Launton Lines Issue 244 February 2021

February 2021

Issue 244

Around the village in January 2021 Oscar Giles dribbles a football for 5km for charity - see page 16.  Left, the start.

Right, the finish.   Below, training. 

Photos from Lucy Giles

Sunset through the footpath arch at the end of West End on 5 January.

Captures some of the chill and damp of this year.

Photos by Elsbeth Millar The front cover shows the sunrise on 22 January, a cold and frosty morning.

Photo by our staff photographer, Ella Rayner

The Editor writes …

Well, we’ve finally had some proper weather and there is a selection of photos featuring frost (front cover), waterlogged ground (page 2), and snow on pages 23, 24, 25 and 47. Many thanks to those who sent in photos, and to those whose photos I’ve borrowed from social media pages: all are acknowledged.

I was expecting this to be a shorter issue, but contributors have kept on sending in material, and I was very glad at the end that some were too late for inclusion.

There is a long report from the Parish Council (pages 4-8) with updates on discussions with the developers and builders of the Mulberry Homes estate (by the way, does anyone recall being consulted about it being called Launton Mews?). I contacted them with some questions for the December issue, but got no answers. Perhaps, if they are now talking to us, I’ll try again for March. The list of road closures (page 30) features both EWR and Mulberry Homes impact on the village. The Parish Clerk was waiting until the last minute before sending this to me in the hope that she could have definite news on traffic lights at the A41 junction for the seven weeks that the bridge is closed in the village - but she was still waiting as I submitted to the printer. Let’s hope that Councillor Corkin can bring some sense to the powers that be!

There are ideas for two events in February, Pancake Day on page 31, and for Valentine’s Day on page 41. I hope people will take up the ideas: we need some fun. And the Fete group has three plans (A, B, and posssibly C) outlined on page 46. And Victoria Prentis writes on page 28.

There is an obituary for Liz Colyer on pages 18-20, news of money raised by the Window Wonderland on page 9, and The Ex-Launton Boy on pages 42-44.

Finally, please support our advertisers. They need you as much as we need them.

Robert Cornford.

Launton Lines

A monthly newsletter for Launton. Published around the first of each month by the Launton Community Communications Group © 2021 Launton Lines

email: launtonlines@launton.org website: https://launton.org/launton-lines/ The Launton Lines Committee 2020-2021 Jon Spinage, Chair Jenni Walker, Advertising Manager Robert Cornford, Editor | 241883 Michael Stack, Treasurer | 242600 Kathy Gilbert, Associate Editor Shirley Johnson, Distribution | 369269

Contact the Parish Council 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: 07903 610405 Parish Hall Committee: Christine Massey; Audrey Deeley; Lynne Harper; Joan Packer; Simon Turner, Robert Cornford

LIGHT UP A LIFE

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

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

Please contact Joan Packer on 01869 241694 by 20 February for entry in the March 2021 issue of Launton Lines.

During this socially distanced time, we can also remember those to whom we are close but from whom we are physically far away.

Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 7 January 2021 at 7.30pm online via Zoom Councillors present Mr James Allpress, Mrs Lizzie Chisholm, Mr Chris Fox (Vice Chair), Mr Mike Murphy, Mr Ed Sanders, Mrs Lesley Thompson, Mr Simon Turner (Chair) Apologies None In attendance The Clerk, Mrs Jane Olds; Cllr Ian Corkin (from 7.30pm to 8.05pm); six members of the public East West Rail No representatives attended the meeting. However, Steve Golla had attended a meeting earlier in the week to update members of the Parish Council about the various road closures including the re-alignment of Charbridge Lane and the temporary closure of the railway bridge on Bicester Road.

Reports from District and County Councillors Councillor Corkin (OCC) attended the meeting and made a comprehensive report. The rising level of COVID cases in the Cherwell district were still causing concern but the vaccine rollout taking place at Bicester Heritage was very welcome.

Both County and District Councils were currently consulting on the budget.

The flooding before Christmas had caused great distress and had had a big impact on society in the many affected areas of the Ward. The general consensus was that the infrastructure in the whole area was overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of rain Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 4

in such a short time. Locally, Thames Water confirmed that the pumping station was working at full capacity but could not cope with the quantity and this would be followed up.

Councillor Corkin had been asked to look into the Parish Hall car park boundaries as the 1971 agreement was between the County Council, the Church, the school and the Playing Field Association. He reported that it appeared that the school had been receiving regular sums for maintenance of the area for some time but wasn’t able to expand on the details.

