Launton Lines December 2019 Issue 230

Issue 230 December 2019

Friends of St Mary's meeting (see page 5) ...

.... and some neonatal knits from the WI (see pages 14-15)

The ongoing saga of the new post box - continued As we go to print for December the new post box (see picture to the right we first printed 21 months ago of the promised box) had still not been installed - but we continue to wait. WATCH THIS SPACE. Front cover shows the Remembrance Service held at the village War Memorial on Bicester Road. The Service was led by the Reverend April Beckerleg with many villagers attending and representatives from the village school. See also page 24. Cover photo by Robert Cornford

The Editor writes ...

Christmas and the New Year loom in the distance, so there is a lot in this issue about festive season events and preparations for deep winter, including an advert for winter fuel from Nolan Oils on page 19.

There is the first of a series of articles on newly-opened businesses in the village.

The Black Bull has reopened under new management and there is an article about their plans on pages 20-21. Next month I plan an article about the newly-opened Costcutter shop (I’m waiting for the scaffolding to be taken down). Then in 2020, on to StoneLily hairdressers, and the martial arts Dojo at Grange Mews.

This issue also has a report on the plans to set up a Friends of St Mary’s Group on page 5, a listing of the General Election Candidates on page 7, news of the local resident discount for the January Sunday Scramble at Bicester Heritage on page 15 and updates on road closures linked to East-West Rail on page 16 The back cover has news of the Community Choir Carol Concert on 7 December, page 47 lists other Christmas events from The Hummingbird Centre and Bicester Choral, and there is a summary of events at Launton Sports and Social including an imaginative family-focussed New Year’s Eve party on pages 32-33. The School Christmas Tree and Lights feature on page 29 with news of how to fundraise for Cancer Research UK. The School Reporters give an account of what they have been learning about Fair Trade (pages 22-3) including news of a Fairtrade Football.

The Ex-Launton Boy remembers learning to drive (42-3) and there are two further letters about traffic in the village (pages 36-7). There are also regular reports from The Parish Council (pages 6-7), The WI (14-15), FIPW (26-7), and The Vet’s View returns (34-5) with some pretty gruesome photos on page 25, and there is village news from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago (38-41, 17, and 18 -19). Finally, Danny Cunningham writes about Driving Home for Christmas on pages 10-11.

Robert Cornford

Launton Lines

A monthly newsletter for Launton. Published around the first of each month by the Launton Lines Committee © 2019 Launton Lines

email: launtonlines@launton.org The Launton Lines Committee 2019-2020 Jon Spinage, Chair | Jenni Walker, Advertising Manager | Robert Cornford, Editor | 241883 Michael Stack, Treasurer | 242600 Kathy Gilbert, Associate Editor | Shirley Johnson, Distribution | 369269 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: 07903 610405 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 2020 issue of Launton Lines.

December 1 | Sponsored by Lynne Harper to congratulate again her mother Ivy, after celebrating her 105th birthday December 14 | Marking what would have been our late father’s [Brigadier Harry Salmon] th 100 birthday, with loving thoughts and fond memories from Marion Sowler and Anthea Streeter December 20 | Granny Hearn [Annie].

Remembering you on December 20th with happy memories of family times in Launton. Love always, Wendy Foster December 23 | Josef Chodyniecki - we love and miss you every day you were very special to us December 23 | Peter Chodyniecki - always in our hearts we love and miss you every day December 24 | In memory of Jim Wright, with all my love for Christmas, with love - Hils December 25 | Sponsored by Rob Walker in loving memory of Jane Lindsey Walker December 25 | Sponsored by Kath and Mick Ayris in memory of all our loved ones at Christmas December 25 | Wishing all family and friends a Happy Christmas and New Year from Val, Sue and Kevin [Harris]

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 4

Establishing a “Friends of St Mary’s” Group A meeting in St Mary’s Church on the evening of 21 November set out the case for establishing a Friends group to help with the maintenance of the Grade 1 listed building and the churchyard.

The meeting was organised by a group made up of both church attendees and of those aware of the importance of both the building and its estate (the churchyard and lychgate) in the community of Launton.

The meeting was co-ordinated and chaired by Hilary Bradshaw with contributions from Joan Packer (on the organisation of the parish, diocese, and all the way up to the Archbishops), Celia Evans (on reports on the fabric of the building), and Ben Smith (on activities that a Friends Group might support).

There were displays on the history of the church building, photos of details of the building, and copies of the most recent Quinquennial Inspection report from March 2017 that reviews the physical state of the buildings, all of which we could browse while enjoying wine or soft drinks, and a fine selection of cheeses.

A key message of the evening was that a Friends Group would be quite distinct from the religious side of “The Church” - which will continue to be managed by the PCC (Parochial Church Council), the Team Vicar, and the Diocese. The PCC has the legal responsibility for the church and its contents and grounds so a Friends group would need to work with the PCC. As the invitation to the meeting said, the Friends is for everyone, whatever their beliefs. This was repeated at the wrap up of the meeting, that the Friends would be for all.

The Friends Group as proposed will focus on supporting, and enhancing, the buildings and land of St. Mary’s. The Quinquennial Inspection has highlighted some areas that a friends of St Mary’s could work on in their role of helping to care for the fabric of the building.

In Ben Smith’s listing of work that a Friends Group could consider he mentioned short term aims such as testing the lightning conductor, middle term aims such as an inspection of the roof timbers and added a longer term wish list, with provision of toilets, a servery/kitchen, new sound system, and new heating and electrical provision.

As Hilary said at the end of the meeting, “All you need is a love for this wonderful and historic part of our village”.

As we left, members of the group collected names and contact details of those who want to know more. In case you were not at the meeting and want to add your name to the list, please contact Celia Evans 01869 277625.

Robert Cornford Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 5

Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 7 November 2019 at 7.30pm in Launton Parish Hall

Councillors present Mrs Lizzie Chisholm, Mr Chris Fox (Vice Chairman), Mr Mike Murphy, Mr Ed Sanders Apologies Mrs Lesley Thompson, Mr Simon Turner (Chairman), Mrs Jeanne Walker In attendance The Clerk, Mrs Jane Olds; 3 members of the public Reports from District and County Councillors No reports were received for the meeting.

Finance The Finance Report was 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 a villager has concerns about a planning application, they are welcome to come along to Parish Council meetings to raise those concerns.

Village Matters Parish Hall Lease The PCC had received what were thought to be the finalised lease documents from their Solicitor, but unfortunately the Parish Council’s Solicitor had not finished the documents or clarified some of the points which had been raised. This had led to confusion which the Parish Council is in the midst of clarifying.

East West Rail There will be road closures for the rail works - please see the box at the end of this report Post Box Unfortunately, we’re still no further forward, despite requests.

20mph Zone Outside School By the time you read this, the 20mph Zone outside the school should have all been installed. We hope to work with the school and Police on an education programme.

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 6

Station Road Drainage Issues The Clerk has been following up the flooding and drainage issues on Station Road with the OCC Highways team and been assured that they would look into it as a matter of urgency. (The situation has developed somewhat since the meeting, and the drainage problem is now also being taken up with other agencies.)

Agenda items for the next meetings The Clerk requested that she receive all items for the December agenda by 21 November, and for the January meeting by 26 December Dates of next meetings Thursday 5 December at 7:30pm in the Parish Hall and 9 January (note change of date) at 7.30 pm in the School Hall (note change of venue).

Councillors and the Parish Clerk are normally available before the start of the formal meeting, from 7pm, to meet the public. Public plans and correspondence are normally available for viewing and comments, including paper copies of planning applications, and to hear informal discussions on agenda items Full minutes are available on the Parish Council Notice Boards in the village (by The War Memorial and on the wall of the Parish Hall), and on the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk

Candidates for the General Election The following candidates (listed in alphabetical order) are standing in the Banbury constituency at the General Election on 12 December 2019.

The Polling Station in Launton is at The Parish Hall on Bicester Road. It will be open between 7am and 10pm on 12 December. Do try to come along and vote.

