Launton Lines Issue 256 February 2022

The Bull Inn Christmas Fundraiser for The Hummingbird Centre As in (most) previous years, Karen and Brandon at The Bull ran a Christmas raffle drawn in the pub on Christmas Eve by an elderly gentleman with an off-white beard, dressed from hat to ankles in red.

2021 ran to the same plan. “We raised £939 at the raffle for The Hummingbird,” said landlady Karen Blainey. “That brings the

total that The Bull has raised for charity since Brandon and I came to Launton in 2014 to £17,600.”

Photos show Karen with her helper, Santa Claus (Chris Mack), and the supporting Elf (Myree Mack).

Photos from Karen Blainey The front cover shows the final opening of the Grange Farm footbridge following many delays. Wielding the scissors are Simon Turner (Parish Council Chairman) with Melvyn Banks (EWRA Project Leader). Photo from Peter Cox

The Editor writes …

This is - we plan - the last issue that I edit from afar: Matt Hill and I have been burning up the internet with emails and shared ideas, and I'm sure that by the March issue we will have worked out a way of him editing the issue. For now, Matt has worked on our graphics and some adverts: you’ll recognise which!

Our cover shows the final opening of the Grange Farm footbridge after many unforeseen delays: it’s good to see the official scissors in use. What will happen when Station Road is opened - not too far away. The centre pages 22-23 have photos from our staff photographer of the new bridge and its surroundings.

Sadly, we have two obituaries in this issue: for Roger Bradshaw (pages 32-33) and Irene Tompkins (pages 24-25): both will be sadly missed in the village.

On a happier note there is a photo on page 34 of the presentation to Nixson, Sagarita and Seth at the Costcutter shop, a thank you for their hard work over the past year. Pages 14 and 15 has the regular report from MP Victoria Prentis.

Finally, the Ex-Launton Boy Tony Jeacock reaches his century contribution on pages 39-41, and the 2022 Panto reports on pages 8-9 with rehearsal photos on page 43, and a poster on the back cover.

Please also 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 247171 - Jane Olds (Launton Parish Council) 01869 241755 - Lesley | 01869 242685 - Nick Cherry Pharmacy Runner

Launton Lines

A monthly newsletter for Launton. Published around the first of each month by the Launton Community Communications Group © 2022 Launton Lines email: launtonlines@launton.org website: https://launton.org/launton-lines/ The Launton Lines Committee 2022 Chair: Jon Spinage | Editors: Robert Cornford, Matt Hill | Treasurer: Michael Stack Associate Editor: Kathy Gilbert | Distribution: Shirley Johnson | Advertising: Jenni Walker Contact the Parish Council Council Clerk | Mrs Jane Olds Address | 13 Oak Close, Bicester, OX26 3XD email | clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk Phone | 01869 247171

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

LIGHT UP A LIFE

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

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

Please contact Joan Packer on 01869 241694 by 20 February for entry in the March 2022 issue of Launton Lines.

Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 6 January 2022 at 7:30pm in the Parish Hall

Councillors present Mr Andrew Briant, 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; 15 members of the public; PCSO Daniel Robertshaw; two representatives from East West Rail,; and Cllr David Hughes (CDC) Community Speedwatch PCSO Robertshaw outlined the project.

Community Speedwatch is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing support for Speedwatch schemes. Speedwatch groups are organised by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and may be provided with a starter kit on a loan basis which includes a speed detection device. However, before community teams are able to be deployed to the roadside, all members of the team must undergo a number of training sessions, both online and at the roadside, to ensure risk assessments have been completed.

When on duty, there should be a minimum of three members - one to use the speed detection device, one to call out the licence plates and one to take down the information. The information is then passed to the Police for logging, review and any necessary further action.

More information is available at the following website: Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 4

https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/speedwatch/ Please let us know (clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk) if you would like to join in.

East / West Rail Thaina Sa’id reported that the installation phase was currently on schedule.

The first part of the track from the London Road level crossing (Bicester fringe) to near to the Charbridge Lane crossing had been installed and was being used to deliver materials.

Both the Charbridge Lane and Station Road ‘bridge decks’ for the road were complete. As had been mentioned in the December edition of Launton Lines, the Charbridge Lane road and bridge had opened four days ahead of schedule. The northern section was complete, but due to land acquisition issues, it had been necessary to build the southern section in three phases.

The final phase is to complete the permanent southern approach and then remove the temporary approach.

The opening of the Grange Farm footbridge has been held up due to a delayed delivery of a required component. However, it is hoped that it will be opened towards the end of January (see report on page XX and front cover of this issue of Launton Lines.)

The Social Values Team has asked if there were any local projects which would benefit from assistance. It has already been suggested that a first aid / defibrillator training morning would be beneficial.

Advance warning has been given that Bicester Road is scheduled to be closed between 11 April and 27 May this year, once Station Road has re-opened.

Report from District and County Councillors Councillor Hughes (CDC) attended to outline the CDC planning process with particular reference to the proposed development on land off Station Road, past Grange Mews. He recommended lobbying the County Councillor regarding highways and drainage issues, the CDC Landscape Officer for any effects on the countryside and the Environment Agency on flooding.

The application would be going to Committee (possibly on 10 March) and there would be a maximum of five minutes available for members of the public to speak on the application. If more than one speaker wished to speak, it would be necessary to share the time.

It was also acceptable to contact members of the Planning Committee.

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 5

However, Cllr Hughes also reiterated that the Parish Council should have a fallback position and request items which would benefit the village to mitigate the development if it did go ahead.

Councillor Corkin did not attend the Parish Council meeting.

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

The Council considered the detailed budget and agreed the level of £36,621 (a decrease from £45,520) for the year 2022/23. This took into account the range of Parish responsibilities including village grass cutting and weed spraying, the dog bin emptying, meeting costs, saving for replacement street furniture, road safety, reserves and the Parish Hall project.

