Imustapologisetocontributors,advertisersandreadersforthedelayin gettingthisissueout.Itwas95%completeonTuesday27June,withonly fourpiecesandafewphotostobefinished.Istartedtofeelveryunwellon theWednesdaymorningandwastakenbyambulancetoTheHortonin Banbury,withaveryhightemperatureandfeelingveryshivery.ACATscan andbloodtestslaterIwastransferredtotheJRinOxfordwithadiagnosisof probablegallstonesblockingmybileduct.ThiswasconfirmedwithaMRI scan-allwithin24hours.Thenheavyantibioticsandsixdayswaitingfora slotfortheprocedure(ERCP)to“flipoutthegallstone”.Thishappenedon Wednesday5July,then24hoursrestbeforeIwasallowedhomeforthe weekend.OnlythencouldIcompleteworkonthisissue.ButbacktotheJR nextTuesdayfor(Ihope)removaloftheGallBladder.Thankyou,NHS! Someinformationinthisissuewillbeabitoutofdateasyouwillbereading itaround14July.ThereisanobituaryforDaphneBellman(pages30-34), JohnStephenswritesabouthismemoriesofwartimeLondon(pages1416),thereisareportandphotosofLaunton’sUnder12swinningthe EasingtonTournament(pages40-41).Thecentrepages(24-25)hasa reportandphotosfromYears5and6pupilsabouttheirlinoprinting. ThecovershowstheSpitfirevisitingon3JunefortheFamilyFunDay.
RobertCornfordGroupemail:village.help@launton-pc.gov.uk
PHONENumbers:9:30amto5:00pm
AmonthlynewsletterforLaunton.Publishedaroundthefirstofeachmonth bytheLauntonCommunityCommunicationsGroup©2023LauntonLines email:launtonlines@launton.orgwebsite:https://launton.org/launton-lines/
Contact:JoanPacker
Phone:07922042133
ParishHallCommittee:ChristineMassey; AudreyDeeley;LynneHarper;JoanPacker; SimonTurner;RobertCornford
Would you like to sponsor an evening’sfloodlighting at StMary’sChurch 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 JoanPacker on 01869 241694 by 20 July 2023 for entry in the August 2023 issue of Launton Lines.
July 26 | Sponsored by MichelleMcIlrathand family in loving memory of Michelle’sbrother GeoffBarker, on what would have been his 51st birthday.
Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 1 June 2023 at 7:30pmin Launton School Hall
Councillors present MrAndrewBriant, MrEdSanders (Vice Chairman), MrsLesleyThompson, MrSimonTurner (Chairman), Mrs JaquelineWebber
Apologies MrsAbigailDowman
In attendance The Clerk, MrsJaneOlds; District Councillors
GemmaCotonand Julian Nedelcu; 2 representatives from East West Rail (until 7.53pm); 5 members of the public
East West Rail
ThainaSa’id made a brief presentation to the meeting about the state of the project. A PDFof the presentation is available on the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/east-west-railinformation/east-west-rail-updates/
79% of the track has been installed and agreement has been made between HS2and EWRabout the ‘crossing area’ near Steeple Claydon.
There will be some additional road closures in the autumn which will affect Marsh Gibbon Station Road and the Poundonto Godington roads.
If anyone has any queries, please contact East West Rail directly at publicinformation@ewralliance.co.ukor call the 24 hour helplineat 03457 11 41 41.
Councillor Cotonintroduced the newly-elected CDCCouncillor Julian Nedelcuto the Council. Councillor Cotonreported that following numerous discussions, it has been agreed that Cherwell would be managed by a Conservative minority administration. There was no report received from Councillor Corkin(OCC).
The Finance Report is available on the Parish Council website. Anyone wishing to see the unaudited accounts (they are unaudited until the External Auditor - Moore- has completed their inspection) should contact the Clerk to make an appointment. More information about the rights of electors and the dates during which the electorate may see the accounts is available on the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/financial-information/accounts2022-23/. However, much of the information is already available electronically on the website. The ‘Electors’ Rights’ dates are from 5 June to 14 July.
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.ukin 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: www.launton-pc.gov.uk/planningapplications
Parish Hall
The Council received four ‘blind’ quotations from the architects and agreed to approve the Working Group’srecommendation to appoint Contractor Tender A. Together with contingency sums and the appointment of a project manager, the project is likely to cost in the region of £525,000.
Traffic Issues
The Council has regularly acknowledged the state of the roads in the village. As the roads are adopted and maintained by Oxfordshire County Council, it is not possible to deter anyone from using the public road. However, over the last four years, the Parish Council has:
arranged for a 20mphZone outside the school and funded half (other half funded through OCCCouncillor Localities grant provided by IanCorkin);
applied for the 20mphvillage area (in December 2021) - the consultation was scheduled to be presented the public shortly;
set up the Speedwatchgroup - but noted that the group needed volunteers for it to run;
discussed the options with the Highways Officer about the relocation of the HGVweight limit from the Bull crossroads to the CharbridgeLane roundabout;
discussed the options with the Highways Officer about improvements to The Bull crossroads including implementation of yellow lines to assist with visibility for vehicles exiting Station Road;
discussed the options with the Highways Officer about whether it would be possible to install traffic calming on the Blackthorn Road;
informally asked the County Councillor (IanCorkin) for assistance with funding for more monitoring, traffic calming and new speed indicator devices;
asked the EWRteam for the mobile speed indicator device which
had been in place on Bicester Road since February and had had a positive impact on the speed of vehicles coming into the village from Bicester;
asked the OCCHighways / Footpaths team to improve the pavement outside the church (scheduled for July).
Our SpeedwatchCo-ordinator would love to hear from you if you are able to help join the team - with the weather warming up, now is the perfect time to get out and help out.
Contact speedwatch@launton-pc.gov.ukfor more information.
Due to a change in the Clerk’spersonal circumstances, the Clerk’s normal working days will be between Monday and Wednesday. If you would like to contact the Clerk, please leave a message either by email (clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk) or on the mobile (07305 303 889) and she will respond when she is next in the office.
The next meeting will be on Thursday 6 July in the Parish Hall, starting at 7.30pm. If you’dlike 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. The agenda and papers will be available to view via the data projector during the meeting.
Suggestions for agenda items for the 3 August meeting need to be with the Clerk by 20 July, and items for the 7 September meeting by 24 August.
If you’re not signed up to our mailing list to receive news from the Parish Council, you can find a sign up form at the bottom left hand menu of the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/
The Parish Council has a new contact number. You can now call or text the Council on 07305 303 889
Ithasbeensolovelytohavesuchsunnyweatherrecentlyandwehavebeen usingittogetoutandaboutinLauntonandOtmoor,meetingwith residents.Therearejustafewthingsfromusthismonth:
CherwellDistrictCouncilAdministration
Atourlastupdate,wewerehopefullythattalkswouldbeabletoresume betweentheProgressiveOxfordshireGroup(madeupofLiberal Democrats,theGreenPartyandoneindependent)andLabourtoforma majorityadministrationonCherwellDistrictCouncil.However,aswidely reported,theLabourPartywereinstructednottogobackintotalksandso, atthelastFullCouncilmeetingon23May,aConservativeminority administrationformed.Wearesaddenedbythisasmanyresidentshad madeitclearthattheywantedchangeatCherwell.However,wewill continuetoholdtheConservativeadministrationtoaccountandadvocate fortheresidentsofLauntonandOtmoor.
