Launton Lines Issue 270 April 2023

Around the village in early spring  Left, the winning team, Owl Stretching Time, at the Tythe Barn Quiz - with the Wise Owl trophy after their narrow win on 16 March - see report on page 25. From left, Rod Fine, Emma Fleur, John Stephens, Bobby Clements, Nikki Fine, Penny Stephens Photo by Celia Evans

 Right, The Easter Bunny leaping around at the Launton School Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday 26 March. See next month’s issue for a full report.

Photo from The Friends of Launton School

 Right, from the May Day Fair in 2022, the Gypsy Cob Elsie being fed a treat by Loes at the end of a ride for two happy passengers. Elsie will be back, with the trap, for the Spring Fair at the Parish Hall from 2pm on 30 April 2023.

Photo by Matt Hill The front cover shows the celebration huddle for the Launton Under 10s Team after winning the Knock Out Cup after playing a full match and extra time. See the match report on page 8, and the centre pages (22-23) for a photo spread. Cover designed by Matt Hill.

Photo by Matt Hill

The Editor writes …

It’s feeling quite autumnal here in Cape Town - it’s 10C as I’m writing this.

A great photo of daffodills from Peter Cox on page 10, and news on pages 2, 20, and 44 of the Spring Fair at the Parish Hall, with Elsie the pony offering trap rides, all make me long for spring days.

The cover this month captures the tiredness, the relief, and the exhilaration of the Launton Under 10s team after they had won the Knockout Cup Final against Didcot Casuals Under 10s. There is a match report on page 8, and a photo spread on pages 22-23 put together by Matt Hill.

We are approaching election time: in Launton we will choose the whole of the Parish Council and one of three Cherwell District Councillors on 4 May. And for the first time people will have to show photo ID in order to vote. The Parish Clerk has written a simple guide to what this means on pages 34-35: it seems to me like revving up a JCB in order to crack a filbert - one more inheritance from “Call Me Dave” Cameron. The Wise Owl Trophy at the Tythe Barn Quiz was won by a previous winning team (pages 2 and 25). On pages 14-15 is a Q & A session with Jenni Walker about The Village Coffee Shop - a really exciting idea that I want to visit.

Please support our advertisers: they need you as much as we need them.

Robert Cornford

Launton Village Support: Contact Details Group email: village.help@launton-pc.gov.uk PHONE Numbers: 9:30am to 5:00pm

07522 231 100 - Janice | 01869 247171 - Jane Olds (Launton Parish Council) 01869 241755 - Lesley | 07921 392 201 - Abi Dowman 01869 242685 - Nick Cherry Pharmacy Runner

Launton Lines

A monthly newsletter for Launton. Published around the first of each month by the Launton Community Communications Group © 2023 Launton Lines email: launtonlines@launton.org website: https://launton.org/launton-lines/ The Launton Lines Committee 2022-23 Chair: Jon Spinage | Editors: Robert Cornford, Matt Hill | Acting Treasurer: Robert Cornford Associate Editor: Kathy Gilbert | Distribution: Shirley Johnson | Advertising: Jenni Walker Contact the Parish Council Council Clerk | Mrs Jane Olds Address | 13 Oak Close, Bicester, OX26 3XD email | clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk Phone | 07305 303889

To book the Parish Hall Contact: Joan Packer Phone: 07922 042 133 Parish Hall Committee: Christine Massey; Audrey Deeley; Lynne Harper; Joan Packer; Simon Turner; Robert Cornford

LIGHT UP A LIFE

Would you like to sponsor an evening’s floodlighting at St Mary’s Church in memory of a loved one, to give thanks for the birth of a child, or to celebrate a baptism, birthday, or wedding?

A minimum donation of £10 is suggested which can be Gift Aided.

Please contact Joan Packer on 01869 241694 by 20 April 2023 for entry in the May 2023 issue of Launton Lines.

April 19 | In special memory of our precious mother Kathleen Salmon [born April 19th 1923, died July 2nd 2002] whose 100th birthday would have fallen on April 19th.

With best love from her daughters and all the family Marion Sowler and Anthea Streeter April 23 | Sponsored by Maureen Roberts to celebrate the birthday of her father, Joseph Baker

Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 2 March 2023 at 7:30pm in Launton Parish Hall

Councillors present Mr Andrew Briant, Mrs Abigail Dowman, Mr Ed Sanders (Vice Chairman), Mrs Lesley Thompson, Mr Simon Turner (Chairman), Mrs Jaqueline Webber Apologies None In attendance The Clerk, Mrs Jane Olds; Cllr Angus Patrick (CDC); 3 members of the public East West Rail No representative was able to attend.

An additional five HGV movements are taking place on week days from Monday 20 February to Friday 28 April between the A1 Compound and Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 4

the new Station Road bridge. At the Parish Council’s request, EWR has installed a Speed Indicator Device on Bicester Road which we hope is helping to reduce the vehicle speeds along the road.

We hope that by the time you read this report, the public rights of way around the Grange Farm area will have been re-opened. The footpaths nearer the Tythe Barn have already been re-opened.

If anyone has any queries, please contact East West Rail directly at publicinformation@ewralliance.co.uk or call the 24 hour helpline at 03457 11 41 41.

Reports from District and County Councillors Councillor Patrick gave his report.

No report had been received from Councillor Corkin (OCC).

Elections The elections will take place on 4 May. The elections in Launton will be for: one of the three District Councillor seats (currently Angus Patrick)   the whole Parish Council.

CDC was still looking for Polling Clerks to work in polling stations - if you are interested in this paid position contact the Cherwell Elections Team or see their web page below: www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/11/elections/665/working-on-elections If you have moved recently, make sure you don’t lose your right to vote - there’s still time to update the Electoral Register.

The Notice of Election was published on 27 March and nominations for the Parish Council must be submitted to the Elections Team at CDC, by hand, between Tuesday 28 March and Tuesday 4 April between 10am and 4pm.

The latest briefing with all the dates and times is on the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/elections-2023/ and includes information about how to obtain nomination papers.

The qualifications to become a Parish Councillor are also on the Parish Council website. It’s great to have a broad range of ages and experience on the Council (the minimum age is 18) so if you would be interested in putting yourself forward, do contact one of the current Councillors or ask Jane Olds for more details.

