Launton Lines Issue 259 May 2022

Around the village in April  Austin Smith as Jesus and India Sowler as the donkey in the Palm Sunday family service at St Mary’s Launton Photo by Ben Smith

 The afternoon session of The Community Cafe in the Parish Hall.

Photo by Robert Cornford

 The Launton Peacock makes another starring appearance in West End as spring brings out the colour of his tail feathers.

Photo by Joe Rayner The front cover shows Oksana Datsiuk and her son Pavlo (or Pasha) from Lutsk in north western Ukraine celebrating her birthday in a Launton garden on 24 April. See the contribution from David Thompson on pages 34-35 and 32-33 about what was involved in Oksana and Pasha getting to Launton. Photo by David Thompson

The Editor writes …

There is so much being planned in the village at the moment that I’ve had to leave out quite a few contributions - so apologies in advance. If any can be carried over I’ll put them on the top of the folder for the June issue.

This issue has a lot about planned jubilee-related events: at the playing field and hall over the holiday weekend (pages 14, 40 and 41) and we hear there is a plane fly past expected; there is the Royal Scarecrow Trail (pages 21, 26, 27, and 3031); and the Village Players’ Summer Show A Musical Jubilee (pages 11 and the back cover); and the Bee Day in the Woodland (page 20). This month the Football Tournaments for Girls and Women, and Boys return after the Covid intermission (pages 12-13), and the Girls are looking for recruits to their Wildcats programme (page 9).

Closer to home there is a report from the Community Communications Group AGM (pages 7-9) with some interesting facts from the online issue of Launton Lines - we’ve been read online in 21 countries in the last year.

There are also pieces from David Thompson about his family offering a home to Oksana and Pavel from Ukraine (pages 32-35 and the front 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 2021-22 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 May for entry in the June 2022 issue of Launton Lines.

May 4 | Sponsored by ‘ANON’ May 30 | Sponsored by Claire Farmer The years roll by.

Always lovingly remembered, my daughter Louise and sister Wendy

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

Councillors present Mr Andrew Briant, Mrs Abigail Dowman, Mr Ed Sanders (Vice Chairman), Mrs Lesley Thompson, Mr Simon Turner (Chairman), Mrs Jaqueline Webber Apologies Mr Kyle Michael In attendance The Clerk, Mrs Jane Olds; 3 members of the public; 2 representatives from East West Rail; Cllr David Hughes (from 9pm) East West Rail Mr George Singh and Ms Thaina Sa’id attended the meeting. Mr Singh introduced himself as the new Community Liaison Officer and updated the meeting on the progress of the project.

Station Road has now been opened with a reduced speed limit in order that additional vehicle restraining barriers could be installed. It has been noted that bridge barrier is rather shiny and that the glare reflected off it from the sun could be distracting so this will be monitored. Please let George know if you experience this (gsingh@ewralliance.co.uk).

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 4

The Bicester Road bridge works are taking shape. The works include installing a vehicle restraint system and adding the additional coping stones to the top. Contrary to some previous notifications, pedestrian and bicycle access will be maintained throughout the road closure.

The Charbridge Lane works are also on schedule. There will be two-way temporary traffic lights between 18 and 25 April and an overnight closure from 9 to 16 May between 8pm and 6am.

The EWR team had been pleased to support Island Pond Wood and asked if there were other projects which could be helped in the village. The Council had asked for help in running a defibrillator/first aid workshop.

The team planned to hold some open days now that restrictions are lifted.

Reports from District and County Councillors Cllr Hughes (CDC) reported on the CDC Planning Committee meeting from earlier in the evening. While the application reference 21/04112/OUT at OS Parcel 2778 Grange Farm North West Of Station Cottage Station Road Launton for “Outline application for the erection of up to 68 dwellings (Use Class C3), including up to 8 live-work dwellings, public open space, access, infrastructure and demolition of existing buildings” had been recommended for approval by the Planning Officer, the Committee had voted to refuse the application.

The Council noted that Cllr Hallchurch was standing down at the May election.

Cllr Corkin (OCC) had sent a written update which included information about various larger planning applications affecting the area: an application for development around M40 Junction 10; the strategic rail freight terminal between Ardley and Middleton Stoney; the 68 houses at Grange Farm; Hawkwell village (part of the eco town) near Bucknell; Great Wolf leisure park at Chesterton; an application for development of the area around M40 junction 9 for Siemens; further development in Chesterton, and the rejection of a planning application at Finmere for 25 houses.

The Heyford Park 20mph zone should be implemented shortly; the bus service from Heyford Park was under review.

Much had been achieved since the flooding of December 2020, but there are some outstanding issues.

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

Planning All planning applications which include links to Cherwell’s Planning Portal, are put on the Parish Council website when 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 to Parish Council

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 5

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 Parish Council website at https://www.launtonpc.gov.uk/planning-applications/ Parish Hall The working group has seen draft plans and made comments which the Architect will take into account ready for the planning application.

Agenda items and dates of the next meetings The 5 May meeting will be in the School Hall, at 7.30pm (please note change of venue).

In order to mitigate the Covid-19

effects, we will do our best to make sure the Hall is as safe as possible. If you’d like to chat with a Councillor, do come along after 7.15pm.

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

Suggestions for agenda items for the 9 June meeting (note change of date because of the Jubilee weekend bank holiday) by 26 May, and items for the 7 July meeting by 23 June.

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 marks Winner and Runner Up in Best Independent Business in Oxfordshire Awards

Launton-based sustainable business Refills by Beez recently won the Little Ankle Biters award for best local independent business in Oxfordshire.

Refills by Beez provides a doorstep delivery service to refill your containers with cleaning products and toiletries. By refilling, rather than recycling, each of your containers enough energy is saved to power an LED light bulb for 36 hours. This is an easy and convenient way for everyone to lower their carbon footprint.

RefillsbyBeez said, “We are so grateful to everyone who has supported this business venture so far and would love to help more people reduce their plastic waste by reusing and refilling with @RefillsbyBeez. See more about how we work at our website www.refillsbybeez.com” The runner up for this award was The Cattleshed Candle Company, also Launton-based: it’s a nice coup for the village having a 1-2 for the award.