Name of Candidate

Description

Tim BEARDER

Liberal Democrats

Ian Michael MIDDLETON

The Green Party

Victoria Mary Boswell PRENTIS

The Conservative Party

Suzette Elizabeth WATSON

The Labour Party

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 7

CHURCH NEWS December 2019

JAN 31st 2020 A little reminder about your tax return.

Contact Stack & Jones for a FREE initial meeting. email@stackandjones.co.uk Tel: 01869 277973 Unit 4, Willows Gate, Stratton Audley Bicester, Oxon OX27 9AU

Sunday 1 December 8am Holy Communion (BCP) | 11am Family Service, Christingle (see page 13) Tuesday 3 December Community CafĂŠ, The Parish Hall: 9am-11am | 2.30pm-4.30pm Sunday 8 December 6pm Evensong Tuesday 10 December Community CafĂŠ, The Parish Hall: 9am-11am | 2.30pm-4.30pm Sunday 15 December 11am Holy Communion Sunday 22 November 11am Holy Communion | 6pm Carol Service Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve 3pm Crib Service | 11.30pm Midnight Mass Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day 11am Holy Communion Sunday 29 December 11am Holy Communion

Chapel Services

Launton Congregational Chapel services in December will be held between 3pm and 4pm on these dates. All are welcome.

There is no obligation to take Communion. Come and join us for quiet reflection before the start of another busy week.

Sunday 8 December Communion Service Sunday 22 December Carol Service Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 8

THE BLUE TEXEL FARM SHOP 1 Station Road, Launton, Bicester OX26 5DS Telephone: 01869 252619 info@thebluetexel.co.uk

CHRISTMAS ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN Everything you need for a spectacular Christmas Feast, Order early to avoid disappointment.

JOIN US FOR A CHRISTMAS FOOD AND GIN TASTING DAY Saturday 30th November from 9am to 2pm

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Ham, Beef, Sausages, Pork Pies, Sausage Rolls Cheeses, Chutneys, and Chocolates Give the gift of great food.

Our Gift Vouchers make great Christmas presents

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 9

Driving Home for Christmas

Just own up and admit it, because most of us have done it. Yes, we’ve broken the motorway speed limit! And now it’s easier to get away with it, because there are fewer motorway traffic police to catch us. It’s like the Wild West on our motorways. You might able to recognise some of these familiar examples of inappropriate driving.

For starters, there are the vans, driven by White Van Man (WVM). You see them doing around 100mph in the outside lane. The driver is relaxing at the wheel, with Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas coming through the speakers. He’s playing with his phone or his iPad*, eating a Greggs* sausage roll, on cruise control, feet up on the dash.

Then in his mirror he sees another vehicle, inches from the back bumper, capable of doing 150mph. It’s flashing to get WVM out of its way, but there’s a problem. The middle lane is full of cars. There’s hardly any traffic in the inside lane, but today’s a popular day for another dodgy group - the MRA (Middle-lane Residents Association). WVM can usually ignore some mild pressure from a Vauxhall Astra* hire car doing 100mph on his boot. But this Mercedes S Class* is taking no prisoners. This High-Speed Bully (HSB) is in a proper hurry and WVM is, frustratingly, blocking its progress.

The MRA members are oblivious. There’s no point getting them to think about moving into the empty inside lane. Their approach to driving is: “We love the middle lane. It was invented for us. We won’t go anywhere else.

We’d rather die in a ditch than leave it”. Their philosophy is: “At some point, who knows when, I might overtake a vehicle doing less than my 55mph. So I’m staying in the middle lane, because I can enjoy the company of the vehicles in the two other lanes”. MRA members are committed to trashing the Highway Code. They cannot understand why, sweeping past them on their left, are vintage lorries, Land Rover Defenders* pulling caravans, VW* camper vans, dustbin wagons, Reliant Robins* and Brompton* electric bikes. To their right, the rest of the traffic glides by, many waving their fists or making peculiar finger gestures. These gesticulations remain a mystery to an MRA member, whose gaze remains fixed constantly on the far distance, hoping that they will eventually find a vehicle to overtake.

It doesn’t dawn on them that they’d be better off at 65mph. But that would be potentially dangerous and expensive: one - they’d be burning too much rubber; and two - they’d need to buy some faster driving gloves. Imagine the confusion it would cause to the great British motoring public if the MRA Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 10

weren’t hogging the middle lane. Panic and pandemonium would be spread around the world.

That’s all very well, but WVM is still working out how to peel his van off the front bumper of the HSB. Just when he thinks that he’s run out of options, the enraged Mercedes gets him off the hook. It brakes, indicates left and then slides into the ranks of the MRA, causing some of them to consider, for a fleeting moment, moving into the hated inside lane. But nobody bothers. The Mercedes drifts into the empty inside lane and in a few seconds disappears into the distance at double the MRA speed, and more.

The logic of the situation seems to be that there are two fast lanes - the inside lane and the outside lane - and one slow lane - the MRA lane.

What can be done about this anarchy? Clearly, it’s a problem for 10 Downing Street. Perhaps an information campaign could be funded. The government has already found millions of pounds to warn us about the dangers of a No Deal Brexit*. They’ve funded expensive TV advertisements; they’ve peppered social media with adverts to get us prepared for Brexit.

They’ve used motorway gantry messages, as a technological solution. During September and October, these illuminated gantries displayed useful information like: “Lorry drivers travelling to the EU! You might not be able to after 31-10-19, so sort it out”. Or: “EU customs documentation could change soon! We hope you know more than we do”. Or: “Northern Ireland might be in the UK. We’ll tell you more in due course”. Surely, if the government can use motorway gantries to tell a few truckers driving to the EU about the commercial dangers of a No Deal Brexit, they could educate the British public about motorway hazards. They could say: “The middle lane is an overtaking lane, just like the outside lane. Keep out of it if you’re not overtaking”. They could add: “If you do want to overtake, remember what you learned for your driving test - ‘mirror, signal, manoeuvre’”. They could include words from Chris Rea’s song: “I take look at the driver next to me. He's just the same. Just the same”, then tell the speeders: “You lot pay the same road tax as the rest of us. And Chris Rea says we’re all the same.

Just learn to queue like everybody else”, and finally: “Learn some manners, you dirty scruff bags. Eat your sausage rolls at home”.

We could do what the Chinese do and fill the country with spy cameras armed with facial recognition software. We could copy their curiously Orwellian ‘social credit system’. This benevolent system gives every Chinese citizen a social credit or debit score for their behaviour, and that includes their driving performance/traffic offences. Here in the UK, the government Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 11

could ban the MRA, arrest its leaders and house them in re-education camps.

Stopping high speed motorway bullying won’t be easy. Eliminating the MRA could be long and difficult. We may need new legislation. It may take every one of the 20,000 extra police officers the government wants to recruit, and in extreme circumstances it may require prison sentences for the worst offenders. We already know how determined the more radicalised MRA members are. They’ve been bombarding social media with their menacing slogan: “We’d rather do time inside HMP Bullingdon* than spent time in the inside lane of the M40*”. The wickedest high-speed bullies won’t stop until they’ve been locked up too. And the hardcore white van drivers continue to be a law unto themselves.

Only the next government can deal with this motorway madness. In the meantime, lives and livelihoods remain at risk. As our roads fill up with friends and relatives driving home for Christmas, let’s all do what we can to reduce the misery on our motorways at this special time of year. Festive greetings to you all.

Danny Cunningham Throiughout this article, the * means that other brands are available.

The Volunteer Driver Service (VDS) is a registered charity offering a reliable, friendly and affordable way of addressing transport needs in areas where access and inclusion are an increasing concern. They currently make over 300 journeys and cover 5,000 miles a month.

VDS offers door-to-door transport, and provides comfortable and affordable ways of getting to appointments, hospital visits, or visiting relatives in care.

There is significant social value too. Passengers feel they regain their independence as they don't have to rely on family or neighbours to take them to appointments, and being able to chat and build a personal relationship with the volunteers has such a positive impact.

Volunteer drivers use their own cars and give their time for free. Passengers pay 45p per mile to help cover the driver’s fuel cost.

For further information or to book a journey, please call 0300 3030 125 Do you have a car and some spare time, and are you looking for a flexible way to help your community? They are always looking for more volunteers!

The Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/volunteerdriverservice Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 12

NEWS FROM ST MARY’S CHURCH THERE’S PLENTY HAPPENING DURING DECEMBER SO WHY NOT JOIN US IN THE CHURCH? You may already have joined us at the Christingle Service at 11am on 1 December Our Family Service held on behalf of the wonderful work of The Children’s Society Still to come 7 December at 5pm COMMUNITY CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT In the Church 24 December at 3pm CRIB SERVICE Children – if you would like, please come dressed as one of the following an Angel, a Star, a Shepherd or an Animal to celebrate Jesus’ Birth

In the Church

Other Church Services are listed on page 8

Reminder about the Community Café Last sessions take place on 10 December, before the Christmas break.

Hope to see you there!

Launton Community Cafe The Cafe is open during school terms and will close for the Christmas/New Year holiday In December the Cafe is open on Tuesdays 3rd and 10th It will reopen in January 2020 There are two sessions: between 9am and 11am between 2.30pm and 4.30pm For information on future plans contact Rev’d Peter Wright revpeterwright@gmail.com or phone 01869 572272 Or come to a Tuesday meeting

Everyone is welcome Come to meet friends and neighbours

ROYAL FOOTCARE Professional and affordable foot care in the convenience of your own home

“your feet are in safe hands” Sharon Ball S.A.C. DIP.FHPT S.A.C. DIP. FHPP Registered foot health practitioner // www.royalfootcare.co.uk

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 13

Launton WI Meeting on Thursday 14 November Our meeting started with us all singing Jerusalem accompanied by Gwynne in good form on the piano.

Birthday posies were presented to Pat (A) Ros and CJ. Celia then gave us the general administration details and Gaye gave us a financial report which included reporting donations to the Bicester Food Bank and the Fire Fighters Charity. Pat Tucker told us about Stella Rimington’s interesting talk in a packed Oxford Town Hall, one of the many Oxfordshire WI Centenary events held this year.

Our speaker for the evening was Nicola Young, a Neonatal Nurse with the Neonatal Unit and SONeT Transport Team at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. We learned the history of preterm babies since 1898, when the first Incubator Station was exhibited on Coney Island in the USA, to today’s hi-tec equipment at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, which saves many preterm and full-term babies with problems.

Grange Mews News

Commercial Offices, Industrial Units and Storage for Lease We have “stolen” a peep at the latest project at The Hummingbird.

This follows from the vision of Mechelle with a encouragement and participation from Paul. The bonhomie and goodwill emanating from the whole team effort is quite remarkable. I noticed some timber going into store yesterday - this has to be a marker for the next idea I am sure.

At Grange Mews transport is very much to the fore. Launton Transport are becoming even busier with their repair business with both large trucks and smaller vehicles. I hope my car MOT due tomorrow is turned round rapidly without too much expense. Their Launton Travel operation is expanding with contracts into west Oxfordshire as well as conventional “one off” trip agreements. Cherwell Valley Bus and Coach, also based here, now offer specific School and Community services with full disability chair accessibility. Not to forget Duncan at Bicester Car and Van Hire, who continues to offer a first rate service.

A little early to wish everyone a Happy Christmas, but please do enjoy, and be careful at this season.

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 07711778230

Nicola also thanked our members for their knitted donations for the unit (see photo on page 2).

Our competition, “Something beginning with Y”, was won by Kathy with an empty Yakult bottle.

Our next meeting is on Thursday 12 December at 7.30pm and is our Christmas party night. This will be held in the Sports and Social Hall as our normal venue (the Parish Hall) will be a Polling Station for the General Election. We will have a meal, some entertainment, and a special visit from Father Christmas who will handle the Secret Santa Service.

Jane Leach

Bicester Heritage Sunday Brunch Scramble 5 January 2020 | 8.30am – 2pm As with the earlier Scrambles, Bicester Heritage is making discounted tickets available to residents of OX26 and OX27 for the Scramble on Sunday 5 January 2020.

Adult tickets, at a cost of £5.50 each - a 50% discount - (plus booking fee), are for local residents living in postcodes OX26 and OX27 and will be available from 5 December until tickets sell out. Until 4 December, tickets will be £8.25 plus booking fee, with no local resident discount.

Once the local discount tickets sell out, the full price tickets will cost £11 each (plus the booking fee). Children under 16 are free (when accompanied by an adult ticket holder). Parking is also free. Tickets WILL NOT be available on the gate.

Go to http://bicesterheritage.co.uk/?ticket=super-scramble-tickets-3, click on the ‘Enter Promotional Code’ (above the ticket selection) and add the local discount code of ‘FlyingBrevets’. Then choose the number of ‘Local Resident Discounted Tickets’ you'd like and follow the instructions.

Gates open at 8.30am. Scramble closes at 2pm Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 15

Road Closures for East West Rail Works

East West Rail has requested a number of road closures in the next few weeks for them to carry out preparatory work.

On 29 November (between 7.30am and 6.30pm) the northern road to Stratton Audley from the A4421 through Stratton Audley Park to the ‘Pool Farm’ Crossroads will be closed.

Also on 29 November (between 7.30am and 6.30pm) a short stretch of the Bicester Road to the right of Station Road towards Marsh Gibbon will be closed.

Between 2 and 4 December (from 7.30am to 6.30pm) the road from the ‘Pool Farm’ crossroads above Stratton Audley towards Poundon will be closed.

And on 13 December (between 7.30am and 8.30pm) Station Road beyond the 30mph limit signs will be closed up to the Stratton Audley Marsh Gibbon crossroads.

More information and the maps can be found at www.launtonpc.gov.uk/road-closures/

THE BULL INN Bicester Road, LAUNTON Tel 01869 248158 www.bullinnbicester.co.uk A Warm & Friendly Traditional Country Pub TOGETHER WE HAVE RAISED OVER

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 16

100 Years Ago: The Bicester Advertiser December 1919 3 December FOOTBALL In connection with the Jersey Cup competition, a remarkable game took place at Launton on Saturday, when Ardley were the visitors. In miserable weather the strong Launton eleven won by no less than 17 goals to 0, the visitors being completely outplayed. So far as it has been able to ascertain, this is quite a record for prolific scoring in the competition. This is Launton's second victory in the Jersey League; the previous week they defeated Fritwell 4-0.

Tomorrow they go to Middleton minutes from the start W Jeacock Stoney (also a Jersey League game), scored after receiving a neat pass from when doubtless a hard task will be set twenty yards out. Rain soon them. commenced to fall in torrents, soaking 5 December the players through to the skin and Members of the free churches of making the ground in an awful state. It Bicester and District will be interested was not surprising, therefore, that both to learn that Mr WH Sansom, second sides gave a poor exhibition. The son of the late Mr Wm Sansom and of Middleton forwards broke away once Mrs Sansom of Pond Farm, Launton, or twice but never looked really had received an unanimous invitation dangerous, whereas the Launton to the pastorate of the Countess of forwards gave the Middleton goalie Huntingdon’s Church, Goring-onplenty to think about, and before half Thames. Mr Sansom, who has already time came very near to score a second preached at the above church on three from a corner kick. successive Sundays, has accepted the In the second half, Middleton tried pastorate, temporarily, in view of the hard to force the pace and opened with possibility of an early return to college a good run on the left, following with a to complete his theological studies. He complete bombardment of the commenced his ministry on Sunday Launton goal. The visiting backs, last, November 30th. however, were in good form, and repulsed the attack again and again.

12 December During this half, Launton were for the FOOTBALL NOTES In the same most part on the defensive, but try as competition [Jersey League], Launton they would, the home forwards could visited Middleton Stoney to play the not get through, and the game thus home team, and maintained their fine ended in another victory for Launton record by winning 1-0 in a rather scrappy game. Middleon won the toss by the only goal scored, which was a fitting result. Lord and Lady Jersey but resolved to play with the wind slightly against them. Launton attacked were among the spectators. almost immediately, and only about fine Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 17

150 Years Ago: The Bicester Herald 31 December 1869 PETTY SESSIONS John Massey and Frederick Cartwright, two youths, of Launton, were charged by the Bicester Highway Board, with doing damage to the property of the Board to the amount of 2s, on November 14. Massey pleaded guilty. PC Stockford proved the service of summons, and also stated that on the morning of the day in question he saw the defendants at the road leading from Launton to Blackthorn, throwing stones from a heap by the side of the road at an old frying pan. Mr Livesay stated the object of the Board in prosecuting was to stop the practice. No conviction was recorded, but the costs, 4s each, was ordered to be paid. Massey was allowed a week for payment.

