Launton Lines Issue 253 November 2021

November 2021 Issue 253

Marathon Man, and Woman, on 3 October 2021

Clockwise from top left Nick Cherry’s kit laid out; At the start in London; Past the Cutty Sark in Greenwich; Towards Big Ben; Nick with his finisher’s medal See page 16 for Nick’s report on his London Marathon

Below: Helena Masters runs the virtual London Marathon around Bucknell and Bicester on the day. Here she is, with a support runner, passing The Trigger Pond in Bucknell.

See page 17 for Helena’s report on her run.

Photos supplied by the runners

The front cover shows how we start our readers young. Ava Murray, 6 months old, is reading last month’s issue of Launton Lines. Photo by Faye Rymell

The Editor writes …

The weekend after I write this the clocks go back, and darkness will fall around 4.30 and winter will be upon us. It’s good to see that there is plenty to keep us all occupied. The Diary Dates on page 46 are back to a full page and I’m sure there are things I’ve failed to notice.

One thing that the approach of winter has made me do is book nearly four months in a warm and wine-filled place. So we’re looking for an Editor who could take on producing an issue or two: page 27 has more details.

This year, October means The London Marathon, and we have accounts of two people who ran on 3 October, with photos on page 2 - opposite - and personal stories on pages 16 and 17. There is an updated timetable for the Route 17 Bus on page 12, and a report and photos on pages 34-35 of the opening of The Plotters’ composting eco-toilet by Cherwell Councillor David Hughes, and reports and photos of the Harvest market (pages 9 and 26) and the Island Pond Family Day (pages 24-5 and 31) and information about the 18 November PHIP Open Meeting on pages 9 and 11.

Please support our advertisers who need you as much as we need them.

Robert Cornford Launton Village Support: Contact Details

A Support Group for Launton.

Group email: village.help@launton-pc.gov.uk PHONE Numbers: 9:30am to 5:00pm 07522 231 100 - Janice 01869 241755 - Lesley 01869 247171 - Jane Olds 01869 242685 - Nick Cherry (Launton Parish Council) Pharmacy Runner

Launton Lines

A monthly newsletter for Launton. Published around the first of each month by the Launton Community Communications Group © 2021 Launton Lines

email: launtonlines@launton.org website: https://launton.org/launton-lines/ The Launton Lines Committee 2020-2021 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 To book the Parish Hall Council Clerk | Mrs Jane Olds Contact: Joan Packer Address | 13 Oak Close, Bicester, Phone: 07922 042 133 OX26 3XD Parish Hall Committee: Christine email | clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk Massey; Audrey Deeley; Lynne Harper; Joan Packer; Simon Turner; Robert Cornford Phone | 01869 247171

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 November for entry in the December 2021 issue of Launton Lines.

November 5 | Sponsored by Lynne Harper in loving memory of her mother Ivy Brooks on her birthday November 7 | In loving memory of Adrienne Susan Thomas on this her special day.

Dearly loved and sadly missed by all her family and friends.

Rest in eternal peace. xxx November 14 | Dear Mum [Kathleen Ayris].

Happy birthday in Heaven.

Wishing you were here today to celebrate your 80th birthday.

Love you always from Dad, Sharon and Rob, Sam and Richard, Steve and Danni, Emily, James, Jackson, William and Ethan.

November 20 | Sponsored by Mary Brydon.

Happy birthday Florence, 11 today. with love from Nana November 21 | Sponsored by Jenny, Jane, and families.

Lily [Ray] Lapper on what would have been her 94th birthday.

Gone but not forgotten.

November 30 | Sponsored by Mary Brydon.

Happy birthday Esme, 14 today with love from Nana

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 4

Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 7 October 2021 at 7:30pm in the Parish Hall Councillors present Mr Kyle Michael, Mrs Lesley Thompson, Mr Simon Turner (Chairman), Mrs Jaqueline Webber Apologies Mrs Abigail Dowman, Mr Ed Sanders In attendance The Clerk, Mrs Jane Olds; CDC Cllr David Hughes; two representatives of East West Rail (Thaina Sa’id and Charles Hurst); six members of the public East / West Rail Ms Sa’id was pleased to announce the milestone achievement that the Jarvis Lane footbridge is now ready to open. Track has been laid from Bicester up towards Charbridge Lane to enable engineering trains to deliver more of the necessary materials and reduce HGV movements. The footbridge at Grange Farm was due to be completed shortly, however, the route of the footpath has still not been formally agreed.

Both Charbridge Lane and Station Road bridge structures are complete.

The Charbridge Lane road closure will take place between 17 October and 17 December to enable the road to be connected to the new bridge. There have been a large number of concerns about the closure and the effect on the village of the high volume of traffic. Following discussions of the options, Oxfordshire County Council had decided that it was better to have a full closure for two months rather than a partial closure with traffic controls for four months.

The Parish Council has requested that a number of mitigating measures be put in place to help the village. Unfortunately, it was not possible to have traffic lights at the A41 junction with Blackthorn Road as it was not part of the official diversion route; however, this will be kept under consideration because of the history of the junction. We have also requested a variety of signs reminding drivers about the 30mph limit and that the road is not suitable for HGVs. It is also hoped that EWR will be able to put at least one temporary pedestrian crossing in place by the school.

The Parish Council and EWR will continue to monitor the situation and will work together to find solutions as quickly as possible.

Report from District and County Councillors Councillor Hughes updated the meeting on the issues with the drainage between Sycamore Road and Yew Tree Close. Unfortunately, as the ditch had been filled in by the developer in 2014 when drainage was not part of Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 5

CDC’s remit, it was not possible to use Planning procedures to require the developers to take appropriate remedial action. However, it is hoped that the CDC drainage expert will be able to have a look and make suggested measures. The ditch clearance between Yew Tree Field and the Playing Field was a separate project organised by the OCC Footpaths team.

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

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

Unfortunately, CDC no longer provides paper copies of applications for the Council’s consideration, so planning application documents will now be displayed at meetings via a data projector.

Village Matters Parish Hall The Parish Council has met with Steve Parkinson, a VAT expert who will be providing a report for the next meeting.

Initial plans have been received from the architect and these were displayed in the hall at the Produce Market on 16 October; they are also available on the website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/parish-hall/ .

The Working Group to manage the project and make recommendations to the Parish Council has now been formally agreed.

Four organisations have nominated members: Parish Hall Management Committee: Audrey Deeley and Joan Packer PCC: Lynne Harper and Celia Evans PHIP (Friends of Launton Parish Hall): Jackie Webber and Cathy Procopiou Parish Council: Simon Turner and Ed Sanders Other interested villagers (as provided for in the Terms of Reference) are: Martin Evans and Rob Cornford.

If you would like to contribute to the Working Group, please get in touch.

Yew Tree Field As mentioned in the report from the District Councillor, the OCC works Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 6

team has dug out the ditch between Yew Tree Field and the Playing field in the hope that it will improve the pathway between the two fields and reduce the flooding of the path. However, the OCC Footpaths Officer will monitor the situation over the winter to see if further work is needed in due course.

The section by the stile on the northern side of the field by the play area was still under consideration. It is hoped that OCC and CDC will be able to work together to get plans in place for summer 2022, but it appears much more complex than the southern side.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee The Council will welcome ideas on how to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee next year. Commemorative mugs will be investigated. It was suggested that a group might be formed to co-ordinate events around the village.

