Launton Lines Issue 268 February 2023

Jacoba (Coby) Hewett

Jacoba - Coby - had a long term relationship with Launton. She took a leading role in the project to create a series of unique embroidered kneelers for St Mary’s Church. She is seated in the centre of the front row in the photo above with other members of the kneeler project, and the vicar at the time, Margaret Mullins, standing just behind Coby.

Below right is a photo of some of the group at work. Bottom left is the announcement of Coby’s death from The Bicester Advertiser that sums up this extraordinary woman - who had had a “jolly nice life”.

The front cover shows the speaker at the January meeting of the Launton WI, when Mariella Bliss demonstrated making fresh pasta. The sheet of pasta had parsley rolled into it before being cut into strips for spagetti or linguine, or used for ravioli or other shapes (see report on page 18). Cover designed by Matt Hill. Photo by Lesley Thompson

The Editor writes …

Another slightly delayed issue - this time helped by ongoing power cuts in Cape Town (delightfully renamed “load shedding” locally, which sounds so much friendlier). I’ve also been slowed down by recovery from the illnesses.

The cover this month is from the January WI meeting with the speaker demonstrating making a sheet of pasta. See the caption on page 2, and the meeting report on page 18. And many thanks to my co-editor Matt Hill who did a great job of tidying up the photo when creating the cover.

February brings round The Launton Panto, with a report on progress on pages 10 and 11, and the poster on page 40. There is the regular Parish Council report on pages 4-7 with a reminder about elections on 4 May do think about standing for the Council see pages 13 and 39. Page 19 flags up the Village Clean Up, and the regular District Councillors’ report reminds us (pages 8-9) that we will need photo ID to take part in elections.

There are three pieces from Island Pond Wood: about the Reflection Area (pages 14-15), about Working Parties (pages 27-29), and notice of the AGM in March on page 24. There is news of plans for the 2024 Village Fete on page 22, and the ex-Launton Boy is on pages 35-37.

Please support our advertisers: they need you as much as we need them.

Robert Cornford

Launton Village Support: Contact Details 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 | 07921 392 201 - Abi Dowman 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 © 2023 Launton Lines email: launtonlines@launton.org website: https://launton.org/launton-lines/ The Launton Lines Committee 2022-23 Chair: Jon Spinage | Editors: Robert Cornford, Matt Hill | Treasurer: Samantha Collin 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 2023 for entry in the March 2023 issue of Launton Lines.

February 8 | Sponsored by Bob Roberts to celebrate the birthday of his mother Ann Roberts

Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 5 January 2023 at 7:30pm in Launton 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 None In attendance The Clerk, Mrs Jane Olds; Cllr Angus Patrick (CDC); 3 members of the public including 1 representative from the Friends of Island Pond Wood Councillor Co-option There is still time to help the community by joining the Parish Council. If you are interested in putting yourself forward for co-option, please see the Becoming a Councillor page of the Parish Council website www.launtonpc.gov.uk/becoming-a-councillor/ or have a chat with one of the current Councillors, or come along to the next Council meeting.

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East West Rail Mr Singh was unable to attend and sent a written report.

The track laying programme has recommenced following the Christmas break.

The public rights of way, which were closed by the Transport Works Act Order, are scheduled to be re-opened in the spring; there are some remedial works required to the paths near Grange Farm and the kissing gates in the Tythe Barn area need to be moved as they haven’t been installed in the correct locations. The yard at Grange Farm should not be used as a pedestrian cut through.

If anyone has any queries, please contact East West Rail directly at publicinformation@ewralliance.co.uk or on the 24 hour helpline at 03457 11 41 41.

Reports from District and County Councillors Councillor Patrick (CDC) reported that the draft Local Plan was due to be considered at a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 11 January and was likely to be published following consideration at the CDC Executive meeting on 19 January.

The CDC budget for 2023/24 was looking acceptable, but balancing the budget in 2024/25 is likely to be more challenging.

Councillor Corkin (OCC) sent a written report. The A41 Ambrosden works were ongoing with, apparently, limited communication between the contractors and the County Council Officers. The provision of the temporary pedestrian lights outside Launton school has been reviewed and the yellow access ramps have been removed.

The request for temporary lights to be installed at the junction of Blackthorn Road and the A41 was considered, but for safety reasons OCC has not been able to agree to this.

Meeting Dates from April 2023 The dates of meetings have been agreed to be the usual first Thursday of the month apart from May which will change to the 11th following the elections on the 4th May. All the meeting dates are available on the Parish Council website.

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

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The Council considered the detailed budget and agreed the level of £38,583 for the year 2023/24. 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 (such as bins and benches), the Parish Hall commitment, the Speedwatch project and other road safety, together with reserves.

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 615.7; this was an increase from 566.4 the previous year - mainly because of the increase in houses from the Launton Mews development. Following the calculations, it was agreed to increase the Precept to £39,743 which was an increase of £9,847. The annual cost to a Band D household would be approximately £64.55 - an increase of £11.77 over the whole year.

