Launton Lines Issue 254 December 2021

December 2021

Issue 254

Remembrance Day, 11/11/2021, at the War Memorial

The village War Memorial at 11 o’clock on 11 November as people gather to remember all those named on the War Memorial. The service was led by Colin Cockshaw.

Photos by Robert Cornford

The front cover shows Hallowe’en in the Island Pond Wood, with some scary creatures among the trees. Photo from Annie Sparks

The Editor writes …

Well, what a month November has been, starting with the mini-typhoon that ran up the back of West End felling trees and taking large branches down from mature trees. Then a couple of weeks of fairly dry and sunny weather, bringing us to the snowfall as I’m writing this. A couple of weeks ago I tested positive for Covid-19 and went into isolation with a bad cold, and a very stuffed up head and sinus. So this issue is a little late - apologies.

Our cover is from the Hallowe’en fun in the Island Pond Wood: it’s great to see the woodland being used imaginatively by children. We have a memorial notice for Mrs Cannon (32-33) who was for many years The Newspaper Lady at the old Post Office, as well as ‘Shirley’s Mum’. Page 19 has sad news of the death of Roger Bradshaw, and an appeal from his family for people to wear face masks, observe social distance, and take vaccinations when available. We also have a quarterly report from Victoria Prentis MP (14-15), and some news from Mulberry Homes (26-27) and three Readers’ letters on (30-31). There are also regular reports from around the village including Road Closures (9) 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 December for entry in the January 2022 issue of Launton Lines.

November 3 | In loving memory of Roger Bradshaw who died on November 3, with love from his wife Hilary, and family Jo, Torie and Richard December 3 | Sponsored by Maureen and Bob Roberts in loving memory of Bob’s aunt, Eileen Bennett, a family favourite.

December 15 | Sponsored by Michael Stack Wishing my darling wife Angela a very Happy Birthday December 25 | Sponsored by Rob Walker in loving memory of Jane Lindsey Walker December 25 | Dear Mum [Kathleen Ayris] Missing you at Christmas and each and every day, for you were someone special who meant more than words can say.

Love you always, from Dad, Sharon and Rob, Sam and Richard, Steve and Danni, Emily, James, Jackson, William and Ethan December 25 | Merry Christmas to all our family and friends from Val, Sue and Kevin [Harris] December 25 | Sponsored by Michael and Angela Stack With love and Christmas wishes to our son Charlie, his wife Melody, and grandchildren Rosie and Anna.

Looking forward to seeing you all in 2022.

Launton Lines November 2021 | Page 4

LIGHT UP A LIFE (continued) December 29 | Sponsored by Eve Edwards In loving memory of my husband David on his birthday, from Eve, daughter Jackie, son Gary, and grandchildren Chloe and Sam January 1 | Happy New Year to all our friends and family from Val, Sue and Kevin [Harris] January 1 | Dear Mum [Kathleen Ayris] New Year Wishes are lovingly sent to the Heavens above to where you went.

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

Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 4 November 2021 at 7:30pm in the Parish Hall

Councillors present Mrs Abigail Dowman, Mr Ed Sanders, Mrs Lesley Thompson, Mr Simon Turner (Chairman), Mrs Jaqueline Webber Apologies Mr Kyle Michael, In attendance The Clerk, Mrs Jane Olds; three members of the public; Mr Andrew Briant (participated as a Councillor after his co-option) East / West Rail Unfortunately, Ms Sa’id was unable to attend. However, she hoped to convene a meeting to discuss how to reduce the number of HGVs coming through the village, shortly.

The opening of the Grange Farm footbridge had had to be postponed after it was discovered that there was a safety trip hazard which needed rectifying before the County Council inspection. It was now hoped that it would be opened before Christmas.

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 5

Report from District and County Councillors Neither the District nor County Councillors had sent reports.

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

Governance The Council was pleased to co-opt and welcome Andy Briant (from Station Road) as the Councillor to replace Janice Hawes.

Communications Strategy Working Group Councillors Webber and Briant will join the group to help with communications which will include the re-development of 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.

CDC Options Paper Consultation Cherwell had recently consulted on their latest options paper to help with the revision of the Local Plan. The Parish Council response is available on the website.

Parish Hall We have now created a series of pages about the Parish Hall on the Council website, including its history and the suggestions for the layout of the Hall, at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/parish-hall/ Please do let us know your thoughts.

Village Matters Yew Tree Field The OCC Footpaths Officer has confirmed that handrails will be installed on either side where the footpath crosses the ditch from Yew Tree into the Playing Field, but unfortunately we don’t have a time frame at present.

Please do take care when crossing between the two fields.

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 6

Bus Stops and Extra Shelters The Parish Council had been asked to investigate having OCC mark out the bus stops on the road. However, it was agreed that this wasn’t a big issue at the moment, but that it will be kept in mind for the future.

The Council also considered a suggestion to erect bus shelters at the stops on the northern side of Bicester Road. Due to the high costs involved in implementing new shelters, it was agreed to monitor the use of the bus and the likelihood of the new Aylesbury bus service being maintained for a long period of time.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee The feasibility of commemorative mugs are still to be looked into, but it is hoped that the Friends of Island Pond Wood might investigate the possibility of holding a Big Jubilee Lunch over the Jubilee weekend.

To extend the celebrations, the annual Launton Fete will take place the following weekend on Saturday 11 June.

Launton Bethel Chapel (Station Road) The Bethel Chapel is now permanently closed and new Trustees have been appointed. The Clerk has the details for anyone wishing to get in contact with the Trustees.