Litter Pick Thank you to all who came out to help on 25 September, both with the litter picking and the refreshments. The WI drinks and cakes were delicious.

Launton Bethel Chapel (Station Road) Following the announcement that the Bethel Chapel Trustees had decided to close the building, the Chapel trustees have sent all the old paperwork and membership books to the Oxford History Centre at the County Archives in Temple Cowley. A map of the graves will be completed in due course.

Remembrance The Silent Soldier figures will be installed by the War Memorial and the Pump ready for Remembrance Day and will look into a suggestion for a Remembrance bench.

Agenda items and dates of the next meetings The 4 November meeting will be in the Parish Hall at 7.30pm. To mitigate Covid-19 effects, we will do our best to make sure the Hall is as safe as possible, but this will mean that we may not hold the usual open session from 7pm. If you’d like to chat with a Councillor, come along after 7.15pm. Unfortunately, we are not able to hold hybrid meetings at present - so arrive in time to use the hand sanitiser and find your seats! We are trying to reduce our printing and paper use: if you would like hard copies of agenda papers, please advise the Clerk well before the meeting.

Suggestions for agenda items for the 2 December meeting need to be with the Clerk by 18 November and items for the 6 January meeting by 23 December.

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/ Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 7

Launton Historical Society Drovers’ Roads was the topic for September: our speaker was Tim Healey.

Drovers were ingenious and resourceful folk – mainly men but not exclusively. They transported animals from one end of the country to another on foot, for a three week journey about four times a year. They carried big money and faced big risks. Their time came to an end when more modern forms of transport arrived with the railways, but in their day they had to be reliable and responsible. From the 1500s they had to be over 30, married, a person of substance, with property, and they had to be licensed. They had to have a formal contract and they could not go bankrupt. It was a serious job.

The drovers passed our way – Tim Healey, our excellent speaker, advised that Launton was on a main drovers route from Wales to London. Pat Tucker our local historian has information that the Stratton Audley to Marsh Gibbon road was a drovers road.

Mostly the drovers were in charge of cattle and the main destination was London where prices were high. The London dropping off point was Barnet, where specialist drovers took the animals on to Smithfield. But there were diversions, for example to feed castles and armies and the navy. Oxford colleges wanted beef, but Oxford had lots of turnpikes (and so taxes) and marshy land, so wasn’t a popular destination for the drovers. Geese and turkeys might also travel, but sheep not so much - sheep were already plentiful down south.

There are ways you can spot a drovers’ road: it might be a green way running parallel to a main route. There might be an isolated pub - drovers liked to keep their herds away from local herds and thieves. The Gate Hangs High pub outside Hook Norton is an example - on the drovers’ “Banbury Lane”.

There might be a Scots pine - drovers planted them as landmarks for their descendants. The pine has a shallow root system and grows quickly in poor soil. Place or road names such as Coldharbour can also indicate places where drovers rested with their animals.

We enjoyed listening to Tim and there were lots of questions.

Our speaker on 25 November is Dr Christopher Young and his topic is World Heritage. Dr Young used to be English Heritage’s Head of World Heritage. Everyone is welcome and we meet at 7.30 in the Parish Hall. If you would like to know more, call Cathy Procopiou on 01869 247694 or cathyprocopiou@hotmail.com.

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 8

Parish Hall Improvement Project (PHIP)

There are three topics to report this month: The Produce Stall, The Plans for improvements to the Hall, and registering PHIP as a charity.

The Harvest Produce Stall raised a total of £471.60, so £235.80 has gone to St Mary’s Church and to PHIP funds. There was a wide and varied choice of plants available, and slightly fewer cakes and baked goods than before, but the amount raised backed up the fun of a social get together for people. See photos on page 26.

We have to offer special thanks to Corrine Mitchell for providing the Apple Pressing. Corrine provided kit and expertise, we provided apples and the fruit-chopper volunteers, and many customers (especially young visitors) gave the muscle to operate the press. We sold at least 21 bottles of the delicious juice - a mix of cooking and eating apples.

While the Market was outside the Hall, inside was a display of progress on plans for the Hall. Starting with the original plan from 1930 drawn up

by Lewis Penn, and some historical documents and photos, the display moved on to three alternative options for the improved Hall from 2021.

There were comment forms available at the meeting, and the options will soon be available on the Parish Council website for comments.

The three options all have a second entrance and lobby to the Hall at the back of the current kitchen, then offer ideas for the following: A. Two toilets and kitchen as present: storage in space at the rear of Hall B. Toilets at rear of Hall; kitchen as present; storage in current toilet area C. Toilets in current kitchen area; new kitchen at rear of Hall; storage in the current toilet area A and C give 121m2 of space in the main Hall: Option B reduces to 110m2.

We have also started to register PHIP as a charity to help when applying for funding. We propose to change the name to Friends of Launton Parish Hall (FoLPH). Do come to the open meeting of PHIP/FoLPH on 18 November in the Hall at 7.30pm - open to all who aim to do something about the Hall. See the notice for the meeting on page 11.

We have begun to think about future events, but it’s difficult to make any firm plans for the winter when it’s optimistic to plan for outdoor events.

But see the early notice for Deck the Hall! - the PHIP Christmas event at the Church and at the Hall - on page 20.

Robert Cornford | PHIP Information Officer Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 9

Launton Village Players The 2022 Pantomime On 17 October we held our Welcome Evening in Launton Parish Hall. This was the first event in the journey of Dick Whittington 2022.

We had a short pantomime quiz and discovered that the Richard Whittington charity still exists today and that Richard Whittington was not only Lord Mayor of London 3 times but also Mayor of Calais! We had a good sing song of some well know tunes and played a London themed game of Pictionary, as well as reading Scene One of the script (written by Martin Evans).

Our first actual rehearsal is on 31 October at 7pm in Launton Parish Hall, so if you would still like to join us time is running out but you can still contact us on membership@launtonvillageplayers.org

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We are hoping to perform Dick Whittington in Cooper School Performance Hall from Wednesday 23 February to Saturday 26 February - please see the poster on page 48 for times and ticket prices.

The morning show on Thursday 24 February will be a socially distanced show with every other row left empty. Tickets will be available from 5 January 2022 from our website www.launtonvillageplayers.org Carol Singing On 19 December we plan to sing outside in certain places around the village from 12.30pm until 3pm. There will be more info on where this will be in the December issue of Launton Lines.

We may pop up at other Christmas events in the village during the festive period too. As always more information to follow in Launton Lines and on social media.

The LVP team

PHIP OPen MeetIng 18 nOveMber at 7.30PM Come to look at the architect's options for developing the Hall.

Have your say on where you think kitchen or toilets should be .

Bring your ideas for insulation and acoustics.

And give your feedback on registering PHIP as a charity and changing its name to Friends of Launton Parish Hall.

It’s an Open Meeting so all are invited.

thevillageclinic.co.uk Acupuncture Chinese Medicine Blackthorn 01869 253552 info@thevillageclinic.co.uk

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 11

Launton Bus Service: updated timetable 01/11/2021

The new service, Red Rose 17, has an amended timetable from 1 November 2021 due to the current persistent delays caused by HS2 works and other roadworks in the Waddesdon area.

It still provides an hourly service from Launton to Bicester and (the other way) to Aylesbury, with special services available during Buckinghamshire school terms serving Waddesdon Secondary School.