JUVENILE CONCERT AT LAUNTON On Wednesday December 29 the National School children gave an entertainment in the schoolroom at which a large number of persons were present. The singing and the recitations were highly creditable to the scholars. On Thursday the children were regaled with an excellent tea, followed by games, snap-dragon, etc.

Before they separated, about 9.30, cheers were given for the Sunday school teachers, and Mr, Mrs, and Master Blomfield.

AERIALS

SUPPLIED, ERECTED & REPAIRED SINCE 1962

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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

150 Years Ago: from the School Log Book 1869

Wednesday 1 Dec Taught children My Native Land (Dr Fowle) Thursday 2 Dec Rev JC Blomfield took 1st and 2nd Classes in Scrip[ture] Friday 3 Dec Av[erage] for week 90.1 Monday 6 Dec Refused to re-admit Job Castle. Many children away with severe colds Tuesday 7 Dec Rev JC Blomfield took 1st and 2nd Classes in Scrip[ure] Wednesday 8 Dec The III Std make good progress with their Reading now Thursday 9 Dec Rev JC Blomfield did not take his Class this morning Friday 10 Dec Av[erage] for week 80.1 Monday 13 Dec Many of the children who were away with colds last week returned to School this morning Tuesday 14 Dec Rev JC Blomfield took 1st and 2nd Classes in Scrip[ure] ...

Thursday 16 Dec Rev JC Blomfield did not take his lesson this morning Friday 17 Dec Av[erage] for week 89 ...

Tuesday 21 Dec Rev JC Blomfield did not take his lesson Wednesday 22 Dec Snowstorm - several absentees ...

Friday 24 Dec Av[erage] for week 91.5. Broke up. Christmas Holidays

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 19

What’s New At The Black Bull

The Black Bull in West End has been through a number of managers and publicans since Tracey and Paolo left over a year ago. Now the pub has a new team who say “We’ll be here permanently”.

I went for a leaving party for Andrew and Caroline Dunn (off to Jordan for Andrew to brush up his Arabic before settling in Cairo) on 16 November and made the acquaintance of one of the two local managers on duty that evening, John Woodiwiss. The bar was full and the sound levels were high - it felt almost like The Black Bull in the days when it was run by Oxford football legend Nigel Cassidy in the late 1980s.

I came back the following day to get to talk to the new people, to get up-todate news on their plans for the pub. I was fortunate as, in the pub that evening, was the licensee and main man, Kyle Michael.

Kyle runs what sounds like a small, local pub company. “We have three premises in Aylesbury - Pulse 51, a nightclub; The White Swan, a town centre pub; and Minions Bar, a cocktail bar also available for private hire. Then in a village to the north east of Aylesbury there’s The Red Lion in Bierton, a very traditional village pub. And we are about to open The George and Dragon in Princes Risborough. We know that The Black Bull is a village pub, and we want to make sure that it stays that way.”

There will be two managers working in The Black Bull: John Woodiwiss and Danielle Pollard will share duties. “Do come in and meet them both.”

What plans are there for food? “We’re already using the kitchen and offering a bar snacks, and a Sunday Lunch menu from 12.30 until they run out. By the end of November, we’ll have a pizza oven installed and working. We’ll be offering a range of toppings. Each pizza will be hand made to order, so it’ll take about 20 minutes. Of course, we’ll be offering a take-out menu for pizzas, too. And we’ll be applying for a change in our licence so we can sell beer to take away with your pizza.” The staff member in the kitchen is the well-named Taylor Caterer: you’ll also find him behind the bar.

It was a little weird to be asking about plans for the garden on a dark November evening. “We’ll be keeping the two Aunt Sally throws next summer, and want to expand the outside bar and develop a cooking station.

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 20

The work we’d like to do will need planning permission and that’ll take time.

But we know that the garden is a real asset for The Black Bull.”

And are there any other plans? “Immediately we’ve reinstalled the pool table in the bar and it gets a lot of use. And we’ve installed screens around the space so people can watch major events in comfort. There is so much else to do, like fixing the woodburning stove in the main bar so we can have a fire.

Oh, and John, who is a graphic designer, had created a new logo, at the top of this report.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound as though The Black Bull will be getting Hook Norton Ales back on the ale pump. “It’s just not offered by the brewery - Heineken. We can’t work out how it was on the bar in the past!”

“For the immediate future here are opening times: Mondays, we’re closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 3pm - 10pm Thursdays & Fridays, 3pm - 11pm Saturdays, 12 noon - 11pm Sundays, 12.30pm - 9pm On Christmas Day we’ll be open from 12 noon to 2pm. John will be behind the bar then, and says, ‘Please bring a present and come and have a drink’.”

“Look at the facebook page www.facebook.com/bblaunton where there are menus and details of special offers. To make bookings, phone 01869 248846, or email theblackbulllaunton@gmail.com, or just come in and see the changes we’re making.”

LAUNTON COMMUNITY CHOIR CAROL CONCERT

SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER AT 5PM A vILLAGE EvENT fOR ALL THE fAMILY. We will be including some songs for the children to join the choir in singing, so we hope to have a good number of children along to help the choir out.

Tickets are now available at Costcutter: £5 adults, accompanied children free.

Join us for mulled wine and mince pies Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 21

The School Reporters: Learning about Fair Trade e know quite a lot about Fair Trade because we have been learning about it in class. It was interesting to find out that it started in 1994. It is all about being fair to the farmers who grow crops like bananas and other fruits and their workers. Many years ago, workers had to work very long days, often as long as 16 hours, harvesting the bananas from dusk until dawn standing in awkward positions which hurt their backs. Young children had to work as well because their families were poor. This meant that the children were not able to go to school. Trade is ‘unfair’ when farmers receive very little money and have poor conditions while the companies that sell their products make lots of money from them. Fair Trade is a way of buying and selling fruit and vegetables that lets the growers get a fair price and makes better conditions for workers and helps children to go to school. It also supports care of the environment by using less chemicals. In 1966 about 7,000 children over the age of five were harvesting crops like bananas but this doesn’t happen now. Our teacher brought a banana into school and split it up to show us how the banana costs were shared out between the workers, transport costs, the growers and the shops. We watched videos which helped us to understand more about Fair Trade. We wrote about Fair Trade and made posters about this subject. he Fairtrade Mark was introduced in 1994; it is a symbol awarded to products that are sold under the fair-trading conditions. The first product to be classified as Fairtrade was chocolate, made by Green and Blacks but now there are over 6,000 Fairtrade products. There is even a Fairtrade football now which is called the Bala Sport Ball. One of our group is going to add this to their Christmas list because this is a way of helping Fairtrade. hen you go to the shops you can see the Fairtrade symbol on things like bananas, tea and cocoa. You know that these things have been grown fairly and that they are good things to buy.

W

T

W

Freya, Katelyn, Leon, Oscar and Riley | Year 6 Reporters, Launton School There are some pictures from the School Fair Trade Project on the facing page, 23.

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 22

The Launton School Reporters: Learning about Fair Trade

The FAIRTRADE Mark, introduced in 1994 to identify fairly-traded goods.

See the report on page 22, opposite, from the Year 6 Reporters.

Top photo: Fairtrade Banana Bread made in the school. I could enjoy one of those!

Right: a report on the Fairtrade Football, the Bala Sport Ball. “Why Should We Choose Fair Trade Footballs?�

Photos supplied by the School

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 23

Remembrance Day in Launton: 11 November 2019

It was a bright morning with a low sun sending long shadows across the war memorial. A class from the school laid their wreath as people stood in thought. Photos by Robert Cornford

Launton Lines November 2019 | Page 24

From The Vet's Voice (see pages 34-35) On pages 34 and 35, our vet (Jason Williams at Bicester Vets) writes about an operation to remove a benign fatty growth (a lipoma) from a large labrador dog. He sent in some photos which I found fascinating, if a bit gory.