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Finance The Finance Report is available on the Parish Council website.

Planning All planning applications, which include the links to Cherwell’s Planning Portal, are put on the Parish Council website when they are received (www.launton-pc.gov.uk in the Agenda and Minutes section).

If any villager has concerns or comments about a planning application, they are welcome to come along to Parish Council meetings to bring them to the attention of the meeting. Villagers are also welcome to contact Councillors or the Clerk to make comments.

Guidance on how the Parish Council is able to respond is available on the Parish Council website: https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/planningapplications Parish Hall The Architects, PCMS Design, have approached five potential contractors with a pre-qualification questionnaire and are now seeing quotations from the contractors who responded.

Contractors have made site visits and we are now waiting for the likely costs to know how much we are going to need to fundraise.

Village Spring Clean Thank you to all who came to the Spring Clean on Saturday 11 March we greatly appreciate the time and effort put in and thank you very much to the wonderful WI for their delicious refreshments - much needed on such a cold day.

Dog Bin Provision The Council will be reviewing the provision of the 11 dog bins in the village. We will be looking at which bins are popular, which are less wellused, as well as those which are proving difficult to empty and might be moved to be more useful.

OCC Tree Planting Oxfordshire County Council has been given funding for one tree per Oxfordshire parish or town.

Launton has been given an Amelanchier arborea (or common serviceberry) 'Robin Hill' which will be planted by OCC on the highway verge in Sycamore Road, half way between the bench and the entrance to The Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 6

Willows. It has been confirmed that it is unlikely that the tree roots will interfere with any underground utilities.

Advance Notice of the Annual Parish Meeting The Village Annual Parish Meeting will be on Thursday 20 April at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall. All organisations involved in the village will be invited to make a short report and all villagers are welcome to attend.

If there is anything specific you would like to add to the agenda, please let Jane Olds know by Tuesday 11 April.

This is a great opportunity to hear about what has happened in the village over the past year and to get involved with new projects and organisations.

For more information, contact Jane Olds at clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk Agenda items and dates of the next meetings The next meeting will be on Thursday 6 April in the Parish Hall, starting at 7.30pm. If you’d like to chat with a Councillor, do come along after 7.15pm.

We are trying to reduce our printing and paper use, so if you would like hard copies of the agenda or any of the meeting papers, please let the Clerk know well before the meeting.

Your local, regular and reliable The agenda and papers will be window cleaner available to view via the data Domestic and Commercial window cleaning projector during the meeting. using pure water and a Reach & Wash system.

Suggestions for agenda items for We clean:  Windows the 11 May meeting (postponed Conservatory roofs from 4 May because of the Council  Soffits and fascias elections) need to be with the Clerk   Guttering (clean and clear) by 27 April, and items for the 1  Cladding June meeting by 18 May.  Internal glass partitions  Signs If you’re not signed up to our  Solar panels mailing list to receive news from Contact us now for a free, no obligation quote the Parish Council, you can find a 01296 770005 or 07702 498 942 www.wallacewindowcleaning.co.uk sign up form at the bottom left enquiries@wallacewindowcleaning.co.uk hand menu of the Parish Council Public liability insurance website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/ Member of the Federation of Window Cleaners Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 7

Knock Out Cup Final – 4 March 2023

Launton U10s welcomed Didcot Casuals to the village for a highly anticipated game with both teams at the top of their game. The anticipation brought lots of nerves and excitement, and this was just from the spectators, parents, and coaches.

All of the players took the game in their stride and the first half saw Launton scoring early and taking the lead. However, this lead was short lived as Didcot quickly broke from their half, finding the equaliser. A lesser team could have had their confidence knocked, but not Launton.

This was the spur that was needed to change gear and push even harder.

This was rewarded with a goal minutes later and a further one just before the half time whistle.

Half time: Launton 3 – Didcot Casuals 1 With a strong start to the second half Launton managed to squeeze another goal past the Didcot keeper. This saw Launton with a strong lead of 4-1. But this success was short lived as Didcot Casuals are renowned for their ability to dig deep and come back at teams, and this is exactly what they did. Within 15 minutes three more goals were conceded by Launton. After a few changes the final whistle was blown at 4-4.

A team talk of all team talks was required, all those nerves and doubts were turned into excitement and passion. Both teams had a good first half of extra time where each team cancelled the efforts of the other, and no goals were scored. The second half started with both sets of coaches thinking the game was going to dreaded penalties. However, Launton managed to break through the Didcot defence and slipped the ball under their goalie. Didcot threw everything they had in the dying minutes, but the Launton defence and goalie stood strong denying them the chance to take the game to penalties.

Final score: Launton 5 – Didcot Casuals 4.

What a final! With both teams playing brilliantly, but Launton managing to find that little extra allowing them to lift the winning trophy at the end of the day. Well done Launton a magnificent performance from all.

The front cover of this issue shows the team huddle at the end of the match as they realise they have won, and the centre spread on pages 2223 captures the excitement of the game.

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Recent deaths in the village Launton Lines tries to record significant events in the village. We try to list births, marriages, civil partnerships, and deaths as we get information. To have a listing included, contact launtonlines@launton.org or drop a note in at 36 West End. There is no charge for such reporting.

Michael George Tams 18 January 1942 - 2 March 2023 Michael was born in a cottage at the bottom of West End. His grandparents George and Hilda Gibbard lived next door. Michael moved to Sherwood Close at the age of seven with his mother and father (Lilian and Joseph) and sister Doreen, and lived there until recently, when he went into care.

Launton Watercolour Group

The Watercolour Classes will run on April 3, 17 and 24 in the Parish Hall from 2pm. There is no class on 10 April, Easter Monday. David Meeks is the tutor. and did this plant study.

The cost is £8 per session.

If you would like to join the classes, please email the following: Paul.Ebberson@gmail.com

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Another welcome sign of spring: daffodills in full bloom.

Photo by Peter Cox

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Launton Village Players We are all very pleased to be able to tell you that we raised £7,500.00 for Nai’s House from our 2023 pantomime Hickory Dickory Dock. This is a magnificent sum, now donated to Nai’s House, a very worthwhile, and needed, local charity that supports young people with their emotional and mental health needs. Many thanks if you supported us or helped in any way; it was an amazing week and very much a team experience.