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

The Council considered the detailed budget and agreed the level of £37,243 (an increase of £1,830) for the year 2021/22. This took into account the village grass cutting and weed spraying, dog bin emptying, meeting costs (including a Zoom subscription), tree maintenance, saving for a new noticeboard, saving for replacement street furniture such as benches and bins, saving to refurbish the bus shelter by the Bull (the other two having been done this year), the Parish Hall project, starting to save for a new portable speed indicator device or other road safety features and other items necessary to run the Parish including paying the Clerk, insurance and audit fees.

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 536.3; this was a decrease from 541.4 the previous year, meaning that per-household, Council Tax would need to rise slightly anyway, just to raise the same amount of money. Following the calculations, it was agreed to increase the Precept to £22,996 which was an increase of £593. The annual cost to a Band D household would be approximately £42.88 - an increase of £1.50 over the whole year.

More information about how the Tax Base figure is calculated is available on the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/financial-information/ financing-theparish-council/ Draft budget and precept calculations are on the Parish Council website under January Items for Information at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/agenda-andminutes/2020-2021-agenda-and-minutes/ Ethical Standards Consultation The Parish Council is often asked to take part in consultations and it was felt that the consultation on Ethical Standards was of great relevance both at a local parish level and throughout government.

The response is available on the Parish Council website at www.launtonpc.gov.uk/consultation-responses/ Census As we write we believe that the Census will still go ahead on 21 March. We hope Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 5

that more information will be available soon.

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.launtonpc.gov.uk -in the Agenda and Minutes section). If a villager has concerns about a planning application, they are welcome to come along to Parish Council meetings to raise those concerns.

Village Matters Parish Hall We are still waiting for the final copy from the Parish Council’s solicitor. The new

tables and chairs will be ordered shortly.

Bus Route The Parish would like to thank Councillor Ian Corkin for all his help in ensuring that the village continues to have a Stagecoach bus service into Bicester. The S5 has been discontinued to the village, but the new 28 service will run from 4 January with a review in six months’ time. The bus will still be

in service during the bridge repairs but on a diversionary route – please use it if at all possible otherwise it may be lost.

Speed and traffic monitoring Due to time constraints it was not possible to discuss Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS).

However, news had been received about traffic measures at the crossroads. OCC Highways had looked at the situation and reported that it was unlikely that white access protection lines or ‘Keep Clear’ markings would be observed but that yellow lines (which are enforceable) would be possible. While the physical lines aren’t prohibitively costly, the Traffic Regulation Order would cost in the region of £3,300 which would have to be met by the Parish. In due course, we’ll hold a public consultation to consider the expenditure and the appearance.

Yew Tree Path Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to take up EWR’s offer of the hardcore in the end. The OCC Footpaths Officer had advised that filling the gap with aggregate without addressing the ditch issue first could result in the flooding and mud getting worse over a larger area. The Clerk has followed this up with Cllr David Hughes as Yew Tree Field is now the responsibility of Cherwell District Council.

Woodland Trust Trees The Council has agreed to get involved in a Woodland Trust project to apply for some indigenous trees to be planted in the autumn. An article will follow later about this.

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Village Support Group See page 10 about how the group is helping people.

Mulberry Homes The Parish Council had a constructive meeting with the CDC Planning Officer and the Mulberry Homes Managing Director and Head of Land. A large number of questions had been received from villagers which the Clerk had compiled.

Some of these were answered at the meeting with the more technical ones being sent on to be answered more fully.

Answers to the questions raised included: Flooding - the company has to supply a suitable Flood Risk Assessment to the Environment Agency regarding any flooding and they are responsible directly to the EA. There is also a planning requirement that the developers have to ensure that appropriate steps were taken not to make the situation worse. To this end, attenuation and balancing ponds are planned for the site.

Thames Water had already agreed at the planning stage that the pumping station was adequate. However, the Parish Council has asked for help to ensure that the station is going to work effectively.

The development of the north west corner of the site is currently on hold because of the revised floor levels, however, the rest of the development had been agreed with a ‘partial discharge’ of planning conditions so work could continue to progress on the other areas.

The traffic cones which had been placed on the verge opposite the development had been requested by residents to ensure that the vehicles turning into and out of the site didn’t damage the verge, no regulation was needed. Additionally, it was confirmed that vehicles should not turn right out of the site and the agreed delivery route was via Blackthorn Road, not through the village. The site manager would be very grateful if the ‘no right turn’ sign could be left on the verge opposite.

The Mulberry representatives will be happy to hold an online village meeting, however they did ask for any questions to be sent via the Clerk so that they are able to answer them in a sensible manner. The meeting will be arranged in due course.