Agenda items and dates of the next meetings The 2 December meeting will be in the Parish Hall at 7.30pm. In order 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 6 January 2022 meeting need to be with the Clerk by 23 December 2021, and items for the 3 February meeting by 20 January.

If you’re not signed up to our mailing list to receive news from the Parish Council, you can find a signup form at the bottom left hand menu of the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/ Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 7

Launton Village Players Carol singing

On Sunday 19 December we will be singing Chistmas carols around the village in different locations between 12 noon and 3pm.

We will be singing in Station Road, in Mulberry Homes and in West End Close and a few other places still to be confirmed. Do check our website (see below) and social media in December for confirmed places and timings. Our collection will be for the Alzhiemer’s society so please do come out to listen or join in and give to this good cause.

2022 Pantomime “Dick Whittington”

Rehearsals are now well under way and we’re happy to say we have lots of our regular cast and a few new members taking part. We have been looking at the music and routines and trying to learn the words!

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See the photo of one of our recent rehearsals on page 11 of this issue of Launton Lines..

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday 5 January and will be available from our website and social media - www.launtonvillageplayers.org.uk Our shows will be on Wednesday 23 February at 7.30pm, Thursday 24 February at 10.30am (this show will be socially distanced with every other row left empty), and in the afternoon at 2.30pm, then on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 February, at both 2.30pm and 7.30pm on both days.

Have a wonderful festive period and look out for more news about our pantomime in the New Year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

The LVP team

Road Closures Report correct at 23 November 2021 Until 17 December 2021: Charbridge Lane road will be CLOSED - details of the diversion for all vehicles is on the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/roadclosures/charbridge-lane-road-closure/ 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. 11 April 2022 - 27 May 2022: Bicester Road, Launton will be CLOSED for finishing the rebuilding of the bridge These closures are correct as at 23 November 2021. See the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/road-closures/ for any further or interim updates.

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 9

Launton Historical Society Our speaker at the October meeting was Alastair Lack. We enjoyed his accounts of Literary Oxford and remembered the books we always meant to read and, in some cases, had actually read.

Alastair was a history student at Oxford in the 1960s and his working life included being Head of Productions at the BBC World Service. He is now an Oxford walking guide.

His talk was doubly entertaining as he linked writers and other eminent folk to their colleges and other well known Oxford buildings which was a feast for the eyes. We heard that Balliol produced fine writers such as Gerard Manley Hopkins plus four viceroys of India in a row and four prime ministers - Asquith, Macmillan, Heath and, currently, Johnson. Graham Greene also went there, did no work and got drunk in the evenings. But he picked up taut dialogue from his visits to the cinema in the afternoons.

Exeter College taught Will Self, Martin Amis and Philip Pullman. JRR Tolkien went there and was apparently insecure about his writing ability.

Oscar Wilde went to Magdalen and C S Lewis was an English don there for 30 years producing lots of books which Tolkien thought were slapdash.

C S Lewis and John Betjeman were both at Magdalen, and couldn’t stand each other. This might have been inevitable as Betjeman liked a good time and C S Lewis had a more serious approach, having been injured in the trenches at the Somme. It was reported that Lewis engineered Betjeman being sent down without a degree.

For a taste of the literary times, Alastair’s recommendation is that the best book about Oxford undergraduate life is Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm, published in 1911.

Our November speaker is Dr Christopher Young, on World Heritage.

The LHS will meet on 30 December at 7.30pm for a lighthearted evening with a bring and share supper. There will be no speaker this time, but a film or a quiz. Launton Community Facebook page will give the details.

Everyone is welcome to our meetings normally held on the last Thursday of the month held at 7.30 in the Parish Hall. If you would like to know more, call Cathy Procopiou on 01869 247694 or cathyprocopiou@hotmail.com.

Gwen Skinner Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 10

Launton Panto 2022 takes shape in rehearsals

Cast members Lorraine De Brun, Andy Roberts, Marcus Lamb, Dan Chilvers, and Jackie Webber try out a scene from Dick Whittington in the Parish Hall.

The Launton Costcutter Stores and Post Office We have been open for Launton through 2020 and 2021.

We change special offers every five weeks, on our front promotion bays.

For December our theme is Christmas and the holidays.

Visit us to see our offers.  |  36 Bicester Road, Launton Phone 01869 571345

Shop Hours Mon - Fri: 7am - 8pm Sat: 7.30am - 8pm Sun: 8am - 2pm Post Office Hours Mon-Fri: 9am - 5.30pm Sat: 9am - 1pm Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 11

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 12

News from St Mary’s Church for December 2021

SERVICES IN dECEmbER You are warmly invited to our December Services in the lead up to Christmas, and these will be conducted within the latest Covid advice: the details are listed below and all Services will be in St Mary’s, (except the Team service on 26 December, which will come from St Edburg’s and also be available on Zoom).

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 December are as follows 5 December 8.00am BCP Holy Communion In St Mary’s 11.00am Family Christingle Service In St Mary’s 12 December 11.00am

Morning Prayer

In St Mary’s

19 December 6.00pm

Service of Lessons and Carols

In St Mary’s

24 December 3.00pm 11.30pm

Crib Service Midnight Communion

In St Mary’s In St Mary’s

25 December 11.00am

Holy Communion

In St Mary’s

26 December 10.30am

Team Service

In St Edburg’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 01869 571735 Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 13

The quarterly report from Victoria Prentis, MP Since I last wrote in September, it does not feel like we have stopped.

Parliament has been especially busy as we have tried to make up for time lost during the pandemic. I have recently been overseeing the passage of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill through the Commons. I’m proud that the Bill will extend and strengthen protections for pets, farm animals and primates. The UK has a long history of leading the way on animal welfare. In 1635, Parliament prohibited pulling the wool off sheep and forbade attaching ploughs to the tails of horses. We have come a long way. I am very proud to be continuing this tradition.