Wenowhavenew,provisional,datesforthe2040LocalPlan.Theplanis proposedtogototheOverviewand ScrutinyCommitteeon1August andtheExecutiveon4September. IfbothoftheseCommitteesare happy,webelievetheLocalPlan willgotoconsultationinlate Septemberfor6weeks.Wewill keepyouupdatedasweknowmore.
Asalways,pleasedogetintouch! Ouremailsare
gemma.coton@cherwell-dc.gov.uk andjulian.nedelcu@cherwelldc.gov.ukorphoneuson
Launton Lines records significant events in the village. We try to list births, marriages, civil partnerships, significant birthdays, and deaths as we get information. This month, MurielBeckis102on4July.Happy Birthday,Muriel.
ThephotoisoneweusedforMuriel’s100thBirthday fromEdSanders
The Watercolour Classes will run on all Mondays in July (3, 10, 17, 24, and 31), in the Parish Hall from 2pm. We have space for new members at £8 per session. Here is a painting from an earlier class.
If you would like to join the classes, please emailPaul.Ebberson@gmail.com
“TheANSWER”-Saturday,1July...
“We are determining whether we leave to our children and their children a planet that will continue drifting towards less and less inhabitable states”
“TheSOLUTION”-Monday,3July...
JohanRockstrom
We are on the final countdown to our summer variety show Come Rain or Shine! There are performances at 2:30pmon Saturday 15 July and Sunday 16 July. The show is suitable for the whole family and will include some songs all related to the wonderful British weather - from rain, snow and wind to sunshine and rainbows! Are you curious about what a ‘lawn chair drill’ is? Or how you can dance with umbrellas? Then do come along and see the fun! It will be a real variety show and offers lots of amusing moments as well as a few surprises! Short comedy sketches include a group of hapless weather forecasters, as well as the four seasons trying to plan the year ahead! Will it be a “lazy hazy crazy day of summer” or “I love a rainy day”?
We are hoping for sunny weather so we can enjoy an afternoon of tea and entertainment in a country garden at Mayflower, Hare LeysFarm, Launton, Bicester OX265AB.If the weather is very wet or windy we’ll move into one of our big sheds, but still bring chairs and picnic rugs! Doors open at 1:45pmeach day and refreshments will be on offer before the show as well as in the interval, including prosecco, Pimms, fruit juice, tea and coffee, as well as homemadecakes and ice creams. We take cash and contactlesscard payments.
To book tickets go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/lvp. Tickets cost £10 adult and £5 children. (booking fee applies). You can book refreshments but these will be available on the day too. If you are unable to buy online, call us on 07864 715708 for cash and cheque purchases.
As well as celebrating all kinds of British weather we are also raising money for UNICEF and the Bicester Food Bank, so there will be a raffle with some lovely hampers as prizes. We hope you will be able to support us and help raise funds for these good causes, who need our support very much at the moment.
Remember if you do come along, please bring your own chairs or rug to sit on, sun hats and sun cream (or raincoats
and wellies!). There is plenty of free parking available, space for disabled parking and a few spare chairs for anyone who cannot bring one. If you have any questions please contact us on 01869 277625 or by email tickets@launtonvillageplayers.org.uk
We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support.
We are very excited to announce that our 2024 pantomime will be Rapunzel, written and directed by JuliaWest, with original music by SteveWebber.There will be seven performances during February half term, from 14 to 17 February 2024 in Cooper School Performance Hall. As usual, the story contains lots of magic, a baddieto boo and heroes to cheer, as well as all the usual traditional family pantomime elements you would expect.
Watch this space for further information about how to get involved. If you would like to find out more about LVP, or are interested in joining us, do get in touch – drop us a message on Facebookor send an email to info@launtonvillageplayers.org.uk
Oneofthemostimportant decisionsyouwillmake ischoosingtherightaccountant.
Contact us today foraFREEinitialmeeting.
We will proactivelylisten toyourbusinessneeds andcreatepersonalisedsolutions.
email@stackandjones.co.uk
Tel: 01869 277973
Unit4,WillowsGate,StrattonAudley
Bicester,Oxon OX279AU
ItisjusteightyyearssinceHitlerstartedsendingoverthefirstofhis‘secret weapons’,theV1flyingbomb,soitseemsanappropriatetimetoreporton mymemoriesofthe‘Blitz’.
AtthattimeIlivedonahillinSouthLondon.Inthefirstfewwaryears manybombsdroppednearusandmostofourwindowswerebadly damagedbutnothingworsethanthat.Myfirstoutstandingmemorywasthe eventof29December1940whentherewasamassiveraidontheEastEnd andtheLondondocksarea.Wehadanunforgettableviewfromtherearof ourhouse,anditlookedasifthewholeoftheEastEndwasonfire.Our next-doorneighbourWalterAdamworkedontherailway.Onenighthewas calledouttohelpclearupatNewCrossGatewhenithadbeenbombed. Whenhereturnedinthemorning,helookedabsolutelygreen;hehadbeen pickingupbodyparts,arms,legsandsoon.
Althoughsomeofthefamilywereonactiveserviceduringthewarand thosewhowereathomesufferedfrequentraidsbyGermanbombers,weall survivedthewarbutthereweresomenarrowescapes;wejustgotlucky!The firstnearcasualtywasUncleFrank.HehadalreadysurvivedWorldWarI.
HewasinvolvedinthebattleofVimyRidgewherehetookabulletright throughhisbodywhichsomehowmissedeveryvitalorganbutwasserious enoughtogethimsenthome;a‘Blighty’wound.IntheearlypartofWorld WarIIFrank,hiswifeLilianandsonDavidwerelivingatWhyteleafe,close toKenleyaerodromewhichwasthebaseforRAFNo.46FighterSquadron. Germanplanessometimesattackedtheairfieldandononeoccasionwhen thishappenedFrankandDavidweretakingshelterinaslittrenchintheir garden;thetrenchwascoveredbyasheetofcorrugatedironandalayerof earthandrubble.Thinkingthattheattackwasovertheyemergedfromthe slittrenchtobemetbyahailofbullets,oneofwhichclippedthesideof Frank’sknee.Otherspassedoverheadandhitthenearbybudgerigarcage. Whentheyfinallyemerged,theyfoundthebirdsdead.Thebulletscame fromalowflyingMesserschmidt110(atwinenginedfighter-bomber)which theybelievewasshotdownshortlyafterwardsandcrashedonRiddlesdown, ontheothersideoftheCaterhamvalley.
SoonafterthattheWarOfficecommandeeredhishouseforuseasanarmy billet,sotheymovedtoBelmont,closetoCuddingtongolfcoursetostay withLilian'ssisterGraceandherhusbandDonald.Mybrother,ourmother
andIwenttostaywiththemforadayortwoandonenighttherewasa bombingraid.WeheardabomberapproachingandthenweheardwhatI thinkwasaBeaufighterfiringcannon.UncleFrankgrabbedusandtoldus togetdownintotherefugeroominthebasement.Wegotdowntherejust intimebeforethebomberdroppedallitsbombsonthegolfcourseatthe endoftheroad!
TherehadbeenalotofpublicityaboutRAFairmensuchas‘Cat’sEyes’ Cunninghameatinglotsofcarrotstoimprovetheirnightvision.Thiswasa coverstorytodivertGermanattentionfromairborneradar,codenamed H2S,whichwasthemainreasonforthesuccessoftheRAF.
