hooky, echoing off Oatley and South Hills, then another 36 as the second formation of nine aircraft flew over.The contra rotating props show up well in this film as the plane passes by.
D,
Village cricket in the late 1930’s
by Dougie » Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:22 am
The cricket square was in the centre of the old Park (Mr Page’s field adjacent to the railway embankment betweenthe two viaducts ) The cricket pavilion was an old Pullman railway carriage with brown and cream livery. Children fantasized that it had rolled off the line in some form of freak accident but in actual fact it must have been hauled there on a low loader, possibly pulled by a steam traction engine.
Some of the cricketers were big, powerful men and occasionally a batsman would slog one over the railway line to the far side of the embankment — no mean feat on it’s own — but even more impressive was the heavy ball that
sailed over and hit a peacefully grazing rabbit on the back of the head, killing it instantly. The kids that went to find the ball found the furry corpse, with ‘lucky’ clover still clamped in it’s jaws.
** Here’s an appropriate hit song of the era, sung by Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVdoZNxtL8k (Yes,it’s the same Bud Flanagan who sings the signature tune of the TV show ‘Dads Army’ )
At matches mums and girl friends provided sandwiches,cakes,tea and lemonade. Many of the cricket team were members of the village Fire Brigade. There was no mains water so mid week in hot dry summers they would dam up the brook near the cemetary , insert their portable petrol operated suction pump , and dressed in bulky firemens uniform with leather belts,fire axes and brass helmets, run heavy canvas hoses with brass connections and nozzles
all the way up the park bank to water the pitch.
They called it a Fire Drill and it must certainly have improved their fitness and stamina
D.
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:57 am
Top
Re: Village cricket in the late 1930’s
by Dougie » Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:23 am
Cricketers of yesteryear did not have a monopoly of powerful hitters (See above).
Recently a few lofted balls have banged down in my vicinity , adjacent to the cricket field.
I’m thinking of wearing a crash helmet when out in the garden on Sunday afternoons!
Getting back to Hooky cricket in the ‘Old’ Park, I recall how we schoolchildren would organize our own cricket matches , using stumps made from old broom handles, bats sawn and whittled from plank offcuts, and heavy rubber ‘cricket’ balls.
On one occasion, an older boy who fancied himself as a batsman came out and made great show of ‘taking guard’. He was tall for his age and we anticipated him being in all afternoon and hitting his usual big score, especially since the best available bowler was only a little lad.
Grinning, big guy faces up. Little chap sprints in and launches a belter which carries the middle stump with it. Tall Jim can’t believe his eyes, but then comes up with a typical Hooky excuse :-
” There was an ‘ole in the bat ! ”
*** For memories of Village Football in the 1930’s, viewtopic.php?f=10&t=154
D.
‘PLANE STOPPED PLAY !
by Dougie » Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:55 am
Puzzled villagers have been speculating this week as to why a World War 2 aircraft flying at very low level did a circuit of Hook Norton last Sunday, temporarily bringing the afternoon cricket match to a halt as the players waved to the crew, who could be seen waving back !
The aeroplane (which is what it would have been called in 1935 when the the type first flew) was an American Douglas DC3 , or C47 Dakota in Royal Air Force service. It appeared over the brewery, flying at an estimated 400 feet, heading towards the school.
The pilot, obviously a cricket fan, made a graceful right turn over the old viaduct pillars and Swerford Park valley, returning in a direct line over the church and cricket field. Again mutual admiration resulted in friendly waving by players and aviators!
The Dakota was from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and is thought to have been returning to it’s base at Coningsby , Lincolnshire after displaying at Colerne , Wiltshire. The prominent white stripes on wings and fuselage were painted on all allied aircraft for the D-Day invasion in June 1944, to help save them being shot down by our own fighters. (The Dakota could be mistaken for a German Heinkel bomber in the turmoil of battle).
The BBMF has two Dakotas. The one we saw is called ‘Kwitcherbitchen’ — USAF slang for ‘Quit your bitching’ .
see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFPmVAzD … =endscreen
D.
Re: White headed black bird?
by Dougie » Sun May 15, 2011 5:08 pm
When I was a nipper my dad , to whom I am indebted for my lifelong interest in wildlife,
drew my attention to a completely albino blackbird which frequented the area at the bottom
of Swerford South Hill, near the brook. Dad frequently worked in that area and the bird
had become quite tame, hopping close to pick up bits of bacon rind from dad’s lunchbox.
The bird was a true albino, with pink eyes. I have never seen one since but one with a half-
white wing has lived in the park and Watery Lane area for a couple of years. Another with
a white patch on it’s back frequents The Bourne near Old School End.
***Also witnessed at around the same time and place , a Red Squirrel, described in the
Happy Memories section of this forum at viewtopic.php?f=10&t=277&p=644#p644
Leucism (abberrant plumage)is interestingly discussed here:-
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forum … n-any.html
D.