RED ROSE TRAVEL TIMETABLE ROUTE 17

Aylesbury, Waddesdon, Kingswood, Launton, Bicester MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS (except Public Holidays) AYLESBURY: Bus Station Waddesdon: Anstey Close Waddesdon School Kingswood Crossroads Grrendon Underwood: The Swan Edgcott: Grendon Road Corner Marsh Gibbon: Church Street Launton: Bicester Road BICESTER: Manorsfield Road Bicester Village: Oxford Road

0625 0640 0647 0656 0704 -

0730 0745 0750 0803 0812 0821 -

0850 0905 0912 0921 0929 -

0945 1000 1007 1016 1025 -

1045 1100 1107 1116 1125 -

1145 1200 1207 1216 1225 -

1245 1300 1307 1316 1325 -

1345 1400 1407 1416 1425 -

SDO 1455 1510 1515 1525 1528 1531 1536 1546 1553 -

SSH 1455 1510 1517 1526 1534 -

1630 1645 1652 1701 1709 -

1710 1725 1732 1741 1749 -

1840 1855 1902 1911 1919 1923

1610 1619 1628 1635 1650

1750 1759 1808 1815 1830

1820 1829 1838 1845 1900

1925 1930 1938 1946 1952 2005

Bicester, Launton, Kingswood, Waddesdon, Aylesbury MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS (except Public Holidays) SDO

Bicester Village: Oxford Road BICESTER: Manorsfield Road Launton: Bicester Road Marsh Gibbon: Church Street Edgcott: Grendon Road Corner Grendon Underwood: The Swan Kingswood Crossroads Waddesdon School Waddesdon: Anstey Close AYLESBURY: Bus Station

0730 0737

0758 0805 0810 0840

SSH 0745 0752 0747 0752 0755 0801 0810 0835

0850 0859 0908 0915 0930

1000 1009 1018 1025 1040

1100 1109 1118 1125 1140

1200 1209 1218 1225 1240

1300 1309 1318 1325 1340

1400 1409 1418 1425 1440

1540 1549 1558 1605 1620

SDO - Operates Mondays to Fridays on Waddesdon Schooldays only SSH - Operates every Saturday and on Mondays to Fridays during Waddesdon School holidays No service on Sundays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, and Public Holidays

Many thanks to Roger Barber of Cobnut Design for donating a replacement fridge for the Parish Hall.

It will be appreciated by all who use the kitchen.

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 12

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Views from St Mary’s decorated to celebrate Harvest

All the goods included in the decorations used for marking the Harvest in St Mary’s have been delivered to the Bicester Food Bank Photos from Celia Manderson

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sarah@bicesterdanceacademy.co.uk 07738 614 652 www.bicesterdanceacademy.co.uk Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 13

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Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 14

News from St Mary’s Church for November 2021

SERVICES IN NoVEmbER You are warmly invited to our November Services which will be conducted within the latest Covid advice.

Listed below are details of the Services, all of which will be in held in Church (apart from the Act of Remembrance* on 11 November) while we continue to adopt a cautious approach.

On arrival you will still be asked to sanitise your hands, to register your details and to wear a face covering in the Church Please contact Revd Peter or one of the Churchwardens if you have any queries or concerns - see details below.

Our planned Services for November are as follows 7 November 8.00am BCP Holy Communion In St Mary’s 11.00am Family Service In St Mary’s Please join us to help the children commemorate Remembrance

11 November 10.45am Act of Remembrance at Launton War Memorial* 14 November 6.00pm Evensong with Act of Remembrance In St Mary’s 21 November 11.00am Morning Prayer In St. Mary’s 28 November 11.00am Holy Communion

In St Mary’s

It is always advisable to refer to the Launton Church Facebook page for the most up-to-date information in case any last minute changes have been necessary, or please contact Revd Peter revpeterwright@gmail.com 01869 573177 or 07710 531 921

Or one of the Churchwardens at St Mary’s Joan Packer

j.packer779@btinternet.com 01869 241694

Celia Manderson celiamanderson@aol.com Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 15

01869 571735

Nick Cherry - Marathon Man - reporting

My alarm was set for 5am on Sunday 3 October and I was all set to start what was to be the day of my 13th London Marathon and my 61st marathon thus far.

The training had been done, miles of running around the countryside around Launton and the streets of Bicester, over the cliffs and beaches of North Cornwall plus pounding up and down Poundon Hill.

All the usual prep had been done the week before: the tapering off, the carbo loading and, the day before, getting as much water into me as I could take.

The coach left Bicester at 5.45am full of local Runners, many from the Alchester club. Thanks to Covid, I had to leave my supporters at home tracking me on the app, as the organizers discouraged too many people from gathering. So many things were different from my 12th London due to Covid19. The worst part of the whole day was that, since that unearthly hour my alarm went off to when I actually got to start the Marathon, 6 hours had already passed. (See photos on page 2) Now when you consider, as I did, that I completed my last real marathon (Brighton) 4 years ago in 6 hours, you’ll understand I couldn’t wait to get started. Covid safety rules saw us all starting with much longer gaps between groups, and I was in the last pen. I started at 11am and enjoyed a well-paced run averaging between 10 and 11 minute mile intervals, and the weather for the most part was very suitable for running - sunny but quite chilly. There was however an unwelcome and heavy rain shower at my halfway point. Feeling quite good, I managed to stream a live video as I ran across Tower Bridge for my Supporters tracking me.

Towards the latter part of the course and along the home straight running down The Mall, I was engaged in a literal “running” battle with a rhinoceros, overtaking each other as we ran. Being determined not to be beaten over the line by a rhinoceros, (I am still tortured from my first ever London when I was beaten by a Womble), and the fact that the coach was due to depart at 4.15pm, I had to run faster, and I did get to the finish. When asked what time I thought I would complete my 13th London Marathon in, my response had been that I would love to do it in 5 hours, but thought a realistic time would be 6 hours, so I was very pleased indeed with my time of 5.18.04. That will do for me until my 62nd Marathon, when my goal will be to shave off those 18 minutes and 4 seconds.

When I got back to Launton on the Sunday evening I joined the Quiz team in The Bull, but sitting down was not terribly comfortable.

Nick Cherry Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 16

Running a Virtual Marathon - Helena Masters

I ran the virtual London marathon around Bicester and Bucknell on Sunday 3 October with very little training! I was comfortable for the first 16 miles then my legs started to hurt but 5 miles from home my legs seized, and it was painful all the way and very slow. Nick Crutch (my running partner and partner in life) ran with me carrying drinks and gels and giving me words of encouragement. But, he wouldn’t let me walk! Despite me begging to walk a lot near the end! We completed this is 6 hours and 3 minutes. Thanks so much to those who shouted words of encouragement, who tooted, and to other people who supported me - especially the small group in Bucknell.

I ran to raise money for the Oxford Samaritans. My friend Sarah works for them and is out all hours with a listening ear for those who are at a low point in their life. These are real heroes as they work silently giving people a lifeline. There is still time to support me through my fundraising page https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/19966_8943987_20276 Many thanks, and see photo of me and my support runner on page 2.