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.launton-pc.gov.uk/agenda-andminutes/2022-2023-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 any 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 on how the Parish Council is able to respond is available on the Parish Council website: https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/planningapplications Parish Hall The Clerk has submitted an expression of interest to Cherwell District Council for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund and has had discussions with the CDC Officers about the S106 Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 6

funding which is currently available from the building projects already completed in the village.

The Officers confirmed that it would not be possible to access any of the S106 funds from the ‘Grange Farm’ development application until the development has commenced.

Traffic The Speedwatch Group will start to get more active as the weather warms up. The group welcomes new volunteers - just contact David Jones via speedwatch@launton-pc.gov.uk if you’d like to join up.

Village Spring Clean A date for your diaries. We hope to hold our annual Spring Clean and Litter Pick on Saturday 11 March between 10am and 12 noon from the Parish Hall. Do come and join us!

Agenda items and dates of the next meetings The next meeting will be on Thursday 2 February in the Parish Hall, starting at 7.30pm. 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 Your local, regular and reliable Clerk know well before the meeting. window cleaner Domestic and Commercial window cleaning The agenda and papers will be using pure water and a Reach & Wash system. available to view via the data We clean: projector during the meeting.  Windows  Conservatory roofs Suggestions for agenda items for the Soffits and fascias 2 March meeting need to be with the   Guttering (clean and clear) Clerk by 16 February and items for  Cladding the 6 April meeting by 23 March.  Internal glass partitions  Signs If you’re not signed up to our  Solar panels mailing list to receive news from the Contact us now for a free, no obligation quote Parish Council, you can find a signup 01296 770005 or 07702 498 942 form at the bottom left hand menu www.wallacewindowcleaning.co.uk enquiries@wallacewindowcleaning.co.uk of the Parish Council website at Public liability insurance www.launton-pc.gov.uk/ Member of the Federation of Window Cleaners

Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 7

The regular report from our Cherwell District Councillors for January 2023

It’s a brief report this month. There is further delay to consultation on the Local Plan, the latest on A41 roadworks, and an update on Voter ID. The Local Plan The Local Plan went to the Oversight and Scrutiny Committee before the CDC Executive later in January. There were recommendations from the Committee that the Executive decided to investigate more thoroughly with further delay to the next stage - further public consultation. Some issues that were highlighted:

The balance of affordable housing in the plan is not ambitious enough, or

adequate. All infrastructure must keep pace with development, as well as ensuring proper integration between new developments and established communities. The importance of farming in CDC is recognised, but needs more prominence. Noting the reference to Bicester Strategic Corridors, consideration should be given to creating a formal Green Belt around Bicester. Rural allocation of housing should be equitable. Executive to assure itself that the wording of policies included in the plan is strong enough, particularly those in relation to Climate Action and Viability. Members should be given more opportunities to engage and provide feedback and comments during the consultation.

We’ll keep you posted on development, but from the items above we hope you can see that we are trying to make this local plan fit for purpose for residents. More information on the Local Plan is available on a dedicated page at https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/homepage/27/local-plans A41 Ploughley Road junction The roadworks seem to be keeping to the latest schedule: one-way operation and lights are due until 3 February - the only detail posted - so we hope this means that the greater amount of traffic running through Launton will be ending soon. See this link www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-andtransport/roadworks/future-transport-projects/ploughley-road-a41-junction Voter ID for elections in 2023 You will need photo-ID to vote in local elections in May. There is more on Voter ID here: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/11/elections/1041/voterid The permitted types of ID, including expired passports, are at the CDC website listed above. Search “Cherwell voter id” for up to date information.

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If you don’t have ID from this list, you will need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) via the Government website www.gov.uk/applyfor-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate Applications can be made online or through a paper form. The deadline to apply for a VAC before local elections on 4 May is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.

That’s it! Thank you for reading to the end. Please do get in touch by phone on 01869 717712 or via email at gemma.coton@cherwell-dc.gov.uk or angus.patrick@cherwell-dc.gov.uk

Launton Watercolour Group The Watercolour Classes will run through February 2023, on Monday afternoons from 2pm in the Parish Hall, with David Meeks as the tutor. This picture is from a recent class.

The cost is £8 per session.

If you would like to join the classes, please email the following: Paul.Ebberson@gmail.com

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Launton Village Players

It’s panto time, and we’re on the final countdown to creating the magical world of Launtonia!

There’s still time to buy your tickets and come along and enjoy our story of “Hickory Dickory Dock” – get your tickets at www.ticketsource.co.uk or call 07864 715708.

Performances will be in Cooper School Performance Hall, and the times and prices are: Date Weds 15 Feb Thurs 16 Feb Fri 17 Feb Sat 18 Feb

Performance Times 7:30pm 10:30am 2:30pm 2:30pm 7:30pm 2:30pm 7:30pm

Adult (18+) £10 £12 £14 £14

Child £5 £6 £7 £7

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Babes in arms Free Free Free Free

Come along and find out:

If the mice will be able to climb the clock?

If the heroes will find all four pieces of the broken cog?

If the clock will be mended?

If the pixie’s magic will be strong enough to defeat the baddie?