What was that plane?
by helen f » Sat May 07, 2011 2:46 pm
Does anyone know what that grey plane with white stripes towards the rear of the fuselage was, that rumbled over the village about 2.30pm this afternoon (Sat)? It felt like it was low enough to wave at the pilot!
helen f
Posts: 44
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:04 pm
Top
Re: What was that plane?
by Dougie » Sat May 07, 2011 6:57 pm
Hi Helen! (see the question above),
The plane you saw was an American made Douglas C47 Dakota, which were also used by the RAF
for troop carrying, paratroop dropping and glider pulling in the 1940-1945 war and other wars since.
This one is famous and was on her way to display at the Abingdon Air Show. Named ‘Drag em oot’
because she was used to retrieve gliders by ‘snatching’ them from the beaches for later use, she is
owned by a Liverpool businessman and based at Liverpool Airport.
Drag em oot actually took part in the Normandy landings in World War 2 and has about thirty bullet
holes in her fuselage including a dozen or so around the cockpit.
The aeroplane is painted in the same colours as those used on the D-Day invasion of Europe.The
black and white stripes on the rear fuselage and wings were painted on all allied aircraft to minimise
the chances of them being shot down by our own over zealous gunners on ships in the channel, ground
soldiers in France, or allied fighter planes.
Dakotas have been flying since the 1930’s and some are still going strong. The first DC3 (civilian version)
service was inaugurated by American Airlines in 1936! A company called Air Atlantique, based at Coventry
(Bagington) airport run a DC3 freight service to the south coast and sometimes overfly the Hooky area at
heights not much greater than the one you saw today.
I have very happy memories of Dakotas, having made my first flight as a Hook Norton (2207 Squadron)
Air Training Corps Cadet in one (from RAF Upper Heyford), and later, in the RAF, my first parachute jump
through the side door of an already ancient Dak whose wings flapped up and down every time it hit an
air pocket !!
The Royal Air Force Memorial Flight are proud to have a much revered and hard working Dakota.
You can see it here :- http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/dakota.cfm
Doug.
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:57 am
Top
Re: What was that plane?
by emma » Mon May 09, 2011 11:17 am
Pretty full answer Doug! It flew over Bloxham several times as part of bloxfest first – and banked right over my madly waving family in a garden on the edge of the village as the pilot had spotted us on a previous turn. Very cool.
Post a reply
Search this topic…
First unread post • 9 posts • Page 1 of 1
Adders
by Patrick » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:41 pm
Adders are starting to emerge in the spring sunshine (my brother came across two basking females this week on a lunchtime walk near his workplace in Gloucestershire), but I have never heard of any definite sightings near Hooky. I would be very keen to see and hopefully photograph a local wild adder, so if anyone hears of any sightings, or knows where adders have been spotted over the years, I would love to hear from you.
Patrick
Posts: 22
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:17 pm
Top
Re: Adders
by emma » Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:27 am
Adders have been found at the allotments on Burycroft Road, and a couple of years ago I found a dead one on the sibford road out near the vets…So definate sitings in Hook Norton.
emma
Posts: 39
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:41 pm
Top
Re: Adders
by Patrick » Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:15 pm
Hi Emma,
I know that there are loads of grass snakes at the allotments thanks to all the compost heaps and nearby water, but it’s unlikely to be suitable for adders. I’d love to be proved wrong though.
I’ve been to investigate a couple of ‘adders’ in recent years — one roadkill and one in someone’s utility room in, you’ve guessed it, Adderbury, but these both turned out to be grass snakes. If anyone does find a dead adder, please let me know and take a photo if possible. Of course I’d love it if you found a live one and could photograph that at close range, but I won’t urge you to do so!
Thanks
Patrick
FOR MORE ABOUT ADDERS CLICK ON BOX 2 AT BOTTOM RIGHT OF THIS PAGE>>>>>>>>
Patrick
Posts: 22
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:17 pm
Top
Re: Adders
by jemhayward » Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:47 pm
I’ve never seem one myself, but I’ve been told by a reliable source (i.e. someone who knows a grass snake when he sees one) that they have been seen on the far side of the valley from the allotments. I doubt if there is a lot of suitable habitat for them around here.
jemhayward
Posts: 89
Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2008 3:45 pm
Top
Re: Adders
by Patrick » Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:24 pm
I started this thread over a year ago when the website was in its infancy and I suspect traffic was low, so thought I’d bring it to the top again, as this is the best time of year to see adders in numbers before they disperse. I still have seen no hard evidence that there are adders in the area, and the county recorder for reptiles tells me that most of Oxfordshire is probably an adder-free zone.
Last week I was lying by a bush on the escarpment side of the Cotswolds watching a group of male adders, when one crawled out and lay next to my arm to bask in the spring sunshine. I slowly reached for my camera, but he sensed me and slipped away. They are fascinating creatures, and I confess to becoming a bit obsessed with them. I just wish I could get my fix closer to home!
