Launton Lines Issue 266 December 2022

Remembrance Day in Launton

About a hundred villagers and a group of Year 6 children from the school (see page 36) gathered at the war memorial on Bicester Road on 11 November (top photo) for the two-minute silence at 11am, and a short service lead by Colin Cockshaw, a Licenced Lay Reader (middle photo, with John Stephens who read “They shall not grow old”). There was a fine display of medals (bottom right) on veteran Gareth Jones from Blenheim Drive.

The front cover shows Chris Clark (Launton FC Chairman and joint U10s Coach with Paul Bedding) fixing a poppy arm band to Alfie Pickering before the U10s game. Cover designed by Matt Hill. Photo by Matt Hill

The Editor writes …

Another year is nearly over - Christmas is nearly upon us and there are still flowers in the garden. And we are on the third Prime Minister and the second monarch - it has certainly been an interesting year.

The front cover combines two themes - Remembrance and Poppy Day, and football and the World Cup. Many thanks to Matt Hill for the photo that seamlessly combines the two.

We are beginning to see the end of the impact of East West Rail on the village: as they move out of their compounds we report the donation of 90 tonnes of crushed stone to the Island Pond Wood (page 33) for building a full access path round the site. And following the theme of Remembrance Day there is a report from some Year 6 pupils (page 36) on their involvement, and photos on page 2, opposite. The Village Players give a timetable for their Carol Singing round the village on page 10, and more about the Community Choir Christmas Concert on pages 22 and the back cover: tickets are on sale at The Bull and Costcutter. We mark the 100th Birthday of David Squire on pages 12-13, have a brief overview of the Cherwell Local Plan on page 21, and a report from MP Victoria Prentis on pages 37-38.

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 © 2022 Launton Lines email: launtonlines@launton.org website: https://launton.org/launton-lines/ The Launton Lines Committee 2021-22 Chair: Jon Spinage | Editors: Robert Cornford, Matt Hill | Treasurer: Samantha Collin 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 | 01869 247171

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 December for entry in the January 2023 issue of Launton Lines.

December 3 | Sponsored by Maureen and Bob Roberts in loving memory of Bob’s aunt, Eileen Bennett, a family favourite December 15 | To celebrate Angela Margaret Stack’s birthday, with love from Michael December 18 | Roger Bradshaw - remembering and missing you on your birthday, and always, with love from Hilary and all your family December 18 | Thinking of my Granny Hearn [Annie] who lived in Launton and loved this time of year with her family and friends.

Happy memories for ever. Wendy Foster xxx December 24, 25, and 26 | Sponsored by Suzanne Freeman in loving memory of her parents John and Val Harris December 25 | Sponsored by Rob Walker in loving memory of Jane Lindsay Walker December 25 | In remembrance of our loved ones at Christmas time Kathleen Ayris, Pat Steeples, John Steeples, Edith Ayris.

Wishing all a Happy Christmas, with love from Mick, Sharon, Rob, Sam, Richard, Stephen, Danii, Emily, James, Jackson, William, and Ethan December 31 and January 1 | Sponsored by Suzanne Freeman in loving memory of her parents John and Val Harris, who supported Launton with bell ringing and many other events

Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 4

Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 10 November 2022 at 7:30pm in Launton School 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; 1 representative from Launton Community Communications Group (also attending as Launton Transport Representative); 4 members of the public Councillor Resignation There is still time to help the community by joining the Parish Council. If you are interested in putting yourself forward for co-option, please see the Becoming a Councillor page of the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/becoming-a-councillor/ or have a chat with one of the current Councillors East West Rail Mr Singh was not able to attend the meeting, but sent a written report.

The HGV movements between the A1 and A2 compounds would be finished by Friday 18 November. If anyone had any queries, please get in contact directly at publicinformation@ewralliance.co.uk or call the 24 hour helpline on 03457 11 41 41.

Reports from District and County Councillors The District Councillors sent a written report.

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

Community Governance Review Cherwell District Council has undertaken a Community Governance Review in order that the Wretchwick Way development is not included within the Launton parish.

The review has also meant that the next scheduled Parish Council elections will be on 4 May 2023. Please start thinking now about whether you may be able to join the Council and make a difference in your community.

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Emergency Plan Thank you to all those who have volunteered in the event of an emergency. The Emergency Plan was agreed at the meeting and will be published shortly.

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

Launton Lines Grant The Parish Council was pleased to be able to ensure that Launton Lines will continue despite the increasing publication costs. A grant of £170 a month (or 26p per copy per month from the Parish Council) will be awarded from April next year.

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 can respond is available on the Parish Council website: https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/planningapplications Parish Hall The Working Group is now getting into the finer detail of the project and has been liaising with the architect over a number of points. Costings for the project were currently awaited.

A separate grant group is investigating all sources of external funding.

Flood Warden Scheme The Parish Council has been invited to take part in a trial scheme. This will focus, particularly, on the area of the village around Station Road which sometimes floods. If you would like to get involved, please get in touch with the Clerk (clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk).

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Speedwatch Project The Speedwatch Group has conducted three surveys recently and recorded one vehicle exceeding the speed limit; details of any vehicles exceeding the limit will be sent to Thames Valley Police for their followup. Further sessions will be arranged in due course, but if you’d like to help out, please do get in touch with speedwatch@launton-pc.gov.uk.

Bins We hope that you have seen the two new bins which have been installed near Costcutter and the entrance to Island Pond Wood on West End. We hope that less rubbish will get caught by the wind and blown about now. We are very grateful to the villager who installed them for us and to the villager who gave us the paving slabs to mount them on.

Agenda items and dates of the next meetings The next meeting will be on Thursday 1 December back 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.

Suggestions for agenda items for the 5 January 2023 meeting need to be with the Clerk by 19 November and items for the meeting on 2 February by 26 January.

If you’re not signed up to our mailing list to receive news from the Parish Council, you can find a signup form at the bottom left hand menu of the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/

Delivering Launton Lines: an update

Within a couple of days of the November issue being distributed, with Shirley Johnson’s appeal for relief distributors for five routes, Shirley reported that her phone hadn’t stopped ringing, and that all routes are now covered with both main and relief distributors.