AtthestartofthewarmygrandmotherMercyhadaflatinGloucester Circus,Greenwich,neartheNationalMaritimeMuseum.Herflatwasbadly damagedbyabombandMercymovedtoanotherflatwhichwasalso bombed,andshelostalotoffamilyheirlooms;sherememberedseeing tatteredpiecesofoilpaintingsblowingdowntheroad.
InJune1944theGermansstartedsendingovertheirV1flyingbombs;we calledthem‘Doodlebugs’.Theycarriedawarheadofjustunderonetonne andwerepropelledbyaweirdsortofjetenginewhichsoundedlikeaonecylindermotorcycle.Theyflewatseveralhundredfeetandwhentheengine stopped,theycamedownandexplodedonimpact.ByJulyover100were launchedeverydayandalthoughmanyfailedorwereshotdownalarge numberreachedLondonanddidalotofdamage.Shootingthemdown couldbeveryhazardousifthewarheadexplodedsotheRAFdevelopeda techniqueinwhichtheyflewalongsidetheV1,gottheirwingtipunderneath theV1wing,thentippeditup.Thisupsetthegyroscopicguidancesystem andtheV1felltotheground.Infactatotalofabout10,000werelaunched duringthiscampaignbutonlyfewerthan2,400actuallyreachedtheLondon areabuttheydidalotofdamage.WhenIwasathomeinthesummer holidaysIsawmanyofthem.Weusedtowaituntiltheyhadpassedbyand thenwentoutsidetothebackofthehouseandwatchedthemdrop.Ikepta logandthemostIsawinonedaywas19!
Mymotherhadanarrowescapeonemorningwhencyclingtowork.She wasemployedbytheMinistryofFoodatNewCrossGateissuingration books.ShehadjustpassedafactoryinNunheadLaneatthecornerof PeckhamRyeCommonwhenadoodlebugcameoverandtheenginecut out.Shesimplyfelloffherbicycleanddivedintoashopdoorwaywhenthe
explosionoccurred.Thefactorywasdemolishedandmanyoftheworkers, includingyounggirls,werekilled.Mymotherhadanothernarrowescape, thistimefromaV2rocketbomb.ThesestartedcomingoverinSeptember 1944andcarrieda1tonnewarhead.Theycamedownatabout2,000mph, muchfasterthansound,sothatyoucouldnothearthemcomingbutafter theexplosionitsoundedasiftherocketwasgoingbackupintothesky!
MymotherwasstillworkingattheMinistryofFoodofficeatNewCross GateandonedayshewasplanningtogotoWoolworths,closetoNew CrossGatestationinherlunchhourat12noon.Acolleagueaskedherto swaplunchhoursandmymotheragreedtogoatoneo'clockinstead.Her colleaguewenttoWoolworthsat12noonandwaskilledwhenaV2rocket camedownthere.ThiswastheworstofalltheV2incidents;168people werekilledand122peoplewereinjured.Ayounggirl,agedabout13, witnessedtheexplosionfromnearby.Shewasthrownintotheairandwhen shecamedownagainshesaidthatshesawapileofbrickswhere Woolworthshadbeen,withbricksandduststillfallingdown.Anearbybus hadbeenconcertinaedandallthepassengersinsidewerecoveredindust andwerealldead.
MygrandmotherMercyhadaverynarrowescapefromaV2rocket.Shewas phoningfromapublicphoneboxoutsideBlackheathpostofficewhenaV2 camedownontheothersideoftheroad.Shetoldmethatshedidnothear anything(maybeshewasdeafened)butshesawthechurchsteepleswaying, thentheglassofthetelephoneboxcameinandshepassedout.Somebody musthaverescuedher,andshewastreatedforseveralcutsandlossof blood,butshewasluckybecausethewomaninthenextphoneboxwas killed.SoHitler,havingfailedtogetGrannyearlierinthewar,tried throwingarocketather,butfailedagain!Althoughthismaysoundamusing youmustrealisethatwelivedthroughsixyearsofwar,eachdaywondering whetherwewouldstillbealivethenextday.
Somymotherandmygrandmotherbothsurvivedthewar;mymotherlived tobe90andmygrandmother93.Allothermembersofourfamilyalso survived.CousinGeorgeservedintheFleetAirArmontheaircraftcarrier HMSIllustriousandCousinBillwasintheRoyalNavyinsubmarines.Uncle StuartwasaCaptainintheIndianarmy(17thDogras)inIndiaandBurma andwasouronlycasualty;hesurvivedbutlostaleg.
18July1873PETTYSESSIONSAllegedAssaultatLauntonMary Botterill,singlewoman,Launton,waschargedbyHarriettLongwith assaultingheratLauntononJune30.Complainantsaidshewashelping takeWilliamCastlehome,aswasJohnMarriott,whenthedefendantswore atherandhithertwiceontheback.Shesufferedverymuchfrom indigestionandshewasconsiderablyhurt.Castle’smotheraskedhertohelp Marriottintakinghersonhome,whowasdrunk.Defendant-Youwere drunk,andmoresothanhewas.WilliamCastlesaidhewasratherthe worseforbeerontheoccasionreferredto,andLongwashelpingtotake himhome.Defendantdidnotpushcomplainantatall.Shemerelyjumped inbetweenthem,therewasnothingmore.TheBenchdecidedtodismiss thesummons,andcosts,4s,tobeequallydividedbetweencomplainantand defendant.
DEATHSJuly20,attheRailwayStation,Launton,aged37,Sarah
Ann,wifeofMrNewmanRobinson,anattachétotheEnglishDepartment, ViennaExhibition.
25July1873FrederickMassey,ofLaunton,thetoddlingfoxhunter,is sufferingfromthebruiseonhisface,causedbythecricketball,andnot fromthebrokenjaw,whichhasprogressedfavourably.
COUNTYCOURTWilliamHenryFrench,ironmonger,Market Square,Buckingham,vThomasShouler,wheelwright,Launton Amountoverdue£108s5d.Plaintiffstatedthatdefendanthadonlypaid twoinstalmentsof10seach,onanordermadeJune1870.Defendant appeared,supportedbyastick,andsaidhehadmetwithanaccidentand injuredhisspineonthepreviousWednesday.HisHonourreducedthe orderto5spermonth.
On a lovely evening we gathered together and opened our meeting in the traditional manner by singing about our green and pleasant land, preparing to listen to a fascinating talk by Robin Stafford Allenon Sustainable Energy. His talk was primarily based upon the work of ProfDavid McKay, Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air, which poses the question can we live by renewable energy alone? By using data based upon the unit of energy kWh/dto calculate both input and output to create a level playing field, the distance between the use of fossil fuels and renewablesto maintain our current average of 125 kWhper person in the EU, is well, not so much a gap, but a gulf. We all like to think we are doing our bit so to be honest this was a bit deflating. Remember our ‘green and pleasant land’ earlier? Well, to produce a quarter of our current energy consumption by generating energy crops would require 75% of Britain to be covered by biomasscrops. So that’s a no then. What about the sun shining forth on our clouded hills? Well sorry but that’sa no too, only generating 50kWhbut using 5% of land. And before you ask wave power would only provide 4% of our needs but would require 500kmof our Atlantic coastline to covered in turbines.
For most of us our ‘arrows of desire’ is a genuine need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. So what can we do? Lifestyle changes can help. Believe that every little action you take to repair, recycle, and renew can make an impact. Even if it’snot huge, it may stop the problem getting worse. Use less, be thoughtful about your actions and the effect that it has on our poor exhausted planet. You can make a difference.