Station Road Following the flooding and the excessive mud on Station Road, we have asked the Highways team if they would clean the gullies; this will be added to their schedule. Additionally we have asked the CDC street cleansing team if they could arrange for their litter picking team to clear the rubbish which has accumulated on the northern part of Station Road from Grange Mews up towards the Poundon crossroads.

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Facebook and mailing lists The Parish Council has its own Facebook page. Please ‘like’ our page at https://www.facebook.com/LauntonParishCouncilPage/ We try to post useful information as we receive it but we also use the Parish Council website to keep everyone informed. We are unable to monitor it 24 hours a day, so if you would like to contact us or have an opinion about something, email (or even a letter) is the best way to get in contact.

You may also like to sign up to our mailing list which is at the bottom of the left hand menu of the website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk. This will only be used for Parish Council and essential village news - please sign up!

Agenda items for the next meetings Please let the Clerk have any items for the March agenda by 18 February, with any items for the April agenda by 18 March.

Dates of next meetings Thursday 4 February and Thursday 4 March, currently both via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/76605157135 (meeting ID: 766 0515 7135). Both start at 7.30pm. As with in-person meetings we will start at 7pm for anyone who wishes to raise anything with the Council, look at planning applications or at other meeting papers, and will then start the formal meeting at 7.30pm.

Full minutes, once agreed, are available on the Parish Council Notice ADVERTISE WITH US Boards in the village (by The War Do you run a business in Launton Memorial, and on the front wall of the Parish Hall), and on the Parish or the surrounding areas?

Council website at www.launtonThis space could be yours. pc.gov.uk

Place an advert in Launton Lines And Finally ... A Heartfelt Apology The Clerk was horrified to realise that and it will be delivered the information about the road to every home in Launton. closures and specifically the Bicester Road over the railway line was not Your advert will also be included correct in the January edition of in our online edition.

Launton Lines and is truly sorry for the confusion it caused.

Costs as little as £15.00 a month.

To clarify, the correct information is Contact us at on the Parish Council website at https://www.launtonlauntonlines@launton.org pc.gov.uk/road-closures/ Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 8

A huge thank you to Launton, once again, for coming together to put on such a special event in December.

To all who walked the route, and all those who made and decorated their windows, we are very grateful. The Just Giving page was closed on 6 January and a total of £537 was raised for St Mary’s Church.

Photos of all the windows can still be found on the website www.launton.org/windows along with the answers to “Guess the Christmas Carol or Song.”

All windows, and the solutions sheet were also shown in the January issue of Launton Lines - for the online edition on www.issuu.com go to https://buff.ly/2XjVi4d Jennifer Redfearn-Bull for the St Mary’s Window Wonderland Organising Group

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

Contact us today for a FREE initial meeting.

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

Launton Village Support With the advent of the third lockdown, the Launton Village Support Group was ready to help all villagers wherever necessary.

By the time you read this we hope you will have received a new leaflet with updated information. There are details on how to get in touch, both as a volunteer and as someone who might need a bit of help or guidance - whatever the circumstances - do get in touch.

If you haven’t received your copy, or you need help, please contact us: contact details are below.

Thank you to the many villagers who delivered the leaflet.

Lesley Thompson, Jane Olds and Janice Hawes Contacts

The Parish Council website www.launton-pc.gov.uk Facebook Launton Village Support page Email village.help@launton-pc.gov.uk Phone between 9:30am and 5:00pm 07522231100 - Janice 01869 241755 - Lesley 01869 247171 - Jane Olds (Launton Parish Council)

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First Class Butchers and Farm Shop in the village of Launton Butchers We are a traditional butchers with all our meat hung and prepared by our master butchers on-site.

The majority of the meat we serve is from our own award-winning stock at Grange Farm, Little Chesterton where we rear outdoor pork, top-quality lambs from our pedigree sheep flocks, and beef from our suckler herd, so you can be assured of a high quality product that is literally from our farm to your fork.

Farm Shop The Farm shop offers quality produce to accompany the fine meats from the butchers' counters.

Delicatessen Home-cooked food straight from our kitchens, including a superb range of meat pies, scotch eggs, sausage rolls, and quiches which join an extensive selection of cheeses from The Oxford Cheese Company, deli meat, olives, pork pies, pate, cakes and pastries.

Visit us and try something local The Blue Texel, 1 Station Road Launton, Bicester OX26 5DS Telephone 01869 252619 | www.thebluetexel.co.uk Opening hours Tuesday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm, Sunday 9am to 1pm | Closed Monday

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News from St Mary’s for February 2021 Services

February sees the end of the season of Epiphany, a time with themes of light and hope as we reflect on the gift of Jesus - God as man. During February we will move into the season of Lent, our preparation period for Easter, starting with an Ash Wednesday service at 7.30pm on 17 February via Zoom.