Patrick
Posts: 22
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:17 pm
Top
Re: Adders
by Dougie » Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:56 pm
Hi Patrick
When I was a youngster many years ago adders were reputed to frequent the fern and gorse heathland near the golf courses and spinney at Tadmarton Heath.
I seem to remember there were even small notices saying Beware of Adders. I wonder if golf club members have had any sightings, possibly when searching for lost balls ?
Doug
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:57 am
Top
Re: Adders
by Victoria harvey » Wed Apr 14, 2010 7:22 pm
I didn’t see the creature itself but I saw it’s mark – a very reliable Hooky resident (who very much knows his wildlife) was bitten by an adder near to Bloxham cricket pitch.
Victoria
Victoria harvey
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:34 pm
Top
Re: Adders
by Patrick » Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:19 am
Thanks. A couple of leads to follow up.
Dougie, I assume the golf courses weren’t there in those days and that the heathland was more extensive and wild…
Patrick
Posts: 22
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:17 pm
Top
Re: Adders
by Rob H » Sun May 01, 2011 3:28 pm
We have a large grass snake in the garden (eying up our newts I think…). Seems to have made itself a nice hole under bushes near the pond. At least I *think* it is a grass snake, not an adder. Will try to take a photo next time it pops up.
Rob H
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 11:34 am
Top
Village football in the late 1930’s.
by Dougie » Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:50 am
Football was played in the field now occupied by the allotments in Burycroft Lane. Most of the team were local young men made fit by manual labour. There was no covered protection for spectators, but even the worst winter weather did not deter crowds from traipsing along on foot to participate in the ribaldry, because most players were Hookyites and hence locally well known.
Opposing teams came from nearby villages. There was keen rivalry but the game was played for the fun of it and if Hooky lost, as they frequently did, the crowd would holler “typical Hooky — ‘opeless again”.
Players would reciprocate by bowing to their critics, and afterwards plod home for a wash down.
There was no mains water so it was a bowl or a galvanized tin bath,with cold or marginally heated water. ( Hot water came from a kettle hanging on a chain over the open fire).
Later they all meet in the pub or a dance at the Memorial Hall for more inter-village banter.There was no official entry fee for the game but at the end a man stood at the gate holding out his cap. Depending on how much they had enjoyed the proceedings folk would put in a tanner(sixpence)or threpenny ‘joey’, for club funds.
It’s pertinent to contrast Hooky 1st team football of 70 years ago with that of today, with it’s covered spectator stands, modern shower equipped changing rooms and posh new clubroom. Opposing teams come from as far afield as Reading, Binfield, Almondsbury and Ascott (near the racecourse). The entry fee for spectators is £5.00 ( programme inclusive) or £2.50 for concessions.
Paradoxically,despite copious effort,training, pre-match warm-ups, and the supporters’ terrifying war cry of”Up The Hooky!”, Hooky still manages quite frequently to lose ! :
For Memories of cricket in the 1930’s viewtopic.php?f=10&t=153
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:57 am
Top
Re: Village football in the late 1930’s.
by Dougie » Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:39 am
With reference to the above post, I wonder what those Hooky players of yesteryear would have made of World Cup fever !
Few if any of them would have owned a car to festoon with flags. There was no television. Highlight of Saturday evenings was listening to the football results on the “wireless” ( valve radio’s, either mains –very modern!– or battery/accumulator , with a long wire aerial strung from a post down the garden).
The scores were transferred onto Littlewoods or Vernons Pools sheets in hope of a winning line.
On bad weather Saturday afternoons , less hardy Hooky supporters would sometimes forgo watching their heroes slide about on the Burycroft field, and stay home to hear the featured First Division commentary on the BBC Home Service instead.
Each mains wireless had separate inputs for aerial and earth, the earth wire being connected to a copper rod driven into the ground.If a thunderstorm approached, the set would be switched off and unplugged, and the aerial shorted to earth via a wall mounted switch outside the house.
All wirelesses were valve driven . Transistor radios had yet to be invented. Mains sets took what seemed an age to “warm up” — a source of frustration when the first few football results were missed ! The results were copied down using a pencil stub — ball and fibre tipped pens were still far in the future . A couple of spare, sharpened pencils were close at hand in case the excited listener pressed too hard and broke the point.
Traveling abroad to watch a football match was almost unthinkable. Air travel was all by propeller driven machines, and only for the well off. (The first jet airliner (the British de Havilland Comet) made it’s first flight, to Johannesburg, on May 2nd 1952 ).
***WORLD CUP HISTORY
The first World Cup final was in Uruguay in 1930 , followed by finals at 4 year intervals ( apart from 1942 and 1946 due to World War 2). [b] Top winners of the 18 tournaments so far held are Brazil(5),Italy(4) and West Germany(3). The current holder (2010) is Spain, who in South Africa beat Netherlands 1-0 after extra time.
D.
Dougie
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:57 am