There’s a bundle of fun, magic, music and colour in our story as well as slapstick and much audience participation.

Here’s what has been said about some of our previous pantomimes:

“If you missed it you missed a treat!”

“A brilliant evening out!”

“I smiled and laughed from start to finish!”

“My kids loved the magic, a fabulous show!”

Get your tickets now so you don’t miss out on Bicester’s biggest and best panto!

All profits from our show will be donated to Nai’s House in Bicester, who aim to give all children and young adults access to appropriate and empowering mental health support.

We really look forward to seeing you - and ask you to remember, the land of Launtonia and Hickory Dickory Dock is only there for one week in February!

Thank you for all your support The LVP Team Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 11

Red Rose 17 bus service - follow up on last month’s report Thanks to those who have provided feedback to me following my article last month about the No 17 bus service; it has been useful. I would encourage anyone with constructive feedback to send this directly to Red Rose Buses using the email address: redrosebuses@gmail.com It will be helpful to hear not only about specific issues, but also the context of those. If you have had successful journeys but are reporting an issue, please detail both the good and bad to provide a balance so they know what is going right as well as what is going wrong.

It would be helpful if you could copy ptr@launton.org on those emails so that I am aware. I can’t help on specific cases but if I see themes then I will try to work with them on those.

Jon, Launton Parish Transport Representative

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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 February 2023 | Page 12

Parish Council Elections 4 May 2023 – Could You Join Launton Parish Council?

The Parish Council elections will take place on 4 May this year.

Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils (OALC) is putting on a series of free Zoom sessions about becoming a councillor - the first was on 24 January. So, if you are interested in putting yourself forward for election this year, please join the Zoom.

For more information about the sessions go to https://www.oalc.org.uk/events and look for the ‘So you want to be a Councillor?’ sessions.

The next ones are on 13 February at 10am and 15 March at 2pm.

Jane Olds - Parish Clerk

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Reflection Area in the Island Pond Woodland

You may have noticed over the last year that two oak benches have been installed, with some shrubs and more recently a cherry tree, at the top of the Wood. During the Covid pandemic we secured a grant to install a reflection area in the wood - for people to come for quiet reflection, to remember lost friends and loved ones (as a result of the pandemic or any other loss).

We have chosen to put the area in the quieter top corner of the woodland and, when the shrubs and cherry tree are established and the top is a wild meadow as part of bringing more biodiversity to the woodland (look out for future articles on this), it will be an even nicer area to visit.

Weather permitting; we will soon finish the hardstanding path which runs from the entrance, around the pond and up the field side of the wood to the reflection area. This will mean the area is accessible all year round.

So please do use this area for your reflections, and respect that if other people are sitting in that area, they may just be taking some time to reflect on lost loved ones (or they could just be sitting down for a rest and a chat).

All that we ask is that the reflection area (like the rest of the wood) is left clean and tidy when you leave it; there is a rubbish bin on the entrance to the woodland so please take your rubbish to this bin.

While we appreciate the offers of memorial benches and trees in the woodland, we feel we are now at capacity (aside from the bench we are having re-installed by the pond as the old one had rotted and become unsafe). We are actually having to carry out some tree thinning activities to bring more light into the woodland, and so allow fresh growth in the woodland floor (again this will be covered in future articles). As with all the work, maintenance and projects in the woodland, this is to improve the woodland for the wildlife and for villagers and visitors, so if you would like to make donations instead of memorial benches and trees, we can always put it towards different upcoming projects.

We do encourage people to sign up to be members (£10 per person a year) as all money collected is for the maintenance of the woodland (not for events) and making it a better environment for all. You will also receive newsletters on what we are doing in the woodland and have opportunities to get involved (we always need support), as a few members did with learning to coppice hedgerows (January 2022 article in Launton Lines).

Friends of Island Pond Wood Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 14

The recently-completed Reflection Area in the Woodland

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News from St Mary’s Church Services in February 2023 Services 5 February

8.00am 11.00am 6.00pm 11.00am 11.00am 11.00am

12 February 19 February 22 February 26 February

BCP Holy Communion Family Service - all welcome BCP Evensong Morning Prayer Ash Wednesday Holy Communion

Please check on the Facebook page for St Mary’s Church for the latest information or contact one of the Churchwardens at St Mary’s Joan Packer j.packer779@btinternet.com 01869 241694 Celia Manderson celiamanderson@aol.com 01869 571735   

In addition to our Services we are busy making plans for the following in 2023: 27 February 2023 Launch of the Lent course 16 March 2023

Quiz Night at The Tythe Barn - the first since Covid! Proceeds shared between St Mary’s and FoLPH

6 May 2023

Celebratory weekend for the Coronation of King Charles III

In September

Our second St Mary’s Fayre - the return of this popular event

Plans for all of these dates are in different stages for further information, please contact Celia (details above) or our Facebook page The Community Café is open on Tuesdays during term time: please do come along (see page 32) Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 17

Launton WI Meeting January 2023

Did you know that there are over 350 pasta shapes? Also, there are between 750 and 800 different names for these shapes?