It was good to see so many visitors at our meeting, and one of whom
has written more about this topic and its relevance to Launton In this issue of Launton Lines. To paraphrase WilliamBlake, with sword in hand we will not cease from mental fight.
Our next meeting, (7.30pm on 13 July in the Parish Hall) has Maretta Dowmanleading a crafts evening. New members are always welcome.
AngelaStack
Thankyoutoallwhobravedtheverywarmmorningtohelpwiththeclear up.Onesensiblehelpercameat7amtoclearthedrains,soescapedtheheat! Allothers,agesrangingfromunder5to‘elderly’,trimmed, tidied,pickeduprubbishetc.asmuchintheshadeas possiblebeforeretiringtothecoolofthechurchfor refreshments.
Thephoto(fromSarahKidney)showsawell-knownfigure withaforkofbrambles-orisit‘GiantHaystacks!’
Thankyoutoallhelpers-seeyouattheAutumnclearup?
OurCallCentresarethenervecentreoftheAmbulanceServiceandourroleisgettingmedicalhelpand advicetopatientswhohaveinjuriesorillnessesasquicklyaspossible.
Wehave3primaryfunctionswhichare:
Wedealwithlifeanddeath,everycallisdifferent.Weneedpeoplewhocan remaincalmandempathic-it'snotforthefaint-hearted.
Ifthissoundslikeachallengeyouwouldrelish,contactustoday!
YouaremostwelcometojointheJulyServicesandEventslistedhere.
2 July 8.00amBCPHoly Communion
11.00amAll welcome Family Service. Do come along to find out about MAF
3 July 2.30pm Fellowship Group in Church
9 July 6.00pmEvensong
16 July 11.00amMorning Prayer
17 July 2.30pm Fellowship Group in Church
23 July 11.00amHoly Communion
30 July 6.00pmTeam Evensong at StLaurence, Caversfield
Please check on the Facebookpage for StMary’sChurch Launton to see the latest information or contact one of the Churchwardens at StMary’s
We will be holding our SECOND STMARY’S FAYRE ON SATURDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2023
FURTHER NEWS TO FOLLOW
The Community Caféis open on 4, 11 and 18 July. It will then close for the Summer and we hope will reopen on Tuesday 5 September. CalliNgallwould-BevoluNteers
If you have a couple of hours free each month in term-time and are looking to support your community, please contact Celiafor a chat. (contact details above)
We’re not in the Cotswolds but we’re close enough to take an easy trip there. So it was good to hear SeanCallery’s Cotswold Cornucopia at our meeting in May.
Seanretrained as a tour guide - just in time for the Covidlockdowns. Roughly bounded by Chipping Norton, Cheltenham, Stratford and Stroud, the Cotswolds are 800 square miles of sheep, stone and hills. For many years the best wool in England came from the Cotswolds. The Lion Sheep was used there 100 years ago - a short and stocky breed so the walls could be low.
We heard about the honey stone of Chipping Camden and its lovely market hall built in 1627 - not for sheep, but to protect produce. Some Americans wanted to buy it - but were not successful. StJamesChurch is a wool church, one of about 12 significant wool churches across the Cotswolds, like mini cathedrals.
Broadway is very popular with tours - it has a handy carparkwith loosapparently quite a feature in this area. The fabulous LygonArms is named after General Lygon: before the change of name it was known for centuries as The White Hart. Winchcombe was a Saxonregional capital - it has lots of jettying- where upper floors jut out above the street. In StPeter’sChurch, there’sthe loneliest man. He paid for his statue and left a space beside him for his wife. She married again after his death and was buried with the next husband.
Cheltenham was originally marshland.It wasn’ta significant mediaeval settlement. But it came into its own when the spa trend kicked off in the 1700sand it turned into a pleasant town. Tetbury is a classic mediaeval place with a large market hall. Its emblem is the dolphin – despite being as far from the sea as you can get.
By the time you read this we will have heard Carol Andersontalk about The AscottMartyrs. Then in July we have our outing to Upper Heyford Heritage, a social in August, and in September we reconvene to hear StephenBarker talk about The Oxonand Bucks Light Infantry on the Somme, 1916. In October, TimHealeywill speak about Apples!.
GwenSkinner
We have been busy making lino cuts and prints in Years 5 and 6. We had to be careful because the cutting tools we used were very sharp. Firstly, we went out into the grounds to find leaves or flowers which we could copy for our initial drawings and then we copied these drawings into our art books. We used the designs which we had made, making a copy of them onto tracing paper which we then transferred onto a piece of lino. Once the outline was copied onto the piece of lino, we were ready to start carving. We worked slowly and carefully. We used different coloured paints which we applied with rollers which copied the outline of the drawing. We also used different coloured paper to change the finished product. Our work was about the size of a quarter of a piece of A4paper. The designs we made could be used to make a greeting card. Our Art Teacher, Miss Nightingale took pictures of us working and of our finished designs. We really enjoyed doing this type of printing.
Austin, Harry, Harukaand Ralph- Years 5 and 6 Launton School
Here are some more of our lino prints
Saturday 2 September 2023
InTheChurchandtheFrontGarden ofTheOldRectory2pm-4pm
Proceeds to StMary’sChurch. More details to follow, see StMary’sfacebookpage or August LauntonLines
OnceagainIhaveblackcurrantsaplingstogiveaway.Ihaveabout20ready foryourgardenorallotment.Iliveat24WestEnd,soifyouwantoneortwo -ormore-justcallinandbringapotorbag.Icanprovideaspadeortrowel. Ihave3largebusheswhichkeepmeinblackcurrantsforthewholeyear.They freezewellandIhaveaportiononmybreakfastcerealmostdays.Theonly problemisthattheyarefiddlytopickandneedprotectionfrombirds:oldnet curtainisquitegoodforkeepingblackbirdsoffyourbushes.
Blackcurrantsarehighinantioxidants,includingvitaminC.Alongwiththe anthocyaninsinblackcurrants,theseantioxidantshelpboostyourimmune system,allowingyourbodytofightinfectionandvirusesmoreeffectively. Theyalsomakegreatjam!
PatMitchell
Registered Charity Number 1199171
AtourAGMon18MayRuthNgagreedtocarryonasSecretary.Martin Evanssaidhewouldliketostepdown,soweareinneedofanewChair. CathyProcopiouagreedtocontinueasTreasurerandRobertCornford asPublicityOfficer.ThankstoallforthetimetheygivetoFoLPH.
TheParishHallprojecthasreachedanexcitingstageasabuilderhas beenselectedbytheParishCouncilandsoit’sallgotoraisethefinal fundsrequired,about£500,000.
AGrantsActionGroupislookingintoapplyingtomajorfunders.We haveorganisedatimetableofeventstohelpraisefundsandtohavefun!
EventsforAugust2023-March2024
Sunday13August|AfternoonTeaandLaunchofSponsoraTile ProjectJoinusforachatoveracuppaandenjoyhomemadecakes.
Sunday24September|What3wordsTreasureHuntThereturnof thispopularevent-wehopeeveryonewillenjoythismoderntwiston theoldfavouritetreasurehunt.Suitableforfamiliesandallages.
Friday20October|BeetleDriveTheremaybeavariationonthe themebutthiswillsurelybeafamilyeventandfunforeveryone.
Wednesday22November|BoogieWoogieBellasAverytalented groupofladiesentertainingusfortheevening.Nottobemissed.
Saturday6January2024|TwelfthNighteventPlansareverymuch intheearlystageforthisbutgetthedateinyour2024diaries.