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 6

Report from The Annual Meeting of the Launton Community Communications Group (LCCG)

I am pleased to report that the Launton Community Communications Group (LCCG) had a largely successful year. Our financial position has remained stable and, if needed, we will seek extra funding from the Parish Council as the new houses in Launton Mews are completed and occupied (as at April 2022 we have added 30 new distributions to the total for Launton Lines from Launton Mews).

Our aim over the long term is to break even, recognising that we are not a profit-making organisation. However, recent years’ exceptional conditions have proven the value of having a financial safety net to withstand financial shocks so we will try to keep a reserve fund for such purposes.

We aim to keep the percentage of commercial advertising space to under 20% of total pages, which is relatively low for a publication of this type. Even in these unusual times, advertising revenue has held up well (many thanks to all advertisers who have stayed with us) and, thanks to the work of our Advertising Manager, Jenni Walker, we’ve even managed to add some new advertisers as local activity recovers from the pandemic. From our issue-by-issue records, income has exceeded outgoings each month since we moved to Lonsdale printers in August 2021: their costs have been lower than our previous supplier.

I’d like to highlight that the continuing success of the LCCG is due to the dedication of everyone involved, including: the regular team who have made the production and distribution of each issue go smoothly the distributors, coordinated by Shirley Johnson, who regularly deliver Launton Lines to their neighbours our advertisers, some of whom have supported us for many years our printers, Lonsdale, who have managed some fast turnarounds since we joined them in August 2021 Steve Webber and others who maintain communications on online channels Launton Parish Council, without whose grant we would struggle to continue; and the contributors, both regular and occasional.

Summary of the past year We kept going throughout the Covid-19 pandemic! We subscribed to a financial management tool (Xero) to help us track and manage advertising coming from an increasing number of organisations.

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 7

We reorganised responsibilities, with the Advertising Manager focusing

on recruiting advertisers, and the Treasurer taking on invoicing and chasing advertisers, as well as managing the payment of printers’ bills.

Unfortunately, just as this was about to go live in November 2021, key committee members were struck down with Covid-19. The effects have lasted quite a while, so we have fallen behind with invoicing advertisers, and with chasing payments. All are now on the road to recovery and thankfully we have enough financial cushion to manage in the meantime. Matthew Hill joined us as a co-Editor from November 2021 and has been concentrating on improving the graphics and adverts and setting up layouts for our new DTP program. February 2022 saw the 100th contribution from Tony Jeacock, the exLaunton Boy. We have also added to our regular contributors. We have had some interesting data from Issuu about the online version more on that below. In the year ahead we will consider registering LCCG as a charity As always, we would welcome help from anyone who would like to be either regularly or occasionally involved with our projects. In particular, we would welcome applications for the role of Secretary, a committee role which is currently vacant.

In the reporting period we produced 12 issues. They were all produced and distributed within our target of “around the first of each month”.

Below is summary information on the last year Total number of pages produced: 540. Issues varied between 40 pages and 48 pages. Of these pages, 180 were in colour (colour adverts were first offered in May 2021 and rapidly became popular).

Approximate number of words of editorial content: 128,500.

Total number of adverts: 297. These took up 115.76 pages, or just over 21.5% of the total pages.

Total number of paid (commercial) ads were 261. These were just over 17.5% of the total page count. The balance were ads for village organisations or events which we have not charged for. We have always had a target that no more than 20% of each issue should be made up of commercial adverts.

Change of printer In July 2021 we produced our last issue with OxUniPrint. Fortunately, we were able to transfer to a printer based in Wellingborough (Lonsdale Direct) on the recommendation of other village newsletters. Lonsdale took about a day longer Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 8

in production and we then had to wait a further day for delivery, but their prices were considerably lower than OUP. Online availability From October 2019 we have also made Launton Lines available online through www.issuu.com From July 2021 we started collecting data on downloads and usage. Here is the online data for July 2021 - March 2022.

Total “Reads”: 2,213 (some of the Reads will be from earlier issues) Total “Impressions”: 31,418 (some will be from earlier issues) Average Read time: 4.23 minutes per read Access: 65.5% of access was from phones, 34.5% from desktops.

In this period we have had access from 21 countries. The UK has the largest number (1,863 or 87.7% of all Reads) followed by the USA (118 Reads or 5.6%). No other country had more than 2% of Reads. Other countries listed (in order of Reads) are South Africa, Italy, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Sweden, Spain, Greece, India, Philippines, Russia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, French Guiana, Canada, Malaysia, South Korea, Mexico. I have to say that we have doubts about some of these – but you never know where there may be people interested in Launton!

Jon Spinage, Chair, Launton Community Communications Group

Join the Launton FC Wildcats Launton Ladies and Girls are looking for girls in Years 1 and 2 to join their Wildcats - have fun, play football, and make friends.

We meet on Wednesdays between 5.45pm and 6.45pm at the Launton Playing Fields.

Go to thefa.com/WeetabixWildcats to book onto a session, or phone Clare Finn on 07540 013 105 for more information.

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 9

Local Elections on Thursday 5 May 2022

The following candidates have been nominated and are standing for the two positions open in the Launton and Otmoor Ward of Cherwell District Council. The election will be held on Thursday 5 May between 7am and 10pm. The polling station is at Launton Parish Hall. Candidates are listed below in alphabetical order.

Gemma Louise Coton | Liberal Democrats Joanne Howells | Labour Party David Leonard Hughes | The Conservative Party Candidate Steve Jackson | The Conservative Party Candidate Naomi Karslake | Labour Party Angus Vaughan Patrick | Liberal Democrats The count will take place on Friday 6 May and the result will be announced as soon as the count is complete.

Photo by Ella Rayner

Road Closures as at 19 April 2022

14 March - 17 June: Bicester Road, Marsh Gibbon CLOSED for rebuilding the bridge.

28 March – 27 May: Bicester Road, Launton will be CLOSED for finishing the rebuilding of the bridge 9 – 16 May: Charbridge Lane will be CLOSED OVERNIGHT between 8pm and 6am These closures are correct as at 19 April. See the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/road-closures/ for any interim updates Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 10

Launton Village Players’

A Musical Jubilee

Launton Village Players are planning a summer variety show called A Musical Jubilee, to take place on Saturday 16 July and Sunday 17 July in the open air of the garden of Mayflower, Hare Leys Farm, Launton, OX26 5AB. There will be a matinee performance on each day at 2.30pm.

Our show will celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and look at some of the key events during the Queen’s reign as well as some of Her Majesty’s favourite songs! There will be sketches, songs, poems and monologues and it is suitable for all the family – there is something for all ages from 0 to 100+!