This is all very regional in Italy, even individual villages and communities may have their own pasta shape and name.

Twenty members of Launton WI were treated to an entertaining evening of Italian cuisine from Mariella Bliss who runs Italian cookery courses, sharing the experience gleaned from her mother and grandmother and her Italian heritage.

Mariella spent over an hour showing us how to make pasta, easy in itself but making it into the shapes is the more intricate part especially if you don’t own a pasta machine. This along with the making of a simple tomato sauce which we all sampled, accompanied by a cheeky glass of Italian wine, made for an entertaining and thought-provoking evening (see the photo on the front cover of this issue).

Our next meeting has a talk from Stephen Barker on Hardit Singh Malik, The Flying Sikh of the World War I on Thursday 9 February at 19.30 in Launton Parish Hall.

Come and join us: its free for the first visit and we are a friendly bunch. For more info email launtonwi@oxfordshirewi.co.uk, or phone Hilary on 01869 241989.

Lesley Thompson

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Domestic Oil Natural Gas Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

07483 864 571 Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 18

Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 19

The Gentle Craft Of Grave Tending

This article came to us from the author, who lives in North Marston near Quainton - so almost local. I wanted to include it as it reflects the development of modern “rural crafts”, replacing the blacksmiths and hurdle-makers of the past.

‘A gentle craft, carried by gentle people in gentle surroundings’ would be my summing up of Grave Tending, a niche industry which is slowly but surely growing in the UK. The idea is to clean and restore graves and headstones in a non-destructive manner (so no bleach or sand blasting), using environmentally friendly products as far as possible and doing so in as gentle way as is feasible.

No matter what I do, I can never return the stone to its original state, as constant exposure to the weather and the environment will inevitably weather and age it, but it is certainly possible to return it to a condition that a customer ‘can be proud of’, as one of my clients said to me.

Those sort of feelings are always in my thoughts when I’m working for a client and cleaning their loved one’s resting place - I’m acutely aware of their investment in feelings, time, money and memories, hence the name of my company Memories Grave Tending.

It’s safe to say that Grave Tending is not widely known in the Dioceses of St. Albans and Oxford, the two which I cover. Although there’s no authentic history of the trade, I think it’s safe to say it has its roots in Ireland, with its centuries old tradition of ‘Cemetery Sunday’. This was an annual day, usually in summer, where graves were garlanded and decorated, but has slowly but surely morphed into a day of remembrance, flower laying and grave cleaning.

There’s an apocryphal story that it was a sideline for Council cemetery workers. It’s said they’d be tipped a few quid by mourners or relatives to look after the grave, a process which happily continued for many years until Council managers found out that the workers were spending half their time, and using the Council’s tools, to carry out their profitable sideline in working hours. Needless to say this brought an abrupt halt to the practise!

Back to reality, it’s certainly a well-established trade in Ireland, with even small towns having several firms. A blogger on the subject said that the Catholic community had far more ‘flamboyant’ graves and were far more likely to use their services than their more austere Presbyterian counterparts.

Interestingly the biggest firms in England tend to be in the North West and Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 20

Merseyside, areas with a long history of Irish immigration. Having said that, the sector has spread through much of the UK, so there is now a national Association of Grave Tenders (of which I am proud to say I am a member) www.associationofgravetenders.org which encourages best practice, professionalism and environmentally friendly processes.

Many best practises are from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org), which I can not ignore. They are a wonderful organisation, which somehow manages to maintain 1.75 million graves over 23,000 burial sites in 153 countries, all in impeccable condition. If it’s good enough for them then it’s good enough for me!

The growth in our work has to do with two trends - longevity and mobility.

Turning first to longevity - we are all living longer and youngsters today can spend many years knowing grandparents and even great grandparents. This just didn’t happen in previous generations and means that young people have a more intense bond to their grandparents. This results in work for me, as they don’t want much-loved relatives to be forgotten or neglected.

This latter point feeds into the second trend - the increased mobility of families. So many people now move away from their birthplace for work or study but still feel a connection to their family’s historical base. They are obviously unable to tend their relatives’ graves, so there is a need for someone to do it for them.

So why do I do it? Primarily it gives me huge job satisfaction, something I hadn’t had for years. It’s also very rewarding, seeing the results of my endeavours and hearing/reading the positive, and sometimes very moving, reactions from my clients. I enjoy running my own business and I love the environment; graveyards are very peaceful, beautiful places which are a joy to work in. Add in the fact that there’s no pressure or deadlines, that my clients are lovely people and I’ve always been interested in churches and local history I think it’s safe to say I’ve got the perfect job!

I hope I’ve shone a light on a niche sector that my friends and acquaintances find fascinating: I hope you have, too.

I’ll sign off with, inevitably, a little sales pitch. If you want to see examples of what I can do, or require any further information, please visit my website www.memoriesgravetending.co.uk .

Andrew Stephenson Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 21

The Launton Village Fete in 2023 – or maybe 2024?