“Thank you all so much,” says Shirley, and everyone else involved in producing Launton Lines.

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The regular report from our Cherwell District Councillors for November 2022

The weather has been unseasonably warm recently, though quite wet, and by the time you read this Roses, Celebrations, and Quality Street are back in the shops which must mean ... Christmas. Given the turmoil at Westmister over the past few months, we hope sense and prudence will focus on the needs of the country, and that your plans will allow some escape from the shenanigans and you will enjoy being with family, friends and loved ones.

This report is a mini-feature on The Local Plan (and see also page XX)which is being reviewed, and some short updates from around the area.

The Local Plan A Local Plan sets out the vision for future development. Every area in the country should have an up-to-date Local Plan in place, and review it at least every five years. CDC is working on the new Local Plan to set out how the District should develop over the next 15 years, in line with national policies.

Local Plans are used to help decide on planning applications and other planning related decisions. In effect, they are the local guide to what can be built where, shaping infrastructure investments and determining the future pattern of development. They are vitally important as they set out rules for how the area develops, and crucially how those plans affect you as residents.

We will keep you updated on progress on the development of the new Local Plan, and we have provided some details on the initial stages in a separate report on page XX. Please contact us or the Parish Council who have input into the Plan, and watch out for key dates when your voice can be heard.

A41 Ploughley Road junction The roadworks and closures at the A41 Ploughley Road junction were due to complete in November 2022, but has sadly slipped to March 2023. At Parish and District level we are hearing how this is impacting journeys and the amount of traffic through our villages. We have expressed our dismay at the delay in the strongest terms to the County Council and they are working to secure better management of the project. Up to date information on closures, and more details, can be found on the OCC website, at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/roadworks/futuretransport-projects/ploughley-road-a41-junction Voter Identification - May 2023 Elections Although things can change (and do with alarming frequency at the moment!)

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there is a current plan to require photo-based identification for local elections from May 2023. Although that seems far away, you will need to have this to vote. There is more information at www.gov.uk/government/news/voteridentification-faqs but here are some key points: A wide range of photo identification will be acceptable, including:  Concessionary travel passes   PASS cards  Ministry of Defence identity cards Photocard parking permits issued by the Blue Badge scheme  Driver’s licenses   Passports Free Voter Cards, provided by local authorities 

Expired photographic identification will be accepted if the photo is of a 

good enough likeness to allow polling station staff to confirm the identity of the holder.

You will need to bring this ID with you to vote at the polling station  This is a live political issue so is subject to change, but it’s important to make you aware of this, regardless of the political questions around it; do keep an eye out for more information. We will advise you how to get a free ID card when we know the process, if you don’t have anything on the current list.

That’s it! Thank you for reading all the way to the bottom! If you have any comments or feedback, please do get in touch on 01869 717712 or via email at gemma.coton@cherwell-dc.gov.uk or angus.patrick@cherwell-dc.gov.uk.

The Launton Watercolour Classes

The Watercolour Classes will not run two sessions over the Christmas/New Year period - on 26 December and 2 January. We will be back on 9 January.

The picture on the right is from a recent class.

We meet at 2pm on Monday afternoons in Launton Parish Hall.

The cost is £8 per session.

If you would like to join email Paul.Ebberson@gmail.com Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 9

Launton Village Players

We are all involved in preparations for the 2023 Pantomime, but before then there is another busy time for us, around Christmas.

Christmas 2022 We are thrilled to have been asked to sing carols at several events this year, including the Launton School Christmas Fair on 2 December and at Launton Grange Residential Home. We are also providing a Children’s Hour between 3 and 4pm during the Hummingbird Centre’s “Light the Light” event on Sunday 4 December.

On Friday 23 December we will be singing carols around the village from 6.30 pm at the following locations: Sherwood Close 6.40pm Yew Tree Close 7.10pm Launton Mews 7.40pm The Bull Inn 8.10pm We will be raising money for Alzheimer’s UK so please do come and listen or join in and give to this good cause.

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Pantomime 2023: Hickory Dickory Dock Rehearsals for Hickory Dickory Dock are well underway and songs and routines are being learnt. We have started to look at lighting, costumes and putting the panto programme together. If local businesses would like to advertise in our programme, do get in touch with us advertising@launtonvillageplayers.org.uk for more information. Our prices have remained the same for many years, and it’s a great way to reach out to local families.

Tickets are on sale from TicketSource: www.ticketsource.co.uk/lvp. You can also call 07864 715708 for cash or cheque purchases, or for help buying online. As tickets are available to buy before Christmas they would make the perfect Christmas present for friends and family!

Shows will be in Cooper School Performance Hall: times and prices are: Date Weds 15 Feb Thurs 16 Feb Fri 17 Feb Sat 18 Feb

Performance Times 7:30pm 10:30am 2:30pm 2:30pm 7:30pm 2:30pm 7:30pm

Adult (18+) £10 £12 £14 £14

Child £5 £6 £7 £7

Babes in arms Free Free Free Free

To help families with the cost of living crisis, this year we are offering Family Discounts - all listed on TicketSource and available for all shows. In addition, we are also offering an Early Bird Discount - book tickets before 1 January 2023 and get a further 10% off your ticket using the code “EARLYBIRD”.

Hickory Dickory Dock is a less well-known story but includes all the usual pantomime elements. It is a family show and suitable for all ages, and the magic is set very much around the Clock. Can the Pixie overcome the baddie and make the Clock work again? Will Tom, the hero, manage to find all the missing parts?

Come and enjoy Bicester’s biggest and most magical panto, as well as helping to raise funds for our chosen charity Nai’s House, which is based in Bicester and aims to give all children and young adults access to appropriate and empowering mental health support.

You can find out more about LVP by getting in touch via email on info@launtonvillageplayers.org.uk, by Facebook, or on our website www.launtonvillageplayers.org.uk The LVP team Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 11

Birthday Greetings to David Squire David Squire, formerly of The Poplars, reached the milestone of 100 on Saturday 12 November. He celebrated the event at Cherwood House Care Home with close family and a few friends. Thank you to all those who sent cards, gifts and good wishes.

Pictures on page 13 - opposite Left: David, with his long-time friend Daphne Bellman - former head of Launton School.