Cream teas, strawberries and ice creams will be served along with drinks including tea, coffee, Prosecco or Pimms as well as fruit juice. You can pre-order refreshments when you purchase your tickets or you can buy on the day.

Tickets cost £10 for Adults and £5 for Children (booking fee applies), and are on sale from www.ticketsource.co.uk/lvp. Tickets include a free flag so you can join in with our “Last Night of the Proms” tribute! There is more information on our website www.launtonvillageplayers.org.uk We hope the sun will shine but if you do come along, please bring your own chairs or rug to sit on, as well as sun hats and sun cream, or raincoats and wellies. There is plenty of parking available and we do have space for disabled parking and a few spare chairs for anyone who cannot bring one, and we have toilet facilities. There is a wet-weather back up plan in case the British weather isn’t on our side. If you have questions, please contact us on 01869 277625 or by email tickets@launtonvillageplayers.org.uk Any profits will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal.

We do hope you will be able to come and enjoy an afternoon's entertainment in a beautiful garden, and help us raise money for a fantastic cause.

We look forward to seeing you,

The LVP team Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 11

Launton FC Tournaments for Boys and Girls and Ladies feature over two weekends in May Launton Football Club are holding their traditional football tournaments this year after Covid has seen them not hold any for two years. So it’s going to be a great couple of weekends, celebrating everything grassroots!

Please do come and support your local football club if you are around.

This year we are holding the tournaments slightly earlier, in May. Saturday 14 May and Sunday 15 May: Junior Boys Tournament Saturday 21 May: Junior Girls Tournament Sunday 22 May: Ladies tournament The kick off each day is at 9am, through to ”… about 5pm - depends on how the games run…” All tournaments are playing 5-a-side games, so expect action, speed and movement. There will be refreshments available on all days (a barbecue) and the bar will be open each day (hours to be confirmed).

As you will be aware, the bridge into the village will be closed on these dates. We have been liaising closely with EWR for additional support to

One of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the right accountant.

Contact us today for a FREE initial meeting.

We will proactively listen to your business needs and create personalised solutions. email@stackandjones.co.uk Tel: 01869 277973 Unit 4, Willows Gate, Stratton Audley Bicester, Oxon OX27 9AU Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 12

Photo from Launton FC

ensure that there will be minimum impact to the village. Details are not finalised, but we, as a club would like to reassure you that we do not want any negative impacts regarding parking on the village as a whole.

Should you have any queries or concerns, please feel free to contact Claire Finn on clairefinn7@hotmail.co.uk or 07540 013 105.

Claire Finn

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 13

To enter competitions, see page 40 To enter Dog Show, see page 41 Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 14

News from St Mary’s Church for May 2022 You are warmly invited to our May Services, all of which are in St Mary's except for the Ascension Day Service on 26 May which is in St Peter's Bucknell 1 May 8.00am BCP Holy Communion 11.00am Family Service: Why will we be talking about Kites?

7 May 3.00pm Songs of Praise: Our theme is “Hope” 8 May 6.00pm Evensong 15 May 11.00am Morning Prayer 22 May 11.00am Holy Communion 26 May 7.30am Holy Communion and Breakfast for Ascension Day at St Peter’s, Bucknell 29 May 6.00pm Team BCP Evensong 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 any of the following 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

Please see pages 21 and 42 for further details of forthcoming events

The Community Café is open again from 26 April until 24 May. It closes for half-term on 31 May, and reopens on 7 June.

5 June 11.00am

Advance Notice

Our next all age “Balloon Sunday” Family Service including Jubilee Celebrations

Please see our Facebook page for more information Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 15

Launton WI Report for March 2022

For their meeting this month, members gathered in the Parish Hall to celebrate Launton WI’s 81st birthday. Gaye, our newly elected President, opened the evening by welcoming everyone and thanking the previous committee for all their hard work.

Hilary, our secretary, reported that some of the committee had attended the Oxfordshire WI AGM via Zoom and drew our attention to the various outings and events on offer from the organisation. Launton WI had received thanks from PHIP (FoLPH) for their donation of £50. Launton Parish Council had given this money to the WI as a ‘thank you’ for the refreshments provided for the 2021 village Litter Pick. During April handmade birthday cards had been delivered to Sherie and Sue. Once the ‘business’ of the meeting was over, we were treated, as has become traditional for our birthday celebration, to a fish and chip supper.

Cathy was dispatched to meet our supplier on the bridge and thus avoid the cold fish and chips that would have resulted from a detour via Stratton Audley! The committee kindly provided a selection of puddings and we were spoilt for choice.

At our next meeting on 12 May we shall discuss the Resolution, the subject of which is ‘Women and girls with ASD and ADHD: underidentified, under-diagnosed, misdiagnosed, and under-supported’.

Looking ahead to warmer days and lighter evenings, a visit to Preston Bissett Nursery has been booked for our meeting on 9 June.

New members are always welcome to join our friendly group on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30 p.m.

Lynne Harper Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 16

Parish Council Meetings in May and June 2022

There will be the following changes to previously announced dates and times for Parish Council Meetings in 2022.

May 2022: Meeting on 5 May in The School Hall, starting at 7:15pm

because the Parish Hall is a polling station for local elections

June 2022: Meeting on 9 June in the Parish Hall, starting at 7:15pm because of the Jubilee Bank Holiday long weekend between 2 and 5 June

To keep up to date, sign up for updates at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/

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LAUNTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

We welcomed Mark Davies, an Oxford historian who has focused on non-college history. He spoke to us about Oxford Castle, now a heritage centre and Malmaison hotel. Since 2005 the public has been allowed free access to its precincts.

After the Norman Conquest, King William appointed Robert d’Oyley as custodian of the castle, built on the site of a wooden Anglo Saxon fortress. Robert was the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire and he strengthened the site with stone buildings. Custodianship of the castle carried on through the same family, which has links to a well known local farming family – the clue is in the name.

From the 13th Century, the castle functioned as a county prison, and it housed the shire and assize courts. The Crown owned the castle and sold it to London ‘property developers’, who in turn sold it to Christ Church in 1613. Christ Church then leased the site to the county.