We are now winding up all the different aspects of the pantomime and also planning our next production at the moment.

Launton Village Players Welcome Evening on Sunday 16 April in The Parish Hall at 7pm.

We are a friendly bunch and welcome new members, so do come along and find out more about our summer show. We only require enthusiasm!

It will be a fun evening with a chance to learn more about LVP, meet some of us, enjoy a light-hearted quiz, hear some of our ideas for the Summer Show, sing some group songs, as well as enjoy a slice of cake and a hot drink.

Our summer show is Come Rain or Shine This will be a celebration of all the aspects of the British weather - we do love to talk about it! The show will consist of singing, dancing, music, comedy sketches, readings and a few surprises, and will be an open air production. Let’s hope the sun shines and umbrellas are not needed!

Shows will be on Saturday 15 July and Sunday 16 July at 2.30pm on each day at the Mayflower Garden Theatre at Hare Leys Farm, Launton (OX26 5AB). Tickets will be £10 for adults and £5 for children and all profits will be donated to UNICEF and the Bicester Food Bank. Tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/lvp from Sunday 30 April.

If you would like to get in touch please email us on info@launtonvillageplayers.org.uk or drop us a message via our Facebook page.

The LVP Team Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 11

St Mary’s Church Coronation Celebration Event

7 and 8 May 2023

2023

Enter our Coronation Celebration exhibition (entry is free) We are planning a display to show the King’s interests in the Church on Sunday 7 May and Monday 8 May and invite you to join us by entering, and helping us fill the Church with colour and a celebratory atmosphere.

So please join us to make St Mary’s Church Coronation Celebration an event to remember, there is still time to enter, see page 24, as the closing date is not until 21 April. We welcome entries from individuals (adults and children) or groups and societies, and are really looking forward to celebrating King Charles III’s Coronation in Launton with the community.

Your entry, which will be on display in the Church, could be about any one of

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the King’s interests and he has many, see the mind map on page 24. There is no set size or dimensions. Your entry could be a painting, a poem, a model, a photograph, flowers or any idea that shows or represents one of King Charles’ interests. We would love to have as many entries as possible. More information will follow once you have entered.

Send your entry to, or if you need more information about entries, or have any questions, please contact us by email - events@stmaryslaunton.org.uk - or post to St Mary’s Coronation Celebration, Mayflower, Hare Leys Farm, Launton OX26 5AB

Come and Visit St Mary’s Church over the Coronation weekend We do hope you will join us for a cup of tea or coffee and cake, as well as admiring all the entries which will celebrate King Charles’ Coronation and be displayed in the Church on 7 and 8 May. There will be an “All Welcome Family Service” at 11am on Sunday 7 May.

Many thanks and we look forward to seeing you!

The St Mary’s Church Coronation Celebration Team

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The Village Coffee Shop We’ve seen a lot about the opening of a coffee shop in the village which will mean that we don’t have to get into a car and go to Stratton Audley Barn or to Savoir Fare in Bicester for a good cup of coffee. So we went and talked to the founder, Jen Walker.

Here is what she told us.

Tell us about The Village Coffee Shop? It’s been a long-held dream of mine to run a coffee shop, and after months of planning, prepping, compliance, courses and (quite frankly) nagging the Landlord, Kyle from The Launton Arms … we will be opening on Monday 3 April.

When do you open? We open on Monday 3 April at 9am and will be opening on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am until 4pm, with increased opening hours if there is demand.

What food and drinks will you be offering? We will be starting with a small selection of light breakfast; toast and jams and granola and yoghurt with berries and light lunches of homemade soups and ploughman's. One of the reasons for having a small menu, initially, is to be able to offer dairy free, vegan and gluten free option for each of the menu choices.

We will also have coffees, teas, hot chocolate, and cakes, with dairy-free and gluten-free options. We want to start small and get it right rather than having a huge menu right away.

Tell us about the Chat & Natter Table The Chat & Natter table is an initiative set up to combat loneliness and is organised by The Chatty Café Scheme. A Chat & Natter table creates a space for people to talk, whether for five minutes while you drink a brew, or an hour of good conversation. We’re not trying to build friendships - just simple interactions to combat loneliness and to just maybe have a big impact on someone’s day. The focus is on bringing people of all ages and from all walks of life together. One, or more of our tables will have a special Chat & Natter sign so if you are happy for company, choose that table.

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What is the Invisible Cake all about? You buy a piece of ‘invisible’ cake and all the proceeds get donated to Bicester Food Bank - 0% fat for you - 100% to charity!

What else are you offering? Many, many things … To start with we’re offering a drop off and collection point for Refills By Beez the local household zero waste refill company ... Then there’s good WiFi for people wanting to come and work from the coffee shop … And a Book Bank where you can swop or take a book … And a Loyalty Card for hot drinks … And workshops where you can learn a new craft … And a small retail space to support small businesses.

We are all about supporting the community and local business.

Wherever possible we have chosen local, fair-trade, sustainable, rainforest alliance certified suppliers including The Blue Texel, Refills

By Beez, Ma’amalady, The Cake House …

What coffees, teas and milks will you have on your menu? We will be offering the standard coffee shop menu of Espresso, Latte, Cappuccino, and Americano, and Decaf coffees. There will be a selection of teas along with hot chocolate, and cold drinks. For milk we will have cows’ milk, and as alternatives oat milk and soya milk.

Do you welcome dogs? Yes - and their owners - as long as both are well behaved.

So, with the Coffee Shop opening during the day, does this mean that The Launton Arms will be open as a pub in the evenings?

Yes. The Launton Arms, which is a separate entity to The Village Coffee Shop, will be reopening soon.

And, finally, do you have a message for Launton Lines readers?

This is a new venture for us and we won’t get everything right straight away, so please speak to us if you have any suggestions.

We’ll see you at The Village Coffee Shop Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 15

Launton WI Meeting March 2023

Our March meeting was our AGM and marked our first full year of face-to-face meetings since Covid.

The past year has seen an interesting and varied programme including pasta-making, a visit to Preston Bissett nursery, talks on the homeless of Oxfordshire, women of Oxfordshire and the life and loves of the taxi driver poet.

Our committee for the coming year was elected, with Gaye Cornford remaining as President, Hilary Bradshaw as Secretary and Cathy Procopiou as Treasurer. Helen Aris, Pat Court, Chris Marsden, Sherie Parrot and Eleanor Shakespeare all remain as committee members.