The Parish had been given the Tax Base figure (broadly, the number of Band D equivalent dwellings in the village) by CDC which was estimated at 566.4; this was an increase from 536.3 the previous year. Following the calculations, it was agreed to increase the Precept to £29,895 which was an increase of £6,899. The annual cost to a Band D household would be approximately £52.98 - an increase of £9.90 over the whole year.

However, it is worth noting that the Band D equivalent for a resident of Bicester for 21/22 was £131.94.

More information about how the Tax Base figure is calculated is available on the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/financialinformation/financing-the-parish-council/ For anyone interested, the draft budget and precept calculations can be found on the Parish Council website under the January Items for Information at https://www.launtonpc.gov.uk/agenda-and-minutes/2021-2022-agenda-and-minutes/ 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.

Guidance about how the Parish Council is able to respond is available on the Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 6

Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/planningapplications/ Application 21/04112/OUT - land near Grange Farm outline application for up to 68 Dwellings The Parish Council noted the concerns of villagers who came to the meeting and will be considering its response to the application at the February meeting.

Parish Hall We are now working on the consultation and hope to have the results shortly.

Village Matters Village Spring Clean A date for your diaries - all being well, we hope to hold our annual Spring Clean and Litter Pick on Saturday 19 March between 10am and 12noon from the Parish Hall. There might be cake!

Do come and join us!

Agenda items and dates of the next meetings We hope that the 3 February meeting will be in the Parish Hall, at 7.30pm, but this will be dependent on the Government restrictions.

In order to mitigate the COVID effects, we will do our best to make sure that the hall is as safe as possible. If you’d like to chat with a Councillor, do come along after 7.15pm. Unfortunately, we are not able to hold hybrid meetings at present - please arrive in time to use the hand sanitiser and find your seats!

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

Suggestions for agenda items for the 3 March meeting need to be with the Clerk by 17 February and items for the 7 April meeting by 24 March.

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 February 2022 | Page 7

Launton Village Players’ Panto

Dick Whittington

Launton Village Players are very happy to let you know that tickets for our 2022 pantomime Dick Whittington are on sale now! They can be purchased by going to our website www.launtonvillageplayers.org.uk or from TicketSource www.ticketsource.co.uk/lvp (booking fee applies). You can also pre-book your programmes and interval refreshments.

Performance times and ticket costs Wednesday 23 February Thursday 24 February Thursday 24 February Friday 25 February Friday 25 February Saturday 26 February Saturday 26 February

7:30pm 10:30am 2:30pm 2:30pm 7:30pm 2:30pm 7:30pm

Adults Child £10 £5 £12 £6 (half capacity) £12 £6 £14 £7 £14 £7 £14 £7 £14 £7

About the show

We are performing in Cooper School Performance Hall during the February half term and have an original script full of comedy, music, magic and audience participation. LVP aim to have all the ingredients of a family pantomime in their shows.

Rehearsals have been going well and we’ve had a lot of fun with the story and hope you will enjoy it too! There are rehearsal photos on page 43.

We are lucky to have our band with us throughout rehearsals and again Steve Webber, our Musical Director, has written the music, including songs I didn’t do it! and It must be Magic. We have three band members with Steve - Sarah Turner, Simon Turner and John Nelson, all very talented musicians.

We have a very creative team overall: many beautiful costumes have been made once again (how many outfits will our Dame have this time?); some incredible props, (do come and meet Poochy and his sausages); an exciting set (where will we be this year?); and we will have very colourful lighting effects (but no loud bangs or strobes).

Many people and businesses have supported us and thank you to them for raffle prizes and advertising in our programme (which has been expertly edited by Bob Roberts - our thanks to him for taking on this big job). Please do support our advertisers as they are a valued part of our community.

The story follows the fortunes of Dick Whittington as he ventures forth to Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 8

find wealth and happiness with his loyal cat Magic. Of course there are a few problems along the way but will it all end happily? Oh yes it will!

Covid-19 safety

We are aiming to keep our cast, crew and audiences as safe as we can and so have introduced some Covid-19 measures. We are asking our audience members to bring along proof of their Covid-19 pass, or an email or text confirming a negative lateral flow test result from the day they are attending the performance and they will be asked to wear face coverings throughout the performance (unless exempt).

We will have plenty of hand sanitiser available and we will complete enhanced cleaning between shows. Our very friendly Front of House team will also be asked to wear face coverings and do a lateral flow test each day before coming.

We would also appreciate if our audiences could use cashless payments for refreshments, so please bring credit / debit card if possible, or ideally prebook your refreshments when you purchase your tickets.

The performance hall will be as well ventilated as possible so because of this, we’re asking our audiences to please consider dressing for colder temperatures, and to bring layers. Social distancing in any area where there may be queues will be encouraged where we can, and one way systems will be used where possible to avoid bottlenecks.

Our Thursday morning show will be sold at half capacity. Every other row of seats will be left empty to give audience members a bit more space. We do hope this reassures.

Who we are supporting

We are hoping that after expenses we will have some profits which we aim to give to other charities and good causes including Horton General Hospital Children’s Ward; Friends of Launton Parish Hall; Medical Detection Dogs; Bicester Baby Bank; The Samaritans; The Blue Cross; Cystic Fibrosis Trust; and Somerville Foundation Please do come along and support us - not only do you get a couple of hours of fantastic family friendly live theatre, but you will also help us raise money for other good causes Thank you for your support and hope to see you at “Dick Whittington” where you can help us to boo the baddie and cheer on our hero and see if he does become “three times Lord Mayor of London!”

The LVP team Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 9

Road Closures Report correct as at 20 January 2022 2 February 2022: Stratton Audley to Poundon Road will be CLOSED for essential HS2 works between 9.30am and 4pm 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 will be 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 20 January 2022. See the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/road-closures/ for any further or interim updates.