We have been without a village fete since 2019. In 2020 Covid 19 closed it down. In 2021 the combination of Coved-19 and uncertainty extended the closure, and in 2022 the late changes to public holidays brought about by the Platinum Jubilee made it not sensible to arrange the fete only two weeks after Jubilee celebrations. And in 2023 we’ve been upstaged by the Coronation on 6 May and the public holiday two days later (again it doesn’t make sense to organise a major village event so soon after the Coronation). And, of course, two other holidays are in May - May Day (1 May) and the Late Spring Bank Holiday (29 May) followed by school half-term holiday (30 May-2 June). People of Launton may be holidayed out by June.

In 2022, events over the Jubilee holiday (3-4 June) organised on the Playing Field and in the Sports and Social Hall by a group coordinated by Wendy Foster gave entertainment, fun and games for the village. Then, later in the year, the church community organised the St Mary’s Fayre on 3 September. Both events were very successful, and we don’t want to compete for resources and for money with them in 2023 - when we know both will be putting on their events.

There are already plans for events on the Playing Field and in the Sports and Social Hall over the Coronation holiday (6-8 May), and a second St Mary’s Fayre is on line for September. I’m sure that both events will be supported by members of the Fete group and we wish them both great success.

So, we’re thinking about the 2024 Fete. It’ll be good to run it on the traditional day - the monarch’s Official Birthday (that was why we could book a fly past as the planes were already flying up the Mall earlier in the day). Queen Elizabeth II was on the second Saturday in June, but it seems that the new King’s Official Birthday (and Trooping the Colour) for 2023 will be on the third Saturday (17 June). So … another reason to wait until dates settle down in 2024.

It will be good to return after four years away.

Robert Cornford, Launton Fete co-ordinator since 2017, but here writing in a personal capacity Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 22

Launton Lines Noticeboard

For Sale

Mini Cooker Only used once £15 John Lewis Man’s Leather Jacket Dark Brown Size: L £70 - Brand New 01869 241110

Bicester Foodbank We are open Monday to Saturday between 10am and 12noon We need donors of time or money at the Foodbank to support our work.

Bicester Foodbank The Beacon, Wesley Lane Bicester OX26 6JU email: info@bicester.foodbank.org.uk phone: 01869 245036

Do drop in and meet us.

Looking for Activities for Young People?

Check out what’s on at OYAP (Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership) https://oyap.org.uk/

We empower young people to make a difference to themselves and their communities through drama / music / art / youth action.

Activities and events for young people from ages 5 to 17

OYAP is based at the old St Edburg’s School Email admin@oyap.org.uk Phone 01869 602560 Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 23

Learning in the Reception Class

We have been learning some new words that have the letter ‘e’. We know seed, be and green. There is an ‘e’ in the word journeys and we make journeys to come to school. We go to school in different ways such as walking, using a bike, or coming in a car.

We have been learning about making journeys to different continents and the word continent has an ‘e’ as well. We have looked at the continents on a globe. The continent of Africa has hot countries. We know about hot countries where you need lots of water to drink and sun cream to stay safe.

Some African countries have different animals to us like zebras, snakes, camels and elephants. Antarctica is different because it is cold there. We would need to wear very warm clothes if we went there. We might meet penguins there. We have learnt a new vocabulary for journeys. We like learning new words.

Austin, Beatrix, Lara, and Daisy - Reception Class - Launton School

E

E e e e e e e e e e

E

e e e e e e e e e E

E

A March Diary Date for Island Pond Wood AGM

You are cordially invited to the Annual General Meeting of Friends of Island Pond Wood Limited, to be held on 16 March at 7:30pm in Launton Parish Hall.

At the meeting, the Annual Report for 2022/2023 will be presented along with information about future plans. You will be able to meet the Directors and Committee members of the Friends and Families Group.

Refreshments and the chance for informal discussion will follow the AGM. As a not-for-profit company (run by volunteers) we rely on donations and grants for specific projects to carry out essential maintenance and improvements to the woodland. One way of supporting us is to sign up for annual membership (£10 per person) so we can make the environment better for all to experience.

Members receive updates on what we are doing in the Wood, and opportunities to get involved in working sessions (we always need support), and you can learn new skills which you can take away with you for your own garden projects.

If you want to sign up for annual membership, contact fipwlimited@gmail.com for a membership form and more details. Or, join at the AGM. Thank you for all your support. We look forward to seeing familiar faces, together with some new faces, at our AGM. Friends of Island Pond Wood Team Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 24

Learning in the Reception Class

“In Ash Class we have been learning about the world”

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 February 2023 | Page 25

Island Pond Wood Working Sessions for 2023

Continued on pages 27 and 28  

Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 26

Island Pond Wood Working Sessions for 2023 Its that time of year again when we can announce the programme for our Saturday volunteer work sessions at the Island Pond Woodland.

Whether you are a member, or would like to join us on the day to help, then you will be more than welcome to just turn up.

As a volunteer group we welcome all help to ensure the Wood is maintained for the benefit of the village and visitors throughout the year.

Working Sessions offer a good workout (how small or intense is entirely up to you), with a good opportunity to also meet new people or catch up with old friends. In addition, with events like Coppicing, Pond Tidy Up/ Reed Cutting there is always the chance to learn something new.