Each month we meet for a walk and a lunch, mostly local, but we have also ventured to Thrup for Annie’s Cafe and a stroll along the canal.

Our 2023 - 24 programme is at print currently and includes more visits and talks for our meetings.

We meet on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in Launton Parish Hall. A first visit is free, then membership is paid annually.

April is our birthday meeting with a fish and chip supper on Thursday 13 April. If you would Heating & Plumbing Services like to join us, please email or phone to order your meal.

Installation - Maintenance - Servicing Otherwise, pop along to our following meeting on 11 May Domestic Oil when we will be considering the Resolutions for the national Natural Gas Annual Meeting.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) We look forward to seeing you.

Contact us either at our email box launtonwi@oxfordshirewi.co.uk or phone Hilary on 01869 2419890

Simon Nash

07483 864 571

Joan Packer

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Dog Bin Provision in the Village

As you will have read in the Parish Council report (see page 6), we are currently reviewing the provision of dog bins in the village. This has been prompted by the number of times bins have been overflowing, but also to make sure that all the bins are in the right place.

The CDC team believes that a contributing factor to the full bins is that they are being used by some to deposit their residential garden dog waste often in large bags. These large bags then fill the bins making them unusable for the dog walkers of the village when they are out and about - as well as making it difficult for the waste operator to empty.

We would be very grateful if villagers could use their own green household rubbish bins for their general residential dog waste so that the bins are available for all the regular dog walkers.

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News from St Mary’s Church Services and Events in April 2023

You are most welcome to join the April Services and Events listed here.

All except 6 and 30 April are in St Mary’s

Services

2 April

8.00am BCP Holy Communion 11.00am Family Service for Palm Sunday - all welcome 6 April 7.30pm Maunday Thursday - Watch at St Peter’s, Bucknell 7 April 2.00pm Last Hour Led Reflection for Good Friday 8 April 3.00pm Invitation to hear The Easter Story while assembling the Easter Garden at St Mary’s 9 April 11.00am Holy Communion for Easter Day 16 April 11.00am Morning Prayer 23 April 11.00am Holy Communion 30 April 6.00pm Team Evensong at St Peter’s, Bucknell Please check on the Facebook page for St Mary’s Church for the latest information or contact one of the Churchwardens at St Mary’s Joan Packer j.packer779@btinternet.com 01869 241694 Celia Manderson celiamanderson@aol.com 01869 571735   

The Community Café closes at 4.30pm on Tuesday 4 April and reopens on Tuesday 18 April at 9.00am.

Do come and join us then!

The Café is open every Tuesday during school term time.   

Please see the details of our planned Coronation Celebrations appearing throughout this issue of Launton Lines.

It should be a great weekend in honour of such an historic event.

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School Report: World Book Day 2023

This was a very exciting day for all of us at Launton School. We were asked to choose a favourite book to bring to school. Some of us brought more than one. We talked about our chosen book to the others in our class and explained why we had chosen it.

We think that the most popular writer is David Walliams as there were many of his books brought into school. Here are the names of some of the books we chose with the names of the authors as well.

Dragon Rising by Katie and Kevin Tsang The BFG by Roald Dahl Bunny Monkey by Jamie Smart The Demon Dentist by David Walliams Our teacher asked us to make a finger puppet of a character from our chosen book and we all enjoyed that task. One of us spent too long on creating the background in a box and then they did not have enough time to finish their puppet.

Our books and puppets were displayed in the hall for everyone in the school to see. Some are on page 21, opposite.

In the afternoon we went into Forest Groups with children from different classes from all over the school. We read in small groups which was fun. It is called shared reading. Working with older and younger children is different to being with the children in your own class.

We enjoyed the day because we love reading books. We will have to wait for one day less than a year for the next World Book Day and we are already looking forward to it.

Evan, Millie, Sophia and Thomas, Year 3 Launton School

STOP PRESS * STOP PRESS * STOP PRESS We have just had confirmation that Elsie The Gypsy Cob Pony and her trap, with Loes, will be offering rides at The Spring Fair on Sunday 30 April at The Parish Hall from 2pm.

Look forward to seeing you then!

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World Book Day: Some of our books and finger puppets

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2023

St Mary’s Church Coronation Celebration 7 and 8 May 2023 FREE TO ENTER

Entry closing date: Friday 21 April 2023 Your display can be based on King Charles III’s interests (see mind map below for ideas).

It can include flowers, models, pictures, poems, toys etc. or simply be just one item.

Displays on show in St Mary’s Church on Sunday 7 May 12.30pm until 4.30pm and Monday 8 May 10.30am until 4.30pm Please return this entry form to either of the following By email: events@stmaryslaunton.org.uk By post: St Mary’s Coronation Celebration, Mayflower, Hare Leys Farm, Launton OX26 5AB Phone: 07884 135 994

....................................................................................

Contact address: ...................................................................................

Postcode: ............. Contact email: .........................................................

Contact name:

By filling in this entry form you are agreeing to the following:  Your details being held for the duration of this event  Official photos to be taken of your display

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The 4th Grand Tythe Barn Quiz raises money for FoLPH and St Mary’s Church

After a break of three years, the Tythe Barn Quiz returned on Thursday 16 March 2023, three years after the 2020 Quiz had to be postponed for Covid.

Seventy four people gathered in the Barn to compete for the Wise Owl Trophy. The questions were set by Chris Frost, assisted with the Barn’s technology on the night by Jon Spinage, who also kept count of the scores.

Chris’ questions were a feature of the show: one participant said, “Questions covered many subjects and ranged from the quite straightforward to the, shall we say, niche. I wonder if any team was able to recognize the names of the knights who murdered Thomas a Becket?” (They were Reginald FitzUrse, William de Tracy, Richard Brito and Hugh de Morville).

Launton’s bakers shone with fifteen cakes - so many donations that an informal sell-off raised £38.55 towards the final funds. A team member said, “there was more than enough cake to feed not only the attendees on the evening, but the whole of Launton too.”

In a very tight finish, team Owl Stretching Time beat team Unholy Alliance by a single point to retain the Wise Owl trophy: final scores were 95 and 94 out of a possible 120. Page 2 has a photo of the winning team with their unique trophy.