Sadly, Covid-19 infection rates continue at a high level so we will be holding our regular services via Zoom. On the first Sunday of the month (7 February) there will be an 8.00am BCP (Book of Common Prayer) Holy Communion service followed by our Family Service (with children’s songs and activities) at 10.00am. On the other Sundays there will be a 9.00am Holy Communion service via Zoom.

Lent Course - The Mystery of Everything

This year we are running a course for Lent via Zoom. It takes the multi-award winning film about Stephen Hawking, The Theory of Everything, as its starting point to explore ways in which the mysteries of the universe and of everyday life can reinvigorate our faith and spiritual journey. The course comprises five sessions which will include film clips, group discussion and a meditation with opportunities for further reading and follow-up if desired.

It is suitable both for those with a well-established faith wishing to explore ‘the big questions’ in a new way, and those beginning to investigate whether Christianity has anything to offer in the age of science. There will be an introductory event lasting about an hour at 7.30pm on Tuesday 2 February.

For details of the services and/or the Lent course please contact Revd Peter: Email revpeterwright@gmail.com Tel 01869 573177 Alternatively you might wish to check for any further developments on the Launton Church Facebook page.

You are welcome to visit the Church which is open for private prayer on Sundays between 10.30am and 5pm Donations to support the work of St Mary’s are always warmly welcomed and our bank details, should you need them, are: Barclays Bank plc, Market Square, Bicester Account name: Launton Churchwardens Sort Code: 20-06-75 | Account No: 30566756 If you have any queries, please contact Celia Manderson on celiamanderson@aol.com or 01869 571735/07710 224574 Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 12

Launton Village Players

Like most amateur dramatic societies Launton Village Players have not been able to perform any live shows but we have kept in touch with our members via Zoom and have had regular posts on social media. We would also like to keep in touch with all of our supporters so we thought it time to write an update for Launton Lines.

We have had several zoom gatherings for members including a read-through of Aladdin, a “Let Me Entertain You” evening and a Christmas Quiz. We have discovered who can do a magic trick and the fun of singing along all together on Zoom. In January we had a Games evening and attempted to play Charades, Pictionary, Scattagories and Guess Who. On social media we have had photographs of props, such as a pumpkin at Halloween time, we have sung Christmas carols (only 6 people were allowed at the time to ensure we were in line with government guidelines), and we have also put together a collage of photographs of many members thanking all key workers for getting us through 2020 and wishing everyone a happy new year. Our latest post, on YouTube too, was a memorable song from last year’s pantomime The Snow Queen.

At the same time the trustees have continued to update all of LVP policies and procedures from Safeguarding through to an Artistic Merit policy which was needed for our charity application. We have also organised new merchandise for the group and have a range of items available, which are in children’s sizes as well as adults’ sizes. The teddy bears have been lots of fun and very cuddly! The items are available for everyone to buy through OHM Charities (https://ohmcharities.org.uk/shop/launton-players/) and a proportion of every purchase will go to charity as well as help us pay our ongoing costs like insurance (see page 14 to "Dress your own").

We are getting close to the time when we would normally be performing our pantomime and this year certainly feels very different and we will really miss that week on “pantomime holiday.” But we are looking forward and still planning for the future. New membership details will be announced in the Spring and we hope to return to performing as soon as we safely can.

Meanwhile everyone, keep safe and well.

LVP Trustees: Celia Evans, Martin Evans, Julia West and Lesley Watson-Burn Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 13

Launton Village Players Dress Up Shop

Or you can buy the real thing from www.ohmcharities.org.uk/shop/launton-players/ Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 14

Bus services update: February 2021 The Launton-Bicester bus service, Route 28, has been running since the beginning of January, leaving Launton at 22 past the hour at 7am and 8 am, then 32 minutes past the hour from 9am to 5pm. The current timetable shows the journey taking 12 minutes as the route does not go through Launton Meadows and Glory Farm, but straight down Launton Road.

With EWR work on the bridge out of Launton we have been assured that the bus service will continue to run from Launton to Bicester, but using the diversion by Blackthorn Road and the A41, so not down Launton Road. We are not sure yet where the pick-up points in the village will be.

Further information about other services: The S5 will now operate between Glory Farm, Bicester and Oxford via Gosford and Summertown. Launton and Langford will no longer be served by this route.

The H5 service from Bicester will continue to run hourly to the JR Hospital and Headington via Merton and Islip on Mondays to Saturdays.

For more info visit the Stagecoach website at www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables and put the service no into the search window.