Right: There are four generations in this photo. One son, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren plus their respective partners. The youngest child is William - six months old. Oh ... and there are also two dogs from the family.

Photos from Jon Squire

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Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 13

News from St Mary’s Church Services and Events for December 2022 Services

4 December

8.00am 11.00am 11 December 6.00pm 18 December 11.00am 6.00pm

BCP Holy Communion Christingle Family Service - all welcome BCP Evensong Morning Prayer Nine Lessons and Carols, followed by mulled wine and mince pies 24 December 3.00pm Crib Service 11.30pm Midnight Communion 25 December 11.00am Holy Communion Advance notice 1 January 11.00am Epiphany Family Service - All Welcome <<<<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>>>>

10 December

Events

5.00pm Community Choir Christmas Concert with mulled wine and mince pies in the interval (see pages XX and the back cover) The Community Café will close at 4.30pm on 13 December and will reopen at 9.00am on 10 January

<<<<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>>>> 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

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A thought from the Grumpy Old Men of Launton

We have only had one meeting recently as some of us have been laid low by the Nth round of Covid, and we don’t want to meet in public spaces.

So we haven’t had a chance to develop our thoughts about the big questions facing the village like how to get the road drains across Launton cleaned by a Gulper Truck, or how to secure the yellow ramps to the pavement at the temporary traffic lights at the School, or how to get drivers to stop at the red lights, or how to shame Thames Water into fixing Launton’s drainage and sewage before we are all swimming in effluent as winter rains strike, or how we will survive after East West Rail have left their compounds and we have no organisation to be furious with, or how to make sure that the footpaths around the village are kept clear of the rampant brambles that are growing like Triffids.

BUT we have had time to float ideas about the traffic through the village, and wait for one more meeting before we unleash our ideas to the world.

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Launton WI Report for November 2022

In November we were treated to an evening with The Taxi Driver Poet, James Haddow. He shimmered in blue and gold with a white ruff at the neck and he brought panels of pictures and poetry which brightened the Hall. He was there to sparkle.

Once a taxi driver, he’s now a poet who comments on poets and poetry, and he persuaded us to divulge all our favourites, which was fun.

James spoke about his life and loves - there were quite a few. His poetic life started with the duplicitous Rachel, who secretly found another man. James was 26 and after the breakup he started reciting poems to passengers as he drove his taxi between Nottingham and Derby. Many more girlfriends followed, and all have poems. We heard about one with a passion for Monty Don and one potential girlfriend whose curtains did not match her carpet. We heard about Mandy, Debbie, Denise, Diane, and Jane.

He also wrote a series of seven poems called That’s How the Fight started: ‘What’s on the telly babe?’ she said.

And all I said was ‘dust’.

And that’s how the fight started.

James is good at getting everyone to RUBY’S DOG WALKING & PET SERVICES join in and enjoy themselves.

He has also written rewrites of Dog Walking  classics:  Dog and Cat Visits Oh! To be in England, now the snow is here!

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Contact Enya on He’s a favourite among WIs - he has Phone: 01869 252669 spoken at over 300 meetings. He can Mobile: 07786 356 456 be quite saucy and sometimes people email: enya.knights@gmail.com complain about this. But at other website: rubysdogwalking.uk times they complain he’s not saucy enough. Just goes to show that WIs are a varied bunch. James told us stories about some WIs, where there are riots at raffle time. Regulars complain about visitors winning the raffle. Launton WI is not like that!

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Our December meeting is a Bring and Share Christmas Party which we’ll enjoy. Next year, as well as our usual meetings on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall, we have a trip out to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. That will be on 27 April and we’re looking forward to that.

The competition for November was to write a limerick. Here is the entry judged the winner by James Haddow: congratulations to Pat Court A taxi I needed to hire To escape from my house that’s on fire To get far away Was my plan of the day Before from the smoke I expire!

Please join us if you can: the first visit is complementary.

For further information, please contact President, Gaye (01869 241883) or Secretary, Hilary (01869 241989).

Gwen Skinner

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Tree planting in the Island Pond Wood On Saturday 12 November we welcomed the Southwold Scout Group into the wood to help with some planting. We had successfully applied for 200 free trees from the Woodland Trust which will be registered under the Queens Green Canopy. Half of these were hedgerow species such as hawthorn and dog rose that were planted in the newly created hedge coppice blocks. The other half were understory species such as holly and hazel which were planted at the top (east) end of the wood where the trees are spaced a bit thinner and therefore some light can get through to the woodland floor to help these grow.

A big thank you to the scouts and their parents for giving up their Saturday afternoon to help. Hopefully they will all achieve their “Forester” badge after participating in the session. (see photo above, and on page 19) We also kindly received two walnut trees which were planted in one of the hedgerow blocks. The trees have been grown in Launton from walnuts originating from a tree planted in memory of the donor’s father. She found it very poignant that the trees are going to be registered as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, as her father served in the Royal Air Force as a boy entrant from the age of 15 and served his monarch and his country for 35 years before retiring to Launton back in 1959. He then went on to serve Launton in numerous roles and is now buried in the churchyard at St Mary’s.

Friends Team at Island Pond Wood Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 18

Members from the Southwold Scout Group help with planting the 200 trees from The Woodland Trust for The Queen's Green Canopy in the Island Pond Woodland.

See report and another photo on page 18, opposite.