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It has been a cold winter this year We asked our staff photographer Ella Rayner to capture what January looked like around Launton.

This photo of an icy spider’s web taken on 18 January really captures the feel especially as the editor writing this is sitting in 38°C heat in Cape Town.

Photo by Staff Photographer Ella Rayner

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 11

Making crowns for the Epiphany service at St Mary’s

At our Family Service in January, the children decorated crowns to herald the arrival of the Three Wise Men at Epiphany.

You are most welcome to join us in St Mary’s on 6 February at 11am when, in the Family Service, we will be celebrating Candlemas, marking the presentation of Jesus at the Temple forty days after his birth, based upon the account in Luke’s Gospel.

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 12

News from St Mary’s Church for February 2022 You are warmly invited to our February Services, the details of which are listed below.

6 February

8.00am BCP Holy Communion In St Mary’s 11.00am Family Candlemas Service In St Mary’s 13 February 6.00pm Evensong In St Mary’s 20 February 11.00am Morning Prayer In St Mary’s 27 February 11.00am Holy Communion In St Mary’s And our first service for March is: 2 March 7.30pm Service for Ash Wednesday 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 07966 531 921

or one of the Churchwardens at St Mary’s Joan Packer Celia Manderson

j.packer779@btinternet.com celiamanderson@aol.com

01869 241694 01869 571735

Island Pond Wood Events for 2022

The Island Pond Wood group has settled on two open family events for the coming year. So mark your calendars and look out for woodland fun.

Saturday 21 May - Spring family community event, linked to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations Saturday 15 October - Autumn family community event These family events are separate from the working parties in the woodland which are held regularly in spring, summer and autumn to carry out maintenance on the trees and pond, and to wage an ongoing battle against the brambles and the blackthorn hedges.

Become a member and help protect and maintain this beautiful space. Annual membership is £10 per adult. Email fipwlimited@gmail.com for a joining form. Payment can be made via BACS or cheque. For more information

on Island Pond Wood visit @IslandPondWood Facebook page.

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 13

Quarterly report from Victoria Prentis, MP

Over the Christmas holidays, my team and I worked hard to support those who have contacted my office. Many were getting in touch with me with Covid-related concerns, including local vaccination and testing provision. It is good to hear from local public health officials that our vaccine programme has accelerated in the past few weeks with record doses being administered.

We now have one of the highest vaccine coverage rates in the country and there continues to be ample capacity across the system. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved for working with us on this issue.

A fair amount of my time recently has been spent supporting constituents with DVLA renewals, UK Visas and Immigration matters, and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) applications. I was pleased to speak to local residents at my constituency surgery last week. We discussed everything from planning and loan charges to parking and healthcare provision. I always enjoy speaking to constituents and if you have problems that need resolving, please do get in touch with my office at victoria.prentis.mp@parliament.uk. It is often quicker to resolve problems virtually or on the phone during the Parliamentary week; don't wait for a local surgery.

January can be a challenging time for many businesses in hospitality and leisure as sales slow after the Christmas period. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant has caused added uncertainty for business owners. I have been signposting those who have got in touch to the additional support made available by the Chancellor last month. One-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises will be awarded to businesses in hospitality and leisure. The cost of Statutory Sick Pay for Covid-related absences for small and medium-sized employers will also be covered.

As the weather gets colder and more time is spent inside, it is important that everyone is able to keep warm and well. Vulnerable households can receive financial support through the Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payments. Additionally, most energy providers offer a Warm Home Discount to those eligible. Residents who need any energy-related advice can get in touch with Better House Better Health, a longstanding and local service in Oxfordshire, on 0800 107 0044.

The New Year can bring great optimism, but it can equally be a lonely and difficult time for some. People can reach out to the Bicester Community Support Service on 01865 897 105 should they need support. They provide a range of activities and services to help people to stay healthy, independent and engaged.

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 14

For older residents, a friendly chat on the phone can make all the difference.

Age UK Oxfordshire’s Phone Friends telephone service is a brilliant way for those who are isolated to stay connected. 20,000 phone calls are made each year to over 400 isolated people in our community. Constituents can get in touch by ringing 0345 450 1276.

Before Christmas, I had the pleasure of calling in to David and Lesley Thompson’s coffee morning in Launton. The event was organised to raise funds and awareness for the Bicester Good Neighbour Scheme. This fantastic voluntary organisation arranges free support and friendship for older people in Bicester and nearby villages. The group are always looking for more volunteers. If you have time and are interested in volunteering, do call them on 07849 799 530.

The past 23 months have been an incredibly challenging time for us all. But, it has shown us how important community really is. Thank you to all of my constituents who continue to care and support their friends and neighbours.

It is wonderful to read constituents’ emails when they share these positive community stories with me and I hope this spirit of kindness continues.

Victoria Prentis

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 15

Launton WI Report for January 2022 The first meeting of the new year was held in the Parish Hall with 22 members attending.

We were treated to an excellent and informative talk on the Thames Valley Air Ambulance by Dave Gilbert who lives in the village. Dave has volunteered for the charity for six years, giving talks, managing collection boxes for the Bicester area, and helping at fund-raising events including sponsored cycling.

Some interesting facts from the talk: It costs £3,750 to send our helicopter on each mission and as they are a charity, fundraising is vital to their income. They were called out 2,570 times to help people in need of urgent critical care in the last year and they are called out on average 7 times a day to anywhere in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, within a 15-minute radius.

Do come and join us. Come AERIALS along to our next meeting as a SUPPLIED, ERECTED guest, when we will have a talk & REPAIRED SINCE 1962 from Chloe Bradford, who lives in the village and works for BBOWT (Berks Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust). She will be speaking about the Island Pond Wood plans for the future management of the site, and how it will help nature.