The total raised was £778.55: after some thank-you expenses there was a total of £388.55 paid out to each of The Friends of Launton Parish Hall and to St Mary’s Church.

There was no charge for the venue (many thanks to Will and Emma Deeley, and the Barn staff), and for many the setting was a highpoint of the evening. One person said on leaving “It’s been a great evening with a lovely atmosphere, and overall a great success.”

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A Vet’s Voice: A Corny Tale

Sidney is an active 4 year old Whippet who had become lame on his left front leg over the covid lockdown of 2020. At the time there had been some grit and a small wound in his toe pad which was investigated under anaesthesia with the offending abnormal tissue cut away. However, the problem didn’t entirely resolve and Sidney represented to us a number of times subsequently.

What eventuated was that Sidney had developed an abnormal growth of tissue in his front pad known as a “corn”. Corns are painful to touch and also to walk on, especially on hard ground or gravel. A traditional approach to this problem is to cut the corn away which we did again, and subsequently a specialist did the same. Whilst this approach has worked in many dogs over the years, it isn’t always successful and sadly, it didn’t work for Sidney.

The theory is that the corn can develop as a result of abnormal pressures on the pad when walking, so in recurrent cases a modification of the anatomy can be performed to change the points of pressure on the pad.

So in January this year Vet Cliff Maw performed a superficial digital flexor tenotomy. This means that he operated to find the specific tendon which causes flexion of the toe joint on the affected digit. He then cut a section out of the tendon so that it no longer had the ability to flex that toe.

The result is that the affected toe now sits a little differently when Sidney is standing and so pressure is transferred to another area of the pad. The area of the pad with the corn, which no longer has the pressure it once had, can now start to resolve and in time we hope that the corn will “grow out” and fall off.

I’m pleased to report that Sidney’s owner noted an instant improvement in Sidney’s long term lameness. He could walk soundly very soon after the Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 26

operation and 8 weeks later the corn loosened and came away from the pad. If you look hard at Sidney’s foot, you can

see that this particular toe sits slightly different to the others but that’s a small price to pay for curing his chronically sore toe.

Enjoy your pets, Jason Williams Bicester Vets

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Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 27

The Village Spring Clean in Action On 11 March, on a cold morning, villagers young and not-so-young set out from the Hall with litter-pickers for the Spring Clean then returned for tea and cakes.

Photos by Lesley Thompson and Jane Olds

Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 28

Village Spring Clean

The weather was kind to us for the annual Launton litter pick as the threat of

rain disappeared and we all stayed dry.

The Parish Council would like to thank the people who came along to help and a huge thank you to the Launton WI for the delicious tea and cakes. See photos on page 28, opposite.

Despite there not being quite as many volunteers as last year, a lot of rubbish was collected. Unfortunately, though, several areas did not get done. These included West End, much of Station Road, The Glades, Blenheim Drive and the new Launton Mews development including Beech Road.

If anyone would like to borrow a litter picker and hi-vis jacket from the Parish Council to help when they have some spare time, please do get in touch with the Clerk - 07305 303889 - although sadly, we can’t promise cake at the end of your pick.

Launton Parish Council News from the Playing Field and the Sports and Social Club We had heard that there were plans for events over Coronation weekend on the Playing Fields, so we asked Dave Barrett from the LPFA/LSSC for information.

“We’ve no current plans for the Coronation weekend as we have a long-standing 60th birthday booking for the Hall on 6 May. The party booking means we have to clean up the following morning, and we have a regular booking on the Monday which, as yet, hasn’t cancelled. So we can’t put on anything over the long weekend.

However, we ARE having a family day for the village on Saturday 3 June.

More details will follow but there will be fun and games on the field, raffle, tombola, food van, several real ales and live music in the evening.

Before that we have another family bingo night on Saturday 8 April. This was hugely popular in December and there have been a lot of requests for a repeat.

We also have Queenergy performing on July 15 after the Hummingbird Fete.

They are an excellent Queen tribute band and tickets will be on sale soon.

With many new residents in the village we keep reminding people that the Sports and Social is NOT a members club, and hasn’t been for many years. It is open to all. Drinks prices are still held at 2020 levels with wine and most beers at £3.50. We have large screen TVs in the bar, and feature major sporting events.

Finally, in 2024 we will be celebrating 50 years of the Clubhouse being fully open and are planning a lot of events throughout the year.”

Dave Barrett Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 29

150 Years Ago from The Bicester Herald April 1873

11 April PETTY SESSIONS. Drunk and Disorderly at Launton Ann Smith, an itinerant vendor of caps, etc, a native of London, was brought up in custody, on remand from the previous Tuesday, charged with having been drunk and riotous at Launton on 31 March. The case was sustained by the parish constable, Mr John Hazell, and PC Stockford, who both saw the woman in a state of beastly intoxication, and stated that on taking her into custody, she refused to walk, they were obliged to obtain a cart to take her to the lock-up at Bicester. The defendant, a diminutive woman in stature, with a wooden leg, said she was bred and born in London, where her father worked for Messrs. Cubitt, the builders, for eight and twenty years, as a plumber and glazier. She and the man she lived with lost their legs together in a factory in Bristol. She was not drunk on the day in question. The mud was so thick that she kept sticking and could not get along. In default of paying fine and costs 12s, the prisoner was committed to gaol for seven days, having been confined in the Bicester lock-up since April 1. It was stated she and the man she was travelling with had been convicted at Bicester in the name of Penworden.

LAUNTON READING ROOM is to be closed for the summer months after Saturday next, April 12.

18 April A CRICKET CLUB at Launton is organised.

Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 30

St Mary’s Church Coronation Celebration 7 and 8 May 2023

2023

Which hymn(s) would you like for the Coronation Service on Sunday 7 May? (we’ll do our best but can’t guarantee to include them all)

1 .............................................................................................................

2 .............................................................................................................

3 .............................................................................................................

Please return your suggestions to Celia Manderson: email: celiamanderson@aol.com post/drop off: The Lodge, 8 West End, Launton OX26 5DB Grange Mews News April 2023

Commercial Offices, Industrial Units and Storage for Lease

The Public Right of Way (alias footpath) from Station Road to the new footbridge across the railway-line-to-be was officially opened this month after OCC agreement. The access from Station Road has now flooded for the fourth time this year.