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The Cherwell Local Plan: some initial details

Launton Parish Council has been given the opportunity to see the initial view of what the Local Plan will look like, and is preparing a response. Here are the key elements: The consultation period for the Plan will be between 14 December 2022  and 8 February 2023, and the Plan can change based on feedback from this process. It is important to note that after this period it will not be possible to change the Plan, so it is very important that all comments go in during this comprehensive consultation period There are three main themes to take into consideration with the Plan:  Meeting the challenge of climate change Creating a sustainable economy Creating healthy and sustainable communities Developments of 100 or more dwellings will only be considered in the  four strategic areas of Banbury, Bicester, Kidlington and Heyford Park  Developments in rural areas should be limited to larger villages (currently Category A villages). Each of these larger villages will have an allocation for housing and commercial developments, and CDC will work with the villages to finalise this. Villages are categorized A to C depending on a range of factors, including local facilities such as public transport, schools, amenities etc. (Launton is currently classified as Category A) Each village will have its own allocation of houses and CDC will take into  account any developments that have already been planned and gone through There are currently 22,568 homes planned between 2020 and 2040.  CDC are not expecting any sites to be in the Green Belt  CDC do not anticipate the proportion of social housing need will change  Stronger policies in the Plan should help protect villages from  encroachment from Bicester and Banbury Hopefully you can appreciate the impact of the Local Plan on where you live and how it will develop over time. More details on the Cherwell Local Plan is available on their website www.cherwell.gov.uk/homepage/27/local-plans Edited by Launton Lines from a report from Angus Patrick and Gemma Coton, CDC Councillors Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 21

Launton Community Choir Carol Concert

We Wish You a Merry Christmas Saturday 10 December, starting at 5.00pm This is a festive concert for all the family, with traditional carols sung in harmony by the community choir, songs for everyone to join in and percussion instruments for the children to play.

Ticket price includes mulled wine and mince pies.

Accompanying children are free and children’s refreshments are free.

All funds raised will be donated to St. Mary's Church.

Tickets £10 from The Bull Inn and Costcutters.

See back cover for more details.

We hope to see you there!

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A Vet’s Voice: The Race to Save the Rhino

We were fortunate to recently travel to South Africa with a group of vets and their partners, where we spent some time in a safari park north of Pretoria.

These parks are only partly there to wow and educate visitors about the incredible wildlife and habitats of the bush veldt; their main underlying focus is the protection of the many endangered species who inhabit these lands.

A big part of this protection involves tracking the animals and herds to ensure their safety against the ever-present threat of poachers. The illegal trade in horn has taken rhinos to the brink of extinction as ever-desperate attempts are made to break through the park security to kill and mutilate these magnificent beasts.

The horn goes to Asia where it is used in traditional medicines or merely as a status symbol. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t used as an aphrodisiac.

To assist tracking the rhinos, a telemetry device is implanted inside the main horn. This is a 25mm cubic device with a 15cm semi-rigid aerial and a battery life of about 2 years. Due to its small size, it lacks full satellite tracking but can be detected using radio equipment when within range.

Our morning began at 4.30am as our large group of enthusiastic onlookers met for coffee before a briefing from the park manager, the intrepid helicopter pilot and the vet whose role was to ensure the safety of both the animal and all the people involved with tracker implantation. The vet was a lady who does this as regularly as we might spay a cat. She would have to estimate the weight of the black rhino before drawing up sufficient amounts of a drug so potent that selfinjection could be rapidly fatal. Once loaded into the metal dart, she would join the chopper pilot who would herd the rhino into a clearing before positioning it such that the vet could get a clean shot from 30 metres away.

Thankfully, the shot was on target and the rhino went down two minutes later in a scrubby area easily accessible to the trucks carrying us and the rangers.

When rhinos are chased, they apparently like to head into a clump of trees for safety, so the first job was to ensure the rhino was safe and breathing easily, and that his horn was readily accessible to allow the removal of the old transmitter and for the new one to be implanted. Ropes on the legs allowed some repositioning and a chain saw quickly made the area safe for our patient.

Seeing an adult black rhino up close is a magnificent and overwhelming experience. The black rhino is particularly territorial and dangerous; as our ranger said, “Black rhinos are born angry!” The 1,200kg beast was lying on his side breathing easily but oblivious to the people and activity around him. With ear plugs inserted and a blindfold in place the process could begin.

Rhino horn is made solely of keratin, just like our fingernails, and grows from Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 23

the skin not the skull. It grows about 7cm a year and is kept in shape by rubbing it against trees like a chef sharpening a knife. The front horn can grow to over 50cm while the second horn is shorter. The horn tissue is “dead” having no blood supply or nerves so there is no pain involved in implanting the tracker.

The old transmitter was quickly removed from its position and a new cavity was drilled closer to the base of the horn. A channel was then drilled along the horn to allow the aerial and transmitter to sit completely within the horn before being glued in place with epoxy resin then covered over with dental putty. In two years time the transmitter will have moved away from the base as the horn grows and a new device can be placed again.

While this was happening the vet was monitoring her patient who, because of its size, could suffer from circulatory and breathing issues from the effects of the drugs and from lying recumbent. The effect of having an enormous animal lying on its side can mean that lungs can suffer from only partial inflation with the marginal areas collapsing (atelectasis). This reduces oxygenation but also decreases the ability to expel CO2. The pH of the blood can rapidly drop leading to acidosis and a potentially catastrophic situation.

Our wildlife vet quickly administered a partial antidote to reduce the potentially harmful side effects, while being ever-mindful of how dangerous the situation could become if the rhino woke up prematurely! We were mesmerised by the scale of this creature, and its incredible beauty. We were able to feel his tough but surprisingly soft skin and to feel his heart pounding slowly through his chest wall. Even the rangers who see wild animals on a daily basis, were keen to touch the rhino and feel the power and beauty of this awesome animal.

With the task completed, it was time for us all to withdraw to the safety of the trucks whilst the vet injected an antidote before heading for the chopper to leave the rhino to recover in peace, hopefully oblivious to the human intervention.

Despite the best efforts of these professionals and large teams of armed antipoaching patrols, rhinos are still being killed at an alarming rate throughout Africa. They remain at high risk of becoming extinct in their natural habitat whilst the gene pool for breeding diminishes all the time. You might ask why they don’t just remove the horns but then the horn must be registered with the government and stored securely. It can’t be sold or destroyed and thus creates another security risk as poachers with automatic guns might target horn stockpiles. There appears no easy answer so the battle for their survival continues.

Enjoy your pets Jason Williams | Bicester Vets Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 24

Rhino Fun Facts  White rhinos are larger and more docile than black rhinos.

The white rhino  isn’t white but is named after its wide flat lips for grazing grass.

They became ‘white rhinos’ after a mistranslation of Afrikaans words ‘wyd’ or ‘weit’ which means ‘wide’.

Measuring the rhino’s horn for the Rhino receiving oxygen during the Black rhinos are records  procedure. smaller and more aggressive. They have a pointed upper lip for browsing leaves from trees.