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Raising money for charity during lockdown Lockdown hasn’t stopped one young man from raising money for charity! (see photos on page 2). Future Hope is a wonderful charity which helps some of the most vulnerable orphaned children from the streets and slums of Kolkata (formally Calcutta) by offering them a home and the opportunity of an education through their schools. The charity was brought to our attention by a friend, and keen to help others Oscar set himself a challenge to run while dribbling a football 5 kilometres along one of the health routes in Bicester.

The aim was to raise £106, enough to support one child through the Future Hope work. Committed to make a good time, Oscar trained over several weeks and on a beautiful sunny day in January, the day after his 12th birthday, he set-off with ball to foot around the blue line. He crossed the finish line in a record 39 mins and has raised an amazing £445 for Future Hope.

Lucy Giles The fundraising site for Oscar’s 5K football dribble is still open at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/catherine-eadle ROYAL FOOTCARE Professional and affordable foot care in the convenience of your own home

“your feet are in safe hands” Sharon Ball S.A.C. DIP.FHPT S.A.C. DIP. FHPP Registered foot health practitioner // www.royalfootcare.co.uk

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East West Rail Report for February 2021

As we head into 2021, the main focus for EWR work around Launton will be on structure repairs. The upcoming Bicester Road, Launton closure has been postponed until 8 February to facilitate the bridge being strengthened and will be active until 1 April 2021. Apologies for the inconvenience caused by the amendments in dates: our works are sometimes revised due to external factors such as the weather or to ensure the best sequencing possible.

Following this closure on 8 February, we will be conducting bridge repair works in Bicester Road, Marsh Gibbon, which will be active from 15 February to 12 March. We are also hoping that the new entrance to the Launton allotments will be built by mid to the end of March.

We currently have an active road diversion and traffic management measures at Charbridge Lane as the new bridge is built to replace the level crossing.

This will be in place until 24 December, after when it will be diverted onto the new structure on its current alignment.

Please contact publicinformation@ewralliance.co.uk with any queries you have.

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

The first snowdrops are very welcome as the harbinger of spring.

Congratulations to the combined surgeries at Bicester, for the vaccination centre at Bicester Heritage; to the staff and volunteers who have made it so seamless to visitors, for such an important event; to start their share of vaccinating most of the population (over 5 million people nationwide as I write). Such an apparent low-key operation to us but their personal toil, trouble and organisation is really appreciated!

Not only does Grange Mews optimism appear to be well founded in that there are continued enquiries for units, and we are able to support many of these entrepreneurs in meeting their needs.

It is encouraging that with the dire events around us, people are still looking to the future.

What is particularly encouraging is that most of the current enterprises are able and willing to trade. Of course, some have had to “shut up shop� and we do hope to welcome them back soon.

We have used The Mews name because Hummingbird are in a building which had housed nine cart horses in the past, and we welcomed a bit of history in the present. It's not just a nice name!

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

Liz Colyer: 1960 - 2020

The following is edited from the tribute given at the funeral by Anthony Spreadborough, Liz's brother-in-law.

Elizabeth (or Liz to her friends) moved to Oxfordshire just after she got married in 1981, to the village of Standlake south of Oxford where her first associations with the WI and Denman College began.

Despite being very definitely, a ‘cat’ person she and her husband had a dog called Braken who she loved and in turn, was loved by. Braken was an honorary cat in Liz’s eyes. Liz also had a cat called Esther who of course ruled the roost and was ‘top dog’ - in Esther’s own eyes.

Liz was a ready and willing worker and quickly got involved in the fabric of the WI where she became known for being kind, clever and helpful. Here are some of tributes of her fellow WI members: ‘She was always so encouraging - I can’t remember her ever being negative about anything or anyone - she was a gentle, supportive and caring person.’

‘I got to know Liz when we served on Purchase and Retail for several years - what a very talented lady she was. I also saw her at Denman tutoring her lovely cards. The students loved her and were willing to forego food so they could continue crafting.’

Liz was well-known for both her baking skills, making and selling many beautiful cakes on WI stalls, and also for her many craft skills. Quilling and then parchment work were among her favourite. Not only did she make many cards but she also created many of her own unique designs and often experimented with new ideas. She made cards that the WI sent to the Queen and the Queen Mother, and became a qualified trainer in both quilling and parchment, regularly teaching classes at Denman College, and to other groups. Here she met many new friends and was well loved by those she taught: “Clever, kind and gentle crafts person and tutor. Even got me making a couple of items and that is not far short of a miracle.”

“She showed us how to do parchment craft, such a talented and creative lady.”