The Saturday dates for the sessions are as follows.

25 February ...... Coppicing 20 May ............. Clear up / Cut back 12 August ......... Pond Island cut back 30 September ... Reed Cut 4 November ..... Coppicing / Bramble cut

Continued on page 28 

Grange Mews News February 2023

Commercial Offices, Industrial Units and Storage for Lease We are pleased to be getting the Heads of Terms ready for our new tenants in 3 and 4 Grange Mews: we hope to announce their moving date in the next issue.

We also hope to be able to announce the opening of the very delayed Public Right of Way (PRoW), if the inherent poor underfoot conditions can be solved following the poor choice by EWR and OCC of the route through the wettest part of the woodland.

Hardcore is waiting to be laid on some of the track.

Our Editor has reminded me of the 25oC heat he is suffering so I am looking at the record of the sun on our Pv arrays.

One has saved 61.6 tonnes of Carbon and another just 60.2 tonnes, so Launton does get sunlight sometimes.

We will see how much Pv energy we can put into the electric cars, come summer.

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

Each session will run from 10am to noon: we welcome however long or little you can give to support us. We can only offer Saturday work sessions at the moment as we don’t have availability to lead sessions in the week.

There may be ad hoc weekday sessions but we can't confirm these now.

Note about access to the Woodland in February 2023 We also have some contracted work (grant funded) happening in the Woodland during the working week in February. Please respect machinery and works on site, and keep your dogs on the lead during this time. If there is any safety risk then our contractors will close off the wood for their period of work to secure the health and safety of all users.

Works in February include Tree thinning work (Alchester Tree and Garden Services) Habitat Pond installation (TL Jenkins landscaping) Finish the installation of the hard path (TL Jenkins landscaping) Coppice and clearing work VCV (Vale Countryside Volunteers) Friends of Island Pond Woodland

WE ARE NOW BICESTER’S LONGEST-ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT FAMILY-OWNED & RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS BICESTER’S ONLY INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTOR

A caring traditional 24 hour service Provided by Mr Hancock and his team personally 

Private Chapel Of Rest

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Jaguar Fleet of Funeral Cars 

Perfect Choice Funeral Plans

Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 28

Time to get walking again!

With Spring on its way we start to think about getting out, walking in the beautiful English countryside, but where to find new or interesting walks?

Walking in Oxfordshire https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/oxfordshire has loads of walks to download and print, free. It also has books of walks, details of the walking groups in the county, and more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.

John Harris (who maintains the website) said “There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Oxfordshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you.”.

With walks from half a mile to twelve-plus miles long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.

So home or away, check out the websites and get walking!

John Harris | www.walkinginengland.co.uk | john@walkinginengland.co.uk

Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 29

Stamp Swap extended to 31 July 2023 The Post Office has extended the deadline to swap out your old stamps from 31 January to 31 July 2023.

However, If you’ve got stamps without barcodes (apart from special picture and Christmas ones) it’ll still be worth getting it done sooner rather than later.

Royal Mail has organised a ‘stamp swap’ so you can simply replace your old stamps (including old ‘standard’ ones) with the new ones.

However, this can’t be done at the Post Office - you need to send them away.

But don’t panic! It’s quite easy - you just download the 'Swap Out Form' from www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps..

Count how many you’ve got to send back, calculate the total value and pop it in the post box - you don't even need to save a stamp to post them - it’s a freepost address!

The stamps are exchanged at the current market value: First Class are £0.95 each Second Class are £0.68 each First Class Large Letter are £1.45 Second Class Large Letter are £1.05 Please note, though, that this is a Royal Mail initiative and is nothing to do with the Post Office in Costcutter. However, Costcutter does have copies of the forms if you are not able to print it off yourself.

Bicester Heritage April Scramble

23 April 2023 between 9am and 4pm Local residents are eligible for a discount on tickets of 50% Go to https://bicesterheritage.co.uk/events/april-scramble-2023 Follow bookings to the Eventbrite page then use the promo code BristolBoxkite to get your discount.

Enjoy the day!

Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 30

Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 31

Launton Community Cafe

On Tuesdays, during school term time, The Parish Hall hosts two sessions of The Community Cafe.

9-11am is for pre-school children and parents or carers.

The 2.30-4.30pm session is a bit more lively and offers organised activity for children out of school.

Adults are welcome too!

There is tea and cake and biscuits for young ones.

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 February 2023 | Page 32

Launton Historical Society report for January 2023 At a special December meeting, Carol McGrath talked to us about mediaeval Christmases, the feasting and customs. We also did a bit of feasting, with mulled wine, wassail beer and nibbles, brought by those attending. Carol had told us that suitable nibbles for the period could be gingerbread, mince pies, savoury little pies, sausages and shortbread and that’s what we had.