Despite everything going on in Westminster, it has been great to get out and about lots in the constituency. I had an interesting visit last month was to DPA Lighting Consultants in Deddington. They design lighting installations for housing, hotels, public buildings and even cruise ships. I met Partner Nick Hoggett, who told me more about their exciting projects including work on the Imperial War Museum.

I also enjoyed a visit to the Red Cow at Chesterton last month as part of my Pub Tour. It was wonderful to have so many constituents come along. We discussed everything from the Great Wolf development and the proposed Siemens development to local care homes and women’s safety.

It has been great to continue visiting local schools during the Autumn term. At Bicester School, I enjoyed speaking to students about their experiences over the past eighteen months. The pandemic has been particularly tough for our young people and their development. This is why I was so pleased that students were able to return to schools for the new academic year. On another recent visit, Years 5 and 6 pupils at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Bicester all told me they were glad to be back in the classroom.

I recently held my seventh annual debating competition to mark the end of UK Parliament Week. With last year’s challenge taking place virtually, it was wonderful to have students back in-person. A well fought final debating a motion on nuclear weaponry saw Sibford Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 14

School walk away as this year’s champions, with a really excellent team performance. I’m always impressed by local pupils’ awareness of both global and local issues and standard of arguments; this year was no exception.

I was really pleased to see that the Heyford Park Pharmacy was approved in October and should open sometime next year. This is a well-deserved victory for the local community. The pharmacy will serve the growing community.

As Christmas approaches, it is important that those eligible come forward and get their booster jabs. I’ve got mine booked as soon as I’m eligible in mid-December.

Vaccines offer high levels of protection against Covid19, but immunity reduces over time. As the weather gets colder, we need to make sure that our vaccine shield is as strong as possible.

Victoria Prentis

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 15

Launton WI Report for November 2021 The November meeting of Launton WI in the Parish Hall was well attended, and we were pleased to welcome new members to our group.

We were thoroughly entertained by our speaker Pam Newall with her presentation of Rome off the beaten track. Pam brought the stories of ancient history and the architecture of Rome to life, with her humour and warmth, and even her fascination of crypts, catacombs and displays of ancient bones caused much amusement.

The well-researched and illustrated tour included many places most tourists would miss: the Circus Maximus where chariot racing took place under the watchful eye of the Emperor’s palace is now a ruin; the Galleria Sciarra, built in 1870 as an early shopping mall but never completed, and decorated in high Art Nouveau style is “a welcome change from the pale, faded ancient Roman ruins scattered throughout the city”, and is an architectural marvel just a few steps away from the Trevi Fountain; and

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the C20 English tea houses either side of the Spanish Steps indicates a presence back in history. Pam’s passion for travel and adventure gave us a lively insight into Rome’s secrets, and we left knowing that there is a great deal more to be discovered.

The competition and raffle then took place. Birthday cards will be sent to Ros and Pat who were not present.

The social buzz during coffee service indicated this had been an evening enjoyed by all.

The mid-month activity will be a walk around old Bicester followed by lunch at the Savoir Fare in Garth Park.

As the year comes to a close, our December meeting on Friday 17 December will be the Christmas Dinner and ‘Secret Santa’ which is always fun; this time we will be entertained by the Launton Rock Chorus.

Sherie Parrott

Launton Lines Noticeboard

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 18

Don’t underestimate the presence of Covid-19

R A

oger Bradshaw died at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on 3 November. celebration of his life will be held at Banbury Crematorium on Wednesday 8 December at 1 pm and afterwards at The Bull in Launton. We hope to see many of his friends on the day.

R I

oger died a cruel death fighting Covid-19.

n spite of the huge medical achievements against the consequences of this horrible disease, it is still a killer, and this is a plea to remember that we need to continue to have our vaccinations, wear masks and keep our distance.

P

lease.

Grange Mews News December 2021 Commercial Offices, Industrial Units and Storage for Lease

Now that D M Fences have moved into a larger unit they are manufacturing their own garden and other fencing to a set of specific sizes as required by their customers.

This will save offcuts which are wasteful, and save a few more trees from being felled, and a fewer number of skips of waste wood.

Cherwell Valley Coaches based in Grange Mews are visiting the Stratford-on-Avon Christmas Market on 11 December and can be contacted on 07923 422 227 or email at cherwellvalleybusandcoach@gmail.com It’s all in time for present buying ... just talk to Mark.

EWR have now restarted construction of Station Road, and with raising of the overhead electric wires set for 12 December, it seems the opening will be on time for March 2022, even though work stops for a Christmas break from 17 December.

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

Update on the search for a second Editor

As we noted last month, the current Editor plans to be out of the country for a little time from early December, and Launton Lines is looking for someone to take over some (or all) of the job. The current editor reports: “Fortunately, the appeal had a quick response from Matt Hill, who lives in Woodland Close. But unfortunately the combination of my going down with Covid-19 and having to isolate (not to mention having a cotton wool brain for nearly a fortnight), and Matt having a combination of an overseas work trip, a bad cold, then a burst of work, we couldn’t meet up before this issue went to print. But we will make contact before I go off to a warmer place, and make some plans to work together on future issues.

“I should be able to do some work while away, but I hope that Matt can take on more of the work - editing, design, and layout. The rest of the team will be in place - Jenni Walker as Advertising Manager, Michael Stack as treasurer, Shirley Johnson handling distribution, and Kathy Gilbert and Danny Cunningham sourcing content. Bear with us if things take a bit to settle down. And do send contributions to launtonlines@launton.org.”