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“She was also such fun and her classes were so happy. We were also made aware of what Mum thought of our projects. She so loved Mum.” “A brilliant and patient teacher - a lovely lady who will be missed.”

“She was a great teacher and we loved her.”

Liz moved to Launton in 2000. She loved her old farmhouse in West End and never wanted to move away from her home or from the many friends that she quickly made. She very quickly settled into both home and community.

Liz soon had two more cats Bilbo and Mustard. While kittens they became a feature at mealtimes when they would claw their way up guest’s legs with needle-sharp claws, but it was worth putting up with to enjoy one of the fantastic meals that Liz cooked. Many will remember Liz for her delicious food and abundant hospitality.

Christmases at Liz’s home were always special and warmly remembered by her family. Niece Katie and nephew Steve both loved her and were loved by her so much. These were very happy times, always to be remembered.

Elizabeth loved seeing Katie and Steve and prepared many games and treats for them. For a number of years she used to have them to stay, one year Katie and the next Steve.

Sadly, as the years went by many difficulties came into her life. Liz’s husband unexpectedly left, and the ensuing divorce was something she never wanted and against her understanding of marriage and was very painful for her. Still, she pressed on and was fully occupied with work with the WI, teaching her craft skills, setting up her own on-line shop, invigilating for exams… Liz was never one to sit around and complain, instead she pushed on into life with all the care, love and many skills she had despite her own situation.

Christmas 2015 brought yet more pain and difficulty into Liz’s life when she fell dangerously ill. She was in hospital until May and the illness and necessary surgery left her permanently disabled. Yet even then Liz was amazing in that she never complained even though being in constant pain and she pushed herself to get mobile again. She started driving again so that she could take her mum Ann out when she came to stay and often Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 19

took her friends out for coffee. While she could drive she was going to use it to help others who could not get out to places.

This was also a period in her life where she needed more help, but also brought new friends. When they first met Elizabeth her carers were expecting just to be her carer, but they quickly discovered that Elizabeth was not just about taking from them she also gave back so much to them in friendship and help, more than they ever expected. As her friend Dawn said, ‘I was Elizabeth’s friend first and then her carer.’.

It was the same with Luke, who came to tend her garden (or should it be subdue it): what an amazing transformation he made.

When the time came, although unexpected and desperately sad for the family and all who knew and loved her, mercifully it was quick and she was not alone in the house.

Liz was an amazing woman. She was a fighter through adversity, she loved those around her, befriending and enjoying the company of those she met; she noticed little things and shared love in giving from the little she had to those around her, even though she had so many of her own trials and tribulations.

We sometimes speak of our love languages. Liz’s was definitely showing acts of kindness, and she spoke this language fluently to all she met.

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“KUNG HEI FAT CHOI” : HAPPY NEW YEAR 11 February 2021 is the Chinese New Year - Year of the Ox

Chinese New Year is the biggest Chinese festival. Every household prepares special food to welcome visitors and they spring clean their house from ceiling to floor.

“FEI CHUN” New Year “Spring greetings” and fresh flowers are put in place to welcome the arrival of the New Year. Stalls are set up selling flowers, plum flowers and chrysanthemums, and all sorts of foods specially for New Year.

New Year’s Eve is called the “30th Day’s Eve”.

Families get together and eat a special dinner which is meant to bring good luck. There are many types of foods with lucky names: fortune, healthy and peace…! Families stay up all night on New Year Eve to welcome the New Year. Firecrackers are lit to set the beginning of the year.

On New Year’s Day the children get up very early, put on new clothes and wish their parents and elders “KUNG HEI FAT CHOI”. After that they will be given a “LAI SI” - red packets which contain money wishes, good health, and hope to do well at school. Welcome to the Year of the Ox. We asked Andy Ng to write about New Year: thanks, Andy, and Enjoy!

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Launton Women’s Institute Report for January 2021

We continue with our efforts to keep in touch with Members despite not being able to meet up and this must be much the same for most other organisations. As a consequence, we are finding that this is quite an administrative operation!

Fortunately, the opportunities for Zoom meetings are legion: the fairly recently launched venture of “Denman at Home” issues weekly bulletins and these are passed on to our Members as they offer a good spread of events. OFWI mount digital opportunities too and we have an open invitation from Shelswell WI to join their monthly meeting programme.