Mark told us about those who were imprisoned in the castle – some sad stories but with slightly cheerful elements in that sometimes it was AERIALS possible to be hanged and yet SUPPLIED, ERECTED survive. In one case the person & REPAIRED SINCE 1962 (who was wrongly convicted by our standards) carried on to have a reasonably long and happy life, in another the process was repeated until the desired effect was achieved.

Bicester featured, for the ‘nest of villains’ known as The Bicester Gang. Six men were charged with eighteen robberies, including housebreaking and sheep stealing.

Contact PAUL W. EWERS They were convicted when a gang Telephone Brill 01844 237131 member turned King’s evidence in Mobile 07956 509166 Anytime 1762.

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Thomas Salmon, a Bicester baker was imprisoned in 1718. A debtor, he had denounced four Bicester families as traitors, without any evidence.

Later he sent a threatening letter to the magistrate who arrested him. In 1725 he sought permission to seek charity from his neighbours, to pay for his food. This was a common way to raise funds at the time but for him it failed, unsurprisingly. He stayed in prison until 1736.

We enjoyed listening to Mark, even though he said that this topic was the grimmest in his portfolio. He gave us advance notice of upcoming events in which he is involved, including Alice’s Days at the Oxford Story Museum on 2 July, where Alice Liddell’s great granddaughter will speak.

Launton Historical Society meets on the last Thursday of the month in the Parish Hall, starting at 7.30pm. All are welcome. Our next speaker, on 26 May, is Deborah Hayter, who will talk about The Lost Villages of Oxfordshire.

Gwen Skinner

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Bee Happy at Island Pond Wood this spring!

Friends of Island Pond Wood are looking forward to hosting ‘Bee Happy’, a free spring community event to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and National Bee Day, at the Woodland on Saturday 21 May, between 1:00pm and 4:00pm.  Have you ever wanted to try your hand at wicker weaving?  Are you interested to learn more about keeping bees?  Would you like to get involved in fun woodland crafts and activities?

We have lots planned for all the community, including all the above and would love to invite the village to attend our free community day!

We have a wonderland woodland and meadow at Island Pond Woods, which will be bustling with live music, a performance from the students at Stagecoach Bicester, arts, crafts and face painting.

Please save the date in your diaries, Saturday 21st May, 1:00 – 4:00pm.

If you can contribute to the cake stall (which will raise funds for our next event), please bring any baked goods to Island Pond Woods from noon on 21st May, with the ingredients labelled.

Thank you to all of our sponsors for helping us to keep the event free for all: Cherwell District Council SPARKS fund; Launton Parish Council; and Jason Barfoot Logs If you would like to volunteer to help on the day, please contact us at islandpondwood@gmail.com Zara Sankey Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 20

A Really Royal Scarecrow Trail

Thank you for all the entries to our Really Royal Scarecrow trail that have already arrived, but there is still time to enter see page 27 as the closing date is not until 7 May. We are really looking forward to celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in Launton.

Your display/ 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 trooping the colour. There is no set size or dimensions but just consider whether it can be clearly seen from the public path. If you feel unable to make a scarecrow, a royal display is also good.

Remember the trail will start at 12 noon on Saturday 28 May and finish at 12 noon on Sunday 12 June.

If you walk the Trail we simply ask for a donation, and you can either drop off, or post to, The Really Royal Scarecrow Trail c/o Mayflower, Hare Leys Farm, Launton OX26 5AB or give through our Just Giving page (the details will be on our website and later posters). All profits will go to St Mary’s Church.

There is no competition but there will be a chance to pass on your compliments to your favourite scarecrows/displays. A compliments slip will be on the website and is also on pages 30-31 of this issue.

There will be a container by the entrance to St Mary’s Church where you can put your compliments slip and we will deliver them to the entries at the end of the event.

Trail maps will be on the website - www.Launton.org/scarecrow - and hard copies of the trail map will also be available in Costcutters.

If you need more information or have a question, please email us at scarecrow@launton.org We do hope you will enjoy the Trail and this wonderful celebration of our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee across the village.

Many thanks!

The Trail Team.

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LAUNTON OVER 60s CLUB REPORT April 2022

As mentioned in my last report, our Annual Meeting was held on 16 March.

This went extremely well and our new committee is in place. Edwina Caton remains as Chairperson, I am still the Membership Secretary and Wendy West has kindly agreed to be our new Treasurer. Other committee members are Rita Jones, Tina Carter and Edwina Ralston.

Our retiring Treasurer, Ken Babington, reported that our finances are in good order although, with prices of everything rising so fast, we will need to keep a close eye on things this year. Our main source of income is the raffle and we would encourage members to buy as many tickets as they can so we can continue to provide our lunches etc.

Our Easter Lunch was held on 13 April. It was organised by the committee and consisted of ham, cheese, pork pie, quiche, salad, coleslaw and a bread roll, all followed by a hot cross bun which many decided to take home with them as they had eaten so much already! We also, as usual, had an Easter Egg each. The bar was open for us and it was a very pleasant afternoon.

We have four new members, Gillian and Ray, and Donna and her mother Linda, all from Launton. They are very welcome, and we hope they will enjoy coming to the Club. As they won so many of the raffle prizes between them,

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Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 22

we think they had a good time! The bingo jackpot was won again. This time about £10 for Rosemary Figg.

We still have room for more members. Just let me know if you would like to join us and I will give you all the details. It’s fun!!

Pat Court | 01869 244900

Easter at St Mary’s

Life in the village is slowly finding a “new normal”. There was the return of a tradition at St Mary’s with a retelling of the Easter story while children assembled the Easter Garden on Easter Saturday, 16 April. It was a gloriously sunny afternoon.

Celia Manderson Photos by Matt Bull

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 May 2022 | Page 23

The Easter Egg Hunt 2002 at Launton School

Students, parents, and staff of Launton CE Primary School would like to thank everyone in the village for their very kind contributions to our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Your Easter Eggs and money donations were greatly appreciated and helped to make the event a huge success.

As you know, we went into the first lockdown shortly before the 2020 Easter Egg Hunt and we had to cancel that event. So the children were particularly excited about the return of the hunt, and they were not disappointed.

The event was held on 2 April 2022 at the school on a beautiful sunny day perfect for the outdoors. Children enjoyed searching for different coloured stones. Once they had collected the right combination of stones, they could swap them for Easter Eggs. The Easter Bunny was there too, and delighted the children and adults alike.