Oxfordshire born vet Jonathan Cranston divides his year between mixed practice in  England and wild animal work in Africa. His book, The Travelling Vet is a great read which I highly recommend.

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Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 25

School Christmas Festival: 2 December 5.30pm-7.30pm

Tickets will be available on the gate and all are welcome to join in. There will be the lighting of the Christmas Tree, as well as festive songs and carols from The Launton Village Players as well as a number of activity and crafts stalls, and a cake/bake stall ... and a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses and individuals.

It’s snowflake time on Launton Christmas Tree for Cancer Research UK If you want to dedicate a snowflake, to a loved one, the children will hang it on the Christmas Tree for you. Make a donation online at www.justgiving.com/page/launtonschool-1668687564521 then email the name of the person to be remembered to office.3085@launton.oxon.sch.uk and we will write it on the snowflake. Alternatively, donations and names can also be posted in the school post box during school hours or snowflakes can be collected from the school office for you to write your message on and to hang on the tree between 9am and 3pm Monday-Friday in the week

before the festival.

C B BATHROOMS Experienced Bathroom and Shower Installer and Tiler General Plumbing and Heating Maintenance Leadwork Specialist Chris Barrett 11 Spindleside, Southwold, Bicester, Oxon OX26 3XH Home | 01869 250861 Mobile | 07773 853 640 Email | barrett.c3@sky.com

Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 26

Launton Historical Society

We enjoyed The Strange Story of Napoleon’s Wallpaper with Hendrik Ball which linked to Hendrik’s career in broadcasting. It’s better to hear it first hand, because there’s a wealth of information and intriguing accounts, but here’s a broad summary: This country had feared invasion by Napoleon, as shown by the 74 Martello towers, with cannon, built on the coast from Seaford in Sussex to Aldeburgh in Suffolk. Fear of invasion ended with victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In 1814 Napoleon was forced to abdicate and was exiled to the island of Elba - but escaped, raised a new army and, in 1815, was finally defeated at Waterloo.

He escaped again after the battle, hoping to get to America. The Royal Navy was ordered to blockade the French coast and bring Napoleon to England. When he had been tracked down, he was offered a safe passage and spent a month on HMS Bellerophon in Torbay, raising his hat to sightseers, with no-one allowed on or off the ship. He was treated as a high-ranking officer. Transferring to HMS Northumberland, he was shipped not to America, but to St Helena - a British island in the south Atlantic. He could not escape from there as he had done when exiled to Elba. He arrived in autumn 1815, was housed in Longwood House and spent time creating sunken gardens. In March 1821 he became unwell, wrote a will and three weeks later died. There were rumours about cause of death and, in the next century, a Swedish dentist tested Napoleon’s  Continued on pages 28-29

Grange Mews News October 2022

Commercial Offices, Industrial Units and Storage for Lease We may not have previously noticed, but with the arrival of the marauding fieldfares feasting on fallen apples, and the berries from the cotoneaster disappearing fast - the reality of winter is here.

We have just had some excellent service from Bicester Glass, as we replaced some 23-year-old double glazed widows that were showing their age, and the first morning we immediately noticed the improved insulating values, so much superior that the outside panes were covered with condensation outside, which is as it should be.

Thanks to Adrian at 07717462027.

It looks like updates is the order of the day as we are also replacing the electric heating in three offices with new effectively controlled versions.

We hope to see that the modern controls will enable the rooms to be much more efficiently warmed.

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

hair and found varying levels of arsenic, some high. Arsenic was used in medical treatment in the 1800s but high levels fuelled the rumours.

In 1980, Hendrik was producing a Radio 4 programme about vapour chemistry when a colleague asked a peculiar question - what colour was Napoleon’s wallpaper in Longwood House? In the 1800s a pigment called Scheele’s Green was used to colour paint and wallpaper, and it contained a form of arsenic. But many people had green wallpaper without reported problems. Significantly, studies later indicated that conditions of mould and damp caused arsenic and Scheele’s Green to vaporise. That did cause ill effects. Then, a surprise - a woman wrote to the BBC to say she had a piece of Napoleon’s wallpaper. It was green and gold - could be Scheele’s Green. Turned out it was and it had arsenic in it, up to 10 times more than the problem threshold.

Hendrik and BBC film crew colleagues set their minds on travelling to St Helena.

If you meet Hendrik in the village you might want to ask about this trip, which was fraught. A ship travels to St Helena six times a year and the journey takes a month.

A quicker option, for those on official business, is a flight to Ascension Island to pick up the ship. Ascension Island is mostly volcanic lava. It’s bleak. There are remnants of a British garrison. People work there, but there are no permanent residents. Security services are based there, plus the BBC. It’s not a place to linger.

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Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 28

The ship, a new one, broke down. Then the next one broke down. But it limped on and eventually it picked up the stranded film crew and they reached St Helena.

Much of Napoleon’s dwelling had been replaced in the intervening years. But, significantly, the interior had bad air and damp - and the wallpaper was peeling away from the wall...

Napoleon was buried on St Helena - he had wanted his ashes scattered by the Seine. In 1840 his body was exhumed and now rests in the Eglise des Invalides in Paris. In 2004 a report in the journal of the Royal Society of Medicine concluded that Napoleon’s death was a case of medical misadventure and that the various drugs he was administered had combined with arsenic and his weak state of health to create a fatal imbalance and cardiac arrest.

A surprise awaited us at the end. We saw a piece of Napoleon’s wallpaper. It was framed, behind glass, we could breathe safely. A piece of Napoleon’s environment lives here in Launton.

By the time you read this we will have heard Alastair Lack on The Oxford of Inspector Morse. On 29 December Carol McGrath will talk about A Mediaeval Christmas. 7.30 pm in the Parish Hall - all are welcome.

Gwen Skinner

Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 29

100 YEARS AGO From The Bicester Advertiser

1st December 1922

Launton Property Sale Remarkable Price for Shop and Dwelling House Mr Ernest Pennington, Market Square, Bicester, offered for sale at the King’s Arms Hotel, Bicester, last Friday evening, a copyhold stone-built dwelling house and business premises in Station Road, Launton, in the occupation of Mr AJ Freeman on a yearly Lady Day tenancy of £15 per annum. When the bidding commenced it was quickly seen that a substantial price would be realised. Two local competitors took up the running, and a spirited duel followed.