This has arisen since they found that in view of the fairly limited up-take locally they decided to extend their hospitality to neighbouring WIs. In light of the latest lockdown, we in Launton are now planning to take out our own Zoom subscription since we feel we cannot continue to expect to rely on the generosity of local “hosts”. We are currently in the process of trying to overcome the niceties of running our March Annual Meeting digitally as this involves the need to hold secret ballots in order to secure a President and Committee for 2021-2 January is the time for WIs to submit Members’ choices for the 2021 Resolutions for final consideration at the NFWI Annual Meeting - and we dealt with this process via email. Out of the five options which had been agreed nationally, we submitted the following as our results of our two favoured motions:  A call to increase awareness of the subtle signs of ovarian cancer.  Stop women dying prematurely from coronary heart disease.

Both very worthy causes!

Since we sadly lost Liz in early December, one of our newer members has kindly volunteered to make the birthday cards, for which we are very grateful as this, we hope, is one way in which we can connect with Members during these difficult times: however, we still long to be able to meet the overriding fellowship needs of our Group and hold our meetings again in the Parish Hall with the added bonus that we will be able to enjoy cake again together!!!

Celia Manderson Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 22

St Mary’s Church after January’s snow Top by Ben Smith Left and below by Jenni Walker

Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 23

Snowmen and other animals seen

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around the village in the snowdays

Photos by, clockwise from top far left: Robert Dowman; Ella Rayner, Kirsty Staker; Nick Cherry (an Aunt Sally tableau); Nick Cherry; Amie Pomeroy, Jenni Walker.

Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 25

Working in the Woodland December 2020

The final working party of 2020, with Bicester Green Gym, held on 15 December when the ground was still firm.

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News from the Woodland

As we step down from the committee of Friends of Island Pond Wood it is appropriate to thank all those who have supported us over the last 13 years.

Firstly - those who have turned out to work sessions in the wood. An analysis of our records shows that some 90 individuals have helped over the years; top of the list is Pat Tucker and then the late Bryan Court.

Secondly - we must mention Bicester Green Gym who have worked alongside us for the past 12 years and have contributed significantly to the maintenance, especially “the Bramble Bashing” (see photos opposite).

Thirdly - those who have made donations over the years either directly or by supporting our fundraising events. Special mention to Nick Cherry for giving us the profits from Launton Lollop.

Fourthly - the committee of FIPW Ltd who deal with all the administration forced upon us by our decision to lease the wood from the Woodland Trust plus others who have either been “Friends” committee members or provided administrative support.

And finally - thanks to our long suffering spouses.

We hope the new committee enjoys the same level of support as we have had.

Maureen Roberts and Judy Taylor

100 Years Ago from the 1921 School Log Book Thur 3 Feb Ex[amine]d Registers. F M Burton.

Fri 4 Feb The attendance has fallen considerably during the past week owing to the children having bad coughs and colds. Avge for the week 75.1.

Wed 9 Feb Miss Pheasant paid her usual monthly visit to the school this afternoon. Attendance has been better this week, but children's coughs are still troublesome.

Fri 11 Feb Avge for the week 78.0. Number on Registers 83.

Wed 16 Feb Owing to very nice and dry weather, the Master has taken the boys several times for Gardening during the week.

Fri 18 Feb Avge for the week 81.5.

Fri 25 Feb Very wet to-day. Attendances good. Avge for the week 82.6.

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The Quarterly Report from Victoria Prentis, MP for North Oxfordshire

2021 has not started quite as I had hoped. I am deeply disappointed that we have had to return to a national lockdown. However, I know the decision was not taken lightly. I know we are all tired and frustrated about the reality of further restrictions on our everyday lives. I had really hoped we would not have to close schools again. As a parent of a child who should have been sitting her A-Levels this summer I am very worried about the impact on our children. It is something I have discussed at length with the headteachers of our local schools, who I have been catching up with in recent weeks. The pandemic has also had profound consequences for our businesses who have been doing all they can to keep going. They need to be able to make it to the spring, so I am glad that businesses will be able to access further support.

With vaccine rollout now well underway, there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Last month I visited the Bicester Vaccination Centre at Bicester Heritage. The site is run by nurses and clinicians from the three Bicester practices - Alchester Medical Group, Bicester Health Centre and Montgomery House Surgery. Having only opened in the middle of January, they had made a good start vaccinating all those in the top two priority groups: over 85s, frontline health and social care workers, and older care home residents and employees. 700 people were vaccinated during the morning I visited, with the Centre able to vaccinate 12 people at the same time. It was a very impressive, safe, and smooth operation.

Over the coming weeks, we all need to make sure we continue to follow the rules. The situation in Cherwell remains critical. Approximately 1 in 3 people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and could be spreading it without realising. If we all remain at home, protecting the NHS and saving lives while the vaccine is rolled out, we can begin to return to the normality we have all missed so much over the past year. It has been a long road, but it does feel as though we are getting there. My team and I continue to work around the clock to help all those in need of support or signposting to further information. Please do not hesitate to contact me via victoria.prentis.mp@parliament.uk.