Here they are.

Above: the site of the operation, after shaving.

Below: the lipoma after removal ‘must have weighed over a kilo and covered both my hands when holding it.’ Right: the operation in progress, before the removal of the lipoma.

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 25

Autumn in The Woodland

At work in the Island Pond Wood Top left: Bicester Green Gym at work in the bramble patch Photo by Maureen Roberts Top right: A nesting box with evidence of a destructive visitor Photo by Glyn Austin

Above: The ‘new’ boardwalk offers a dry passage over the waterfilled dip in the woodland Photo by Bob Roberts Right: Members of the Friends of Island Pond Wood and Bicester Green Gym get on top of brambles growing through the woodland Photo by Maureen Roberts See report on page 27 opposite Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 26

News from the Woodland

Although the last work session in November had to be cancelled because the woodland was too wet, the previous three sessions were a great success.

On the 15th and 29th of October, we were lucky enough to have Bicester Green Gym working with us. Most of their members seem to be younger and fitter than those of us who do the work sessions!

We worked behind and to the left of the pond, at the back of the rough meadow. Brambles were the biggest problem, so we’re clearing them, and then digging up the roots. Not an easy job, made more difficult by the boggy ground. Wellies were definitely an essential. Despite the hours of work, by many people, the job wasn’t completed, so we will carry on in that area when the weather improves and the ground dries out.

On the 22nd of October, a small group of us spent a few hours spreading shreddings on the footpaths. Hopefully, this should stop the paths from becoming too waterlogged.

After installing bird boxes earlier this year, we are pleased to report that all but one of them were used over the spring and summer.

Some had been used for nesting, and some for roosting. They have now been cleared out and cleaned. Unfortunately it seems that some of them have had other visitors (see photos on page 26 opposite) and over winter we shall have to make some repairs and modifications.

The new boardwalk is proving to be a great improvement on the old wooden one. Old photos show the old boardwalk submerged, but the new one is higher and drier!

It’s always a bit sad to see the bare trees after such beautiful autumn colour, but our woodland continues to be a beautiful place to be. If you feel you could help us in any way, please contact Maureen Roberts or Judy Taylor on islandpondwood.launton@gmail.com Judy Taylor Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 27

Launton Lines Noticeboard

PRESSED FOR TIME

Susy’s Ironing Service email: suzyrosado18@gmail.com mobile: 07956729237

Fast, Efficient and Reliable Ironing All ironing carried out in a clean and smoke-free environment

LGA Barn Dance with Jack’s Maggott Band and caller r y 2020

nua a J 5 2 y a aturd S : e t a d New

Launton Playing Field Hall, starting at 7.30pm.

Launton Watercolour Group

We meet in the Parish Hall on Mondays at 2pm - 4pm

This month meetings will be on the 2 and 9 December

Then a Christmas break. First meeting in 2020 will be on 13 January For more information phone 249725 or email johnandpatsystephens@gmail.com Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 28

Christmas Tree and Lights on the School Front Lawn This year, again, there will be a village Christmas Tree on Bicester Road, hosted by the School. The tree will go up in the first week of December, and lights will be lit on 6 December by children during the school assembly to open the Christmas Festival for children at the school.

In keeping with a long-held village tradition, snowflakes can be bought and dedicated to the memory of loved ones and then hung on the tree. The School Headteacher Jane Paterson explained: “If you wish to donate through JustGiving the money will go direct to Cancer Research UK. Alternatively you can collect a snowflake from School if you wish to write a dedication before it's hung on the tree, and make a donation in School. JustGiving link is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/launtonprimary-school Watch out for the lights, and the dedication snowflakes, as you come by the school at the end of the day on 6 December.”

Local Osteopath in Launton Hannah is committed to helping you restore your mobility and keep you moving, through hands-on treatment and exercises.

Hannah specialises in all types of pain, including low back pain, neck pain, hip pain, stress, injuries, and pain prevention.

Call on 01869 640 315 or book online at https://hannahosteopath.business.site Book a free 15-minute assessment to see if osteopathy could help you. 

Grange Mews, Launton OX26 5EG Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 29

The Village Players update

The Autumn Play Am-Dram Thank You Ham! has receded into memory. The cast have recovered from their illnesses and we are still trying to finalise the accounts.

The Village Players are now seriously into Panto mode. The Open Evening on 27 October launched The Snow Queen, and rehearsals have started, dance steps learned, words memorised, and the set is taking shape and colour in the barn.

The Snow Queen will be the 34th Panto from the Village Players. The script has been written by Julia West who will also be co-directing the show with Martin Evans. Original music is again written by Steve Webber.

The Snow Queen is the original story on which the hugely popular film Frozen was based. This month saw the release of Frozen 2, the sequel. So we expect a lot of families to turn up for the shows in costume!

There will be six shows on 20, 21 and 22 February. Thursday shows are at 10am and 2.30pm with Friday and Saturday at the more traditional 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

If you can’t make it to one of these shows, there is also the Dress Rehearsal (we ask for a donation in place of a ticket) at 7.30pm on Wednesday 19 February.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday 2 January at The Bull in Launton and Coles Books in Bicester. Thursday shows will be £10 Adults and £5 Children: Friday and Saturday shows will be £12 and £6.

Launton Lines goes online from January 2020

MASKELL FLOORING

Just a reminder to all contributors and Your local family firm for 52 years advertisers in Launton Lines that from the issue for January 2020 (Issue 231) it We will bring samples to you will be issued online through the  Take away old carpet publishing website Issuu. We will also continue to produce a print version for Move all your furniture village distribution.

Each issue will be put online as a single Hoover and clean up file exactly as the print version, and  Old fashioned service each issue will be promoted through  No stress. No pressure. No worry the Launton facebook page and Launton.org website.

Grange Mews, Station Road, Launton Please be aware when submitting words, photos or adverts that they will maskellflooring@gmail.com be published online.

01869 322514 We may need to check on photo Member of Carpet Foundation permissions specially those of children.

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 30

Crimewatch Report: update to 20 November There have been no reported incidents of crime in Launton for the month of November up to Wednesday 20th.

In Bicester and surrounding villages, however, we have seen a recent spate of sheds and outbuildings being broken into and garden equipment stolen.

The next Rural Communities Priorities Forum is on Wednesday 22 January 2020 at 7pm at Ardley Village Hall. All are welcome to this meeting where all members of our rural communities are invited to help set the forthcoming policing priorities.

There is useful information about safety over the holiday season at this link: https://www.immobilise.com/articles/crime-prevention-atchristmas Louise Beaumont PCSO C6333 | Bicester Police Station | 07977 138 476 Louise.beaumont@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk ALL ROOFS, GUTTERS & CHIMNEYS

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Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 31

The Month Ahead at Launton Sports and Social There is a lot going on at Launton Sports and Social in December which, to remind you, is open to everyone with no membership required.

December/New Year Opening Times Monday - Friday 4.30pm - close Saturday and Sunday 12.00 noon - close Christmas Eve 12.00 noon - close Christmas Day 12.00 noon - 2.00pm Boxing Day 12.00 noon - close New Year’s Eve 6.00pm - close New Year’s Day 12.00 noon - 5.00pm Every Friday between now and the end of December from 4.30pm until close all drinks will be priced at £2.50. This includes all draught/bottled beer, medium wine/prosecco and single spirit/mixer.

Christmas Eve - come and join us on Christmas Eve with free snacks

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 32

available throughout the evening. During the evening we will make the draw for the £100 M&S hamper - tickets available over the bar from now onwards.

Fun Quiz/Bingo/Raffle - Saturday 28 December at 7.30pm, bring the family New Year’s Eve Family Party - we appreciate how difficult and expensive it can be for families with children to celebrate New Year’s Eve so we are hosting a family party. We will be open from 6pm and are planning a children’s entertainer from 7.00-8.30pm. People are welcome to bring their own food (all drinks must be purchased on the premises).