Eventually the property was knocked down to Mr F Sharpe, of Launton, for £910.

The freehold accommodation field known as West End Close, about 6 acres and 13 poles of pasture land, with galvanised cowshed and hovel, occupied by Mr Freeman on a yearly Lady Day tenancy of £12, realised £230, being bought in by the present tenant.

[The house and shop are at the corner of Bicester Road and Station Road. Mr Freeman’s father and step-mother had run the butchery for many years, but he sold the business, moved to Pound Croft in Station Road, and became a farmer - Ed.] Notes & Comments Launton had their usual bag of goals on Saturday, and no fewer than four came from the feet of “Baggy” Jeacock, their enterprising centre forward. Launton defeated Middle Barton by seven goals to nil, yet their clever outside right, J Jeacock, who made an excellent impression in that position against Wolvercote in the Shield competition, was left out in the cold almost all of the second half. At one time he donned a coat and watched the play from the touch line.

[These comments came after the Middle Barton match report - Ed.]

15th December 1922 PETTY SESSIONS Mr George Carter, Bull Inn, made an application on behalf of his father for an extension of hours from 2pm Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 30

until 6pm on December 9th, on the occasion of a Junior Shield football match between Launton and Morris Motors. - Granted.

[The result was a 3:2 win for Morris Motors - Ed.]

29th December 1922 CAMPANOLOGY The ringers of the Parish Church welcomed in Christmas Day with a merry midnight peal on the bells, 720 changes of Grandsire Doubles being rung in 24 minutes.

On Boxing Day a quarter peal of Grandsire Doubles, comprising 1260 changes with ten different callings, was rung in 41 minutes.

The ringers were: Treble, J Heritage; Second, H Foster; Third, J Marriott; Fourth, F Sharpe; Fifth, J Massey; Tenor, E Heritage; Conductor, J Marriott.

FOOTBALL Oxfordshire Junior League Kirtlington scratched to Launton.

1pm to 2pm Santa’s Kissing Horse 2pm to 3pm Entertainment with a twist 3pm-4pm Children’s Interactive Show 4.30pm The Hummingbird Centre Christmas Tree Light Switch On 5pm End

To find out more, message us through our Facebook Page, by scanning the QR Code, or contact Claire on 07540 013 105 Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 31

I visited Bicester Food Bank at The Beacon, Wesley Lane, Bicester recently

It’s a warm friendly place, so welcoming, lots to offer including the Café 103 which is a mental health wellbeing cafe held every Tuesday and Thursday 1-4pm. It’s a supportive cafe with excellent coffee and homemade cake.

They asked me to spread the word about a lunch held every Friday in the Methodist Church on Sheep Street, at the Open Doors Café.

Anyone is invited. It aims to use food rather than see it go to waste and to help to tackle food poverty at the same time.

Please spread the word, especially if you know someone who might benefit from this.

Lesley Thompson

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 Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 32

East West Rail to deliver 130 tonnes of stone to Island Pond Wood for a replacement path

We have been looking to get an access path re-installed in the woodland for a number of years - for pushchairs, wheelchairs and scooters as well as walkers. We approached EWR for material to be re-used as a path in the woodland back in April 2022 when they were planning to close their compounds.

After a lengthy application and approval process we were successful.

Unfortunately, with Construction Manager changes at EWR the timing has been lost and the agreement from their side to construct the path has also been removed by them.

We were informed today (22 November) that the 130 tonnes of material will be delivered in the week commencing 28 November later confirmed to happen on Wednesday 30 November and Thursday 1 December, when the Woodland will be closed for safety reasons.

We have arranged for someone to come and construct the path at a later time (at our cost), so there will be a mound of material as you enter the woodland. Please don’t worry about the small mountain: it is not being used to build houses or any other rumour!

We took the decision to accept this material as it represents a huge material cost saving to the woodland, and it should ensure that the path makes the woodland more accessible in the future for everyone.

We are sorry for the late notice of the communication, but we have been trying to get information from a company that does not appear to believe in proactive communication.

We will share a plan of the future path route in the next edition of Launton Lines, and we will confirm with signage and on social media when the woodland is shut for this delivery. Please bear with us.

Rob Dowman | Chair, Friends of IPW Ltd Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 33

Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer A Vacancy at Ambrosden Parish Council

Working from home, and attending at least monthly Parish Council meetings. 30 hours per month, with overtime available. Salary starts at LC2 salary point 24, £16.16-£18.05 per hour depending on experience. Home Working Allowance and Local Government Pension Scheme available.

Job Description The Clerk is responsible for ensuring the Council runs efficiently and in line with statutory requirements, standing orders, policies and procedures. As Responsible Financial Officer, the post will also be responsible for managing Council finances.

Duties will include Managing meetings for the Parish Council, including preparing the agenda,  taking minutes and monitoring actions and decisions  Advising the Council on protocols and relevant local government legislation.

Managing the Council accounts, receipts and payments   Receiving and drafting correspondence as necessary  Managing the Council and Trust’s maintenance, utilities and insurance contracts in conjunction with councillors.

Managing the Council’s website and  social media account Acting as first contact between the  Council and other bodies, agencies and the general public Qualities The Council is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated person to support the Council and its work with the local community.

We require excellent organisational and communication skills. Good knowledge of Microsoft Office is also required.

Knowledge of local government legislation would be an advantage and ideally the postholder will possess or would be willing to obtain a Certificate in Local Government Administration (CiLCA). Training will be available.

To apply, email your CV to tom.duff@ambrosdenpc.org.uk Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 34

Join Launton Parish Council - Make a Difference!

Would you like to be involved in the decision-making for the village?

The Parish Council currently has a vacancy for the co-option of a Councillor.

If you are interested and want to find out more, speak to one of the Councillors, contact the Clerk, or come along to the Parish Council meeting on Thursday, 1 December in the Parish Hall.

No experience is necessary and training is available.

The Parish Council intends to consider applications at the meeting on Thursday 1 December.