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Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 20

Santa at Launton Countryside Craft Centre

Father Christmas and The Elf greet children at the Countryside Craft Centre Christmas Market at The Launton Arms on 28 November. Photo from Jenni Walker

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 21

Bicester Good Neighbours Scheme coffee morning

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 22

It was great to see so many friends and supporters at the Bicester Good Neighbour Scheme Coffee Morning in Launton on 19 November.

David and Lesley Thompson made everyone welcome, and guests were able to do some Christmas shopping, purchasing art and original gifts from artist Casimira Mostyn, and Usborne Children’s books from Theresa Carlyle.

Huge thanks to our hosts, to the hard-working kitchen team, to BGNS volunteers, to everyone who donated cakes and prizes, and all who came along. An amazing total of £867 was raised!

Libby Griffin Photos by Bob Roberts and Gaynor Thorpe Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 23

EVENTS IN ST MARY’S IN DECEMBER AND EARLY JANUARY Great things are happening in St Mary’s in the run-up to Christmas and beyond Please refer to page 13 and also to our Facebook page for full details of our Services.

For Families

5 December 2021 11.00am Christingle Service in aid of the Children’s Society

24 December 2021 3.00pm Crib Service an interactive telling of the Christmas Story

2 January 2022 11.00am Family Service for Epiphany when we welcome the Three Wise Men

And an extra Service for the whole community 8 January 2022 3.00pm Songs of Praise Celebrating “HOPE”, with readings and music

And finally, an invitation to The Community Café Are you looking for an opportunity to catch up with friends and meet some more people?

If so, why not come along to Launton’s Community Café held in the Parish Hall on Tuesday mornings during term-time between 9 and 11am?

You wIll bE So wElComE to joIN uS foR CakE, a Cuppa, aNd a Chat!

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 24

Parish Hall Improvement Project (PHIP) applies for charity registration as Friends of Launton Parish Hall (FoLPH)

Members of the PHIP charity working group have now started the application to The Charity Commission for registration as a charity and to change its name to Friends of Launton Parish Hall (FoLPH).

“It has been an interesting process,” explained one of the group. “It’s all done online, and when you start you’re not too sure what information you’ll be asked for. We had trouble over describing what FoLPH does and how it will work with The Parish Council and its Hall Management group, and with the PCC. We had to keep on reminding ourselves that FoLPH won’t be managing the Hall, won’t be taking a lead on decisions about the Hall, or carrying out work in or for the Hall. At the end we came up with the following to describe the objects of FoLPH: To contribute to developing the plan of refurbishment and make recommendations to Launton Parish Council to deliver the improvement project of this community building, Launton Parish Hall, and to continue to improve and maintain the Hall as a community facility and to raise funds to this end. To liaise with the local community who will benefit from improvements made to the Hall.

Each question we were asked took us down a different path, and often we realised we’d given a “wrong” answer at the top level of the question. So, ‘Do you give grants?’ meant that we answered ‘Yes’ because we raise money and then hand it out. But after about ten more questions we realised that we would not be a ‘grant-making’ body as we’re raising money for just the one beneficiary - The Parish Hall. But we’ll still need a Grants Policy (to be completed) to define where our funds are spent.

So now we have a draft Constitution for FoLPH, and policies on Data Protection, Privacy, Finance and Investment, Communication, Document Retention, and Safeguarding. And we’re sure we’ll need more before we’re registered, which we hope to have done by the end of February 2022.

Meanwhile the next PHIP event will be Deck the Hall! on 12 December.

See the back cover of this issue of Launton Lines.

Robert Cornford | Information Officer, PHIP Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 25

Mulberry Homes, Launton Mews, or The Timbers

We asked Dee O’Dell in the Marketing Office on Blackthorn Road about the development at Launton Mews.

1. When was the first house occupied? 30 July 2021 2. How many houses do you expect to be occupied by 1 December? How many by the end of 2021? 11 by 1 December. 16 by the close of 2021.

3. When do you expect the whole development to be completed and all houses occupied?

We expect to be complete by May 2022, without any unforeseen delays.

4. What are the road names in Launton Mews? The Timbers, Beech Road, Coppice Way, and Wetland Drive.

5. Have you made any arrangements to cope with surface water: any special drainage or water distribution features in place? Do you use permeable cover on roads and parking areas? There are a number of measures we have put in place if the brand new storm drains can not cope with excessive rainfall. The site has been engineered so that if storm drains cannot cope, excess water drains into two balancing ponds on site. These ponds are not designed to retain water like a natural pond, but allow the water to drain away slowly.

There is also a very deep drainage ditch that runs through the middle of the park land that will keep this open space dry, and a meadow that all can enjoy. All of the block paving on Launton Mews is permeable allowing water to drain through and away naturally. This additional feature helps with excess water distribution.

6. How many electric charging points will there be when the site is completed? There will be 2 visitors’ charging points. Individual houses can install their own.

7. What have you installed to encourage animal use of the site? What are some of the animals currently living here? Before Mulberry started building they had a full environmental report done; this is available to read in the Marketing Suite. The pitch of the roofs along the front of the development has been lowered so not to interfere with the flight path of local bats. Some of our houses will be fitted with bat and bird boxes. We have identified a badger set that has already moved in.

8. Although all houses seem to have chimneys, how many have working fireplaces or hearths? Most of the chimneys are decorative only. However we do have 8 houses that are being built with working chimneys with a hearth and mantel, ready for a wood burning stove to be installed.

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 26

9. In the Marketing Office you have some blow up plans for the site, and an aerial view impression. Can you share them? Here they are.