The mediaeval period that Carol covered was the years between the Norman conquest and Henry VIII. Christmas time, for those folk, lasted for many weeks, and centred round the winter solstice. Houses were decorated with evergreens from Christmas Eve. Spices abounded, for the well off. The poor got the leftovers. (Most of Carol’s talk focused on the festivities of the wealthy.) Mince pies had 13 spices. The shopping list of the Countess of Leicester included 6lb ginger, 1lb saffron and 6lb cinnamon. Spice merchants did a lot of travelling around Christmas. Yule logs were important and they were required to burn for 12 days without going out.

It was a religious festival and it was customary to go to church before the traditional big dinner. Families would gather together to eat and drink. The meal began with plum porridge – to line the stomach; this was a thick broth of mutton or beef boiled with plums, breadcrumbs and wine. Brawn was served, with lots of spices and gilded with rosemary. There might be a boars head on the table, carried in to the sound of trumpets. Peacock might be served, or larks, pigeons, partridges and quail. A pie could have goose, fowl, two ducks, two partridges and two pigeons. It would be bad luck to cut that pie with a knife - a spoon would be used. Stuffing would have herbs with medicinal qualities - sage, thyme, marjoram. The poor would eat pork and birds they caught. In all, for the rich, there were twelve days of feasting. On 29 December, for example, there would be roast swan.

The cooked swan would be dressed again with its feathers, for displaying on the table.

Twelfth Night, celebrating the arrival of the Three Wise Men or Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 33

Kings, was a big event - as big as Christmas Day. But New Year’s Eve wasn’t celebrated. On 7 January (the day after Twelfth Night) women unwrapped their domestic tools from the decorative ivy around them and got back to work. Men returned a little later - sometimes not until 2 February. A bit of the Yule log would be saved for next year and some ashes would be saved to help with toothache.

Perhaps this has given you some ideas for your celebrations next Christmas. Meanwhile, here is our programme of speakers for the first half of this year (we have just heard Dr Simon Wenham talk about Poverty, Pestilence and Public Health in Victorian Britain): 23 February Churches have Memories - Christopher Young (about the memorials in St Edburg’s) 30 March Can Onions Cure earache? Medical advice from the 1700s Melanie King 27 April Cotswold Cornucopia - Sean Callery 25 May Romans of Oxfordshire - Marie-Louise Kerr 29 June The Ascott Martyrs - Carol Anderson The Launton Historical Society meets on the last Thursday of the month in the Parish Hall: meetings start at 7.30pm. New members are always welcome Gwen Skinner

Can you spare some time to help Launton Lines We are still looking for support in the financial side of running Launton Lines.

Do you have a finance or book-keeping background?

Can you spare about 3-4 hours a month of your time?

Can you produce invoices for advertisers?

Can you then follow up invoices and get payment in?

Want to know more? Contact launtonlines@launton.org Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 34

Memories of an ex-Launton Boy

This month the ex-Launton Boy thinks about New Year’s Resolutions.

His mind goes to news reports of the ‘road chaos’ caused by accidents on the recent black ice, then to the topic of driving. He remembers the Sunday Afternoon Drivers of his youth, and tells of his family trips to Woburn, and the different ways Launton people used to get to work or to town. Then he joins The Grumpy Old Men with opinions about modern driving habits and gives some advice to new drivers today.

Well, here we are into another New Year already and I wonder how many New Year’s Resolutions have fallen by the wayside. For a change I did not make any such promises for this year, what with all the turmoil of last year, who knows what is going to happen next and what our national - never mind personal - circumstances are going to be?

Even the weather can’t seem to make up its mind from one day to the next. I woke up to a cold snap this morning with the temperature last night having apparently dropped to -9oC, when for a couple of days last week I was outdoors wearing a polo shirt.

The news this morning announced a number of road closures, not due to snow drifts, for we’ve had no snow, but the roads were so icy there have been multiple collisions due to black ice. There seem to be two reasons for the accidents: firstly, despite news warnings in advance, the road-gritters were not out and about gritting the roads last night, and secondly, people have a tendency not to drive according to the road conditions.

It has been fifty six years since I passed my driving test (first time) when I was taught to drive in the army. I don’t know what or how they conduct driver-training and tests in the UK these days, but it seems to me there may be a few gaping holes in the process, especially when you see how some people drive even in good driving conditions.

When I was a very young lad growing up in Launton, relatively few people in the village drove quite simply because relatively few people owned a car. But this began to change as people became slightly more affluent, when a number of older males in the village who had served Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 35

in the armed forces during WWII and learned to drive, would go out and buy a second or third hand car on the never-never in which they took the greatest of pride. Many of these people had never passed a driving test: they had just learned to drive in the forces. And so began the era of the ‘Sunday Afternoon Driver.’

The car would rarely be used to transport one to work as there were ready means for that in the village, depending on where one worked and how far one would have to travel. My dad used to drive a private coach for Harold Morris of Marsh Gibbon that would pick up in Launton and surrounding villages to take workers to the Bicester Garrison/Ordnance Depot, otherwise referred to as ‘Arncot’, just one of the villages encompassed within a much larger garrison than that of today. Others, with not so far to travel, would usually cycle. In fact, George Gregory of Ivy Cottage, Station Road (chorister and bell ringer of Launton church) used to cycle to Arncot to work in his very upright and straight-backed riding position, and in all weathers.