Helena Masters

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 17

Launton WI Report for October 2021 Our October meeting was lively and convivial with members really enjoying being able to meet and socialise in the Parish Hall again. Twenty-two members and two visitors attended - a potential new member and our WI Advisor, Beryl Mann. Our raffle and competition have made a welcome comeback. Slowly things are returning to some normality and we can start to make plans for our Christmas party.

Maureen’s was the only birthday this month. And we were glad to hear that the Parish Council will be making a donation in return for us providing refreshments for the annual Litter Pick: we have decided to donate this to the Parish Hall Improvement Project.

We all enjoyed a very entertaining and informative talk by Peter Hague on ‘West Wycombe and the Dashwoods’. He explored the history of the house and the Dashwood baronetcy, some of it very colourful. The present house (now National Trust) was mostly the creation of Sir Francis Dashwood, the 2nd baronet, who was influenced by his travels in Italy and built in the Palladian style. The grounds are a wonderful example of 18th century

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landscape gardening with follies, temples, fountains, statues, and a lake, upon which Sir Francis kept a fully manned frigate sailing up and down, firing cannonballs, for the entertainment of his guests. But, of course, he is mostly remembered for his more lurid activities. He established several private clubs, among which was the infamous Hellfire Club, with its rumours of orgies and satanic rites. Peter debunked some of these stories, but it was obviously a secretive and rather perverted society.

This month we had an enjoyable walk around Fringford, (see photo) following a map which Pat Court had from a previous visit, ending with delicious cakes, and tea and coffee, at Matilda’s coffee shop in the village.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 11 November at 7.30 pm, when Moira Byast will tell us about ‘The History of Nursery Rhymes’.

Gaye Cornford

Launton Lines Noticeboard

Deck The Hall!

A pre-Christmas event

Come together to listen to, and join in with, Carols and Seasonal Songs.

Sunday 12 December 2.15 at St Mary's Church 3.00 at The Hall

Refreshments available Mulled Wine and Mince Pies Come to get in the Christmas Spirit and see the Hall “decked out”!

Note the date.

Watch for more information.

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 20

Letter to the Editor on Food Waste I write following the report in the August issue of Launton Lines on changes to food and garden waste collections, and the information that we are to be given larger caddies for food waste, and a weekly collection by the Council. I want to share a thought on food waste.

When I was a child, to waste food in our home was a sin. I remember the words carved around my mothers’ bread board - “Waste Not. Want Not”. Why is it that we are wasting so much food that we need a weekly collection? It would be better to think about what we buy, and what (and how) we cook. If we buy and cook what we need we can cut down on food waste.

The standards that I grew up with remain with me today. There is so much need in the world, with people relying on food banks and children in need of free meals during school holidays.

Let’s all follow the words of my mother’s bread board: Waste Not! Want Not! Grange Mews News September 2021 Commercial Offices, Industrial Units and Storage for Lease

Many will have read in the Bicester Advertiser of the railway worker who crashed his own van , after work, into a Jaguar car last week.

There are many who use Station Road for exercise.

If you are one of the few who perambulate after sundown in dark clothes, think for a minute that you could have been the one in front of this railway worker.

The road is effectively only closed to through traffic.

It’s not closed for local traffic and site access.

On a happier note, I spoke to Kerrie, the trainer at Bluebird Care, and they are well settled at Launton with a full complement of staff visiting those who need care in the community, which stretches beyond Bicester itself.

We are all fortunate that there are people who do this communal care.

It is pleasing to see Hummingbird is more active again and Mechelle will have given an update on their activities to the Wednesday Business Club who have also restarted their programme.

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

A plea for kindness, consideration, and thought

The Parish Council and the Launton Facebook pages may look to you like ‘faceless bureaucracies’ but behind the social media pages are people who have to filter out the, sometimes unpleasant or even aggressive, comments.

We use social media as a virtual noticeboard to keep the local community informed. However, if we continue to receive unpleasant remarks, we will consider disabling comments - please don’t ‘shoot the messenger’ - we’re only passing information on!

We do ask that, before you respond to a post, you think about who might be receiving the comments and how you would feel if you or a member of your family received them.

The Clerk also requests that villagers do not use her personal Facebook profile to contact her via Messenger. She is not employed 24/7, and deserves her time off too, so if you need to contact her, use the Parish Council email address clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk.

Please be kind and respectful.

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Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 22

Signing of The Agreement to Lease for the Parish Hall

After the Harvest Produce Stall on 16 October, members of the Parish Hall Working Group gathered, with long-term advisor Rod Aitken, to mark the signature. Now, it’s on to the next stage of the project!

From left, Steve Webber, Jackie Webber, Martin Evans, Celia Evans, Cathy Procopiou, Rod Aitken, Joan Packer, Simon Turner, Robert Cornford, Jane Olds.

Photo by Sarah Turner

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 23

Lots of fun (and added apple juice) in the Island

2

1

1. The autumn colours beginning to 2.

3.

4.

5.

show in the foliage The organising group, Zara, Theresa, and Annie A hum of activity under way through the leaves Building a den Identifying minibeasts

6. Designing Fairy Doors 7. Selecting an apple 8. Paul with helpers at the Apple

Crusher 9. Paul discussing different apples with some helpers See report on page 31 of this issue.

All photos by Ian Jones

9

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 24

8

Pond Wood on 10 October at the Family Fun Day

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6

5 Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 25

The Harvest Market outside the Hall on 16 October

Photos by Robert Cornford

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 26

Have you wanted to be Editor of Launton Lines? have you used publishing software?

Can you do photo-editing?

Are you interested in writing some of the copy? can you work with the Advertising Manager to create artwork for new clients?

The current Editor is going to escape the winter and will be away from early December until the spring.

He has the technology to edit from a distance, but if anyone in the village would like to take it on just email editor@launton.org or phone 01869 241883 for more info on what’s likely to be involved. launton lines has established systems.

It's really quite simple to run

Give it a go!

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 November 2021 | Page 27

A Vet’s Voice: Following Your Dream

Sam Gauld is a local lad who has long dreamed of becoming a Vet. I’ve known Sam for many years and after a chat with his mother on a dog walk a few years ago, we met with Sam and found him a part time position at the practice. Sam would come in to help every Saturday morning. He held animals for examinations and blood tests, cleaned up kennels and “messes” and generally assisted the Vets and nursing team on the notoriously busy Saturday shift. This was enormously helpful for the practice and took some pressure off at a busy time.

Most importantly we wanted Sam to observe and gain experience of Veterinary Practice. It's easy to have an idealistic and naïve view about being a Vet. The older ones of us grew up with James Herriot (the original series) on the tele, happily treating “all creatures great and small” with mostly happy endings. James would happily jump out of bed at silly o’clock in the morning to head out and treat a bloated cow or a whelping bitch.

The reality of practice does indeed include those middle of the night calls but also a large number of consultations, operations, phone calls and emails. Naturally-anxious owners must be called to discuss both good and bad news, and decisions must be made quickly and logically so that patients can receive the best of care but also so you can be ready for the next one that awaits! It is seemingly relentless at times; both in the work to be done and the emotional rewards (and setbacks) it provides.

This pressure will lead some Vets and Veterinary Nurses to change career after only a few years. They might choose to change to a quieter practice, or to work in industry such as drug companies, or go into pharmaceutical or academic research. Some leave the role altogether which is very sad for the profession. As a practice we are constantly making changes to ease these pressures, to improve our facilities and to talk with staff about the challenges and joys of their work. We all need support to ensure we are strong enough to take on the challenges ahead.