The meeting is in the Parish Hall on Thursday 10 February at Contact PAUL W. EWERS 7.30pm.

Telephone Brill 01844 237131 Mobile 07956 509166

Anytime

Lesley Thompson

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 16

Iris Burden stays in touch with Launton

Iris Burden was given a photo of her final visit to St Mary’s by Revd Peter who visited her in her new home in Headington. He passed on this account.

Following on from my visit to Iris in December I received a Christmas card with this message, which I am pleased to pass on as requested. “... I remember all at the church and café in my prayers daily. Give my love to all who remember me. I do so miss Launton and the friends there.

Love and blessings to all at church and café and may all go well with you all. God Bless always.

Love & thanks, Iris” Iris is now receiving a copy of Launton Lines every month as she is keen to keep in touch with all that is happening in Launton.

We send her our love and every best wish for her Birthday in February - she is very much missed!

This could be advertising your business It will reach over 600 people in Launton, and many more through our online edition.

Our rates are very competitive.

For more information contact the Advertising Manager at Launton Lines, Jenni Walker, at launtonlines@launton.org Send us your own artwork, or we can create an advert for you to approve.

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 17

The new Road to Marsh Gibbon takes shape The photo shows the layout of Station Road as it rises to cross the EWR route near the site of the old Launton Station. On the left a newlyinstalled electricity pole carries the wires above the new road. Without this pole, the bridge would not have been possible.

We hear that work is ahead of schedule, and that the road may reopen before 25 March. But then, the Marsh Gibbon bridge will be replaced, so still no quick access that way.

Photo by Peter Cox

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 18

Progress on the Parish Hall, and future events

PHIP, which was started at a meeting in The Bull on 2 November 2015, is about to move on to a properly-constituted charity when the application is made to The Charity Commission at the end of January. Then it will change its name to Friends of Launton Parish Hall (FoLPH). See the notice on page 31 for the AGM. Meanwhile, PHIP is planning for events in the coming months.

24 March: PHIP Open Meeting, Parish Hall, 7.30pm 1 May: Spring May Day Fair, at and in the Parish Hall, 2pm - 5pm cakes and produce and games and activities for all the family 19 May: PHIP/FoLPH AGM, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Later, there are plans for a Treasure Hunt based on the “what3words” location app (late August/early September), and another Autumn Fair at the Parish Hall. By then we may be back to what will count as ‘normal’ for events and activities.

Robert Cornford | Information Officer, PHIP/FoLPH

LAUNTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY The threat of the Omicron virus meant that we didn’t go ahead with our meeting on 30 December but that means we can still look forward to Pat Tucker’s fiendish quiz, probably on 24 February.

However, we did have an interesting start to the New Year as an Oxford academic who lives in Bicester and is also part of the local team ministry came across an illuminated manuscript reputed to have belonged to St Mary’s, our parish church.

It is a breviary - a beautifully decorated book of words and music - and it may have been on the shelves of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, for several centuries. However, no-one who has written on the history of this village was aware of it. Pat Tucker will make a special visit to see it in the coming months, so we hope to have more information later.

By the time you read this we will have heard Liz Woolley speak about The Men who built Oxford - from Axtell to Zacharias, so more about that next month.

Happy New Year to everyone!

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Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 20

A Really Royal Scarecrow Trail

We are delighted to be able to tell you that The Really Royal Scarecrow Trail is taking shape.

The dates have been decided: it will start at 12 noon on Saturday 28 May and finish at 12 noon on Sunday 12 June.

We do hope you will feel able to enter.

Any display with royal connections is fine!

Your scarecrow could be a King or Queen, or a Prince or Princess, or even a corgi, or a raven from the Tower of London, or something military like a guardsman, or the Royal Train.

There are no set sizes or dimensions but just consider whether your scarecrow can be clearly seen from the public path.

The closing date for entries will be 7 May and the entry form will be in the April and May editions of Launton Lines, along with more information.

All profits made will go towards St Mary’s Church.

The trail will be very similar to ones we’ve done before, and the Really Royal Scarecrow Trail will be free to enter.

We are not having a vote this time but there will be a chance to pass on your compliments to the Scarecrows you really liked.

We do hope you will be able to enter and help us provide a wonderful and right royal ramble around the village during The Platinum Jubilee celebrations period.

The Trail Team Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 21

The Grange Farm footbridge opened Friday 21 January 2022

Clockwise from top left: The bridge from a distance; Looking down on the rail bed; The bridge from ground level, with a dumper truck for scale; Some moles seem to have found a direct path to the bridge; We promise we’ll never walk along the trace; The steps down from the bridge deck; the walkway and stairway up to the bridge deck.

All photos by Ella Rayner

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 22

Our staff photographer recorded the site a few days later

The front cover shows the opening of the footbridge.

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 23

Irene Tompkins

This obituary notice is based on the eulogy written by Carol Hill, which was read by Magalie Hill at Irene’s funeral at St Mary’s Church, Launton on Thursday 6 January 2022.

Irene was born at Steeple Claydon and lived with the family at Muxwell Farm, Botolph Claydon until the age of five. The family then moved into Lapland Farm, Brill where Irene lived for the next thirty years.

Irene went to Ludgershall Primary School and then at age 11 to St Christopher’s and St Louis’ Convent in Aylesbury.

Irene’s childhood on the farm was idyllic – she enjoyed helping with the haymaking, feeding and looking after the animals and making sure the hens were safely away at night before the foxes came.

Irene loved riding her pony Babycham and enjoyed treks with her friends over Brill common and the surrounding countryside.

She enjoyed driving the tractor on the farm, and it was no surprise that she passed her driving test first time. Her first car was a Mini and in her lifetime she had owned thirty Minis in various colours.