Any person wishing to serve as a Councillor should complete the application form available on the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/becoming-a-councillor/

by Monday 28 November and return it to the Clerk at clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk

To qualify, a person must be a British subject, Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of a member state of the EU, over 18 years old and an elector; must reside within Launton or within three miles of it (for at least the past 12 months), or occupy as owner or tenant any land or premises therein, or have their principal or only place of work there, and must not be disqualified from holding office as a Councillor (further details available from the Clerk).

Tuesday to Friday 8am to 5pm | Saturday 8am to 3pm | Sunday 9am to 1pm | Closed Monday Tel 01869 252619 | 1 Station Road, Launton, OX26 5DS | info@thebluetexel.co.uk | www.thebluetexel.co.uk

Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 35

A report from Launton School The Act of Remembrance 11 November 2022 Today was a special day because we went to the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial in the village. We were able to go because we are now in Year 6. We walked to the War Memorial and then we waited.

We went to remember the people who had died fighting in wars.

The Minister welcomed us and then Amelia read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 which comes from the Bible. We had practised what we had to do because it was important for it to be correct. There were prayers and sometimes we listened and from time to time we joined in. The Last Post was played and then there was a twominute silence. During this silence we thought about what had happened during the wars and how people fought and sometimes died.

We made our wreath at school. It was a circle of twisted cane and we placed poppies into the base and on top it had the name of our school. We laid our wreath at the memorial. It was sad to think about all the people who had given up their lives for our country but we are appreciative and thankful for what they did and their sacrifice. It is very sad to think about the war which is happening in Ukraine at the moment.

We were very pleased to be representing our school: it was a big responsibility for us.

Amelia, Evie, Harry, and Jake - Year 6 The photo of the war memorial after the service has the school wreath in the centre at the foot of the stone. See also photos and captions on page 2 of this issue Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 36

Quarterly Report from our MP, Victoria Prentis

It was an enormous privilege to be appointed Attorney General for England and Wales by the Prime Minister in October. It is a role that has existed in Parliament since at least 1243. Before I was first elected as your MP in 2015, I worked in the Government Legal Department for seventeen years. I provided advice on military, prisons and national security matters and represented the Government in court. I am excited to be returning to the law in my new role, and to be working with the many excellent professionals across the Law Officers’ Departments once again.

I have been very busy out and about in the constituency since I last wrote here. Visits to local schools including Glory Farm Primary and Heyford Park remain a highlight as I had the opportunity to speak to lots of enthusiastic pupils. I also visited local businesses including the state-of-the-art Arrival microfactory in Launton as well as Smiths of Bletchington’s Dewars Farm Quarry in Ardley.

During my last surgery at The Garth in Bicester I enjoyed speaking to constituents about a range of issues, including 11-year old Grace who wanted to talk about litter picking and avoiding single-use plastics as we all play a part to protect the environment. I have some more surgeries lined up in the next few months, so please do get in touch if you want to book an appointment.

In October, I caught up with Laura Sapwell, the Governor of HMP Bullingdon. It was our first in-person meeting since before the pandemic and provided a useful opportunity to discuss future plans for the prison.

She has made some really positive changes during her time there so far, including improving access to education for prisoners and job support, providing skills which are so important to release and rehabilitation.

I have also met our local police commander in Cherwell, Superintendent Emma Garside at Bicester Police Station. Emma told me that drug dealing, violent crime and anti-social behaviour are some of the most prevalent challenges she faces. She was keen to discuss what she has been doing to tackle them, and the progress she has made so far. I am Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 37

grateful to Emma for meeting me and will continue our regular conversations to make sure that constituents’ views on local policing matters are always heard.

Alongside my visits and meetings, I have also launched some new constituency campaigns. I know many of you share my concerns about the discharge of sewage into rivers. I wrote to the Chief Executive of Thames Water, Sarah Bentley, to find out about what is being done to safeguard the River Cherwell and limit sewage discharge into it. I am keen to understand what Thames Water is doing in our area to deliver on the new duties placed on water companies, and look forward to a meeting in the next few weeks. You can follow updates on my website at www.victoriaprentis.com.

Access to high-speed broadband and reliable mobile coverage is another issue that has been raised consistently with me in recent months. While Banbury and Bicester broadly benefit from strong broadband and reliable mobile coverage, there are many in surrounding villages who have been left behind by the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband and are frustrated by mobile not-spots. Our area has the lowest rate of gigabit-capable broadband coverage in Oxfordshire, and one of the lowest in the South East, with coverage 20 percent below the national average. It is absolutely vital that residents have access to a reliable broadband service. We must also work towards achieving universal mobile coverage in line with the Government’s Shared Rural Network programme.

My Digital Connectivity Survey is now live on my website. To help build a comprehensive picture of where mobile and broadband coverage is weak in North Oxfordshire, please visit www.victoriaprentis.com/digitalconnectivity Paper copies can also be requested by getting in touch with my office. Your experiences will help inform my findings, which will be shared with providers and colleagues in Government.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Victoria Prentis Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 38

Memories of an ex-Launton Boy

This month the ex-Launton Boy reflects on the very unseasonal weather, and thinks about the special sound quality of an autumn day, and laments that he cannot find this in his current place of residence, in Kent, but has memories of the “clear hollowness” of autumn days in Launton when he was a teenager, when the trees were stripped of leaves. He moves on to winters in Launton - “picturesque as a postcard” - then pays his tribute to June Kelly who lived next door as he was growing up. Then on to Christmas which he marks with a poem reflecting his military background.

What a strange year we have had with regard to our weather, that great British topic of conversation. Not being a speaker of other languages apart from a smattering of German from when I was stationed there from 1965 - 1970, I don’t know whether other nations use the weather as a conversation opener the way we appear to do.

But here we are in the middle of November as I pen these words and it is so unusually mild. I was exam invigilating today in the Sports Hall of a local Academy with just short of two hundred pupils sitting an English Language exam in addition to which we had ten Invigilators and the body heat given off together with the ambient temperature made for a very hot and sticky couple of hours.