An aerial view of Launton Mews, when completed

The plan of the whole development. The yellow-green area on Blackthorn Road is the Thames Water Pumping Station

Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 27

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Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 28

The Parish Hall - Planning for the future As we hope you know by now, we need to hear your views!

The Parish Hall is in desperate need of refurbishment and the Parish Council has appointed Alex Bond from PCMS Architects to look at what we currently have and how the space can be used to provide a building fit for the 21st century.

Of course, we have to work within the current building wall (although the roof must be replaced), so we can’t greatly change the footprint of the building. However, areas can be moved around within the building and Alex has suggested three different options.

Please do have a look at these options. They are on the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/parishhall/plans-for-the-future/ and let us have your thoughts: We’d like to know Do you use the Hall? What kind of events would you like to be able to use the Hall for? Would you use the Hall more if it had better facilities (toilets, kitchen)? If the kitchen was improved, would you like to be able to cook full meals in it or would you bring in ready prepared food? Should we be improving the number and quality of toilets in the Hall? What energy-saving or energy-generating measures would you like to see in the Hall? How do you normally travel to the Hall? Is there anything that would encourage you to walk or cycle (if you currently drive)?

Please email clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk with your responses by 15 December.

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Letters and emails to the Editor

We have had three contributions from the village over the past month set out below.

To the Editor of Launton Lines Given events of the past few weeks it seems appropriate to write a few words of appreciation for the work of the Parish Council and its Clerk.

There are three things in particular to be grateful for.

Please remember that the Parish Council has no direct control over many of these things, they have only achieved these results by persuasion and persistence.

Firstly, and I give thanks every day for this, they persuaded EWR not to route their HGV traffic through Launton. This was EWR’s original plan but after a great deal of effort they changed to use the old railway track as a “haul road” thus saving us up to 60 lorry movements a day through the village.

Secondly and more recently they got EWR to install temporary crossing lights by the school. It could be said that EWR should have done both these things anyway, but the fact remains that, without the Parish Council, no WE ARE NOW BICESTER’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT FAMILY-OWNED & RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS amount of moaning on social BICESTER’S ONLY INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTOR media would have had any effect.

A caring traditional 24 hour service Provided by Mr Hancock and his team personally Finally the PC took the Parish  Hall into public ownership. The Private Chapel Of Rest  construction and signing of this Jaguar Fleet of Funeral Cars lease has required many hours of  work as the solicitors for the Perfect Choice Funeral Plans various groups involved have ground the details exceedingly fine. Speaking as a member of a group which tried, and failed, to do this several years ago I can only admire the tenacity of the people involved.

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Please don’t think that I’m not a critic of the Parish Council; I have been very disappointed with some of the decisions they have made in the past. I’m not prepared to become a councillor but they are prepared to spend the time and energy necessary so it’s only right that they make the decisions. Nevertheless, I do think it’s right to recognise the good they have done for the community.

Bob Roberts An email to the Editor of Launton Lines Please could you say a big thank you to Pat Court, her son Simon and granddaughter Rachel for going out of their way to the Launton Church second gate and removing a large branch that was overhanging the pavement.

We walk our three dogs along this pavement and on two occasions my husband has bumped his head on the branch, drawing blood. I’m sure other people above the height of 5’10” (1.778 metres) must have done the same.

Pat and her family removed two large branches, dragged them around to the church and cut them up for recycling.

Thank you very much.

Yvonne Murray To the Editor of Launton Lines Carols by Candlelight in St Peter’s Church, Bucknell The Phoenix Singers invite you to their annual Christmas Carols by Candlelight concert in St. Peter’s Church, Bucknell on Sunday 12 December at 7.30.

As well as choir carols the audience will also have the opportunity to join in the singing. We will be joined by Sandy Mackenzie who will perform some beautiful cello music in the atmospheric surroundings of a candlelit church.

Please book your tickets as soon as possible as numbers will be limited.

Tickets from Sally Ross, phone 07774615045.

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Helen Alice Cannon 18 October 1925 – 26 October 2021

The following obituary was written by Shirley Johnson, based on the family tribute at the memorial service held at St Mary’s Church, Launton, on Monday 15 November, where it was read by Louise Johnson. Shirley also provided the photos.

Mum was born on 18 October 1925 to Rose and Harry Cross in Marsh Gibbon. Helen had four sisters and three brothers, and was the youngest surviving member of the family.

Dad (Eddie Cannon) was her childhood sweetheart, and they married on 3 April 1948 in Marsh Gibbon Church, then moved to Launton. They first lived in a cottage on Bicester Road, and then built their own house, Sport Villa, on land from his father.

I (Shirley) came along first, and then five years later Michael (my brother) was born.

We had a happy childhood despite being fairly hard up. Mum would do all sorts of jobs to bring in a little extra - even a paper round. She was always busy. I remember another paper round which she became active in, helping her grandson Christopher with The Oxford Mail in the 1990s. She loved the action.

Mum also kept house for a neighbour, Nabby Penn, looking after his two boys David and Graham. After all the years they have never forgotten her kindness, and would visit her at Christmas, which she loved.

Mum had the two children, five grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren, and was never happier than when they visited her sending them to get her purse so she could give them some money.

For many years she cleaned the Sports and Social Club, and she took great pride in the wooden dance floor. It had to be highly polished, and she became very upset when drinks were spilled on it.

Mum and Dad spent many years running monthly Ballroom Dances at the Club through which they made many friends – but sadly most of them are no longer with us.

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In 1981 Dad decided to build a lock-up shop in the garden of their house on Bicester Road. It was to become the village post office and hairdressers. When he first announced his idea and plans I never thought he meant it - but he did, and I ended up as postmistress for many years.