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 February 2022 | Page 24

Irene loved fashion and would frequently visit London to buy the latest outfits in the Kings Road, Chelsea and Carnaby Street – she also enjoyed making her own clothes.

She had a great social life in the sixties and seventies and would often go to London with friends and visit The Flamingo and Marquee nightclubs where some of the now familiar names started - Fleetwood Mac and Sonny and Cher. She also saw The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Rod Steward perform live.

Irene’s first job was at Elliston’s in Oxford where she worked in the Accounts Department; she then worked at Lloyds Bank in Thame before moving on to British Leyland (now BMW) where she worked for thirty years, firstly in the Personnel Department and then as Pensions Administrator; she made many life-long friends there.

Irene loved playing golf and she took up the game over thirty years ago. She was a very good and competitive player. She was a member at Bicester Golf Club (formerly Chesterton Golf Club) for over twenty-five years and was always the one who welcomed newcomers to the club and loved meeting up in the Club House for a drink and chat.

Irene moved to Launton in 1982. She loved gardening, the allotment, holidays with the family to France, socialising in the local hostelries and doted on her nephew and great nephew. She also enjoyed a visit to the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool which she had longed to see.

Sadly, in December 2013 Irene contracted TB and spent Christmas in isolation at The Churchill Hospital - it was a devastating time for the whole family.

When she was discharged, she carried on within her limitations - she enjoyed nine holes of golf with her friends, chatting in the Club House, days out with her sister, socialising in the local pubs and hotels, and the friendships on the allotments.

She will be missed by all who knew her.

The family would like to thank everyone for their cards, support and kind words received.

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A Vet’s Voice: New Year hopes It’s getting a bit late but happy new year to all! The festive period brought about its own challenges for our practice team. Whilst Omicron was running rife through the country, we discovered that it seemed to have a particular preference for our after-hours emergency team! Despite the challenges, we maintained our required 24/7 emergency service, to ensure peace of mind for our clients and their pets. I am extremely grateful to all those who played their part in maintaining our service and diligently caring for those pets who needed our assistance.

In the lead up to Christmas (and immediately after) we had the usual steady stream of dogs eating chocolate which can, if of sufficient strength and quantity, be very dangerous to dogs. The darker the chocolate the higher the concentration of the chemical theobromine which is toxic to dogs (but not to humans). Symptoms can include gastrointestinal issues but in bad cases, more severe neurological problems can occur including a pounding heart, muscle tremors, and full-blown seizures.

In these cases, it is important to know how much and what type of chocolate a dog has eaten. This is then calculated for the size of the dog, to determine the potential toxicity. In many cases the quantity isn’t exactly known, and we may err on the side of caution. Treatment starts with inducing emesis (a vet’s way of saying we make the dog sick) to try to remove any chocolate still in the stomach. In severe cases, dogs may be hospitalised to treat any neurological symptoms and provide intravenous fluids to support the circulation and assist removal of the drug from the system.

So, with the new year in full swing and the thought that Covid will become less significant as we learn to live with it, we hope we can look forward to a much more normal year in 2022. We trust that there’ll be no return to car park consultations or full PPE; nobody wants to relive the disruption and uncertainty of the past two years.

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At the Bicester Vets practice we are focused on looking ahead, with some improvements in the pipeline and a desire to continue to improve the skills of our team and the services we can provide. The veterinary world continues to advance at a pace and at Bicester Vets we remain committed to rising to the challenge for you, your pets, and for ourselves!

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 as standard for all our 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 hospital.

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A reminder of the Fete in 2019

What a beautiful blue sky with clouds, and so many people on the field. Dorota as an astronaut with the winner of the programme cover competition, Lily Busby; and an ATC cadet takes a break from her hard work.

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

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News on the 2022 Fete

The Fete organising group will have a Zoom meeting in early February to make a final decision on whether and how to go ahead.

We decided last year that if we do go ahead it will be on the traditional day - the second Saturday in June - and not try to compete with the Platinum Jubilee extravaganza the previous weekend Personally I hope we can run a Fete for 2022, but it will depend on there being enough volunteers joining the Fete Group and offering to help with the organising and then on the day itself. We are very lucky on the day to have the support of the cadets from Bicester Air Training Corps who do great work lifting and carrying and unpacking and shifting tables and chairs, and then lead the opening parade with their Band. We really could not run the Fete without them, and they will be the ‘one third’ beneficiary from any profit we make (the other ‘two thirds‘ goes to St Mary’s church).

So if you want to help, do contact me: email rcornford47@gmail.com.

Robert Cornford Co-ordinator of Launton Village Fete Group

Grange Mews News February 2022

Commercial Offices, Industrial Units and Storage for Lease

The great news this month is that there is little news.

Our latest refurbished workshop has been awarded a B in its EPC inspection which is partially due to the PV array which has been on the roof for ten years and has saved over 100 MwH of electricity.

Because some buildings are curtilage listed, CDC will not grant permission to do the same for them, and this will be problematic with our all-electric supply of energy on site.

However, we have been fortunate or lucky (or even skilful?) to have a fixed price three year contract negotiated last summer at, what now, seem reasonable rates.

These rates will of course be passed onto our subscribing tenants.

Likewise, contracted Broadband tenants at Grange Mews will not be paying the April B.T. increase in price plus RPI. On reflection that sounds like good news.

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

Getting Oxfordshire Online: a report from Bicester Green

We’re five months into our role as the hub for north of the county in the Getting Oxfordshire Online programme, and already we’re seeing the impact it is making. Our volunteers are trained and thoroughly enjoying working on laptops and devices of all types.

But we’re running low on stock of laptops. Can you help?

Getting Oxfordshire Online is an initiative that refurbishes donated devices and passes them to people who need them. It also helps people get the data, training and support they need to get online. Through a partnership approach, Getting Oxfordshire Online is putting the infrastructure in place to deliver a sustainable, long-term solution to the problem of digital exclusion.