We would like to thank all the volunteers (those on the event planning committee, who distributed leaflets and collected donations and helped on the day), everyone who attended, and the entire Launton community for your generosity and support.

We would also like to thank the following local businesses for supporting the event: The Launton Arms; Blue Texel; Stonelily; Justin Bucknell Electrical. Thank you also to the village Costcutter shop for helping us with ticket sales.

The Friends of Launton School PTA Trustees Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 24

Photos by Joe Rayner

Scramble at Bicester Heritage

A message about the Scramble on 19 June: “Just to let you know that tickets for the June Scramble (19 June) will be live as from 1pm on Monday 25 April.

Local residents have a 50% discount allocated to them. Book on the website and use the promocode: BristolBoxkite” Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 25

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 26

FREE TO ENTER Entry Closing Date Saturday 7 May 2022

Your display can have anything with a royal connection.

You might want to make a King or Queen or something like a guardsman, a corgi, or even a raven from the Tower of London.

Displays to be on show from 12 noon Saturday 28 May until 12 noon Sunday 12 June 2022 Please return this form to either of the following: by email: www.launton.org/scarecrow by post: A Really Royal Scarecrow Trail, Mayflower, Hare Leys Farm, Launton OX26 5AB Tel: 01869 277625 Further guidance and useful information can be found here www.launton.org/scarecrow

Contact name: ................................................................................

Contact address: ..........................................................................

Postcode: ...........................................................................................

Contact email: ................................................................................

Please have your display on show at the contact address above and ensure it is visible from the pavement so that people do not have to enter your garden. If this is not possible, please contact us using the details above and we can find a site for you!

By filling in this entry form you are agreeing to the following:  Your details being held for the duration of this event;  Your address details to be on the official trail map;  Official photos to be taken of your display.

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 27

New to the village? Or looking to meet others?

Have you visited Launton’s Community Café yet?

We are back after the Easter break and invite you to come along to meet up for some social time while also enjoying a cuppa and some cake. You could be renewing friendships or making new contacts at this intergenerational enterprise.

So, when, and where?

The café runs on Tuesdays during term-time in the Parish Hall and people of all ages are welcome.

There are two sessions each Tuesday.

The first is in the morning between 9am and 11am when carers, babies and toddlers can meet up to socialise.

Carers can sit back and watch their babies and toddlers learn how to make friends and become social beings.

You may be interested to know that we also have baby weighing scales for you to use.

The second session runs between 2.30 and 4.30pm with a Support Worker running activities for older children as they burst out of school!

We have recruited willing volunteers who happily serve the refreshments.

All are welcome at any time but if you are looking for a quiet time and to meet others from the village, please come along to either the morning session or between 2.30pm and 3.15pm in the afternoon.

The last 75 minutes in the afternoon are a hive of activity as children come in after school.

You don’t have to have children with you to join in the Café.

We hope to welcome you - we will have the kettle on!!!

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 28

At the Community Café  The youngest member on the day we took photos.

 The two kitchen helpers on the day we took photos - Lesley Thompson and Cathy Procopiou Photos by Robert Cornford

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.

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 29

To Scarecrow Trail number .................

Thank you for your creating your display.

We thought it looked amazing.

We especially enjoyed ……………………………….................................

From...............................................................

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

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 30

A Really Royal Scarecrow Trail is a FEEL GOOD event The trail isn’t a competition, but it would be lovely to let people know that you’ve really enjoyed their display. Please cut or print out this form and post it into the post box at the St Mary’s display.

We will then deliver all the compliments to the display-makers after the trail finishes. Feel free to personalise it further by letting the display creators know what you’ve enjoyed most about their display.

More forms are available to print at www.launton.org/scarecrow

Friends of Launton Parish Hall: AGM Notice The AGM for FoLPH will be held on 19 May 2022 in the Parish Hall, starting at 7.30pm.

Come to hear about and comment on the plans for the Hall and bring ideas for future events and fundraising.

There will be wine and nibbles, too!

Grange Mews News March 2022

Commercial Offices, Industrial Units and Storage for Lease Happy note: EWR Compound 2 offices have been moved away and the 5 acres commandeered by EWR, still in sight from the Station Road bridge, is slowly having the clay removed, followed by returning the topsoil.

Both will have completely lost their worm and bacterial activity and we look forward to the EWR agronomists recreating our clover field from these lifeless lumps of material.

On a happier note, our four-year-old flower meadows, in conjunction with Network Rail, are flourishing and the six new ponds are a haven to new plants and the ubiquitous Canada Goose population are again breeding here.

The construction guards for great crested newts were removed today.

Spring planting of trees was very late into April and I hope they really do have a promised watering regime, as the first, late-planted, non-watered plants all died.

Even happier, Grange Mews is more active, vibes are good, so what next?

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

My song for Ukraine: David Thompson

A song chronicling the start of the war in Ukraine and subsequent bureaucratic nightmare encountered both by Oksana and Pavlo in Warsaw, and me here in the UK. See his report and photo on pages 34-35, and on the front cover.

The bombs start flying you can’t stay here, you leave your home, you leave your home.

You cross the border to so called safety, you take your breath, you take your breath.

There’s nothing you can do to stop it all, to stop it all.

There’s nothing you can do to stop it all, to stop it all.

Except plan for the worst, hope for the best, Oksana.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best, Oksana.

You plan for the worst. You hope for the best, Oksana.

You plan for the worst. You hope for the best, Oksana.

But where to now you’re stuck in Warsaw, marking time, marking time, You fill in the form you send it off, you send it off, You click on your mail. You refresh it again. You refresh it again and again and again You’re stuck in a queue, there’s nothing you can do, there’s nothing you can do.

Except plan for the worst, hope for the best, Oksana.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best, Oksana.

You plan for the worst. You hope for the best, Oksana.

You plan for the worst. You hope for the best, Oksana.

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Kimboco Company of Dog Training offers group classes and one-to-ones near Launton  Puppy and adult classes available  6 week courses  Reward-based methods using choice-based techniques  Plenty of games and useful exercises to help build confidence and a love for training  Qualified trainer with over 25 years experience

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 32

And all this time the war goes on. The men left fighting they’re not alone, they’re not alone.

Our hearts are with them feeling sad. We must stay strong now their children need a home.

You speak on Whatsapp. So near - so far. So near - so far.

You speak on Whatsapp. So near - so far. So near - so far.

You watch the news. It isn’t good, it isn’t good.