It was a huge success, and was to become a big part of Mum’s life.

Both of them were the early morning newspaper team. They loved getting up at the crack of dawn to sort and mark up the newspapers and magazines, and offer a service to the locals. They made many friends there, too.

In 2010 Dad became ill and despite Mum’s efforts she was unable to cope with the terrible illness which had struck him, and he went to Cherwood Care Centre to be cared for where Mum visited him every day. It all took its toll on her, too: Mum’s health deteriorated and in 2015 she also went to Cherwood, initially on respite but after a few months decided to make it her home. I think she felt safe there and made many friends with both residents and carers.

She loved her visits from family and friends, and was happy and well cared for. Then the Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating effect on her: she missed her family so much.

I’d like to thank Maurice and his team at Cherwood for the care they gave Mum - it was second to none. I knew when I left her every time that she was with kind, caring people, and I will be forever grateful to them. They were her second family.

Finally, I’d like to thank everyone for their cards and kind wishes. It has been overwhelming what a lovely community we have in Launton.

Shirley and Terry Johnson Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 33

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The end of year report for 2021 It’s been an odd year. It started with a Churchillian Johnson celebrating ‘getting Brexit done’. He promised to ‘take back control’, start ‘levelling up’, and head for ‘sunlit uplands’ in ‘global Britain’. How did it work out?

The man in charge of the Port of Dover was reassuring. He stated categorically that on 1 January 2021 there would be no problems with cross-Channel trade. That was because it was a public holiday on both sides. He couldn’t guarantee anything from 2 January onwards. Since then, many traders have been disappointed. Paperwork has multiplied, exports of some fresh produce, like fish, have rotted before reaching their European destinations. Some exporters became so frustrated that they asked the government for advice. The answer surprised them - re-locate your business to mainland Europe to avoid paperwork and bureaucracy!

Now, an English cheesemaker from Cheshire is trading from a base in France. Other UK-based businesses have followed suit. It’s an odd country that imposes trade barriers on itself.

How has this happened? It’s called a ‘hard Brexit’ and was completely avoidable. The 2016 referendum question was: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the ALL ROOFS, GUTTERS & CHIMNEYS European Union or leave the European Union?” The UK voted HOUSE MAINTENANCE | REPOINTING to leave by 51.9% to 48.1%.

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL DECORATING Despite ‘Leave’ votes winning a majority in England and Wales, PATIOS | DECKINGS | FENCING voters in Scotland (62%) and Northern Ireland (55.8%) voted to remain. The UK didn’t vote to FOR A PERSONAL SERVICE CALL leave the single market and the PETER N. SOUTHAM customs union, because they weren’t on the ballot. They voted 01869 278333 to “leave the European Union”.

OR The details would be negotiated.

07721 633 220 Before the referendum Boris Johnson said: “I'm in favour of the peteroofer@aol.com single market, I want us to be able to trade freely with our European INSURANCE APPROVED friends.” Therefore, choosing a Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 35

‘hard Brexit’, which builds barriers to EU trade, is a deliberate change of policy. Outside the EU, the UK is a ‘third country’, with the same relationship with the EU as any other non-member country, despite being a few miles away by boat/train from Kent.

For one part of the UK, Northern Ireland, there’s no gap. It shares a land border with Ireland, its EU neighbour. Straight after the 2016 vote, the EU insisted on no land border on the island of Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement, which has brought peace and prosperity to Northern Ireland since it was signed in 1998, had to be protected from damage from Brexit.

The UK government agreed in principle but not in practice. The UK government hasn’t yet found a solution, even though there’s an obvious one (see later). It did sign a document called the Northern Ireland Protocol during negotiations with the EU but has failed to implement it. With a land border between Ireland (an EU member state) and Northern Ireland (part of the UK) ruled out, there needed to be a border somewhere. Why? Because the UK government decided to leave the main economic structure of the EU - the single market/customs union. Therefore, customs checks must happen, because the UK government chose to reject the EU’s rules.

According to an EU official: “You cannot have full access to the single market and not accept its rules.” For the EU, the only practical place for a border was down the Irish Sea. But Johnson rejected this.

This stalemate has been worsened during 2021 by Johnson and his brainless Brexit negotiator making fanciful claims about the Northern Ireland Protocol, which they personally agreed and signed. They’ve claimed they signed it hastily (but refused to accept a deadline extension the EU offered).

They claim they didn’t read it properly. They claim not to understand what it meant (despite it being specifically produced in English). What nonsense.

It’s been revealed recently that they only signed it to help win the 2019 general election and never intended to implement it. It’s a legally binding international treaty, which Johnson seems to treat as optional.

There’s a simple solution, which the UK government has flatly rejected. The UK could stay outside the EU, like Norway or Switzerland, but remain aligned with the single market and customs union. It could negotiate a unique agreement with the EU for easy access to EU markets and to guarantee free movement across the now 27 EU member states. There’d be no need for the Northern Ireland Protocol. But if you put boneheads in charge of negotiations, bent on confrontation, bent on fighting an EU Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 36

‘sausage war’, or a ‘fish war’ with France, you end up with empty supermarket shelves; staffing shortages in health and care, agriculture, hospitality, lorry driving; and massive bureaucracy for exporters and ordinary travellers. The UK had a Brexit choice between staying aligned with EU standards (causing minimal damage) or scrapping that relationship (imposing trade sanctions on yourself). Now we’re begging Latvian lorry drivers, Polish butchers, Romanian vegetable pickers and Bulgarian turkey pluckers to help Johnson to ‘save Christmas’. It’ll take more than his empty blather to fix our self-inflicted ‘supply chain crisis’. Johnson is definitely no feather plucker.