Up to 40,000 people in Oxfordshire are not online, and nationally, 34% of children aged 5–16 do not have access to their own device. Although home schooling has come to an end, students still need to use the internet at home to avoid falling behind at school or college.

Organisations around the country such as Oxford City Council, Oxford Computer Consultants and Gobeyond Partners have already donated hundreds of unused devices. We know that there are many ethical businesses locally that WE ARE NOW BICESTER’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT FAMILY-OWNED & RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS would consider doing the same. But BICESTER’S ONLY INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTOR we need to get the message out A caring traditional 24 hour service more: here’s where you come in.

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How can I help?

You can help by giving us the laptops you no longer need; your own laptop at home, your business or the organisation you work for.

Usually there is an IT department or Manager, sometimes it’s the Finance team, but please ask the question as to where laptops go once they are no longer required by the organisation.

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Often the barrier is data security, but we’ve got that covered: Getting Oxfordshire Online technical staff ensure that rigorous security  measures are taken when repurposing devices, with each one ‘triple wiped’ and meeting the most demanding standards. We can even provide the certificate of erase.

Why give your business’s unwanted devices?

Recycling and reusing your organisation’s devices for the good of others can  clear space in your business and demonstrate your commitment to your local community at the same time!  Donating devices is easy - they can be dropped off at Bicester Green or we can arrange collection for bulk donations.

So please ask the question, and if anyone needs more information please get in touch: info@bicestergreen.org.uk, or at www.bicestergreen.org.uk/gettingoxfordshire-online/, we’ll be happy to discuss our process and allay any concerns.

Celia Cornforth | facebook.com/BicesterGreen

ADVANCE NOTICE

Annual Meeting of PHIP soon to be FoLPH In its charity application Friends of Launton Parish Hall (FoLPH) has changed its reporting and financial year to end on 31 March, so the AGM will move to

19 May 2022 in the Parish Hall, at 7.30pm Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 31

Roger Bradshaw

18 December 1944 - 3 November 2021 Roger was born in West Hartlepool in County Durham, the fifth of six siblings, four of whom survive him.

He grew up with a love of the outdoors - long walks and adventures over the fields with his friends playing by the sea and among the sand dunes. He belonged to the local branch of the Boys Brigade and enjoyed the camps held during the summer, near Barnard Castle.

Roger loved his sport and was a keen cricketer and footballer. He proudly held the record for the most wickets taken in a school match and played at higher levels, even hoping for a trial with Yorkshire, and played football with local teams.

Roger worked as a mechanic and moved south to find better paid employment. At a dance in Oxford he met Hilary. While she was at University in London he would travel up at weekends to go to the parties in places like Carnaby Street and Kings Road Chelsea all in the swinging sixties.

All his life he loved to travel when he could.

We made several trips to Paris to visit friends and it was his dream to buy a property in France, which he realised in 2003 and owned until 2019.

Roger was never short of ideas - he liked to organise sea-fishing trips, dances and football matches from work, the proceeds going to local charities. He played football for MGs in Abingdon, took up Tai Kwon Do and trained to become a football referee when he no longer played for MGs, twice officiating at Oxford United, and he probably refereed all the local teams in the Jersey FA, not to mention Launton Ladies. Saturday afternoons were always for football, whatever the weather.

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Family life took over when Jo, Victoria and then Richard were born.

We lived in Piddington but moved to Launton in 1980 for the school but where Roger took no time in making further friendships within the village as he was always happy to stop and chat to people. He was always impressed by the friendliness of the people in Launton.

As the family left for university, Roger was able to travel again, going wherever the opportunities allowed, travelling to America, Malta, Ireland, and around Europe. Then in his favourite environment - the sea, cruising the Caribbean, the Med and round Scandinavia.

Roger had a lot of patience and was calm in a crisis. He offered a home to his mother-in-law as she needed more help. As his health deteriorated he spent more time in his greenhouse and garden, proud of his chrysanthemums and his lawn, and enjoyed seeing friends from the village.

Roger loved his family who always came first for him and spent time with his 6 grandchildren whenever they could visit.

He was a social person and was so pleased we could celebrate our golden wedding (plus 1 year because of Covid!) with everyone who mattered to him.

He will be remembered for the many facets of his personality - his love of entertaining and of action, but possibly especially for his wonderful collection of jokes which he would recount at any opportunity*.

Roger died a cruel death in the JR from Covid in spite of all the care he received from the staff there. Since then we have had amazing support and help from friends and members of our village community for which the family are so grateful and wish to thank everyone for their kindness. *Here is an example joke: “Why do the French eat snails? Because they don’t like fast food!”

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Villagers say thank you to Nixson, Saga, and Seth

Launton community gives a gift of thanks to Nixson, Saga, and Seth for the wonderful contribution they have made to our village throughout 2021.

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Teenage Prospects in the 2020s In the last issue, I looked at teenage life in the 1960s. On the surface, today’s teenagers seem to have many things that I lacked. I chose from three TV channels. They have an almost endless choice. They have the tablet and the mobile phone, a device surgically attached to every teenage hand, for access to ‘social media’ such as Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok. I only had the phone box at the end of our road, plus talking face-to-face.

They have far more choice as consumers, with goods often made in China. In the 1960s, China was a backward country crushed by a tyrant in charge of the Communist Party. Now it’s a rapidly developing country with the world’s second largest economy, crushed by a tyrant in charge of the Communist Party. China has become economically successful. It has exported not just goods but its cuisine, like the countries of the Indian sub-continent. It is claimed that chicken tikka masala is Britain’s national dish today.

The gender gap has also ALL ROOFS, GUTTERS & CHIMNEYS narrowed since the 1960s.