You watch the news. It isn’t good, it isn’t good.

You plan for the worst. You hope for the best, Oksana.

You plan for the worst. You hope for the best, Oksana.

And all this time the war goes on. The men left fighting they’re not alone, they’re not alone.

We’ve opened our arms, our hearts, our homes. We will stay strong now their children have a home.

We sit and wait, it’s Putin we hate, it’s Putin we hate, it’s Putin we hate, We sit and wait, it’s Putin we hate, it’s Putin we hate, it’s Putin we hate, We sit and wait, it’s Putin we hate, it’s Putin we hate, it’s Putin we hate, We sit and wait, it’s Putin we hate, it’s Putin we hate, it’s Putin we hate, It’s Putin we hate.

I wrote this song a couple of weeks into this waiting process. It encapsulates my feelings, and thoughts, and I think Oksana’s.

David Thompson

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 33

Lutsk to Launton 2022

Oksana Datsiuk contacted me on 14 March this year by Messenger after I had posted on a Facebook site, offering accommodation under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

We waited patiently for Friday18 March to come, having started to get to know each other on video calls, Whatsapp, Messenger, and text. Finally at about 1.00 pm the Homes for Ukraine Visa Scheme Website opened. Oksana and I spent a three-hour video call filling in the form together. Not a pleasant experience, made more difficult by language problems, internet connections, lack of documentation, and also the document upload function not working properly. (It kept asking you which Visa Application Centre you wanted to use). At that point we resorted to using a mobile phone, where the upload facility was better, but still really difficult to use.

Oksana had arrived in Warsaw very soon after the War started, leaving her husband, mother and two grandmothers. She and Pasha ended up sleeping on floors. To get some money, she did cleaning for 50 US cents an hour (yes 40 pence an hour) for 12 hours a day at times.

When she contacted me she was sleeping on the floor in an apartment in Warsaw with twelve others. She was about to lose even this: I could not stand by and let this happen, so put them in a decent Airbnb that I booked for her. The owner allowed her in one night early, and got her some groceries and a couple of bottles of beer - so kind and compassionate.

We always planned for the worst and hoped for the best. She knew that thevillageclinic.co.uk when this Airbnb ran out, I had booked for 2 more weeks in others, Acupuncture so at least she could relax a little in the knowledge that she and Pasha Chinese Medicine would have a bed to sleep in even if it was shared. When she finally left Blackthorn 01869 253552 Warsaw 4 weeks later, I cancelled info@thevillageclinic.co.uk four weeks of Airbnb bookings, Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 34

booked until the middle of May. The travesty of it all is that the visa system that was put in by this Government was doomed to fail from the start. Not because what it offered was a bad offer. I personally feel that it is a very generous package, and allows Ukrainians the opportunity to totally rebuild their lives, with almost all the rights that we enjoy as UK citizens. No, the failure was the system that was put in place. It’s unnecessarily bureaucratic, and once you had uploaded your application it just went into a black hole. Some people got their visas within two weeks. Others like me got the visa for Pasha, Oksana’s son after 3 weeks.

Then after another week of hell for both Oksana and myself, trying to obtain hers, a final visit to the embassy in Warsaw by her, and my conversation with one of the officials there, Adam, finally produced a half-hearted apology and more importantly, 15 minutes later, the all-important email with visa.

Victoria Prentis, our MP, helped, as much as she could but the Home Office were just totally unresponsive.

The rest is history as they say. I booked the flights on Wizz Air, 10 minutes later, but only after having payment problems, having to rebook, then getting the last 2 seats, and in those ten minutes, the price had gone up by £20!!

I met them the next day at Luton Airport, and here we are now back in Launton.

They are settling in, enjoying the sunshine of Easter. We are filling in forms for Bank Accounts, Doctors, Schools, National Insurance Numbers and more, but this is all relatively straightforward.

This of course is only the end of chapter one. The War seems to be starting a new more intense phase, so even though the Ukrainians over in the UK are ‘safe’, their husbands, mothers, grandmothers and friends still in Ukraine are not.

We are hoping to have an event to really welcome all families in and around Launton and Bicester shortly. A time to meet our new guests and friends, for them to get together, and raise some money to help ease them into life here.

David Thompson See also front cover photo and caption, and David Thompson’s Song for Ukraine on pages 32-33 Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 35

The poor are always with us (to paraphrase St Matthew) The popular picture of poor people is - they’re workshy, feckless, drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, financially illiterate, have too many kids, keep too many pets, have expensive mobiles and 65-inch TVs. They’re not poor because their rents are too high, their wages too low, they’re on zero-hours contracts, they’ve got bad health or a disability, they’ve been evicted from their tenancy, they've got low skills, they’re inarticulate, they lack confidence, they’re victims of abuse. However, we righteous taxpayers shouldn’t be giving them a life of luxury at our expense.

I want to challenge that view. Successive governments, especially since 2010, have spent a lot of time, money and effort convincing us that benefit levels are too high and that benefit claimants are scroungers.

They’ve deliberately made it harder for claimants to claim benefits and easier for claimants to lose benefits through administrative dodges.

They've reportedly given benefits clerks targets for reducing the numbers of claimants on their books. Some years, benefit levels have been frozen while prices continued to rise. Claimants have become ‘the other’.

House maintenance   Repointing  Internal and external decorations Patios  Decking  Fencing  For a personal service, call Peter N Southam 01869 278333 07721 633 220 peteroofer@aol.com Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 36

Here’s how generous the allowances are: Standard allowance Your circumstances | Monthly standard allowance Single and under 25 | £257.33 Single and 25 or over | £324.84 In a couple & you’re both under 25 | £403.93 (for you both) In a couple & either of you are 25 or over | £509.91 (for you both) Yes, this is to keep you for a month. If you wanted to live in 2-bedroom private rented accommodation in Cherwell, you would receive a sum of £178.36 per week to pay for your rent, according to the government website. I hope that you have better luck than me in finding somewhere to rent in Bicester for £773 a month.

The results of this meanness are easy to find. In Bicester there’s a food bank, a bank for baby items. As in other towns, there may be a furniture bank, a clothing bank, a toiletries bank, a bed bank. Poverty comes in more forms than before. You can have food, fuel, furniture, baby care, clothing, and period poverty.