The pre-early-April-showers have provided a welcome to Wellington-shod walkers at all

times.

We let offices and industrial space and can be found at pacox@grangemews.co.uk and our website www.grangemews.co.uk Phone 01869 252846 or 07711 778 230

Launton Footpath News

As reported elsewhere the last few paths closed because of the East West rail works are now passable with changed routes. The path from Station Road to the new footbridge is completely new where no right of way existed previously. The entrance to this path is about 100 yards beyond the village boundary and beyond any pavement, care should be taken when trying use this path as there is no alternative but to walk in the road. The alternative access to the footbridge is via a path by the playground at the end of Yew Tree road. The picture shows the new entrance which is somewhat prone to flooding mainly because the ditches on the other side of Station Road are blocked.

North of the bridge gaps have been made in the secondary fencing so it is not necessary to walk in the field to access the paths that stretch away from the railway to the north. There are posts with way markers to indicate where these paths run.

As yet we have not received formal notification that work is complete and that OCC are happy with them so it may be that EWR have some final details to finish off.

A tree that was partially blocking a path near the allotments roundabout has been cleared at our request. This was done a week after we requested it which is a good response time for this kind of job.

We will be attending a Footpath Warden training day shortly which will give us an opportunity learn more about the many legal details surrounding public rights of way, landowner’s obligations, permissive paths and other mysteries concerning public access to the countryside.

Our main task in the coming month will be to walk the paths north of the footbridge which have seen little use over the last couple of years to check on bramble growth, signage and any other repairs which may be necessary. Anybody who would like to help with this is more than welcome to join us, just contact lesley.thompson@launton-pc.gov.uk Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 32

Friends of Island Pond Wood Ltd AGM – 16 March 2023 The 8th Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Island Pond Wood Ltd was held on 16 March 2023 in Launton Parish Hall at 7:30 pm. As last year, there was an excellent turn out of members, with 20 people attending.

Rob Dowman, FIPW Ltd Chair, presented highlights from the 2022-23 Annual Report, which had been an extremely busy year in the woodland.

Rob talked through many of the grant applications and projects, including: the new Information Board, creation of the Quiet Area, new footpaths, coppicing work, education boards, and new benches. He also shared project plans for 2023-24 - a new disability gate, replacement pond bench; then went through recent changes to Board positions and committee members.

Richard Peverell, FIPW Fishing Bailiff, provided a written report read out to the meeting. Richard reported that 18 villagers had Fishing Permits, that the pond was in good order and well stocked, with Carp, Tench, Roach and Perch. If other villagers would like to fish, apply to Richard for a permit.

Chloe Bradford, FIPW Ltd Friends and Family Committee Chair, provided feedback on the many work sessions (14 in total) and very successful events (3) that had taken place during the year. Chloe also provided information on the various work sessions, projects and events planned for 2023-24.

Details of these will be highlighted in Launton Lines and Facebook over the year. We had 112 members in 2022-23 and it’s now time for membership renewal for 2023-24, and the membership fee would remain at £10 for 2023-24. There was the opportunity to pay membership fees at the AGM by card. It was agreed at the meeting that membership cards would no longer be produced to save cost.

Liz Turvey, FIPW Ltd Treasurer, highlighted income and expenditure for 2022-23. As many big projects had gone ahead over the year, expenditure was higher than in recent years (especially during Covid), but the finances for the woodland remained in a very healthy state. Thanks were offered to EWR, TOE and Launton Parish Council for their generous grants.

There was an opportunity for questions, but the only response was a vote of thanks proposed by Lesley Thompson for the continued hard work of the FIPW team.

The next Friends of Island Pond Wood Ltd AGM will be on 14 March 2024 at 7:30 pm in Launton Parish Hall.

Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 33

Voter ID requirement for elections

From the elections on 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections.

This will apply to:   Local elections Recall petitions Police and Crime and from October 2023 it will   Commissioner elections also apply to UK General elections.

UK parliamentary by elections Accepted forms of photo ID include:  a passport;  a blue disabled person’s badge;  a UK driving licence; an older person’s bus pass.  However these don’t have to be current - as long as the photograph still looks like you.

The full list of accepted forms of photo ID is available on the Electoral

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Commission’s website at https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-ama/voter/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id If you don’t have any form of photo ID, then you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a “Voter Authority Certificate” via the Government’s website at https://www.gov.uk/apply-forphoto-id-voter-authority-certificate.

If you don’t have access to the internet, the Clerk has some printed copies of the form which she will be happy to deliver - just call the Parish Council mobile number 07305 303889.

The deadline for applying for the ‘VAC’ is 25 April.

There is also a special Electoral Commission helpline: 0800 328 0280 Postal votes are not affected by this requirement, but if you would like a postal vote you need to have registered by Tuesday 18 April. The Clerk also has copies of the form to apply for a postal vote.

Don’t lose your vote!

We are looking for energetic, hardworking bar staff to join our team for the busy event season.

Tythe is a stunning events venue only available on an exclusive hire basis, located at Manor Farm and within walking distance of Launton village.

We are a family-owned business and have created a venue which embodies our high standards for attention to detail and desire for quality and professionalism.

We want all our employees to feel part of the team and to be part of the family.

Responsibilities: As a member of the team, you will be required to uphold the high standards of the venue by demonstrating excellent customer service skills, attention to detail, a good work ethic, and always working to 100% of your ability.

We’re looking for people who are proactive in their duties and can take ownership in their work.

You will produce delicious drinks to specification, and be trained with our point-of-sale system and our PDQ machines.

Previous experience is preferred, but driven candidates with the willingness to learn will be provided with all necessary training to thrive.

Schedule: Day Shifts | Night Shifts | Weekend Shifts Benefits include: Flexitime working | Free on-site parking Contact: Luke Nobes - Bar Manager 01869 321442 luke@thetythebarn.co.uk

Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 35

A Double Rainbow over West End on 24 March

Double rainbows are not common, and offer double the chance of finding treasure but in Launton there will be potholes at the end of both bows.

This photo was taken by Ian Jones and sums up the spring weather we’ve been enjoying.

House maintenance   Repointing  Internal and external decorations Patios  Decking  Fencing  For a personal service, call Peter N Southam 01869 278333 07721 633 220 peteroofer@aol.com

The Heart of Mothering : Baby Wellness offers a range of parent and baby wellness classes from pregnancy to toddlerhood.