But back to the Sunday afternoon drivers… the car, with immaculately polished bodywork and gleaming chrome, would be brought proudly out onto the road after Sunday dinner was done and dusted, just to take the family out for ‘a little run’ on Sunday afternoons to ‘somewhere nice’ with maybe a light picnic onboard. Dad would take us sometimes to Woburn Abbey, seat of the Duke of Bedford. We never went into the house but would have a picnic in the delightful grounds.

For many, especially a few years later when the pace of life, even in Launton, began to pick up a bit, the Sunday Afternoon Driver became the scourge of the highways as they pootled along at that really awkward speed, especially on bendy country roads. You know the ones I mean: too slow to want to follow for very far but just ever so slightly too fast to be able to comfortably or safely overtake. I have to say that dad was never one of them, possibly because driving at the time was his livelihood. Funnily enough dad never took a conventional driving test, having been taught in the army to drive battle tanks with steering tillers as opposed to a steering wheel, and tracks instead of wheels.

Even going back to 1966, when I passed my test in the army driving a Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 36

long-wheel-base Land Rover there were certain things which we were taught which I question as to whether they are taught today.

Nothing frustrates me more than following someone who effectively drives on their brakes. Have they never been taught what a gearbox is for? Read the road ahead, change gear accordingly and in so many instances, no brakes need to be applied at all. (Of course, this was before the days of automatic transmissions.) Hand signals; we were taught all the ‘appropriate and polite’ hand signals in case of electrical failure to trafficators, but today most drivers wouldn’t have a clue as to what one was trying to convey by way of a hand signal. And what about giving way to traffic coming up the hill or incline? No way Jose!

They must get through that gap first, no matter what. Good manners on the road (and everywhere else) seem to be a thing of the past for the most part.

Back in the day we all or at least most of us abided by those unwritten rules, or seemed to. Road rage hadn’t been invented, at least not in our neck of the woods around Launton and surrounding villages.

So, what we need is a return to certain things as they used to be on the road. I know there are many more vehicles on the roads these days, which to my mind makes it even more imperative. We should all learn to be courteous to other road users and to pedestrians. Learn to read the road ahead instead of faffing around with a mobile phone or some other fancy distracting gadget, and take the necessary action like changing gear instead of incessantly tapping the brake pedal and creating a domino effect behind, sometimes resulting in unnecessary shunts and insurance claims. Drive according to the weather and the road conditions. Move quickly and safely out of the way when an emergency vehicle needs to get through. Just think, you could be one of those patients in an ambulance on a life-or-death mission.

Thinking about it, what a good New Year’s Resolution that would be, and one well worth sticking to.

Keep well and Stay SAFE!

Tony Jeacock

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The ex-Launton Boy

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February 2023

Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 37

Diary Dates: February 2023

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.

FEBRUARY 2023 Wednesday 1 Over 60s Club Meeting, Sports and Social Hall, starts at 1.45pm, ends about 3.30pm Thursday 2 Parish Council Meeting, Public Session 7.15pm, Council Meeting 7.30pm, Parish Hall Sunday 5 St Mary’s Church, Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family Service , 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 6 Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 7 Rubbish Collection: garbage bin | Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30pm-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Thursday 9 WI Meeting: Stephen Barker on Hardit Singh Malik, The Flying Sikh of the 1st World War, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Friday 10 SCOTS Meeting, The Bull, from 5.30pm Sunday 12 St Mary’s Church, BCP Evensong, 6pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 13 School Half-Term Holiday starts for this week | Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 14 Rubbish Collection: recycling and garden bins | No Community Café this week - School Half Term | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday 15 Over 60s Club Meeting, Sports and Social Hall, starts at 12.30pm, with lunch and the bar open and ends about 3.30pm | LVP Pantomime Hickory Dickory Dock, Cooper School Performance Hall, 2.30pm and 7.30pm Thursday 16 LVP Pantomime Hickory Dickory Dock, Cooper School Performance Hall, 10.30am and 2.30pm Friday 17 LVP Pantomime Hickory Dickory Dock, Cooper School Performance Hall, 2.30pm and 7.30pm Saturday 18 FINAL DATE FOR COPY FOR THE MARCH 2023 ISSUE OF LAUNTON LINES: SUBMIT TO launtonlines@launton.org | LVP Pantomime Hickory Dickory Dock, Cooper School Performance Hall, 7.30pm Sunday 19 St Mary’s Church, Morning Prayer, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 20 Back to School after the half-term holiday | Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 21 Rubbish Collection: garbage bin | Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30pm-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday 22 St Mary’s Church, Ash Wednesday Service, 11am Thursday 23 Launton Historical Society, Christopher Young on Churches have Memories (about the memorials in St Edburg’s), Parish Hall, 7.30pm Sunday 26 St Mary’s Church, Holy Communion, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 27 Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 28 Rubbish Collection: recycling and garden bins | Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30pm-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm

Launton Lines February 2023 | Page 39

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 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 © MMXXIII 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.