Today’s careers teacher could HOUSE MAINTENANCE | REPOINTING ask Sam or Samantha: “What INTERNAL & EXTERNAL DECORATING do you want to do when you PATIOS | DECKINGS | FENCING grow up?”, and the answer could be: Celebrity/footballer/ game show host/soap star/ FOR A PERSONAL SERVICE CALL social media influencer”.

PETER N. SOUTHAM Less likely answers would 01869 278333 include: “Care worker/ nurse/ cleaner/agricultural worker”.

OR And because of this, there are 07721 633 220 labour shortages in many lesspeteroofer@aol.com glamorous jobs: where in the 1960s these jobs were filled by INSURANCE APPROVED people coming to ‘the mother Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 35

country’ for work, now - following Brexit - the opposite is happening with many who came to work here leaving because they feel insecure in the UK. Today’s youngsters can earn a decent living from professional sports, like football, rugby, cricket, and athletics. It’s easier to enter previously male-dominated professions. 2020s women can hope to become Prime Minister. Female prospects have improved, although much more progress is still needed.

The school leaving age, at 15 in the 1960s, seems to have risen to 21.

The actual leaving age is 18 but, with huge numbers of teenagers now entering university, the real leaving age is arguably 21. There are over 130 universities for today’s teenagers to choose from, compared to 45 at the end of the 1960s. On the downside, they’re expected to pay back debts averaging £50,000. What a start to adult life.

Teenagers still protest. At the recent COP26 in Glasgow, teenagers like Greta Thunberg, with her 13 million Instagram followers, campaigned passionately about climate change, trying to make their elders take responsibly for the past and do something about it.

Teenagers have been prominent in similar movements like Extinction Rebellion.

Today’s teenagers have more to protest about than I did in the 1960s.

I protested against America poisoning Vietnam with Agent Orange, napalm, and other chemicals. Today, the economically developed countries, especially the fossil fuel producing countries, and some developing countries, like China and India, are poisoning the entire planet. COP26 barely started to find a solution. Today’s teenagers are justifiably angry. Their future depends on solving global warming, with time running out.

When they grow up, 2020s teenagers will have worse housing problems than I had. When I bought my first house my salary was £5,700 a year and the house cost £8,000. Yet, I was interrogated by my building society about my ability to pay back the mortgage over 20 years. Despite the relatively small gap between annual salary and house price, there were strict rules on borrowing. Compare that to the Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 36

2020s. That same house would now be out of my price range, unless I took out a 40-year mortgage - which is not widely offered! House purchase is beyond the reach of many young people, yet rent levels are ridiculously high, often higher than the monthly cost of paying back a mortgage. Without a deposit, millions are priced out of the housing market, often paying a large percentage of their earnings to a landlord. And that’s while interest rates are at record lows. What happens when interest rates rise? I avoided such misery.

And the calibre of modern politicians? We’ve one of the worst Prime Ministers in generations, surrounded by ministers with just one talent - massaging Johnson’s ego. In the 1960s, politicians had far greater experience and knowledge. Some were war veterans like Healey and Heath. They were well-read, grounded, with a public-service background and ethic. Today we have grubby mediocrities.

Unlike the progressive 1960s, today’s legislation is reactionary and authoritarian. Going through Parliament at the moment are

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proposals to ban street protests; sell off more of the NHS; criminalise asylum seekers and those who help them; limit scrutiny on government activities; and even make it harder to vote.

In the 1960s we had a taxation system based on fairness. The more you earned the bigger the percentage you paid in tax. In the 2020s, London is a major centre for a tax avoidance industry, designed to help high earners pay little or no tax. Billions of pounds that could be spent on improving the lives of the less well-off are siphoned off to tax havens. Those on modest incomes sometimes pay more in taxes than the very rich.

In the 1960s, the US invested huge amounts of money in the moonshot. The spin-offs for the wider society are still around today satellite TV, the laptop computer, smoke detectors, telemedicine, the joystick, non-reflective monitor displays, ear thermometers, and satellite navigation – and, of course, the non-stick frying pan (Teflon).

The 2020s equivalent is tax-dodging billionaires squandering their wealth on personal space toys.

If the 1960s were part of the golden age of prosperity after WW2, the 2020s appear to show a collapse into populism, nationalism, and economic misery for many. And that’s without Covid, where many youngsters have been abandoned by the government, failing to protect them in Covid-spreading unventilated schools.

Who’d want to be a teenager today?

Danny Cunningham Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 38

Memories of an ex-Launton Boy This month the Ex-Launton Boy writes his one hundredth column for us and remembers back 70 years to the death of the old King (George VI) in 1952 and the slow appearance of things like stamps and coins featuring the head of the new Queen (Elizabeth II). He recalls his maternal grandmother, and radio - but no television, and trying to keep up with his mother as they walked into Bicester.

And, of course, like all of us of that generation, he remembers with pleasure being a teenager in the 1960s. Then, he hopes he has not bored you by repeating stories over his hundred contributions!

I couldn’t actually swear to it folks but I do believe this is my one hundredth contribution to Launton Lines and I do so hope I have not bored you throughout.

This also being my first contribution for the year 2022 I am minded to think back seventy years to the year 1952. Being then between four and five years of age, it was the year that King George VI died and our dear Elizabeth II became Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and what was left of the British Empire. I had not yet started school but I still remember certain changes that suddenly began to appear, such as on postage stamps and coins. I had been used to seeing the head of King George VI on postage stamps and newly minted coins, back in the days when we still had farthings as legal tender. However, my memory is a little vague as to exactly when these changes actually came into being because, of course, our Queen was not crowned until the Coronation in the following year of 1953.

In 1952 the man whom I have for many years considered to be my hero, the great Winston Spencer Churchill was once again the Prime Minister of the country, although the first Prime Minister I can recall with vivid memory was his successor, Sir Antony Eden, and that was primarily because of the Suez crisis in 1956 over which he was forced to resign. (Some of the old boys for whom I am the Welfare Officer in the Medway Branch of the Royal Engineers Association were actually involved in the Suez crisis, and some even older were involved in the Korean war which was at its height in 1952).