DatetobeconfirmedinSpring2024|TheSixthTytheBarnQuiz AlwaysagreateventinthefabulousFourteenthCenturyTytheBarn.
MoreinformationonFoLPHEventswillbeinLauntonLinesandalsoon Facebook.
OurnextFoLPHmeetingisonThursday20Julyat7.30pminthe ParishHall.Docomealongtofindoutmoreaboutthisexciting stageintheplansfortheParishHall.
Therearemanybenefitsofworkingatavetpractice.Ofcoursetherearethe lovelyclientsandpetswhocometoseeuseachday,andthewonderfulwork environmentcreatedbyagroupofprofessionalsfocusedonmakingpatients betterwiththeirskillandcare.Thereisalsothebenefitofcheaperpetcare, thoughit’saperkyouhopeyouwon’tneedtouse!
Samisaveterinarynursewhojoinedusacoupleof yearsagowantingtochangeovertoareceptionist role.Whenher10yearoldBorderTerrierJasper developedarapidlygrowingfattylumponhischest nearhisrightarmpit,shehadunderstandablecause forconcern.Benignfattylumps,calledlipomas,are verycommonbuttheytendtogrowslowlyover manymonths.Therapidgrowthofthislumpalerted VetLaurenFureytodoafineneedleaspiratetoget somemoreinformationfromthepathologist.
Thetestinvolvestakingcellsfromtheareawitha needle,usuallywhilstthepatientisawake.Thesecells areputonaslideandsentforcytologicalanalysis underamicroscopeatthelab.InJasper’scasetherewasahighsuspicionthat thefattylumpwasinfactamalignantliposarcoma,whichhadthepotentialto spreadelsewhereinthebodyaswellastoinvadeintosurroundingtissues, makingcompleteremovalmorechallengingbutessential.
JasperwasbookedinwithexperiencedsurgeonKyraJennings,forremovalof themassandthesurroundingtissuemargin.Thechallenge,oncethelumphas beenremoved,isthatyouareleftwithalargedefectintheskinwhichideally needstobefullyclosedwithoutanytension.Tensionandmovementincrease theriskofwoundbreakdownandasecondarywoundtodealwith.
Kyraplannedthewoundclosureinadvancewhichwastrickyduetothelack of“stretch”ofskininthearea,plusthehighlevelofmovementduetothe locationnearthefrontleg.Shechosetouseaskinflapwhereshegrafted someskinfromovertheshoulderblade,anareawheretheskinhasless tension.Thegraftwasunderminedsurgicallybutremainedattachedonone sidetoensureagoodbloodsupply.Theflapwasthenrotateddowntocover theskindefectbeforethelongtaskofsuturingbegan.
I’vesavedyoutheshockoftheintraoperativephotosthoughI’veincludeda photoofJasperoncethecomplexwoundwascomplete.Jasperrecoveredwell fromhis3-hoursurgeryand,despiteasmallareaofbreakdownatoneedgeof
thewound,thesitehealedalmost uneventfully.Thegoodnewsfromthe pathologistwasthattheliposarcoma waslowgrade,completelyexcised, andunlikelytohavespreadelsewhere.
Jasperwasatrooperthroughoutand wasgoodnaturedthroughoutthe process,oblivioustotheconcernsof hisownerandtheteamcaringforhim.Withoutthe quickactionbybothSamastheowner,andtheteamat thepractice,Jasper’stumourwouldhaveenlargedandinvadedthetissues aroundit;perhapsevenwrappingaroundthelargenerve bundleunderthearmpit.
Jasperisbacktonormalandenjoyingcountrywalksinthis lovelysummeryweather.Wehopehehasmanyyearsahead ofhimandthattheyaremuchlesseventfulthanthelast!
Enjoyyourpets.
JasonWilliams|BicesterVets|July2023
Peaceofmindforpetowners...
CompassionateandCaringatalltimes
Longopeninghoursforyourconvenience
24houron-sitenursingcareasstandardforallourhospitalisedpatients
24hourEmergencyserviceprovidedbyourvetsatourpractice
Aservicethat'ssecondtononefromNorthOxfordshire'smostestablished, independent,specialitysmallanimalhospital.
Daphne was born in Willesdenon 27 March 1924. Her earliest memory, at the age of four, was of being sick with the excitement and apprehension of the birth of her youngest brother, Brian, at home with a midwife in attendance. Brianwatched the livestreamof the funeral from his home in Maryland in the USA.
Daphne attended WillesdenCounty Grammar School. She had vivid childhood memories of the years before the war, summer holidays at her mother's family home on the lsleof Wightbeing a particular highlight. But those happy years took place against the background of wartime preparations. She remembered the construction of an AndersonShelter in their garden at KensalRise and was then evacuated with the rest of the school to Northampton for the early part of the war.
Continued on pages 31-34
Keen to do her bit, aged 16, Daphne convinced her parents to let her leave school and return home to a clerical job in the “War Risks” department at the Royal London Mutual Assurance Society in FinsburySquare. She saw first-hand the devastingdamage ofthe blitz as she commuted into the city each day. After one particularly bad night in December 1940, the radio announced that people should not go to work that day. Daphne went anyway. Three sides of FinsburySquare had been destroyed, buildings were still ablaze, rubble was everywhere, and rescued dray horses were tethered to lampposts. Later, when asked why she went in she replied, “Because I was stubborn and bloody-minded, I suppose”. Daphne was always a very determined lady!
Aged 18, in 1942 she joined the Women’sLand Army. Here she stands proudly in her uniform which she liked, all except the jodhpurs, “which took a lot of getting used to. It was the first time I had had a pair of trousers!” After training in Staffordshire, she was sent to what she described as a “distinctly primitive” dairy farm near Basingstoke.Regularly visited by her “boss” who checked on her welfare, after a year or so, she decided to visit her to ask for help in getting a transfer to a more modern farm. She walked the few miles to her “bosses” home which turned out to be a rather grand stately home. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, Daphne rang the huge front doorbell and was admitted by an intimidating butler to an audience with the Countess of Perth who readily and charmingly agreed to facilitate Daphne's move.
She spent the rest of the war on a farm on the Isle of Man, working 90-hourweeks on a tough hill-farm, getting into numerous scrapes with bulls and ploughs. ltwas here that she acquired the first in a lifetime of dog companions - a Manchester Terrier.
Planning for the future, she learned shorthand and typing and procured a secretarial job with a family she really liked at a farm near Mapledurhamin Berkshire. While there she read about the need for
teachers due to the post-war “baby boom” and joined a one year “emergency training scheme” at an isolated college in the Chilterns with all accommodation provided. She enjoyed the intensive programme and embraced the challenges and opportunity to try new things. One example was the “fencing club”. At a time of great austerity, the fencing club had very little equipment. She said that the girls were advised to use saucepan lids for breast plates. She lost interest quickly as whenever an attack hit her visor her spectacles were dislodged!
After several school postingsin south-east England, Daphne applied to the British Families Education Service and was posted to Dortmund where she lived in the officer’smess which had previously been used by the SS. She found it an alarming place to stay and “couldn’thelp thinking of the dreadful happenings there a few years previously”. She applied for the headship of a small primary school at Wulfenwhich rapidly expanded to 60-70 children. Travelling widely in Germany, it was in this period that Daphne emerged as a strong, confident young woman comfortable in the company of children and parents from all walks of life. When asked what it was like to live and work in Germany so soon after the war, she was quick to point out the goodness in most of the people she met, people who were struggling in the immediate aftermath of the war. She distinguished between them and the political system that was the real source of the conflict. She said it was easy to tell who had been a supporter of that system and those that had simply been swept along by events they could not control.