I find it truly inspiring that there are so many wonderful people who are prepared to help the poor. It is equally shameful that we have a government that couldn’t care less. However, we might stop and think why foodbanks have expanded from a small handful at the start of this century to well over 2,000 now, and growing.

The answer is simpler than you might think. It’s been government policy to shrink the role of the state, especially for poor people. If you’re rich, they’ll still support you. The rich enjoy socialism while the poor endure capitalism. After the financial crash of 2008, remember how quickly billions of pounds appeared out of thin air to support the rich bankers that had caused the crash. Soon after that, the myth was created that the government had to introduce something called “austerity” because there was no money to look after the poor. They didn’t tell us that this was a policy choice. They had chosen to bail out the banks, then chosen to cut funding to schools, the NHS, local authorities, benefits offices, defence, police, environmental protection, trading standards, etc.

How do you think they created the money to fund the Covid-19 Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 37

response? The same magic money tree that saved the banks. They have the money. They won’t spend it on the poor.

We’ve been trained into a ‘dog eat dog’ mindset. Some will remember a 1980s PM who famously said: “There is no such thing as society”. We’ve been persuaded to cut state support because there are too many immigrants / foreigners, homeless, benefit claimants, asylum seekers. I’m old enough to remember when we had a functioning welfare state, a temporary safety net for those who’d fallen on hard times. Nobody objected to such an arrangement, because life was uncertain, and we didn’t know who might get into trouble next. Right now, millions of middle- and lower-income families are seeing their living standards collapse. Millions are probably only a few missed pay cheques from joining the same people who they’ve been condemning as scroungers.

It’s time that we returned to a kinder, more generous approach to tackling poverty, to a proper welfare state. Here are some suggestions:

Raise the national living wage to a more civilised figure, say £12 an hour; Control rent levels, like other countries do; Increase benefit levels significantly, not least for the 60% of benefit claimants who are in work; Restore the £20 Social Credit ‘uplift’ that applied during the height of the pandemic; Start a building programme for social housing to replace over 1.8 million council houses that have been sold off cheaply since the 1980s and not replaced, despite firm promises from the then PM, Mrs Thatcher;

Limit energy price increases to 4%, like they’ve done in France.

The UK’s 54% energy price increase will impoverish millions.

The money is available from the energy companies that have done nothing to ‘earn’ the extra profits from increased energy prices. A windfall tax would support the victims of the 54% price increase, while the energy companies would be no worse off.

If you want to reduce poverty, and “level up”, give poor people what they’re short of - money. They’ll spend every penny, and boost the economy for all of us.

Danny Cunningham

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 38

Recent deaths in the village

We apologise that we have missed some information in the past few months: some records were diverted to the editor’s spam folder – now, we hope, fixed for the future.

Elizabeth (Betty) Cox died on 22 December 2021. The funeral was on 19 January 2022.

Jason Lapper died on 12 December 2021. The funeral was on 10 January 2022.

Angela Hamill died on 4 March 2022.

Gerry Connors died in March 2022.

Launton Lines tries to list all births, marriages, civil partnerships, and deaths of people from or linked to the village. Please send in details to launtonlines@launton.org There is no charge for listings. We also include longer obituary notices where family members wish to submit them, often after the funeral service.

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 39

Name Contact No or email Age (if child) Category to enter

years old Adult Jubilee Flower Arrangement Child Posy for the Queen Child Fancy Dress King Child Fancy Dress Queen Adult Jubilee Cake Child Jubilee Cake / Cup Cake / Tart

E-mail entry to: clairefinn7@gmail.com or drop this form into the Social Club during opening hours Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 40

Classes to enter

1. Best puppy (6 months to

12 months) 2. Most handsome dog 3. Prettiest bitch 4. Best veteran (over 7 years old) 5. Fastest sausage eater 6. Dog most like owner 7. Any variety rescue dog or bitch 8. Best cross breed dog or bitch 9. Dog or bitch the judge would most like to take home 10. My dog or bitch has got talent 11. Best treat-catcher 12. Best in show 13. Best dressed Jubilee theme dog or bitch

launton village dog show LED BY JENNIE FAIRWEATHER AND A GUEST JUDGE

Bring this entry form on the day or email wendyfoster11@yahoo.co.uk or just turn up and hand in your entry.

Saturday 4 June from 12 noon at Launton Playing Fields Association Entry: £2 a class, or three classes for £5.

Name of handler Contact phone or email Name of dog or bitch Age of dog or bitch Breed of dog or bitch Classes entered

1 8

2 9

3 10

4 5 6 11 12

(Please circle all that apply) Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 41

7 13

You are invited to St Mary’s Church “Songs of Praise”

with a theme of “Hope” in

St. Mary’s Church

on Saturday 7 May 2022 at 3pm Do come and join us for the Service with well-loved hymns and readings as we look forward to 2022 with hope.

We look forward to seeing you on 7 May and welcome all from our local community.

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 42

Memories of an ex-Launton Boy

This month the ex-Launton Boy muses on the pleasure of getting new shoes (well, actually sandals) in the spring, and on how big Easter Eggs were back then - but his clearest memories come when he recalls that spring meant the start of the speedway season in Oxford.

He tells about trying to relive the experience this year, only to discover that the first two meetings for the reformed Oxford Cheetahs are sold out! What disappointment! He recalls the many venues from the past but is consoled that the Swindon Robins will be back next year so he will be able to experience the local derby match.

Well, that was Easter that was. Weather wise this year we have been most fortunate indeed over the Easter period, and of course, we are no longer under ‘lock-down’, although some of us are still being sensible and cautious wearing masks in shops and other indoor crowded places. Unfortunately, we appear to be in the minority, yet people still wonder why Covid numbers are still high in their area. It can still be quite nasty, despite being fully vaccinated.

Easter was always a time to look forward to for many reasons other than the Christian aspect, although these days Julie and I have become very much more involved with our Garrison Church, which with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday makes for a hectic week.

When we were kids I and my brother Cliff (Urk) would always get a new pair of sandals ready for the summer yet to come. The colours of the leather uppers varied from year to year; sometimes red, sometimes blue but more often than not a brown tan. You know what kids used to be like when they had a new pair of footwear, looking down at them as we walked, and lucky if we didn’t bump into a lamp post or something else just as painful through not looking where we were walking.

Of course, the other big thing to Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 43

look forward to were chocolate Easter Eggs. We used to get what we thought back then was one gigantic Easter Egg each. (Remember how much bigger Wagon Wheels seemed to be when we were kids compared to the size of them now?)