Courses available include baby massage, baby yoga, tummy time, developmental play, antenatal mothers’ circle, and a monthly dad’s workshop.

Classes are kept small and 100% baby led, with a focus on BOTH Mum/Parent and Baby.

These classes are taught at the Bicester East Community Centre by Metasha, a fully-qualified and insured baby wellness practitioner, and mum of 7.

Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 36

Launton Historical Society - March 2023

Dr Christopher Young spoke to us in February about the memorials in St Edburg’s church in Bicester - Churches have Memories. Christopher was in a cheerful mood for the evening: he likes the monuments and memorials because they tell us about people, across the ages. He confessed to studying them during some sermons. The memorials take many different forms - brasses, monuments, wood … over 100 types. And there are fashions and style changes - in the 16th and 17th Centuries, brasses were popular and they enjoyed a renaissance in the late 19th century up to the present day.

Stone memorials have had a steady popularity over the years. The most recent stone memorial in the Church is for the last of the Coker family living in Bicester House. A beautiful sculpture, it’s by the chancel arch, but it’s hard to see as it is so low down. There are many memorials to the Cokers, with cleaner lines in more recent times. Stained glass memorial windows haven’t been long lasting - the mediaeval windows departed in 1745 when lightning struck and blew them out.

People were still being buried in the church in the 1830s. Sarah Kendall had a wooden memorial dated 11 July 1803: she was buried under a pew which says ‘Under this seat lieth the body…’ In the 1850s, Burial Acts banned burials in the church.

There was a wholesale restoration of the church in 1862 and some memorials did not survive. The memorial to Sir Edward Turner, of Ambrosden, and his wife Cassandra, did survive - the Page Turner family were still around to check - but was moved to the vestry. Cassandra was posh, so her ancestry featured on the memorial.

The idea of memorials goes back a long way - the tombstone of a Roman soldier was excavated at the Alchester fort. The Church was used to remember people in the same way as cemeteries do now. Some memorials are linked to gifts to the Church. A wealth of information indicates the importance of the person.

Skulls and cherubs are popular features of designs, some rather grandiose.

Sir Thomas Grantham, from Bicester, was in the King’s service - Charles II and James II. His heirs put up a grand monument in Latin, a skull Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 37

with wings, made by a Flemish sculptor. On other memorials, a flaming torch (an old school sign) was shown upside down to indicate the death of the person.

In more recent years, the trend has been for people to donate useful things in memory of their loved ones, rather than wall memorials.

Not so dramatic, but much welcomed.

The talk about memorials had a touch of fond humour - thank you Christopher.

Our March meeting (over by the time you read this) is Can Onions Cure Earache? when Melanie King will tell us about medicinal remedies in the 1700s. After that, in April, we’ll hear Cotswold Cornucopia with Sean Callery as our speaker. All are welcome, especially if you are new to the village and want to find out more about your new home.

We meet at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall on the last Thursday of the month. Tea, coffee and wine can be had, if you fancy them.

Gwen Skinner

Memories of an ex-Launton Boy This month the ex-Launton Boy starts recounting a regimental boxing tournament he attended earlier in March for which he dressed formally. This leads him to muse on the decline in “proper” dress, to remember the rules that he and brother Cliff were brought up to in the 1950s. Then he recalls women’s dress and style in the same period - and so to Flossie Barratt who was “as old as Methuselah” but always dressed up to the nines. In our memories we can return to a better time!

On Tuesday 7 March this year I had the privilege of attending an interregimental boxing tournament, with the boxers being mainly serving members of the Corps of Royal Engineers. It was conducted in the most spectacular and professional style, there being a total of twelve bouts of three by two minute rounds. It really was quite a show and the boxers gave it 110%.

I mention this because by way of contrast, by that I mean, what some on the one hand might call a brutal sport (despite the Queensbury Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 38

Rules), on the other hand, the audience of mostly, though not exclusively, military personnel were dressed in their very best attire.

The junior ranks were in their best parade dress whilst the senior NCO’s and Commissioned Officers were dressed in their best Mess dress of red tunics and black trousers with red seam stripes. Along with my dozen hand-picked veterans I was attired in dinner suit and black bow tie. VIP guests were similarly attired, apart from our Tory MP whose shoes I swear have never been introduced to shoe polish.

It is not often I have occasion to wear a dinner suit, but when the opportunity arises, it is quite nice to dress up. Indeed, I endeavour to perpetuate the ways in which I was raised as a boy in Launton back in the 1950’s and 60’s in that, on Sundays when with my wife Julie I attend church, I sport trousers with razor-sharp creases, shirt collar and tie and a sports jacket or blazer. My shoes are highly polished; as far as our parents were concerned it would never have done for me or my brother, Cliff, to venture out on a Sunday wearing unpolished shoes.

And then I look back to those days when women in Launton would not go out of the house to do shopping without first making sure they looked presentable by brushing or combing their hair and putting on a touch of rouge to their cheeks and a dab of lipstick to accentuate the beauty of their smiles.

Back in the 1950’s / 60’s summers, during the speedway season when coach-loads of supporters would turn up at Sandy Lane in Cowley, Oxford, the home of the Oxford Cheetahs, where as the speedway bikes broadsided round the track bends in full throttle with shale and dust flying everywhere, most of the women supporters, my mum included, would really make an effort to be smartly turned out. Faces made up, hair beautifully coiffured often wearing either a silk or chiffon scarf and smelling delicious with their gorgeous perfume. Even as a ten year old boy in short trousers, apart from eagerly looking forward each week to the next tremendous speedway event, I just as much looked forward to sitting close-to to some of the young women on the coach and drinking in their beauty. Very early on I understood what Maurice Chevalier meant in that famous song, ‘Thank Heaven’.

Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 39

I’m not sure why or how things took a turn as far as personal pride and care seemed almost overnight to disappear out of the window. Walk through any High Street these days and when you actually manage to see men wearing a suit, they more often than not look as if they have slept in it, where instead of the trousers having razor-sharp creases, they are simply all creased up and the shoes look as if they have never seen a brush, never any polish.

I know money is tight for many at the moment, but this ‘couldn’t care less how I look’ phenomenon had made its’ presence known long before the banking crisis of 2010, so what’s the excuse or reason?