Having enjoyed her freedom for several years, Daphne had to return home because both her parents had become ill. She accepted the Headship of Launton Church of England School in 1966: living in the schoolhouse allowed her to continue her independence. We believe she was the last teacher to live in the house.
Daphne enjoyed the challenge of teaching two age groups at once which required a mixture of individual, group, and whole-class teaching. As the school roll increased Daphne concentrated on getting
a sympathetically-designed new extension built. She completed the building of an open-air teaching swimming pool, enlisting volunteers from the community to get the job done. Later she became a prime mover in establishing the Launton Playing Field behind the school. She viewed all these things as a community effort and was eternally grateful for all the support she received from the parents and other villagers. It is amazing to think of the hundreds, probably thousands of lives that her efforts touched positively in her time in Launton. During her time in Launton, Daphne invited younger members of her family to come and stay. These visits were described as “based in the village, and we would arrive in time for a Sunday roast and this was often accompanied by an experimental recipe for perhaps a new side dish or more often a dessert - Daphne would announce that she was trying something out on us. Sometimes these things worked and sometimes they didn’t.Lunch was always followed by a walk, and back then the ground conditions in and around the village were sometimes quite, shall we say, damp. We would of course have wellies and Daphne would say “l’vefound a new dry walk” - usually within a few minutes we and the dog would be covered in mud much to everyone’samusement.”
Once in the village, Daphne made Launton her home. She spent 17 very happy years as the head teacher of the school, and must have influenced the lives of hundreds of children who passed through the school in her time, but she had more time as a retired person in the village than she did working, and her retired years had a great impact on village life: some of the facilities that are here today Daphne most certainly had a hand in. There has been an overriding observation that if Miss Bellmanapproached you with a clipboard you were going to have to say yes.
Daphne lived happily in the schoolhouse for 10 years but looking to the future she started to seek her own home and having viewed around 20 properties in the village she settled on 3 Sharpe’sCottages. She became very fond of her home despite the tiny garden that came with the property, but she managed to acquire a piece of the field
behind from her friend Elizabeth Sharpeand set upon converting this into a wildlife garden, a project that gave her great pleasure.
She experimented with new hobbies such as embroidery, knitting, oil painting and genealogy. A legacy for Daphne will be the Millennium Church Kneeler project. She was an active participant in the town twinning of Bicester with Neunkirchen-Seelscheidwhere she enjoyed the exchanges of hospitality and the opportunity it gave to dust off her German language skills.
Retirement gave her more time for church and charity work. Having been raised a strict Methodist, she was amused in 1979 when the Parochial Church Council appointed her to be a churchwarden. In her time she was responsible for cataloguing StMary’sgraveyard and conducting a wildlife survey. She was a bellringerand would have loved that the bells will ring out for her funeral.
Many in the village have shared memories of Daphne with the family, who are touched by the high regard and affection with which she was held in Launton. To this day, apart from a select few, it is apparent that Daphne is, and would always be, MISS BELLMAN.
Daphne has been interred close to her parents in the old part of the churchyard. She was greatly respected and much loved by her family, friends and all who knew her, and she will be much missed.
Daphne put together a family genealogy with a brief note attached summarising what she considered important elements of her world view: “... The enclosed [is] about the lives of Daphne, Alanand Brian.I hope that this collection of reminiscences will interest the ... next few generations [of] the Bellmanfamily, as we three have very vivid memories of the dreadful Second World War during our lifetime. The thought of future wars horrifies us all and we are now in 2021 faced with the appalling damage being done to our planet so I hope that all nations will learn to work together instead of fighting each other.”
This appreciation has been edited for Launton Lines from the eulogy given by SteveBellmanat the funeral in StMary’son 24 May 2023.
TheParishCouncilisresponsibleforthegrasscuttingofthevillageverges (apartfromunadoptedareassuchasYewTree,LauntonGrangeetc)whichare cutatleastonceamonthbyourcontractors,togetherwithruralareaswithin theparishboundarieswhicharecuttwoorthreetimesayear.
DetailsofallthePublicRightsofWay(PRoW)areavailableontheCountryside AccessMapathttps://publicrightsofway.oxfordshire.gov.uk/standardmap.aspx Justtype‘Launton’intotheTown/Villagelocationanditwillgotothedetail. LauntonisveryfortunatetohavetwoFootpathWardens(seereportonpages 36-37)whochecktheroutesbutthemaintenanceofthePRoWsisdowntothe OCCCountrysideAccessTeamorthelandowner.
However,notallthepathsinuseinLauntonareactuallyPublicRightsofWay andthismeansthatnogrouporpersonhasresponsibilityformaintenance.Any changestofootpathsrequiresParliamentaryapprovalwhichisbothatime consumingandacostlyprocess.
Ifyouspotanissue,pleasetakeanoteandaphotographandletusknow (clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk)-ifit’snottheParishCouncil’sresponsibility,we willtrytopointyouintherightdirectionaboutwhotoreportitto.
The6-a-sideTournamentsatLauntonFCoriginallyscheduledfor weekendsinMayhadtobepostponedfollowingheavyrainandflooding. BothTournamentshavenowbeenrescheduledfortwoweekendsinJuly.
TheBoysTournamentwillbeonSaturday8andSunday9July,between 9amand5pmoneachday.
TheGirlsandLadiesTournamentwillbeonSaturday22andSunday23 July,between9amand5pmoneachday.
ParkingforbothTournamentswillbeinthefieldoppositeManorFarm, sothereshouldbelittletrafficorparkingimpactonthevillage.
TheseTournamentsarehugelyimportanttotheteams,theplayers,and theClub.Comealongandwatch,andenjoylotsofpeoplehavingagreat timeplayingagametheylove.
Iflocalbusinesseswanttosponsorthetournamentsorteamsplaying, pleasecontactClaireat07540013105orinfo@launtonladiesfc.co.uk ClaireFinn
Wecan'tstopvehiclesdrivingthrough thevillage,butwe cangetthemto slowdown!
TheSpeedwatch Teammakesregular checksonthespeed oftrafficandit's amazingwhatthosehi-visjackets togetherwiththespeedgundoto reducethespeed. Don'tcomplainaboutthespeed-come andjointheteam!
Formoreinformationcontact speedwatch@launton-pc.gov.ukorsee theParishCouncilwebsiteat www.launton-pc.gov.uk/villagenews/community-speedwatch/
Wehavecontinuedtoworkalong thefootpathsoverthenew
footbridgetowardsStrattonAudley. EastWestRailhavenowfinished theirworkandthecourseofthe newfootpathsismuchclearer.
Themapisstillnotclearonthe OCCpublicrightsofway,butwe hopethiswillberectifiedsoon. Wehaverequestedpostsforwaymarkersignsonfootpath
272/11/20,wheretheconcrete plinthcrossesthebrookasthepath routesarenotclearinthisarea, OCCfootpathsareplanningto addressthis.
The re-directed footpath from Station Road has now been opened and the entrance can be found approximately 50mfrom the last entrance to Grange Mews yard. There is no footpath from there to the entrance, so take care on this piece of the road. This takes you on a pleasant walk through a small woodland, through three gates and along to the footbridge over the rail line.