So back to Sam, who is now studying at Edinburgh University Vet School (see the photo on page 29, facing), no doubt dreaming of the career that lies ahead of him. I sincerely hope that his time with us has given him a Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 28

deeper insight into the job he is training for, as well as giving him a head start with how things are done in a busy Vet Practice. He is embarking on a career which should give him many emotional rewards, allowing him to help people and animals. He’ll be able to work in a team of like-minded professionals with a common goal. He’ll be stressed, tired, and exhausted at times; but will be satisfied that he’s made a good choice.

I trust Sam’s time at our practice has given him some useful insights and also a bit of a “leg-up” as he continues his journey to becoming a Veterinary Surgeon. We all wish him every success.

Enjoy your pets.

Jason Williams | Bicester Vets

Peace of mind for pet owners...

Compassionate and Caring at all times  Long opening hours for your convenience  24 hour on-site nursing care standard for all hospitalised patients  24 hour Emergency service provided by our vets at our practice  A service that's second to none from North Oxfordshire's most  established, independent, speciality small animal practice..

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 29

Road Closures Report correct at 21 October 2021 17 October to 17 December 2021: Charbridge Lane road will be CLOSED - details of the diversion for all vehicles are available on the Parish Council website at https://www.launtonpc.gov.uk/road-closures/charbridge-lane-road-closure/. On 6 November between 7am and 6pm: the road between the Pool Farm Crossroads north of Stratton Audley and Godington will be CLOSED for essential carriageway resurfacing works. Until 25 March 2022: Station Road, Launton will be CLOSED from beyond Grange Farm for the construction of the new overbridge and road alignment (EWR). 28 March 2022 - 17 June 2022: Bicester Road, Marsh Gibbon CLOSED for rebuilding the bridge.

These closures are correct as at 21 October. See the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/road-closures/ for any further or interim updates.

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 November 2021 | Page 30

Nature fun community event at Island Pond Wood A special afternoon on 10 October was enjoyed by young and old, planned, organised, and ran by the Friends of Island Pond Wood Committee.

Our beautiful woods were taken over, with a flurry of activity led by Muddy Feet – the outdoor learning and forest school - with den building and fairy houses, and creative builds, using apples, leaves, twigs, sticks and twine. It was wonderful to see everyone get stuck in and have fun!

A huge thank you to Paul Robertson who had a steady stream of volunteer apple peelers and squashers, making delicious juice. It was mesmerising watching the long, twisty twirls of the peel from the apples (many handpicked from Launton).

There was much delight for the children searching and finding minibeasts, inspecting these using the specimen jars, magnifying glasses and identification sheets on the day. These items were provided by Wild Bicester to help connect with nature. This is a joint project between the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), Bicester Garden Town and Cherwell District Council. Find out more about the project at www.bbowt.org.uk/wild-bicester or on Facebook group WildBicester. We had several arts and crafts activities on the day and thank you to OYAP Trust for running the ‘rainbow’ table.

The Committee would like to congratulate Luna, age 6, who correctly guessed 78 conkers in the jar, from our game on the day. She won a cuddly toy hedgehog. Thanks to the friendly team at The Launton Arms for serving hot drinks on the day. We were able to provide this free community event from Cherwell District Council SPARK funding and in addition we raised £81.43, which will go towards our future events.

A huge thank you to all volunteers who helped run the event and to Ian Jones, our superb, professional photographer (see photos on page 24-25).

We will be busy planning over winter for 2022 events so watch this space!

Become a member and help to protect and maintain this beautiful space, an annual membership is £10 per adult. For a membership form email fipwlimited@gmail.com, payment can be made via BACS or cheque. For more information on Island Pond Wood visit the @IslandPondWood Facebook page.

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 31

Some memories of changes in Launton When my family located to Launton in 1959 we had a Youth Club, two Pubs, a Church, a Chapel, a Butchers and one local shop with Post Office, and a Parish Council Why should we support our village organisations, when we still have all but the Youth Club (and I now hear that the Chapel is to close).

Through one of the initiatives of the Parish Council we now have our own Playing Field and Club facilities, achieved with the great involvement of some then members of the Parish Council - most of those I remember now reside in our Parish Churchyard, but their legacy lives on.

Another of their initiatives was the first Village Appraisal in 1992/3 and through this Group of hard-working people two special Groups were formed - Launton Lines and Launton Environmental Group (LEG). As you all know Launton Lines is still going strong and now even online too.

Sadly, LEG is no longer with us, but their legacy lives on in The Island Pond Wood. It was through the hard-working group that Launton took part in two Village Competitions. We won the first by being the most environmentally concerned village in Oxfordshire, and our prize was to help community buildings become more environmentally friendly, so we provided insulation for the Parish Hall, the Sports and Social Club and the School.

The following year we were encouraged to enter again, but this time the prize was to be £6,000 for us to spend on an environmental project. To our surprise we won again, so we had £6,000 to spend on something for Launton. LEG held an open meeting to discuss the prospect of getting a mini-woodland for Launton, and some members then spent quite a few years searching for a suitable piece of land that we could buy. Through our local policeman (Jonathon Payne) we were put in contact with Laing’s Homes, the builders who owned a field in Launton (they had previously failed to get planning permission for a considerable number of houses to be built and the land was then fallow). A couple of us went to Bletchley to their Head Office at the time and negotiated to buy most of this field then we had to start a rigorous campaign to raise money and we Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 32

approached amongst other the Woodland Trust. We had to raise enough money not only to buy the field but to maintain it for 8 years, and do this in 3 months. We reached our target in weeks.

So you see without our Parish Council initiatives we would not have a Playing Field, a Village Newsletter or our very own Woodland. There are many other things that the Parish Council does which benefit all of us so if you enjoy any of the facilities in Launton remember that you owe your enjoyment to the Parish Council who are another group of volunteers working for the benefit of our village.

Pat Mitchell (a former member of the Parish Council)

100 Years Ago from the School Log Book 1921

Wednesday Nov 1 Needlework Material Received. Forms T7(XD) completed and returned. Also monthly attendance card (55 a E) with particulars of children leaving by July 1922.

Friday Nov 4 HMI Hunt paid us a visit this morning. Roll 83.

Attends 796. Av 79.6. 95.9%. We received 24 Wooden Modelling Boards from Oxford.

Wednesday Nov 9 Mr Howse, Attendance Officer, called this morning.

Friday Nov 11 We observed the two minutes' silence this morning, afterwards singing a hymn. Roll 82. Attends 798. Av 79.8. 97.3%.

Stock received from Arnold's Stationary etc.

Tuesday Nov 15 Remainder of stock received from ESA. Friday Nov 18 Handwork materials received. Roll 82.4. Attens 806.

Av 80.6. 97.7%.

Friday Nov 25 The Health Visitor called this afternoon. Roll 83.

Attends 814. Av 81.4. 98.1%. Mr Howse called on Tuesday with Duplicates. Monthly attendance card filled in and returned to Oxford.

Wednesday Nov 30 Mr Heaton paid us a hurried visit this morning and looked at the garden and tools. Mr Howse called with Duplicates.

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 33

What a relief: a report from The Plotters

Cllr David Hughes officially opened the Launton Plotters Allotments Eco Friendly Compost Toilet on Saturday 9 October.