Tickets are available from the bar in advance and are priced at £5 per adult which includes the first drink free of charge (pint, medium glass of wine, single spirit /mixer). Tickets for children under 18 are free of charge.

Dave Barrett

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Visit our website at www.aldredcaseymedical.co.uk To book an appointment please contact us using the details below, or email enquiries@aldredcaseymedical.co.uk In Stratton Audley: The Old Post Office, Cherry Street, Stratton Audley OX27 9AA

Phone 01869 278088

In Banbury: Marlborough Road Clinic, Suite 4 Borough House, Marlborough Road, Banbury OX16 5TH

Phone 01295 273073

A Vet’s Voice: A Major Lumpectomy

Lewis is a very big, very strong and very “enthusiastic” visitor to Bicester Vets. At 40kg he’s probably a bit overweight, even for a tall male Labrador, but nonetheless he is fit and strong and in good health. He is even a regular blood donor; which is a great service he does for his fellow canines (not that he actually has a choice) – but he seems very happy to give his blood with the same enthusiasm with which he approaches everything in life!

As Labradors age they often develop soft, fatty lumps (lipomas) which usually aren’t a problem for the dog. However, some of these lumps can grow to a very large size in which case they can become cumbersome for the dog to carry around and sometimes they can inhibit the movement of a leg. In these cases, it is usually sensible to remove the lump.

Lewis has suffered from a number of theses lumps, many of which were small and inconsequential whilst others have become very large and problematic. Today Lewis came in for the removal of 2 fatty lumps. The larger of the two was the size of a bread and butter

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plate in diameter. We had been monitoring its growth over the past six months and could feel that it seemed to be growing underneath his shoulder blade (scapula) which gave us cause for concern.

Lewis had a routine blood test in the morning to check that his blood count and organ functions were ok before anaesthetising him ready for surgery. As the surgery progressed it became apparent that the lipoma was located underneath some of his chest muscles and was tightly attached to his rib cage. It extended back towards his last rib and forward underneath the scapula as predicted. Luckily the lump was well defined and separated from most tissues easily. There were some firm attachments to the ribs but once these were resected the huge fatty lump was removed. It must have weighed over a kilo and covered both my hands when holding it.

Once a mass like this is removed from between tissues it leaves a cavity which we call “dead space”. We want the tissues to heal themselves back together so that the space disappears but this isn’t always this straightforward. Dead space, especially near a moving leg, has a tendency to get fluid build-up called a seroma which will slow the healing process. To reduce this risk, I placed a number of flat latex “drains” which are intended to create a track for fluid to escape from the cavity to the outside thus allowing the healing to continue.

Lewis was full of beans when he was collected this evening. He was wearing a medical pet shirt which is like a tight pet T-shirt. This will create some gentle pressure on the area as well as preventing Lewis from licking or chewing the wound and drains. All going well he’ll be back next week for the drains to be pulled out (just in a consultation). Then we’ll check him again a week later and hopefully that will be the end of this episode.

This is not the first time Lewis has had a large lipoma removed and unfortunately, due to his predisposition, it may not be the last. I always look forward to seeing Lewis and his owner at the surgery; they both have a great approach to life and are always in good spirits. Here’s hoping his wounds heal uneventfully and that his lipomas stay at bay for a long time!

Enjoy your pets Jason Williams | Bicester Vets There are photos from Jason in the colour section of Launton Lines (see page 25) showing stages of the operation: they are “a bit gory” - you have been warned.

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 35

Letters to the Editor This month we have received two letters broadly on traffic issues in the village.

Re: November 2019 Launton Lines I notice, in the response to complaints about the Grumpy Old Men, that you quote “can the Parish Council not press for measures to preserve the life of the village and villagers”.

Any analysis of the activities of the Parish Council over the last several years would show that they have indeed attempted to mitigate traffic-related problems. Such measures as speed bumps, pedestrian controlled crossing and other traffic management initiatives have all been considered. Some have been rejected for reasons of cost and many have been rejected by residents who fear some inconvenience to themselves. The major success has been to finally complete the footpath along Station Road which had been on the wish list for decades.

Once again you preserve the anonymity of the Grumps. Surely when they attack the Parish Council, who after all are fellow residents, those people deserve to know who their accusers are. If the Grumps feel so strongly it is within their power to join the Council and DO something about it. It is perhaps churlish of me to mention that Launton Lines relies on the Council’s financial support.

Bob Roberts        Dear Sir Following the somewhat abrasive comments contained in the last two issues concerning the village traffic, I thought I might enter the debate as someone who has lived on the Bicester Road for the last 22 years. In that time the traffic noise has noticeably increased, particularly in the last couple of years.

There has been much focus on the introduction of a 20mph limit outside the school and I certainly appreciate the need for slow traffic in that vicinity.

However, I do wonder if this is a good use of clearly limited funds. At school drop off and pick up times, it does seem that there is a fairly effective traffic calming solution in place with cars that are parked either side of the road making it hard to even achieve 20mph, let alone exceed it. Once the traffic has made it past this area and either the proposed limit or the natural traffic calming, there is every chance it will then speed up through the rest of the village to compensate for any delay.

I have always maintained that we are incredibly lucky to have all the amenities that we have, such as (newly upgraded) shop, butcher, pubs etc and passing Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 36

traffic will naturally help to keep them. It really is the speed and not necessarily the number of vehicles that needs to be addressed. We will all be aware of the speed bumps in Bucknell which certainly slow the traffic down, but I do believe that this design is both environmentally unfriendly and noisy as people speed up between them and, indeed, these were the very reasons that they were removed in Kirtlington. Cameras can create the same problem. However, if anyone has driven along Camp Road through the new development in Heyford, the speed humps there seem to be very effective, give no opportunity to speed up between them and are not so brutal to create excessive noise when driving over them.

I would like to think that, rather than a fatality being the reason for a call to action, if those discussing or putting the problem on the back burner lived on Bicester or Blackthorn Roads, perhaps we would see some progress. After all it would appear that Charndon, albeit coming under Buckinghamshire council, is managing to have its second round of traffic calming in the last ten years and I would find it hard to believe that they have more traffic than we experience in Launton.

Kind regards Jonathan Byron

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01296 738025 07710 519 923 Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 37

50 Years Ago: from The Bicester Advertiser December 1969

5 December

Senior League - President’s Cup. LAUNTON UNITED'S FORWARDS MISS CHANCES. One-All Draw - Replay Necessary Launton United, holders of the Senior League President’s Cup, visited Osberton Radiators on Saturday in the third round of the competition, and due to the failure of their forwards to round off their approach without ... goals, they could only draw one-all - and will have to replay.

With star forward Jimmy Gilmore unable to get away from his job in Birmingham, the United had to make a last-minute inclusion, giving Neil Hackling his first game with the seniors. He acquitted himself very well and Launton’s policy of introducing youngsters at intervals in the Senior League games augers well for the future.

On an ice-bound ground, which resulted in a great number of slips and mistakes by both sides, the Radiators were not at all happy, and had much to thank Search, their goalkeeper for. Although the United wingers, Gordon Cooke and Bob Pittuck, showed fine bursts of speed and were continually cutting out a clear passage for themselves, their good work was often wasted by the bad finishing of their colleagues, whose shooting was atrocious. At other times Search ignored all the dangers of a rock-like ground in making some fine and fearless saves.

Osberton’s efforts were confined mainly to the occasional long ball down the middle, hoping for a slip by the Launton defenders, which brought them little success. After pressure, Launton opened the scoring, Bob Palmer slipping the ball into the net following good work by John Wharton, who laid on an easy chance.

The “Rads”, surprisingly, came back strongly after this reverse, and the visitors conceded ground, with several free kicks for handling. It was nearing the interval when the Radiators equalised. A high cross found their forwards unmarked, and as Chinnery advanced from his goal a flying header from the home outside left sailed into the net - a costly slip-up for the visitors.

United staged an all-out attack on the resumption and the forwards constantly were more of a target than hitherto, but the ball would just not go in. Bill Foley’s high shot looked promising, with Search away from his goal, but the ball cleared the bar, and eight corners failed to bring Launton the elusive goal, the Rads packing their defence successfully, but being aided by the most remarkable luck.