Our circular walk on 23 July (see page 13) will take us into Bucks, so our plan in the next couple of weeks is to make headway on the start of our walk to check and replace way marker signs and trim any hedging along that route.
Please join us on our walk. There will be tea and cake at the end of the walk (details on page 13 of this issue).
As always, please use our footpaths and enjoy your walks.
Pleasereportanyissuesonhttps://publicrightsofway.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ ORcontactusatlesley.thompson@launton-pc.gov.uk
Bob Robertsand LesleyThompson| Parish Footpath WardensGrangeMewsNewsJuly2023
CommercialOffices,
Pleasehave15Julyinyourdiary andsupportHummingbirdintheirFestivalday. Wedohopetheweatherwillbekindontheday andwewillallbeabletoenjoyourselves andassistthemintheirsoworthwhileendeavours.
WeareexpectingthefirstofthelandtakenbyEWR fortheirworksonatemporarybasistobehandedbackthismonth. ThisincludesthePRoWwhichisnowonland onwhichGreencorewillbeplanningtheirnewhouses.
ContributorstothelastLauntonLineswillbepleasedtoread thattheyarecarbonneutralinconstruction aswellaswhilebeinglivedin.
Weexpectthistobegoodforlocalconstructionworkerstoo asGreencoreisbasedinBicester.
TheyhaveagreedtoliaisewiththeParishCouncil ontransportdetailingaspartoftheircontract.
Weletofficesandindustrialspaceandcanbefoundat
pacox@grangemews.co.ukandourwebsitewww.grangemews.co.uk
Summer is well and truly underwayin the woods now. With the recent rain and heat all the vegetation has sprung to life. Our next session on 12 August will involve cutting back around the paths and the pond. We meet by the pond at 10 with the session running to 12. Cake and hot drinks will be provided for elevenses, please bring your own mug!
In other news, our two Canada geese goslings are still doing well. Many of the villagers have been taken with them, and almost taken by them on several occasions due to their protective hissing and chasing! We have also welcomed some mallard ducklings, 5 are surviving and thriving so far!
Finally, we have scheduled the meadow cut for mid-August, to be carried out by NeilHewitt.Cutting the meadow late summer allows a wider variety of species to flower and set seed. It does however make Neil’sjob a little harder as by then the grass is nice and thick!
ChloeBradford
Entering the 2023 Under 12sEasingtonTournament, Launton entered two teams - the first (Launton) experienced and aware of what they had to do to win, and the other (Launton Yellows) a new team composed of members of the newly formed Launton Bulls team, playing in this tournament for the first time with passion and admirable skill. The Yellows’ dedication to their craft was clearly
Thevictoriousteam celebrateonthepodium
The moment the team realise that they have won the trophy
demonstrated in them being the only team to score against their fellow Launton team in the group stages of the tournament.
Launton kicked off the group stages against a host Easingtonteam. A well-controlled game resulted in a 1-0 victory for Launton, coming from a cool finish from AstonAlexander-Smith. The team continued to impress through all group matches, knowing that a semi-final spot was guaranteed with group games remaining. With first place overall in the group stages, Launton entered their ninth game and exited victorious, with stunning goals from RiellyStewart, TobyMarsh and RonnieLewisensuring their overall spot at the top of the leader board.
The impressive performance of the Launton team through the tournament saw them into a 0-0 draw in the semi-finals, a result greatly influenced by the spectacular saves made by goalkeeper GeorgeGouldwho allowed the game to remain level. A 34 penalty shoot-out then took place which drew the crowds of around 300 people, resting at a nerve-wracking17-17 stand off before Landen Pomeroybravely stepped up to take the crucial penalty. Ignoring the pressure, Landensecured the win successfully and celebrations bounded throughout the Launton team.
Triumph of winning the tournament loomed ever closer as Launton approached the final match. Dominating from start to finish, the team were unfortunately unable to break the firm deadlock that held the game at another 0-0 draw, leading into another round of penalties. Responsibility again fell on the shoulders of LandenPomeroyas he, again stepped up to take the crucial - possibly winning - penalty. Despite the offputtingjeers from many opposing teams, Landen netted a comfortable, well-practicedgoal and celebrated yet another whole team victory at the overall 4-2 triumph.
Led by proud captain, LaitonPomeroy, the Launton team paraded towards the grandstand, where they each collected their winners’ medals. Following this, Laitongrasped the winner’strophy, ready to share in the success and celebration of the Launton team, crowning Launton as winners of the EasingtonTournament for the third time since they played as Under 8s.
Rossand KeeleyPomeroyBy now, I’m sure that you have thought about that number (6.375) the one on that colourful banner. And, perhaps, even asked yourself, “What’sit all about?”. By the time you read this you may have missed out on ‘The Answer’ (July 1) and ‘The Solution’ (July 3). All is not lost; we’llgo through the maths on these pages next month. For now, here’sthe short answer.
It is a very important number. It represents, arguably, the most important problem facing mankind today. It used to be called, ‘Global Warming’. Now it’scalled ‘Climate Change’, and to some it’sthought of as ‘The Climate Crisis’. Actually, our worsening climate is not the problem. It is a symptom of the problem. The real problem is one of exploitation and overuse. We, as a Society, have been living beyond our means. We are living through a ‘Sustainability Crisis’. Scientist have come up with a clever way to illustrate our overuse. They use the concept of a ‘footprint’. Something we all leave behind and barely notice. In 2000, it was called our ‘Ecological Footprint’. That measured the amount of natural resources we use to maintain our ‘lifestyle’. Now, it is measured by the amount of greenhouse gasses that we pump into the atmosphere. It is called our ‘Carbon Footprint’. Actually, it is like a hidden cost that is on everything we buy and do. And we are overspending…
That simple number, 6.375, is your number, it is my number, it is everyone’snumber. It is the global average Carbon Footprint.
tonnes of greenhouse gasses. Each year, on average, each of us is adding 6.375 tonnes to the billions of tonnes that we have been putting there for decades upon decades. It cannot go on. It is not SUSTAINABLE. We have to find
ways to reduce our Carbon Footprint. It is going to be difficult. It is a long hard journey that we must take.
To help us on that journey, we have decided to restart/rejigLEG (the old Launton Environmental Group). This new environmental initiative will be known as LES.We need more than a small group of people doing their little bit. We need a lot of people, in fact, we need everyone in our society to do their bit. Therefore, our new initiative will be known as Launton Environmental Society. Our first meeting will be on 13 September in the Parish Hall. More infowill follow in due course.
Think of your Carbon Footprint as a credit card. It’sa credit card with, seemingly, no upper limit. Well, we are way over our limit. We have to reduce it. And we must start reducing it now! We are paying for our ‘todays’ with our ‘tomorrows’.
It’snot just our ‘tomorrows’, but the ‘tomorrows’ of all those yet to be born, Alfies, Olivers, Olivias, and Zoes...
EdHamill, Chairman, Launton Environmental SocietyThis month the ex-Launton Boy recalls an evening in the 1950swhen, following a visit to the Sterling Cinema in Kidlington, the Jeacockfamily are in their first car, an old Morris, driving back to Bicester in a rainstorm. The headlights were weak and the windscreen wiper had packed up. They made it home - mainly as the old road was pretty straight! What triggered this memory? Seeing a new car. It was all-electric, had no handbrake, no cable joining the accelerator pedal and the engine, self-correcting steering, and “an array of ding-donggadgetry”. It takes all the fun out of driving.