David awarded £654 from his Cherwell District Councillor Fund to support the cost of the toilet, and the Plotters fundraised for the rest: Plotter Lynn Wilson did car boot sales and there were donations from other Plotters. The grant was awarded as the allotments provided major outdoor activity for villagers to pursue during Covid-19 helping to overcome stress, loneliness, boredom, and other mental health issues, and enabled people to have a purpose in life, get fresh air, take part in physical activity, grow healthy eating crops, and socialise with others. It was also important to other Launton residents as they increased their outdoor activity walking past the allotments waving and shouting hello and admiring the colours, smells and crops.

Cllr David Hughes brought along scones, jam and cream especially made by his wife to support our other refreshments organised by the committee. We had allotment rhubarb cake made by a plotter and even rhubarb wine made by another!

Cllr Hughes gave a speech in our now communal area along with our Chairperson Jackie Hackett (see photos) where we have all found great comfort for our AGM and WE ARE NOW BICESTER’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED catching up with each other. We INDEPENDENT FAMILY-OWNED & RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS BICESTER’S ONLY INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTOR were all extremely grateful for Cllr A caring traditional 24 hour service Hughes’ interest in our project and Provided by Mr Hancock and his team personally how he recognised that it is a major  asset for our village. He also donated Private Chapel Of Rest  some extra resources for the toilet Jaguar Fleet of Funeral Cars  from his camping and caravanning Perfect Choice business. The toilet will now allow Funeral Plans people to stay longer at the site, especially for those with medical needs and also the many children who have family plots.

What a relief!

Wendy Foster | Launton Plotters Group Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 34

Opening the Plotters’ Eco-friendly Compost Toilet

Clockwise from top left: Plotters enjoy refreshments, and gather for the opening; Plotters’ Chair Jackie Hackett (left) discusses the compost toilet with Councillor David Hughes; the toilet on site in the allotment; Councillor Hughes checks out the inside of the building Photos by Wendy Foster

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 35

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 36

Keeping Your Head

I have a personal interest in serious head injuries. Three years ago, I fell off my bike while cycling. I was wearing an expensive helmet that took much of the impact from cracking my head on the icy road, but I still spent five days in the JR neurosurgery unit with a bleed on the brain. It’s got me wondering about how people in popular sports, who risk head injury routinely, might reduce or avoid those risks. I’m thinking about sports like rugby, football and cricket. I’ll leave boxing for another time!

Modern rugby is brutal. It needs, and it enforces, strict rules on head contacts. This year, rugby fans have seen red cards being given, in big matches, for ‘high tackles’ that threaten to damage an opponent’s head.

Forwards tend to get more head damage from collisions than backs.

However, the one piece of kit that many players wear, regardless of their position, is a gum shield. Not only does it protect your teeth and gums, but it can also reduce damage around the jaw and so reduce your chances of getting concussed. There’s also the headguard, which anyone can wear. This offers some protection against minor injuries, like lacerations, cuts and tears, although only modest protection against concussion or more serious brain injuries. In practice, some backs, such as Wales’s Leigh Halfpenny, ALL ROOFS, GUTTERS & CHIMNEYS do wear scrum caps, while the majority don’t. A bigger percentage HOUSE MAINTENANCE | REPOINTING of forwards wear protective headgear but not all opt for a scrum INTERNAL & EXTERNAL DECORATING PATIOS | DECKINGS | FENCING cap. Some, like Alun Wyn Jones, wear tape around their ears, while others wear nothing. Players FOR A PERSONAL SERVICE CALL sporting ‘cauliflower ears’ are a sign that they’ve not bothered with head PETER N. SOUTHAM protection! I readily concede that a more effective way of dodging a 01869 278333 serious brain injury is to avoid OR being hit heavily in the head! That means learning how to tackle 07721 633 220 properly and hoping that the peteroofer@aol.com referee briefs both teams strictly about tackling techniques within INSURANCE APPROVED today’s much tighter rules on Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 37

avoiding head contact. A generation ago, there was precious little protection available, compared to now. Players could get away with the ‘tip’ or ‘dump’ tackle, shoulder charge/block tackle, and stiff-arm tackle, but not anymore.

Player safety must be paramount. Lives and livelihoods are at risk in modern rugby, so the rules must be strictly enforced.

Football can also damage your brain. More and more footballers are waking up to the risks. Last November, the Wolverhampton Wanderers player Raul Jimenez fractured his skull in a clash of heads with an Arsenal defender. He was rushed to hospital with serious brain damage, including a bleed on the brain. He stayed there for 10 days. Happily, he’s recovered and started his first Premier League match in August 2021, wearing a headguard, as advised by the specialists. I wish him well.

The other related issue in football is that of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in former players. In recent years, famous ex-players have been reported with dementia. It started with the legendary West Brom centre forward, Jeff Astle.

An exceptional header of the ball, Astle played when balls were much heavier than our modern versions. He was diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease in his mid-50s and died in 2002 aged 59. A 2019 study found that professional footballers are three and a half times more likely to die from dementia than people of the same age range in the general population. There’s a growing list of famous ex-players being diagnosed with, and in some cases dying from, brain diseases, often dementia, including Denis Law, Nobby Stiles, Stan Bowles, Jack Charlton, Bobby Charlton, Martin Peters, Ray Wilson, Billy McNeill, and Terry McDermott. Recently, Terry Butcher, a former England captain, has called for the gradual phasing out of heading in football to prevent “catastrophic” head injuries. He’s often pictured in a 1989 match against Sweden, wearing a blood-soaked head bandage, which was trying and failing to absorb the blood seeping from a rapidly stitched-up wound. He speaks from experience! The football authorities have started to respond, by introducing guidelines on heading, not least for children. The Premier League have already trialled ‘concussion substitutes’. Slowly, progress is being made to reduce long-term brain damage in football, but more needs to happen. The clue is in the name – ‘football’.

Modern cricket is much safer than a generation ago. For instance, during the 1976 England-West Indies Old Trafford test match, 45-year-old Brian Close faced the legendary West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding, nicknamed ‘Whispering Death’. Close endured a life-threatening assault, as Holding charged in with bouncing deliveries travelling at about 90mph. Cap-less, Close Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 38

narrowly evaded skull-shattering short-pitched deliveries, while taking one body blow after another from a frighteningly fast Holding. Lesser men would have left on a stretcher. Soon after, basic helmets started being worn, but it would have been too late for Close. Watch the video on YouTube, and wince! The days of marching to the crease armed only with your ‘box’ are over, but some tragedies still happen. The most high-profile recent fatality came in 2014, when the Australia batsman, Phil Hughes, was struck on his head by a bouncer during the match between South Australia and New South Wales. He suffered a ruptured artery, needed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and was rushed to hospital. He died two days later. Maybe this explains why modern cricketers ‘think outside the box’ about personal safety, using high quality helmets, with other layers of body protection that weren’t available to earlier generations.

This is just a brief look at the risks of brain damage in popular sports. Maybe it has given some pause for thought about encouraging better head protection. We only live once. Let’s not see people’s lives ruined by avoidable brain injuries.