But the best of all was on Good Friday back in the 1950’s and 60’s which traditionally was the first meeting of the season for Oxford Cheetahs Speedway, usually a local derby between Oxford Cheetahs and Swindon Robins. The morning meeting would usually be at the home of the Robins at Blunsdon Stadium, Swindon and the return meeting that very same evening at Sandy Lane, Cowley, in Oxford. The atmosphere, the roar of the engines and the smell of the methanol fuel and the absolute hordes of supporters for both teams was really something to behold. The Oxford Cheetahs became the so-called ‘glam’ Club during the 1980’s winning the league title several times over having the superb Danish rider, Hans Nielsen (the ‘Professor’) as our Number One who became a four times Individual World Champion.

How sad then when Oxford Speedway closed down fifteen years ago, having first been established in the late 1930’s (although they did not run during the war years). But then, last year I heard rumours and then read via various media channels that the Cheetahs would be returning this season after a fifteen years absence. I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing the Cheetahs again, having begun to support them in around 1956 when I was still in short trousers.

The opening meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 13 April (obviously not Good Friday), against Scunthorpe Scorpions, a date not to be missed. As a special guest appearance for this prestigious occasion they had booked the great Hans Nielsen ... Wow! All prepared to go, I thought I had better check the website for parking arrangements at or near the stadium, as most of the original car park is now a housing estate. Can you even begin to imagine my terrible shock, the horror and gross disappointment when I read the words, SOLD OUT? Not having given it a thought as to how things might be done post-Covid, I had imagined that, as in days gone by, one would turn up at the gate, pay your money and walk in. Not a bit of it! Now one has to book the ticket and pay online and print your ticket off. And there is a limit to just 2,000 tickets!

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 44

On the one hand, what news that support for the return of speedway was there (it was a complete sell-out) but oh! how terribly disappointed I was in not being able to be part of it.

Then I thought, oh well, it was bound to be oversubscribed being the first meeting after fifteen years ... never mind, I’ll go to the following week’s meeting and watch Oxford Cheetahs against the Poole Pirates. I left it a couple of days and then went online, only to find ... yes! Yet again the meeting was SOLD OUT! I don’t know if 2,000 is the maximum capacity of the stadium, but if it is, then at this rate they need to increase the capacity. In the meantime I’ll see if I can get to the meeting against Redcar Bears, if it hasn’t already been sold out.

Hats-off to Oxford City Council for not permitting the Cowley Stadium to be taken over and sold off for either an industrial or a housing development. We have lost so many speedway venues in the UK, most of which were also greyhound tracks, some of which had tremendous sporting histories. For example, London used to boast over half a dozen speedway teams/venues, such as Wembley Lions, West Ham Hammers, Walthamstow, Wimbledon Dons, White City Rebels, Hackney

Hawks, Harringay Racers and New Cross. Such a shame they closed, and even Coventry Bees where so many prestigious international meetings were held appears to be no more, along with Reading Racers, Bristol Bulldogs, Newport Wasps, Long Eaton Archers, Canterbury Crusaders, Eastbourne Eagles, Lakeside Hammers, Halifax Dukes, Norwich Stars, Southampton Saints, Crayford Kestrels … and so the list goes on. At one time, speedway was second only to football as a spectator sport. The really big money and the really big crowds with some of the world’s top speedway riders these days are in Poland.

But there is hope, with Oxford Cheetahs having risen like a phoenix from the ashes! Swindon Robins are due to make a comeback next with a brand-new track, still at Blunsdon but just along a bit, the original being redeveloped with industrial units.

I know there are still some Oxford Cheetahs supporters living in Launton and I hope you had both the opportunity and the good fortune to attend these new meetings that I sadly missed and I hope that everyone in the village had a lovely Easter.

Keep healthy and stay SAFE! Tony Jeacock | The ex-Launton Boy | May 2022

Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 45

Diary Dates: May 2022

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

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Saturday Sunday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sunday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Sunday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sunday Tuesday

1 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family Service, 11am | May Day Fair at the Parish Hall, 2pm-5pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm 2 Early May Bank Holiday 3 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm 4 Home Guard Living History Group, Parish Hall, 8pm 5 Election for Cherwell District Council posts: Parish Hall, 7am-10pm | Parish Council. Public Session 7.15pm, Council Meeting 7.30pm, Launton School Hall (note change of venue) 7 St Mary's Church, Songs of Praise on the theme of Hope, 3pm 8 St Mary's Church, Evensong (BCP), 6pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm 10 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm 11 Over 60s Club Meeting, Sports and Social Hall, starts at 1.45pm, ends about 3.30pm 12 WI, Resolutions Meeting, Parish Hall, 7.30pm 13 SCOTS Night at The Bull, from 5.30pm | 15 St Mary's Church, Morning Prayer, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm 17 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm 18 Home Guard Living History Group, Parish Hall, 8pm 19 FINAL DATE FOR COPY FOR THE JUNE 2022 ISSUE OF LAUNTON LINES: SUBMIT TO launtonlines@launton.org | Friends of Launton Parish Hall AGM, wine and nibbles, Parish Hall, 7.30pm 22 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm 24 Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm 25 Over 60s Club Meeting, Sports and Social Hall, starts at 1.45pm, ends about 3.30pm 26 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion and Breakfast for Ascension Day, St Peter's Bucknell, 7.30am | Launton Historical Society, Deborah Hayter on The Lost Villages of Oxfordshire, Parish Hall, 7.30pm 27 Last day of Term: School closes for half-term holiday: returns on 6 June 29 St Mary's Church, Team Evensong (BCP), 6pm 31 No Community Café today - School holiday | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 46

The BCOS Show for 2022 All is online for this show link for tickets is www.TicketSource.co.uk/bcos

The Cooper School Performance Hall 2, 3, 4 June 2022 Launton Lines May 2022 | Page 47

Launton Lines is the newsletter for Launton It is published monthly by the Launton Community Communications Group which also manages the Launton website www.launton.org and the Launton Village Facebook Page and Group www.facebook.com/launtonvillage Launton Lines is delivered free to every address in the village. It is funded by its advertisers and Launton Parish Council.

Further print copies are available at £1.00 per copy from Shirley Johnson (01869 369269) Launton Lines is also available online from January 2020 on www.issuu.com © 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.