Just a few days ago, I was attending one of our weekly veteran modelling clubs (not walking the catwalk kind nor the centrefold kind), when one of our number turned up just a little late. His reason was that he had been to pick up his new car. Well, when I say new, it is two years old with a price tag of just short of £20K.Chuffed to
NAAFI breaks he was, so at the end of our model-making session, a couple of us went for a look see.
Well, it was immaculate, looking as if it had only just left the assembly line. But it wasn’tso much its’ immaculate condition that bowled me over (impressive though it was), it was all the up-to-date gadgets and capabilities amid all the apparent luxury. Firstly I should perhaps mention that it was an all-electric car in what I would consider to be in the executive class, especially when compared to my SkodaOctavia Elegance Estate (lovely, reliable, diesel and slightly out of date).
My, my, hasn’ttechnology come a long way! With me not being the least bit mechanically-minded, (I was in the Corps of Royal Engineers and not our off-shoot, the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers), until recently I thought a cable still connected the accelerator to the carburettor. Don’tlaugh. I used to be able to disarm live explosive booby-traps and landmines, not quite the same thing I know, but a pretty skilful job just the same.
Anyway, getting back to this car, it didn’thave a handbrake lever but just a button. The dashboard and steering wheel contained an array of modern dingdonggadgetry. The car allows the driver to take hands off the steering wheel for a while and if the car begins to drift to the left or to the right or gets too close to the vehicle in front, it automatically corrects itself. I mean, how much longer before you just tap in the details of your destination and the car takes you safely there under its’ own steam with no other input from the driver? There would be no need for driving tests, you’dbe able to drink as much as you like at parties ‘cos you wouldn’tactually be in charge of the vehicle, with AI, the vehicle would be in charge of you. Does that sound all too fantastic? Well, like I said, “Look just how far technology has come” already!
When I think back to my dad’svery first car, for which he never took a driving test, having been a battle tank driver in WWII. That was good enough, it seemed.
I shall never forget that beaten-up (I don’tknow how many hands
old) Morris car with just two doors which opened the opposite way to those of more modern cars, with the spare wheel mounted outside between the rear bumper and the rear window. The headlights were mounted on top of the front wings and there were running-boards to both sides to aid access to the inside of the car with its horse-hair stuffed and leather covered seats and a constant smell of engine oil. The registration? CHT977... never forget it! Before my sister Elainewas born, I, along with mum and dad and my younger brother, Cliff, would often go to the Sterling Cinema at Kidlingtonin that old jalopy. I remember one night coming back from Kidlingtonalong the Bicester/Oxford road (back in the 1950’s), it was chucking it down with rain. The headlights were not that brilliant and thankfully, back then, there was very little traffic on the road. Well, dad’swindscreen wipers weren’texactly top notch as far as performance was concerned at the best of times, but on this particular night, they packed-up altogether. So, there was dad in the pitch black of night with headlights which would have thrown out more light if they had been lighted candles, with the side window fully wound down, so rain came lashing inside the car whilst with his outstretched right arm he was trying desperately to wipe the rain from the windscreen so he could see where we were going. Mercifully the road is relatively straight all the way between Kidlingtonand Bicester and miraculously, we made it. What a difference from the bang up-to-date cars of today and certainly tomorrow that can virtually do it all for you. I have to say though, all the modern technology (when it works) takes the fun out of things. That night on the Oxford/Bicester road was quite traumatic at the time, but now gives me something to look back on, remember, and have a good laugh about.
May I wish those of you who are drivers, “Happy Motoring”. Keep well and stay SAFE!
TonyJeacockMInstRE | The ex-Launton Boy | July 2023
Inthecurrentsituation,itcanstillbedifficulttobespecificaboutvillageevents.Listedare thoseweknowareplanned-butcheckwithorganisersnearerthedateifyouplantoattend.
Sunday2StMary'sChurch,HolyCommunion(BCP),8am;FamilyService,11am|WeeklyQuiz atTheBull,8pm
Monday3WatercolourArtClass,ParishHall,2pm-4pm|StMary'sChurchFellowshipGroup MeetingintheChurch,2.30pm|LauntonEnvironmentalSociety,ParishHall,7.30pm
Tuesday4RubbishCollection:recyclingandgardenbins|CommunityCafé,ParishHall:9am11am;2.30pm-4.30pm|RockChorus,ParishHall,7.30pm
Wednesday5Over60sClubMeeting,SportsandSocialHall,startsat1.30pm,endsabout3.30pm
Thursday6ParishCouncilMeeting,PublicSession7.15pm,CouncilMeeting7.30pm.Launton ParishHall
Saturday8LauntonFCBoys6-a-sideTournament,PlayingFieldsandClub,9am-5pm
Sunday9LauntonFCBoys6-a-sideTournament,PlayingFieldsandClub,9am-5pm|StMary's Church,Evensong,6pm|WeeklyQuizatTheBull,8pm
Monday10WatercolourArtClass,ParishHall,2pm-4pm
Tuesday11RubbishCollection:garbagebin|CommunityCafé,ParishHall:9am-11am;2.30pm4.30pm|RockChorus,ParishHall,7.30pm
Thursday13WIMeeting:ACraftEvening,MarettaDowman,ParishHall,7.30pm
Friday14SCOTSMeeting,TheBull,from5.30pm
Saturday15HummingbirdSummerFestivalatThePlayingFields,12pm-4pm|LauntonVillage PlayersSummerShowComeRainorShine,MayflowerGardenTheatreatHareLeys, 2.30pm|QueenergyTributeBandplayingattheSportsandSocialClub,from7pm
Sunday16StMary'sChurch,MorningPrayer,11am|LauntonVillagePlayersSummerShow ComeRainorShine,MayflowerGardenTheatreatHareLeys,2.30pm|WeeklyQuiz atTheBull,8pm
Monday17WatercolourArtClass,ParishHall,2pm-4pm|StMary'sChurchFellowshipGroup MeetingintheChurch,2.30pm
Tuesday18RubbishCollection:recyclingandgardenbins|CommunityCafé,ParishHall:9am11am;2.30pm-4.30pm|RockChorus,ParishHall,7.30pm
Wednesday19Over60sClubMeeting,SportsandSocialHall,startsat1.30pm,endsabout3.30pm
Thursday20
FINALDATEFORCOPYFORTHEAUGUST2023ISSUEOFLAUNTONLINES: SUBMITTOlauntonlines@launton.org|FoLPHReportBackMeeting,ParishHall, 7.30pm
Saturday22LauntonFCGirlsandWomen6-a-sideTournament,PlayingFieldsandClub,9am-5pm |TheSpacePigsplayatTheLauntonArms,from7.30pm
Sunday23LauntonFCGirlsandWomen6-a-sideTournament,PlayingFieldsandClub,9am-5pm |StMary'sChurch,HolyCommunion,11am|WeeklyQuizatTheBull,8pm
Monday24WatercolourArtClass,ParishHall,2pm-4pm
Tuesday25RubbishCollection:garbagebin|CommunityCaféclosedfortheSummer|Rock Chorus,ParishHall,7.30pm
Wednesday26LauntonHistoricalSociety,VisittoUpperHeyfordHeritagesite-anRAFairfieldforover 100years,andatouroftheBattleCommandCentrefromtheColdWar,startatthe ParishHallat6pm
Sunday30TeamEvensongatStLaurence,Caversfield,6pm|WeeklyQuizatTheBull,8pm
Two photos from a village garden from our Staff Photographer EllaRayner.These may be her last contribution as she is now hard at work on school exams. Good Luck, Ella.