Danny Cunningham

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 39

150 Years Ago: from the School Log Book for November 1871 The Log Book reports activity in weekly blocks (Monday-Saturday) 30 October - 4 November Infants room now being used for the business of the Women’s Club, all children in the Upper Room Monday morning. I find the work of the School much easier under the present arrangements (have used the enlarged room for the first time this week), although all the rooms at present in a very incomplete state. When we get the use of the classroom and other conveniences, I have no doubt my work will be very much more effective and that the discipline of the School will considerable improve. Boys progress well in their Drill – seems to be quite a pleasure to them. Many of the children have been away this week with severe colds and coughs. The rigorous measures adopted some short time ago have reduced the cases of Absence without leave to a rarity. Av for week 79.1.

6 - 11 November Re-admitted Rich[ar]d Young upon application of his father, but at the same time reminded him before all the children that I should do so very reluctantly in future. Refused to re-admit Ar Waine as I only allowed him to attend some few weeks back (after expulsion) on the distinct understanding that he was to exemplary [sic] in future. He has been away some time without leave, which his mother explained was that he might fetch her medicine. He was idling about, however. I found out, so I refused to take him again. Av for week 81.8. Opened Evening School with 14 Scholars. As it is not intended to present them for Examination they are not required to attend more than 2 evenings per week. Fees reduced to 1d per week.

13 - 18 November Commenced having fires in school this week. I have had 4 boxes made to hold the books and Slates of the 4 Classes working in the Upper Room (instead of moving the cupboard formerly in use - which is now used for the girls’ work) and have made the monitorship (weekly) of these the reward of good conduct and progress. 22 boys attending Evening School this week. Av for week 82.2 20 - 25 November The Reading of all classes seems to have improved considerably - more fluency and variety of tone. Boys have progressed very much in drill: they form fours in the different positions and go through all the pacings well. Av for week 78.8.

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 40

100 Years Ago from The Bicester Advertiser 1921

11 November FOOTBALL RESULTS Steeple Aston visited Launton on Saturday in the Junior League when it was thought that an interesting game would be witnessed, especially seeing that the clubs are joint holders of the Jersey Cup. The visitors however could only muster a weak eleven and Launton won by the truly amazing score of 30 goals to nil. 15 goals were scored in each half. ...

18 November FOOTBALL Jersey League. Ardley 0, Launton 10. Following their score - a record one for local football - of 30-0 against Steeple Aston, Launton again “piled in the agony” in their Junior League away match against Ardley on Saturday last, the margin in favour of the visitors on this occasion being 10-0.

It was a good thing for Ardley that Launton were not at full strength, otherwise they might have topped their previous week’s score. As it was five goals were scored in each half, A Jeacock, the Launton centre half, showing excellent form throughout the game. Next season Launton will surely enter a higher class of football, for on their play recently they are quite the equal of some of the teams entered in the Oxfordshire Senior League. What odds against their beating Bicester at Launton?

25 November FOOTBALL Bicester Rovers v Launton Swifts. A friendly game took place between these two teams on Saturday, when Rovers gained their fifth successive victory out of six games and at the same time maintained their unbeaten record. The homesters were handicapped at the commencement through having to start the game with only ten men, the two absentees arriving after some ten minutes’ play. The Rovers were easily the better team in the first half, although they only succeeded in scoring once, Stairs being the successful marksman. The Launton custodian, however, was largely responsible for keeping down the score. Parker, in the Bicester goal, was rarely severely tested. On changing over, the Rovers continued to have the better of the exchanges… Stairs obtained the Rovers’ second point, and with the visitors failing to respond, their opponents ran out winners…

Launton were at home to Woodstock Town on Saturday in the Oxfordshire Junior League, when it was thought that the visitors would put up a stronger fight than some of Launton’s opponents recently have done. Once more, however, they demonstrated what a strong combination they are this season, playing the men from the glove town to a standstill and defeating them by eight to nil, and this with only ten men in the second half, W Jeacock being injured. Five goals were scored in the first half and three after the interval. In their last three matches Launton have scored no less than 48 goals.

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 41

Memories of an Ex-Launton Boy This month the ex-Launton Boy recalls his first encounter with real ’flu, responds to Kath Hawkins’ comments last month about the Reeves and Massey families, has discovered the joys of the Memories of Bicester Facebook pages, remembers the footpath to town along and under the railway lines, and regrets the passing of steam trains.

Well, I’ve had my flu jab for another year, although I am still awaiting my Covid booster jab, having also just had my three-monthly B12 jab. I’m beginning to feel like a pin cushion.

Like many (men in particular), over the years I have had umpteen bouts of ‘man-flu’, usually in the Autumn and then again in the Spring, but last Autumn and Spring I seem to have managed to keep it at bay. Whether that was because of hardly going out because of the Covid-19 lock-down or the fact that last Autumn I had my very first ever flu jab, I really don’t know.

I did have good and proper flu once, when I was a young 16 year old apprenticed carpenter in Launton. I went to get out of bed one morning feeling pretty awful only to find I had no legs. I just collapsed in one small and very neat heap on the bedroom floor. I think it lasted for about a week and boy, when you have had real flu, you know you’ve had flu. Still, that said, whenever I have ‘man-flu’, that really does knock me out and I am fit for nothing.

Now, getting back to last month’s issue of Launton Lines wherein I read a short article by Kath Hawkins nee Reeves suggesting I had not written about the Reeves family or the Massey family. Hmmm! That isn’t quite correct, in that I have in the past written several times of Fred Reeves, including as it happens, in last month’s edition. Admittedly I have not previously written about the Mr and Mrs Reeves who lived next door to the village telephone kiosk, who I had assumed were related to Fred Reeves of the slowest bicycle in the village, although old Spoff Simons came pretty close, with his Collie dog trotting at his side. But now Kath has mentioned it, I do remember them and I remember also, if my memory serves me correctly, that they were somehow related to the Bicester family of Hunt, for I distinctly remember occasional visits to them by Judy Hunt and her red-headed older sister, whose name eludes me, with their parents, assuming that their mother was also a née Reeves. Judy and I were in the Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 42

same class throughout our Secondary school education, and I still have some very fond memories of her. A couple of my daughters were, I don’t know if they still are, very good friends of one of Judy’s sons.

I wouldn’t have been familiar with the fact that this particular Mr and Mrs Reeves were regular members of the Launton Chapel congregation as, of course, I was a member of St Mary’s Church, as indeed was the Fred Reeves of ‘Have Bike will Travel’.

And the other assertion I would respond to is, ‘not having written about the Massey family’.

Only recently on the passing away of Rae Lapper I mentioned the fact that she was originally a Massey, her father having been the rotund and very jovial Charlie Massey who used to organise the village day trips to the seaside when my dad drove the coach on such occasions. I have also written about Tom Massey who used to live two doors away from our house and his former Norwegian wife, Ragna and their daughters Karen and Benta and their son Bjorn the latter two who both now live in Norway where their mother returned to. Benta is a great friend of my sister Elaine and both Benta and Bjorn are Facebook friends of mine. Tom had a number of brothers including as I recall, Sid, Fred and Jacky, all of whom were characters in their own right. I also wrote about the Launton Fete weekend when Julie and I got together with my brother Cliff and Nia, my sister-in-law and Andrew Massey who is Tom’s nephew and we had a cracking night at both pubs in the village. I have also written about Roy Massey who was an apprenticed plumber at Lewis Penn & Co (Launton Builders) when I was an apprenticed carpenter with the same firm. I have mentioned his sister Pamela and his dad, Ron Massey who was a very good bass singer in the church choir and Ron’s brother Bert (nicknamed ‘Dodger’) who was an excellent Tenor in the same choir and, like me, a bellringer in the Launton tower. And then of course, I have written about Bert’s daughter, Christine whom I used to sit next to in the choir stalls and secretly had a very warm spot for back then.