There was, however, always danger in the break-outs ... and Chinnerey had to dash out on occasions to save his goal from downfall. With the last minutes of injury time almost up, Osberton nearly snatched the winner, after a mix-up in the United's defence. The Launton forwards will need to recover their shooting boots they seem to have lost in this match when the replay comes off tomorrow.

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 38

12 December

LAUNTON BAZAAR RAISED £90 The annual bazaar was held at Launton Congregational School room on Saturday last. The proceeds from the sale of new and used clothing, cakes, preserves, gifts etc, amounted to £90, which is to be given to the Church Restoration Fund.

The event was organised by Mrs Connie [sic] Austin and helpers, and is the first of the Christmas Festivities at the Congregational Church. On Sunday there is to be the annual Toy Service; on the Sunday before Christmas the annual service of lessons and carols, and a Midnight Service on Christmas Eve. DRAMA AT LAUNTON “WELL RECEIVED” [photo + caption] A scene from the Launton Players’ production of No Escape by Rhys Davies, presented at the Parish Hall on Friday and Saturday of last week.

After several successful comedies (the group have two productions a year), the Players this time chose drama to present to their combined audience of about 170. The producer, Arthur Gold, said that the play was “well received”. Pictured above are as Lisbeth, the maid (Eira Gold) and Rachel (Mary Evans). Other members of the cast were: Jack Ancil, Trevor Spry, Jean Castle, Arthur Whitaker and Rosemary Walker. The stage manager was Joe Cartwright and the sound effects were looked after by Monica Matthews. House manager Rene Burke was assisted by Margaret Spry in the box office. Hilda Ancil and Avril Sawley were seldom-needed prompts.

DEATH AND FUNERAL OF MR C E MASSEY The death occurred suddenly in Bicester on Thursday December 4th of Mr Charles Edward Massey, of 4 Bicester Road, Launton. He was 71.

Mr Massey was a prominent member of Launton's “Over 60” Club, and had attended the fortnightly meeting the day before he died. He was also connected with The Bull “Sick Club” and at Christmas helped to distribute hampers to over 65’s in the parish. He was also a member of Launton British Legion and founder member of Launton United Football Club. Until retirement he was employed at COD Bicester. He leaves a widow and six grown-up children. The funeral took place at Launton Parish Church on December 10th, when the service was conducted by the Rector, the Rev John Goddard, and music included the 23rd Psalm, Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, and Abide with me. The organist was Miss WM Sharpe. [list of mourners and floral tributes] SENIOR LEAGUE PRESIDENT'S CUP. Launton United Come Unstuck in Replay. “Radiators” the Giant Killers Rather unexpectedly on Saturday, Launton United surrendered the Senior League President's Cup, in the third round replay, Osberton Radiators surprising them with a “no quarter given or asked for” kind of display. The Rads went at it tooth and nail, to emerge victors by two goals to one.

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 39

Launton had a scare in the very first minute, on the glue-pot surface, a high ball eluding John Wharton as he attempted to head clear, but the visiting centre forward threw away a gift chance by shooting wide. The works side fought for every ball and non-plussed their opponents at times with their determined play. In the tenth minute they took full advantage of an error as Jimmy Gilmore's back pass was intercepted and the Osberton centre forward nipped in to score easily. The United replied with vigour and penned the “Rads” in, but it was some time before the equaliser came, Gordon Cooke getting home with a rasping shot after a number of goal line clearances. Showing the better constructive play Launton looked all set to run away with the game, but failed to round off their continuous approach work, Dennis Thurlow twice, surprisingly, shooting wide when clean through, missed chances which were to prove costly eventually. It was close on half time when Osberton broke out from defence and once again the home rearguard made a hash of things to let the visiting centre forward seize the chance to leave goal keeper Chinnery helpless, and the United found themselves trailing 2-1. ...

[The visitors] deserved their ultimate victory of 2-1, and the United trudged off very disappointed with their own performance.

LAUNTON UNITED RESERVES AGGRIEVED Launton United Reserves’ feelings after their Premier Reserves Section game against Northway Reserves, was a mixture of disappointment and dissatisfaction, which inclined them to cry “we wuz robbed.” At the end of 90 minutes (by everybody’s reckoning, except the referee) the team was level two-all and the actors were happy to share the points.

Play, however, went on and Northway scored twice, to win 4-2. .... For Launton one would imagine there are two important factors to recognize – one that they should keep on playing to the whistle, whatever they think the time is, secondly, and more important, they must realise that the referee is in sole charge of the game and he conducts it by no-one's watch (or watches) but his own.

19th December

LAUNTON UNITED FC SUPPORTERS' CLUB. New Year's Eve Beat Dance, with The Motion, at St Edburg's Hall. Bicester. Admission 6/6. Licensed Bar applied for. Right of Admission reserved.

26th December

LAUNTON UNITED FC SUPPORTERS' CLUB The New Year’s Eve Dance in St Edburg’s Hall has been cancelled. The club apologizes for the cancellation, with an assurance that dances will continue in the new year.

Oxon Senior & Intermediate Leagues. LAUNTON UNITED STRIKE TOP FORM Returning to league football after several weeks of various cup-tie football, which have not, incidentally turned out too successfully, Launton United on Saturday came back to form with a bang.

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 40

The opening ten minutes were fairly even, then Launton were shocked with a great assault, a gap in the defence being fully exploited by the Salesians’ fastmoving forwards, their outside right shooting hard for the ball to deflect off John Wharton and deceive keeper Gerald Chinnery. The Cowley side had their opponents dithering for a time but gradually the United settled down to a better understanding and midfield men Palmer, Gilmore and Gough, gradually gained control to the benefit of their front men. Eventually from the last of four corners Jimmy Gilmore rose to head a brilliant goal, and this was the signal for Launton to launch more attacks brilliantly executed. Another great goal when Gordon Cooke took a shot on the turn, giving the home team a 2-1 interval lead.

The United combined with accuracy and power after the “break,” Bob Palmer playing deep to allow Fred Bates to harass and worry the Salesian goal keeper.

Goals had to come, and Bob Pittuck eventually made it 3-1 after Cooke had laid on the pass. Palmer rattled the cross bar twice, then sheer persistence earned Bates a goal. The visitors never gave up, but had little respite from a home-side which was giving a great display.

Gilmore slipped past three defenders to net Launton’s fifth goal, and Salesians had little with which to withstand their opponents’ onslaught. Johnnie Clark and Dennis Thurlow were the strong men at the back and Brian Gough prominent midfield. To round off the half-dozen goals Bob Pittuck resisted a despairing tackle to hammer the ball home ...

If the United can maintain this form, then the league could very well be within their grasp. This was a good allround display, with just a show of Heating Plumbing Servicing weakness in defence early on.

Simon Nash

UNITED RESERVES FAIL TO EMULATE EXAMPLE OF THEIR SENIORS After receiving a real trouncing at home the previous week, Launton United Reserves showed better form in the return game with Salesian Reserves, but mistakes in the defence resulted in a 4-2 defeat. ...

Salesians led at half time by the odd goal of 5 and in a ding-dong second “45” they netted again to clinch a 4-2 victory

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Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 41

MEMORIES OF AN EX-LAUNTON BOY

This month the Ex-Launton Boy remembers his early driving experiences, passing his driving test fifty-three years ago, and driving tractors and (in his imagination) old cars around Launton’s fields before that! And he apologises for having to miss the 2019 Launton Community Choir Carol Concert in St Mary’s Church on 7 December.

Having just purchased a new car (well, when I say new, I mean a new second-hand car which is almost as good as new), I was reminded of how many years ago, I could never have envisaged myself behind a steering wheel in any vehicle. That is one of the many things I have to thank the army for, the fact that they taught me to drive even without me asking them to and they did it so well that I passed my driving test in Aldershot (the home of the British army) at the very first attempt.

But despite having been driving now for fifty three years, I still find myself having to make some pretty serious adjustments. You see, my new (second-hand) car has a clutch with rather more bite than that of my last car which I part-exchanged for this one, so much so that before I got out of Norwich (from whence I bought the car) and hit the open road, I must have stalled it at least six times.