How to summarise Brexit in 2021?

The UK sued for divorce. Got it. Celebrated with a fancy light show. Is shocked not to get an EU Christmas present.

There may well be worse to come in 2022. Keep your eyes on ‘Article 16’.

Which goes to show that you can’t have your cake and eat it. The year started with a wannabe Churchill. It finished with Benny Hill. Merry Christmas to us all!

Danny Cunningham

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Communiqué from the Grumpy Old Men of Launton Last month we reported that we had decided to limit discussions on traffic issues, and especially on traffic calming, in our gatherings. Well, needless to say, we have decided to overturn the decision (must be the shortest-lived decision from our group) as we read that the Parish Council is setting up a Speed and Traffic Monitoring Working Group. If the topic is that active then we need to have a position on it. One of us reported that the Council only expected the group to advise on the monitoring bit of the title (shorthand for saying that it would report on which sort of alert sign should be considered - whether it should display a vehicle’s actual speed, or capture images of vehicles exceeding speed limits, or whether it should capture traffic flow numbers as well as traffic speed, and also capture the type of vehicles travelling through the village).

So it sounds as though the real issues (the traffic increase through the village, and the observed increase in large vehicles passing through, and what measures could be brought in to reduce traffic numbers, flow and speed) will not be for the Working Group. But we agree that it must be open for discussion, and that the Working Group needs to represent wide village interests (and we can also agree that there can be no wider interests than those in our meetings).

How come, we ask, that other local villages manage to get traffic calming?

One of us reported what he’d found on the County Council website: “Traffic calming is introduced where there are recorded injuries”. So unless there are accidents and injuries, no measures will be considered. But at the same time it reports that “traffic calming is now widespread across the county and road hump schemes have reduced accidents by an average of 50%”. Problem is that if you don’t have accidents recorded then you can’t see a 50% reduction, so nothing can be done.

We think we should support opening up the terms of reference of this Working Group. Don’t you?

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Memories of an ex-Launton Boy

This month the Ex-Launton Boy remembers when he was growing up and there were veterans of both World War I and World War II living in the village, and even a soldier who had fought in The Second Anglo-Boer War. Then he tells how pleased he has been to be invited to a local Junior School in Kent with other veterans for a Remembrance Day assembly, and one of the children’s description of the group.

Well, it’s that time of year again when we have just commemorated those who gave their lives or suffered life-changing wounds, whether physical or mental in two World Wars and several military conflicts since the end of WWII. After the restrictions of last year, due to Covid 19, it was good to see so many people attending the many different venues such as War Memorials and churches of worship. I am assuming Launton was no exception in that regard (you are quite right, Tony: see page 2 for photos.)

I can remember as a child growing up in Launton there were not only veterans of WWII but those of WWI also and, believe it or not, in old Joe Ancil who lived in the red brick Edwardian house in Blackthorn Road, a veteran of the Boer War. Back then I had no idea that I would turn out to be a veteran of the Cold War when we were all under the threat of the socalled four-minute-warning against a nuclear attack from the Eastern bloc under the heavy boot of the USSR. There were thousands of us stationed in BAOR (British Army of the Rhine) in what was then Western Germany with a life expectancy of no more than seventy-two hours had all hell broken out. We were there as a temporary buffer until major reinforcements could be deployed. That’s what we were told, yet in truth the majority of us young lads believed ourselves to be totally invincible back then.

I wonder these days whether there are any veterans of WWII still alive and kicking in the village. Had they just been old enough, eighteen years of age, to have caught the end game of WWII, they would be about ninety-four years of age by now.

I can see in my mind’s eye the faces of those I once knew in the village who had served in WWII in the military, such as both my mum and dad (mum in the ATS as a cook and dad in the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, part of the Royal Armoured Corps, as a tank driver/gunner, of which he never spoke).

There was Fred Reeves (of have bike will travel), Tom Massey who served in the Norway campaign where he met his wife, Ragna; brothers John and Widler Cox; Taffy Bates of Sherwood Close; Reg Gibbons who, I believe, Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 39

served in the Lifeguards. Then there was Mr. Plum of West End who ended up in a Japanese PoW camp, and we know how utterly dreadfully they were treated. And of course, there was Major Morse who used to run the Black Bull, but I was never sure whether it was WWI or WWII or even both that he served in. Bert Marriott served in the Royal Navy and was hardly ever home, even after the war had ended. No doubt there were many more, but as has already been said with regard to my dad, those who saw action barely if ever spoke about it.

When I was a young skinny apprentice working for Launton’s own building firm of Lewis Penn & Co I worked alongside a cockney labourer from the village of Hethe by the name of Bill Masters. With his very loud hob-nailed boots crunching the gravel, he walked with a pronounced limp, having been wounded in the hip during the evacuation at Dunkirk. And then there was Albert, the painter and decorator, also a cockney and also from the village of Hethe, with his cockney humour, he had the knack of putting a different slant on things, bringing it home to me as a gullible young lad that even in times of the most terrible adversity, there was still time for humour. A point not lost on me during my own military service.

Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday are days with mixed emotions, even now after all these years. On the one hand, there is the immense feeling of pride, especially among veterans, but on the other hand, such profound sadness at the utter waste of young lives, and so very many of them. Veterans talk of these occasions being ‘sand in the eye moments’, as a private tear falls whilst we weep for those whom we have served with and are no longer with us........‘Absent friends’.

I cannot remember as a child ever having had the village school visited by veterans, although I do remember quite clearly how full the church would be on Remembrance Sunday. Among the congregation were many who wore their campaign medals and carried standards.