When I walk through Chatham or Gillingham High Streets these days, instead of the beautifully intoxicating whiff of perfume when women pass by, I get a strong scent of stale, not properly dried and aired or ironed clothing, or stale cigarette smoke or just plain unwashed body sweat, looking like bags of potatoes tied-up in the middle.

I now find it embarrassing when I walk into a cafe to be told by the woman behind the counter that I look exceptionally smart, as if I were a bit of an oddball in today’s society.

I will never forget old Flossie Barratt who lived in one of Sharpe’s Cottages in Station Road, Launton, before they were modernised. She was as old as Methuselah with a wrinkled and lined face like a road map of Britain, but when she turned up (most nights of the week) for an evening at the Bull to take up her usual stool at the corner of the bar, she would be dressed up to the nines looking very smart indeed with her facial make-up on and wearing a delightful perfume. She was one heck of a character and she used to really make an effort that would put many of today’s people to shame.

All that said, there are some individuals, not so very young, who have an inclination to go over the top somewhat when it comes to applying make-up in an unsuccessful attempt to look maybe thirty years or so younger than their actual age. It puts one in mind of Bette Davis in the film ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane’.

Am I being cruel and unkind? I don’t mean to be, it’s just that I do very much miss that era when people made an effort over their personal Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 40

appearance, both male and female.

I was very saddened to read in last month’s publication of the recent deaths of people whom I well remember from my childhood and youth in Launton and in particular Barbara Jeffries (nee Jeacock) of the ‘Razzle’ Jeacock family to whom I was distantly related. I remember as a young lad, although I do not recall the occasion, when my mum and dad rolled back the carpet in the front room for the purpose of dancing and Barbara was there. I believe at the time she was pregnant with Peter. She was always a good-time girl with a great sense of humour. I believe I last time I saw her to speak to was at the Launton Fete before lock-down. A larger-than-life character in the village, I am sure she will be sorely missed by many. I offer my somewhat belated condolences to the family.

And then there was Mrs. Cannon whom I thought would go on forever. She was another of the stalwarts of the village, whom I am sure will be very much missed, not only by Shirley and ‘Pop’.

I send my condolences to all who have been recently bereaved in the village. May your departed loved-ones rest in peace and rise in glory.

When I look back, there are so very many people from the village I knew throughout my childhood and my youth who are no longer with us, many of whom I remember fondly and some of whom not quite so but who nevertheless lived and made the village what it once was all those years ago. If I dwell on it for too long, I find myself getting rather depressed and hankering somewhat for the past. Sometimes so much so that I often find myself trying to reach back to those days in repetitive dreams I have at night. Like so many of us I am sure, I would like to go back and in so doing, there is much I would do differently with hindsight. Life is full of cross-roads we constantly encounter and in each and every case, we can choose to turn left or right or go straight ahead, but we can never go back, other than of course, nostalgically in our thoughts and memories.

Keep healthy and stay SAFE! Tony Jeacock MInstRE | The ex-Launton Boy | April 2023 Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 41

Diary Dates: April 2023

In the current situation, it is difficult to be specific about village events. Listed are those we know are planned - but check with organisers nearer the date if you plan to attend.

APRIL 2023 Saturday 1 Did you remember to put your clocks forward last Sunday?

Sunday 2 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family Service FOR Palm Sunday , 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 3 Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 4 Rubbish Collection: garbage bin | No Community Café today as School holiday | Thursday 6 Parish Council Meeting, Public Session 7.15pm, Council Meeting 7.30pm, Parish Hall | St Peter's Church Bucknell, Maunday Thursday - Watch, 7,30pm Friday 7 Good Friday | St Mary's Church, Last Hour Led Reflection for Good Friday, 2pm Saturday 8 Easter Saturday | St Mary's Church, Hear the Easter Story while assembling the Easter Garden, 3.00pm | Family Bingo at The Sports and Social Hall, from 7.30pm Sunday 9 Easter Sunday | St Mary's Church, Holy Communion for Easter Day, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 10 Easter Monday | No Watercolour Art Class today Tuesday 11 Rubbish Collection: recycling and garden bins | No Community Café today as School holiday | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday 12 Over 60s Club Meeting, Easter Lunch, Sports and Social Hall, starts at 12.30pm with bar open, ends about 3.30pm.

Thursday 13 WI Meeting: Our Birthday Celebration, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Friday 14 SCOTS Meeting, The Bull, from 5.30pm Sunday 16 St Mary's Church, Morning Prayer, 11am | Launton Village Players Welcome Evening for 2023 Summer Show, Parish Hall, 7pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 17 Back to School, Summer Term starts | Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 18 Rubbish Collection: garbage bin | Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30pm-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Thursday 20 FINAL DATE FOR COPY FOR THE MAY 2023 ISSUE OF LAUNTON LINES: SUBMIT TO launtonlines@launton.org Friday 21 Fun Charity Quiz Night in aid of Stand Up to Cancer, Sports and Social Hall, 7.30pm Sunday 23 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 24 Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 25 Rubbish Collection: recycling and garden bins | Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am11am; 2.30pm-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday 26 Over 60s Club Meeting, Sports and Social Hall, starts at 1.45pm, ends about 3.30pm Thursday 27 Launton Historical Society, Sean Gallery on A Cotswold Cornucopia, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Sunday 30 Spring Fair at The Parish Hall with Pony and Trap rides, 2pm | Team Evensong at St Peter's Bucknell, 6pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm | Tickets go on sale for the Village Players Summer Show from www.ticketsource.co.uk/lvp Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 42

Rais

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L r o f ds

ol o h c S n o t aun

Launton Lines April 2023 | Page 43

Launton Lines is the newsletter for Launton It is published monthly by the Launton Community Communications Group which also manages the Launton website www.launton.org and the Launton Village Facebook Page and Group www.facebook.com/launtonvillage Launton Lines is delivered free to every address in the village. It is funded by advertisers and Launton Parish Council.

Further print copies are available at £1.00 per copy from Shirley Johnson (01869 369269) Launton Lines is also available online from January 2020 on www.issuu.com © MMXXIII Launton Lines. We reserve the right to edit articles submitted for inclusion.

Neither the Committee nor the Editors are responsible for views expressed in readers’ contributions.