Once on the M11 and feeling rather pleased with myself for having made such a splendid purchase, I began to think of the first time I sat behind the steering wheel and then remembered, in fact it wasn’t behind the wheel of the long-wheel-based Land Rover in the army, but, as I have mentioned before I am sure, it was as a young schoolboy I sat behind the steering wheel of a Ferguson tractor. Some may recall the event of which I once wrote, telling of the time when Robert (Bob) Ancil set the hand throttle as I steered the tractor through the field whilst he was tossing the fodder from the trailer I was towing, feeding his livestock.

But something else then came flooding back into my mind, something I had completely forgotten about.

In the Green (the field behind our house in Station Road), there was many, many years ago the wreck of an old pre-war Ford (or maybe it was Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 42

an Austin) car. When I say wreck, I mean wreck. As I recall it had no wheels and I believe the doors were missing too, but it was great for us kids to climb into and imagine we were driving. We would even lift the bonnet and playact as vehicle mechanics, dipping the oil dipstick and wiping it on some old cotton waste we’d found kicking around somewhere. The strong smell of axle-grease and engine oil comes back strongly to the mind. The brown leather upholstery, complete with piping but with many holes from which protruded the old genuine horsehair stuffing also comes vividly back to mind.

I remember playing in the old jalopy with the likes of my brother, Cliff, the late Neville Jones, Doug Spry, Bjorn Massey (now residing in Norway) and no doubt, others whom I cannot readily bring to mind. It wasn’t easy to change gear as the clutch didn’t work (unlike the biting one in my new (second-hand) car). Fortunately, there was no petrol in the tank, so there was no chance of us blowing ourselves up, not that we tried sneakily smoking there as it was in full sight of our back-bedroom windows from whence we could be easily spied upon. We must have driven hundreds of imaginary miles in that old heap.

The imagination of children was such a healthy thing, especially when coupled with playing healthily outdoors. I am so glad that I had the opportunities to play so imaginatively with my peer group back in the 1950’s. Having had that experience, I would hate to have what seems to be the norm for youngsters today. Mind you, Health & Safety would have had a field day with the antics we used to get up to.

I was looking forward to driving up to Launton for the Carol Service at St. Mary’s Church on the 7th December but unfortunately, it clashes this year with an important function at the Royal Engineers Association which I am obliged to attend.

So I shall take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Keep healthy and stay safe.

Tony Jeacock | The Ex-Launton Boy | December 2019 Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 43

Diary Dates: December 2019 - January 2020

DECEMBER 2019 Sunday

1 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family Service And Christingle, 11am | Bingo at The Playing Field Hall. 8pm-9.45pm Monday 2 Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 3 Community Café, Parish Hall; 9am-11am | 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm Wednesday 4 Over 60s Christmnas Party, Sports and Social Hall. Bar opens 12 noon, Lunch from 1pm | Home Guard Living History Group, Parish Hall, 8pm Thursday 5 Parish Council. Public Session 7pm, Council Meeting 7.30, Launton Parish Hall | Bicester Heritage January Scramble local discount tickets go on sale from today Friday 6 St Edburg's Church Christmas Tree Festival, including a Tree from The Village Players, 10am-7pm Saturday 7 Launton Community Choir Carols in St Mary's Church, opens at 5pm Tickets from Costcutter | Light the Lights Event, Hummingbird Centre, Station Road, 6.30pm-9pm | St Edburg's Church Christmas Tree Festival, including a Tree from The Village Players, 10am-7pm Sunday 8 Congregational Chapel Communion Service, 3pm | St Mary's Church, Evensong, 6pm | St Edburg's Church Christmas Tree Festival, including a Tree from The Village Players, 12.30am-5pm; Carols in the Trees, 6pm | Bingo at The Playing Field Hall. 8pm-9.45pm Monday 9 Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 10 Community Café, Parish Hall; 9am-11am | 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm Wednesday 11 Thursday 12 General Election, Polling Station Parish Hall, 7am-10pm | WI Meeting, Christmas Party, Sports and Social Hall, 7.30pm Friday 13 SCOTS Night, and Christmas Dinner, at The Bull from 5.30pm Saturday 14 Sunday 15 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am | Bingo at The Playing Field Hall. 8pm9.45pm Monday 16 Village Players Carol Singing round Launton Tuesday 17 Community Café, Parish Hall; 9am-11am | 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm Wednesday 18 Over 60s Club Meeting and Meat Draw, LPFA Hall. Doors open 1.45pm for tea and biscuits at 2pm, closes about 3.30pm | Home Guard Living History Group, Parish Hall, 8pm Thursday 19 Last day of school - break for Christmas holiday. Return on Monday 6 January 2020 Friday 20 FINAL DATE FOR COPY FOR THE JANUARY 2020 ISSUE OF LAUNTON LINES: SUBMIT TO launtonlines@launton.org Saturday 21 Dashing Through The Snow!, the BCOS a capella Christmas Concert, St Edburg's, 7.30pm Sunday 22 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am; Carol Service, 6pm | Congregational Chapel Communion Service, 3pm | Bingo at The Playing Field Hall. 8pm-9.45pm Monday 23 Tuesday 24 Christmas Eve | St Mary's Church, Crib Service, 3pm; Midnight Mass, 11.30pm | Raffle Draw with Father and Mother Christmas in attendance, The Bull Inn, from 8pm

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Wednesday 25 Thursday 26 Friday 27 Saturday 28 Sunday 29 Monday Tuesday

Christmas Day | St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am Boxing Day Fun Quiz, Raffle and Bingo at Sports and Social Bar and Hall, 7.30 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am | Bingo at The Playing Field Hall. 8pm9.45pm

30 31 New Year's Eve Family Party with Children's Entertainer, Sports and Social Bar and Hall, from 6pm | New Year's Eve party at The Bull Inn

JANUARY 2020 Wednesday 1 Thursday 2 Note Parish Council Meeting moved to Thursday 9 January, in the School Hall | Panto tickets go on sale at The Bull and Coles Books Friday 3 Saturday 4 Sunday 5 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family Service, 11am | Sunday Brunch Scramble, Bicester Heritage, 8.30am-2.30pm | Bingo at The Playing Field Hall. 8pm-9.45pm Monday 6 School begins after Christmas holiday | Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 7 Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm - First Walk for 2020

To list your own events, go to www.launton.org/calendar

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The Grumpy Old Men of Launton Communiqué for December 2019

The end of the year is approaching fast, greeted by a mass of rotting leaves across the village roads, pavements and footpaths. We have considered the question, and have decided that the worst leaves on the ground are from Chestnuts and Ash - a squelchy mass of slippery vegetation. It's not been helped by the almost endless rain throughout the autumn. One of us had seen online some of the drainage maps from the Environment Agency which make Launton look as though it is a sandbank in a surrounding lake. After the last few weeks we can believe the maps do show some reality.

And those of us who set off up Station Road en route to Marsh or Stratton or Poundon report the excitement on breasting the level crossing of seeing a clear road ahead - no lake across the roadway. Maybe this hazard will be cleared by the work on what one of us insists on calling The Varsity Line aka East-West Rail. We gather that the problem is a blocked culvert under the rail bed.

We wish readers the best Christmas, and a happy, and grumping, year ahead.

Launton Health Walks The walks have continued each week with a small band of ‘regulars’ who come most weeks plus a number of less frequent walkers.

The walks will continue every Tuesday (2pm start from The Bull) unless the colder weather leaves icy conditions underfoot.

There will be two exceptions in December: there will be no walks on 24th (Christmas Eve) and 31st (New Year’s Eve). The first walk of 2020 will take place on Tuesday 7th January.

Dave Gilbert Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 46

Launton Lines December 2019 | Page 47

Launton Lines is delivered free to every address in the village. It is funded by its advertisers and Launton Parish Council. Further copies are available at £1.00 per copy from Shirley Johnson Launton Lines is the newsletter for Launton, published by the Launton Lines Committee © MMXIX Launton Lines. Launton Lines reserves the right to edit articles submitted for inclusion.

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