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As young as I was in 1952, I listened a great deal to what the grownups talked about, being quite naturally a curious child about the grown-up world. It seemed to be such an interesting world, made even moreso by listening to the wireless, for we had no such thing as a television back then.

My very earliest memory that I can still recall quite vividly from, I think 1950ish, was not a particularly pleasant one, but it coincides with a pleasantly vague memory of my maternal grandmother from a couple of occasions when she came all the way from Sutton Coldfield in Warwickshire as it then was (West Midlands today) where I was born, to visit and stay with us for a while. She was a lovely lady and apparently, according to my mum, I was her favourite grandchild. I can recall nothing of her passing away for I believe both my brother Cliff and me were kept sheltered from such things. I do though remember throughout my childhood my mum speaking very fondly of her and missing her dreadfully.

I can also vaguely remember my Uncle Ron who was my dad’s second youngest brother who, along with his youngest brother, my Uncle Bernard, used to live with us after my dad took over the tenancy of 2, Green View, Station Road, Launton after the death of my paternal grandmother of whom I have no memories whatsoever.

The situation constituted overcrowding so Uncle Ron moved out and took a flat in Headington, Oxford where sadly, a few years later, he took his own life. I remember a trick he used to perform for Cliff and me when he would somehow place a partially smoked lit cigarette on the tip of his tongue and whip the whole lit cigarette back into his mouth which he then closed, remaining so for at least a minute before opening his mouth and sticking his tongue out with the lit cigarette perched thereon without having burned himself. I have to say that even though I secretly started smoking at nine years of age (stopping some fifteen years ago), I never felt the least little bit inclined to try that trick for myself.

1952 was still some years away from dad getting his first car and the bus service from the village was all but non-existent, not running at Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 40

all on some days of the week, which meant walking some rare old distances from a very young age. Mum would on certain days every week walk to Bicester pushing Cliff in the pram with me walking at her side. There was so little traffic about in those days it was quite safe to do. But my mum, like my dad, having served in the Armed Forces during the war, didn’t hang about when she walked and I, with my significantly shorter legs, was expected to keep up, which through sheer determination on my part, I did. Oh but did my little legs and feet hurt afterwards, but that was all part of growing up in a village with relatively few amenities at the time. I only wish I could walk as fast now as I could back then.

As austere as it was back then, and it was, it was a fabulous decade to grow up in as a little boy, and then of course, the very best time to be a teenager in the 1960’s. I count myself extremely lucky to have experienced those two decades during my formative years and I feel sorry for the children of today who will never know those experiences and be able to learn from them.

As I ponder over these words, I think back to some of the stories or memories I have imparted already in these pages and would love to deliver again, because among them there are such sweet memories that in my view are well worth repeating as reminders, especially the earlier ones, but to do so would I fear be cheating just a wee bit.

We all know people who, when stopping to chat, will tell you something that they have told over and over again over the years and one politely tries to give the impression of not having heard it before.

I have no wish to fall into that trap, although I fear I may have already done so on a couple of occasions within these pages. I put it down to the unfortunate fact that, with increasing age, the memory either fades or plays tricks. Well that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Anyway folks, whilst I am still compos mentis, I’ll wish you all a Happy 2022 and let us hope it will be better than 2021.

Keep healthy and stay SAFE! Tony Jeacock | the Ex-Launton Boy | February 2022 Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 41

Diary Dates: February 2022

In the current Covid-19 situation, it is difficult to be specific about events in the village. Listed below are those that we know are planned - but it would be good to check with organisers nearer the date if you plan to attend.

Tuesday

1 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday 2 Home Guard Living History Group, Parish Hall, 8pm Thursday 3 Parish Council. Public Session 7.15pm, Council Meeting 7.30pm, Launton Parish Hall Sunday 6 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family Service Candlemas, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 7 Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 8 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Thursday 10 WI Monthly Meeting. Speaker IS Chloe Bradford on plans for the Island Pond Wood, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Friday 11 SCOTS Night at The Bull, from 5.30pm Sunday 13 St Mary's Church, Evensong (BCP), 6pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 14 Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 15 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Launton Health Walk, The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday 16 Home Guard Living History Group, Parish Hall, 8pm Friday 18 FINAL DATE FOR COPY FOR THE MARCH 2022 ISSUE OF LAUNTON LINES: SUBMIT TO launtonlines@launton.org | Last day at school: half term is next week. Back to school on Monday 28 February Sunday 20 St Mary's Church, Morning Prayer, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 21 Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 22 Launton Health Walk, The Bull, 2pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday 23 Dick Whittington - The Launton Panto, Cooper School, 7.30pm Thursday 24 Dick Whittington - The Launton Panto, Cooper School, 10.30am and 2.30pm | Launton Historical Society monthly meeting: Pat Tucker's Quiz held over from December, and a film, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Friday 25 Dick Whittington - The Launton Panto, Cooper School, 2.30pm and 7.30pm Saturday 26 Dick Whittington - The Launton Panto, Cooper School, 2.30pm and 7.30pm Sunday 27 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 28 Back to School, half term holiday over | Watercolour Painting Group, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 42

Dick Whittington takes shape in the Parish Hall

 Rehearsing a dance routine where the Dame interferes with the housework!  Most of the cast working on the finale song

Launton Lines February 2022 | Page 43

Launton Lines is the newsletter for Launton It is published monthly by the Launton Community Communications Group which also manages the Launton website www.launton.org and the Launton Village Facebook Page and Group www.facebook.com/launtonvillage Launton Lines is delivered free to every address in the village. It is funded by 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 © MMXXII Launton Lines. We reserve the right to edit articles submitted for inclusion.

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