I have written before of how I was acutely aware of changing noises in the autumn air around Launton when I was a child and through to my teens. Autumn tended to bring a clear hollowness to surrounding and distant sounds, quite unlike the sounds of summer. But that said, certainly around where I am in Kent, those hollow autumn sounds have yet to make themselves heard. Too many leaves are still on trees that should be far fewer at this time of year. The tortoise of a friend of mine went into hibernation, but has come out again for it is far too warm to hibernate just yet.

There are those around me who are saying to wait until winter hits us, for they are convinced that having had the very dry and hot summer we have just experienced (exquisite for me), we are in for an exceptionally hard winter. I do so hope they are wrong, for I have never been a lover of winter. I don’t know if that stems from those days in my childhood in Launton, when waking up on a winter’s morning, the ice was on the inside of the window panes.

Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 39

Ah! Winters in Launton, I remember them well. Picturesque as a postcard with hoar frost clinging to the branches of leafless trees and the boundless hedgerows that in days back then were properly and skilfully laid as opposed to being hacked and shredded by modern machinery. How, as kids who were used to splashing in the puddles in potholes (far fewer back then) and ruts in the summer, and in the winter would try jumping on those same potholes and ruts to see if we could break the ice and find liquid puddles beneath them. And we had the luxury of having the village duck pond that when the temperature was sufficiently sub-zero, we could go skating on, although I never did. I couldn’t even remain in a perpendicular position wearing ordinary roller skates, never mind hoofing on a couple of ice-skates.

Mind you, we did plenty of the broadside-skating on the road with our hob-nailed boots, kicking up sparks as we went.

But where were we? Ah yes, November! Well, we’ve had the rounds of fireworks all over again, and nothing has changed, in that so many individuals cannot wait until the 5th November to let off their very large and extremely loud bangers, commencing at least a fortnight beforehand and a good week after. No thought for nervous old people or their pets, and as I have stated before, no concern for veteran exmilitary personnel who are suffering with PTSD. Sadly I read in last month’s issue of the sad death of June Kelly (née Jones). My sincerest condolences to the family of June who, as stated last month, came from a very large family of thirteen children whom I lived next door to. They were all, except for the youngest, named in some derivative form or other after the months of the year. The youngest, Dawn, was named after the time of day.

I have to say that having lived almost my entire childhood and teens before I joined the army (except for my first two to three years of life) next door to such a large family, it does touch me rather when one of them passes away. So many of them have now gone, it makes me think about my own mortality. Anyway, may she rest in peace!

And now Christmas is almost upon us............yet again. For this Christmas, I offer you this following food for thought.

Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 40

’Twas the Dawn on Christmas Morning

by Ian Coate ’Twas the dawn on Christmas morning and a soldier was sad; He was far from his family in a nation gone bad, He thought of his children all tucked up in bed He thought of his wife and a tear he did shed.

“Is this crap all worth it?” he said to his mate, “I wanna go home, not sit here and wait.”

His mate thought for a bit, then said with a smile, “It’s the reason we’re here that makes this worthwhile, We’re tired and we’re cramped in this pit in the ground So our families are safe and free all year round.

We’re doing our bit, like those in the past, So peace has a chance and freedom can last.”

The soldier nodded his head - this year had been tough, He’d seen warfare and famine and nastier stuff, He thought of his children and thought of his wife And was thankful they had such a fortunate life.

Seeing some shepherds protecting their herds He suddenly smiled and whispered the words, ‘Merry Christmas my family - I really miss you, But my presence right here is my present to you.’

Merry Christmas 2022 Everybody Keep healthy and stay safe!

Tony Jeacock MInstRE | The Ex-Launton Boy | December 2022 Launton Lines December 2022 | Page 41

Diary Dates: December 2022

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.

DECEMBER 2022 Thursday Friday

1 Parish Council, Public Session 7.15pm, Council Meeting 7.30pm, Parish Hall 2 School Christmas Festival in the School building and grounds 5.30pm - 7.30pm | SCOTS Christmas Dinner at The Bull, 7.00pm Sunday 4 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family Service - Christingle, 11am | Vale Brewery Christmas Carols Day, Vale Brewery Lugershall Road, Brill, 12 noon - 5pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 5 Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 6 Rubbish Collection: recycling and garden bins | Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30pm-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday 7 Over 60s Club Christmas Lunch, Sports and Social Hall, doors open at 12.30pm and bar opens, ends about 3.30pm Thursday 8 WI Meeting: Christmas Dinner with Secret Santa, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Saturday 10 Launton Community Choir Carol Service We Wish You a Merry Christmas, St Mary's Church, 5pm Sunday 11 St Mary's Church, BCP Evensong, 6pm | The Phoenix Singers Carols by Candlelight, St Peter's Bucknell, 7.30pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 12 Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 13 Rubbish Collection: garbage bin | Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30pm-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Sunday 18 St Mary's Church, Morning Prayer, 11am; Nine Lessons and Carolswith mulled wine and mince pies, 6pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 19 Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 20 Rubbish Collection: recycling and garden bins | Last day of Term at Launton School | School Carol Service, St Mary's Church, 9.30am | Community Café is closed until 10 January 2023, when it reopens for two sessions - 9am-11am; 2.30pm-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday 21 FINAL DATE FOR COPY FOR THE DECEMBER 2022 ISSUE OF LAUNTON LINES: SUBMIT TO launtonlines@launton.org | School Christmas Holidays start today. Back to school on 5 January Saturday 24 Christmas Eve | St Mary's Church, Crib Service, 3pm; Midnight Communion, 11.30pm | Grand raffle draw by Santa Claus in The Bull, from 7.30pm Sunday 25 Christmas Day | St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 26 Public Holiday Boxing Day Tuesday 27 Public Holiday for Christmas Day | Rubbish Collection: garbage bin | Thursday 29 Launton Historical Society, Carol McGrath A Medieval Christmas, Parish Hall, 7.30pm

JANUARY 2023 Sunday

1 St Mary's Church, Family Service - Epiphany, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm

A month in the village

Top: flowers taken on 20 November - fuchsia and passiflora Bottom left: Iona Sankey is scared at Woodland Halloween Bottom right: The Friendship Tree in the Woodland

Launton Lines December 2022 | 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 © MMXXII Launton Lines. We reserve the right to edit articles submitted for inclusion.

Neither the Committee nor the Editor is responsible for views expressed in readers’ contributions.