In recent years I have noticed how totally disinterested and immune the young have seemed to be in relation to commemorating the fallen of two World Wars. Whether it is taught in schools these days or not, I would not know, but generally the difference between the young of more recent years and those of my childhood, being a child of the so-called Baby Boom era, has been quite marked. Maybe it’s because my generation of Baby Boomers were born so very soon after the end of WWII, with many of Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 40

our parents having served in the armed forces or reserved occupation war work during that terrible conflict and also with surviving grandfathers from WWI, the War to End all Wars, coupled with austerity throughout the 1950’s, so we were much more in tune with what had then only recently happened. We hadn’t actually witnessed the war itself but were nonetheless acutely aware of the after-effects of those nigh on six years of hell.

It is something that has lived with me all my life and to my mind, it is something that should never ever be forgotten.

How delighted I was then to be invited along with a number of my fellow veterans on 10 November to attend a special school assembly at a local Junior School. It just so happened that one of the lady teachers there is one of my fellow army veterans. She originally served in the WRAC, but after it was disbanded in, I believe, 1992 she transferred to the Adjutant General’s Corps. The children had been learning about what Armistice Day is all about and very enthusiastically made between them a host of cardboard poppy wreaths and cards to present to us. Once they were all assembled, sitting cross-legged on the Assembly Hall floor, the teacher asked them who they thought this ensemble of men and women in blazers, Corps ties and medals were, to which one girl thrust her hand eagerly in the air and announced to all and sundry that we were ‘Vegetarians’. Well.......it was near enough!

It really was delightful and we then broke up into little groups of three and visited the children in their respective classrooms where they proceeded in turn to ask us a whole host of questions, some of which were quite funny as we inwardly chuckled, such as, “Did you survive the war?” and “Did you know Hitler?” and “How old were you in the first World War?” But the important thing is, they were interested and keenly so. If all the towns and villages where there are Junior schools could muster a handful of veterans to attend their assemblies on occasions such as this, then hopefully those who gave their all in service to Crown and Country will not be forgotten. Interestingly, on 11 November, Armistice Day itself, we were invited to attend the Mid-Kent College in Gillingham. There is hope yet.

Looking forward to Christmas folks, Keep healthy and Stay SAFE! Tony Jeacock | The ex-Launton Boy | December 2021 Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 41

Diary Dates: December 2021

Wednesday Thursday Saturday Sunday

1 2 4 5

Monday Tuesday

6 7

Wednesday 8 Friday 10 Sunday 12

Monday Tuesday

13 14

Wednesday15 Thursday 16 Friday

17

Saturday 18 Sunday 19 Monday Tuesday

20 21

Friday

24

Saturday 25 Sunday 26 Tuesday 28 Thursday 30 Friday

31

Home Guard Living History Group, Parish Hall, 8pm Parish Council. Public Session 7.15pm, Council Meeting 7.30pm, Launton Parish Hall School PTA Christmas Festival, 5.00-7.00pm St Mary's Church, Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family Service Christingle, 11am | Bicester Motion Consultation on The Wilderness Quarter, 10am, 11.15am, 12.30pm, see the Parish Council website for more details | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Over 60s Christmas Party, Playing Fields Hall. Doors open 12.30 for lunch at 1pm SCOTS Night at The Bull, from 5.30pm St Mary's Church, Morning Prayer, 11am | Deck the Hall!, Carols and Christmas Songs at St. Mary's Church and The Parish Hall, from 2.15pm | Christmas Carols

by Candlelight, The Phoenix Singers, St Peter's Church, Bucknell, 7.30pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Home Guard Living History Group, Parish Hall, 8pm Last day of school. Launton School breaks up for Christmas. Classes return on 4 January 2022 | WI Monthly Meeting and Christmas Dinner, Playing Fields Hall, 7.30pm FINAL DATE FOR COPY FOR THE JANUARY 2022 ISSUE OF LAUNTON LINES: SUBMIT TO launtonlines@launton.org BCOS Christmas Concert, Sleigh Bells Ring!, St Edburg's Church, 7.30pm St Mary's Church, Service of Lessons and Carols, 6pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm The Community Café is closed for the school holidays, reopens on Tuesday 4 January 2022 | Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Christmas Eve | St Mary's Church, Crib service, 3pm; Midnight Communion, 11.30pm | Christmas Raffle at The Bull with Santa and Mrs Claus, from 8pm Christmas Day | St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am Boxing Day | St Mary's Church, Team Service at St Edburg's, Bicester 10.30am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Launton Health Walk, starts at The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Launton Historical Society monthly meeting: a lighthearted Year's End session, Parish Hall, 7.30pm New Year's Eve Launton Lines December 2021 | Page 42

Launton Dog 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 eleventh report.

Dog’s Name: Mikey Age: 2½ years old Gender: Male Breed: Golden Retriever How long in Launton: Since I was twelve weeks old One interesting fact: I let my cat brother eat my food (so the humans have to remove the cat) I came from: Drayton, Oxford Habits: I’m friendly with everyone in the village.

I like all dogs of various ages and sizes and I like people. I just want fuss, attention and to play!

Favourite food: Whatever the 18 month old human drops on the floor or gives to me!

Favourite game or toy: Chasing after a tennis ball. I don’t always retrieve it for my humans but they know I’m Golden!

Favourite walk: Across the railway line and in the fields down to the stream for a paddle with my best doggie pal Harry 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.

Photos by John Stephens | Robert Cornford

Work in West End over the past month

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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 Get in the Christmas Spirit and see the Hall “decked out”!

Watch for more information.

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.