So you see, I haven’t been all that remiss about those and several other families and notable individuals from the 1950s and 60s when I grew up in the village. I’m not sure how long I have been contributing to Launton Lines now, but I think I’m bordering on one hundred issues. And it Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 43

doesn’t get any easier trying to find something or someone to write about, hopefully without offending anyone.

I have for a little while now been turning to a Facebook page on Memories of Bicester which is really interesting, as you can’t really divorce Launton from Bicester, what with the many shops that were, and the Regal Cinema that was and of course, not forgetting the various schools we attended during our valuable educational years. And does anyone in the village remember the old outdoor swimming pool which was where the Roman Catholic Church now stands and what fabulous times we used to have there, even though I could never swim in those days and am not that much better even now. It’s great to link up with some of my old secondary school friends, my best mate at school having then gone on to serve as a Radio Operator on the old HMS Ark Royal at the same time as I was serving in the Corps of Royal Engineers. I have the envy of my veteran army mates here in Kent over the fact that me and Ian Paice (drummer of Deep Purple), were in the same class together for four years. Nothing like name-dropping, is there?

I don’t know whether you are able to do it now, but there used to be a lovely walk across the fields, leaving the back of the churchyard, going across the Closes and then alongside the Oxford/Bletchley railway line and underneath the Great Western Railway and joining the Launton Road by the end wall of the Garth Park. In the summer the sound of grasshoppers and crickets in among the long grasses and the masses of ox-eyed daises was a sight and a sound to be treasured, along with the many varieties of bird song and then the rush and clatter of a steam train passing by. Oh happy days! Isn’t it sad that certain things don’t stay the same! The reopening of the Oxford/Bletchley/Cambridge line will have along its length all modern railway architecture which compared to the old bridges and level crossings and signal boxes are completely characterless. Well, I dare say that all comes down to a matter of personal taste at the end of the day, but I admit to being a hopeless romantic who nostalgically looks back to seemingly gentler and more compassionate times. Will they ever return?

Sadly, I very much doubt it.

Anyway, until next time, keep healthy and stay SAFE! Tony Jeacock | The Ex-Launton Boy | November 2021 Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 44

Communiqué from the Grumpy Old Men of Launton We have just begun to get back to something like normal - and that involves meeting and talking and setting the world to rights as well as venturing out of the village to see what the universe outside looks like. And much of what we have seen has been quite disturbing. For example, there are not as many pubs we can visit, especially as we have heard that both of those in Marsh have gone dark, and although there are plans to convert The Greyhound to a Community Pub, it looks to be a few months away.

Of course, with Station Road closed for another 5 months or so, it’s not the most accessible hostelry. Same is true of Poundon’s The Sow and Pigs, and The Red Lion in Stratton.

And speaking of Community pubs, in one of the windows in lockdowns a number of us went - separately - to The Abingdon Arms in Beckley which was taken on as a Community Pub about 5 years ago and has managed to survive Covid-19 - possibly because it has a beautiful terraced garden looking out over Otmoor so there is plenty of room for socially-distanced tables. The beer is always good, and the menu - we all agreed - was varied and interesting: often the fish is the high point.

This reminds us all how lucky we are to have a choice of TWO pubs in Launton. In fact, a number of us were discussing why we moved to the village, and it was surprising how often the choice of pubs came up as a reason for coming here.

We have also heard that The Vale Brewery in Brill has changed hands: we hope that the new brothers who have taken it over don’t mess with either the Gravitas or the VPA. And that they reopen the Brewery Shop soon.

We’ve also been interested to see how quickly Launton Mews has managed to get people moving in. It seems only yesterday that it was a building site knee deep in liquid mud. We hope the families moving in will enjoy the village. When it is fully sold it will add nearly 10% to the houses in the village, and probably more than that to the number of cars.

We have agreed that we will not add traffic calming to our agendas for the

forseeable future. People do get so heated on all sides of the subject, and it’s hard to keep up with people’s views as they change so regularly.

Here’s to hoping that we’ll be able to go on meeting, and talking, and having gentle and civilised conversation on the world’s issues.

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 45

Diary Dates: November 2021

Monday Tuesday

1 Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm 2 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday 3 Home Guard Living History Group, Parish Hall, 8pm Thursday 4 Parish Council. Public Session 7.15pm, Council Meeting 7.30pm, Launton Parish Hall Friday 5 Guy Fawkes Night – Bonfire Night Sunday 7 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family Service, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 8 Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 9 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday10 Over 60s Club Meeting, Sports and Social Hall. Doors open 1.45pm for refreshments at 2pm, closes about 3.30pm Thursday 11 Act of Remembrance at The War Memorial, 10.45am | WI Monthly Meeting, Speaker Moira Byast on The History of Nursery Rhymes, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Friday 12 SCOTS Night at The Bull from 5.30pm Saturday 13 Trinity Camerata and The Phoenix Singers, Concert, Mozart, The Great Mass in C Minor, St Edburg's Church, 7.30pm Sunday 14 St Mary's Church, Evensong with Act of Remembrance, 6pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 15 Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 16 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Island Pond Wood Working Party, Meadow area, 9.45am | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday17 Home Guard Living History Group, Parish Hall, 8pm Thursday 18 PHIP Open Meeting: Developing the Hall & Charity registraton, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Friday 19 FINAL DATE FOR COPY FOR THE DECEMBER 2021 ISSUE OF LAUNTON LINES: SUBMIT TO launtonlines@launton.org | Winners announced today for Island Pond Wood Photo Competition Sunday 21 St Mary's Church, Morning Prayer, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 22 Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 23 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday24 Over 60s Club Meeting, Sports and Social Hall. Doors open 1.45pm for refreshments at 2pm, closes about 3.30pm Thursday 25 Launton Historical Society monthly meeting, Speaker Dr Christopher Young on World Heritage, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Sunday 28 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am | Craft Centre Christmas Market, Launton Arms Car Park and garden, 12noon - 5pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 29 Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm | Tuesday 30 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 46

Launton Dogs of the Month

As we’ve been outside and walking a lot more we’ve got to see and know many of the dogs of the village. Launton Lines wants to feature our canine stars in the months ahead. Here is the tenth report.

Dogs’ Names: Flo and Dora Ages: 7 years old and 5 years old Gender: Both female Breed: Labrador and Cocker Spaniel How long in Launton: Seven years, and eighteen months One interesting fact: Before we rescued Dora, she was a stray. She was picked up after wandering into a Co-op shop on Christmas Eve. We came from: Oxfordshire Habits: Eating sheep poo Favourite foods: Cheese, and pig’s ears Favourite game or toy: Playing with tennis balls or Boomer balls Favourite walk: In the fields at the bottom of West End If you would like your dog to feature in this column please email Kathy Gilbert, kathleengilbert533@googlemail.com or phone DoTM on 07812 604 032.

In the village through the lens of our staff photographer Three images that caught the eye of Ella Rayner this month and that she submitted to us.

The Launton Peahen on a roof; An Autumn Moon; and an October sunflower.

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 47

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 its 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 © MMXXI 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.