Victoria Prentis Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 28

100 Years Ago: from The Bicester Advertiser for February 1921 11 February PETTY SESSIONS Prison for Launton men Robert Hazell and Reuben Castle, both of Launton, were charged with between December 6th 1920 and January 24th 1921 stealing four fowls, value £1 12s, the property of Frank Horwood Ginger. Launton...

18 February West End Cottage, Launton. L & NWR, and 2 miles from Bicester.

Useful Household Furniture. Including Bed Steads, Dressing Tables, Chairs, Birch Bedroom Suite, Old Oak Gate Leg Table, Linen, Tables, Sofa, Pictures, Plate, Dairy Utensils, 25 head of Poultry and Miscellaneous Effects. Will be sold by Auction by Messrs Paxton and Holiday on the Premises on Thursday March 24th 1921 at 12.30 punctually, by direction of Mrs Arthur [sic] Penn.

ALL ROOFS, GUTTERS & CHIMNEYS Editorial note: The West End Cottage mentioned is now HOUSE MAINTENANCE | REPOINTING known as Rose Cottage. The vendor was the widow of a 40- INTERNAL & EXTERNAL DECORATING year old carpenter who had PATIOS | DECKINGS | FENCING been called up to join the Army in WW1, but had died while FOR A PERSONAL SERVICE CALL still completing his basic training, leaving her with two PETER N. SOUTHAM very young children. Since then, 01869 278333 she had been accused of keeping a dangerous dog and OR some of her neighbours spoke 07721 633 220 against her in court. peteroofer@aol.com No wonder she decided to move away.

INSURANCE APPROVED Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 29

Road Closures Report for Launton correct as of 26 January 2021  From December 2020 until 17 February 2021: Marsh Gibbon Bicester Road is CLOSED for haul road construction and bridge demolition works.  From 8 February to 1 April: the Launton Bicester Road over the current railway bridge will be CLOSED to vehicles for bridge strengthening work, but pedestrians will still be able to use the footpath. We are hoping that there will be traffic lights on the exit from the Blackthorn Road onto the A41 but this has not been confirmed by OCC as we go to print.  From 25 February to 7 April: Marsh Gibbon Station Road will be CLOSED for the demolition of the underbridge.  From 5 April to 9 April: Launton Blackthorn Road will be CLOSED for the installation of a new foul connection to the Mulberry housing development. Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works and liaison with the works supervisor.  From 8 April to 11 May: Marsh Gibbon Bicester Road will be CLOSED for the installation of the new underbridge.  From 12 May 2021 to 25 April 2022: Launton Station Road will be CLOSED from beyond Grange Farm for the construction of the new overbridge.

Any additional road closures for connections to the Mulberry Homes development will be in agreement with OCC Highways. We have been assured that only one road out of the village can be closed at any time.

This information is correct as we go to print but is subject to changes.

Please don’t shoot the messenger!

Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 30

LETS GO FLIPPIN’ CRAZY! 16 FEBRUARY 2021 Pancake flipathon party on Zoom for all ages, between 6pm and 7pm.

Get login from wendyfoster11@yahoo.co.uk or 07770406573 Originally a feast to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar before the fasting season of the forty days of Lent.

What will you give up this year?

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150 Years Ago from The Bicester Herald

17 February 1871 Launton, two miles from Bicester. TO LET, from Lady Day, a genteel residence containing Dining Room, Drawing Room, 4 Bedrooms, Kitchen and Domestic Offices, Coach-House, Stabling for two horses, neverfailing well of water, Croquet Lawn, Kitchen garden and good Orchard well stocked with fruit trees. A Close of Land adjoining may be had at Michaelmas next, if desired. It is situate in the village, and is only 5 minutes’ walk from Launton Station, London and North Western Railway.

For further particulars, apply Messrs Paxton and Castle, Auctioneers and Estate Agency Offices, Bicester.

24 February 1871 The Launton Church choir members were on Tuesday evening, February 14th, kindly and liberally entertained by the Rev J C Blomfield at the rectory. The youngest members of the choir were regaled with an excellent tea; in the evening the senior members were entertained at supper. A superior spread was provided for the guests. A vote of thanks

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Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 32

was unanimously awarded to Mrs Blomfield for her kind service in connection with the choir, and a similar compliment was paid to Mr Newton. During the evening Mr Newton set off two balloons to amuse the younger portion of the company. The party broke up about 11, with thanks to Mr Blomfield for the entertainment.

The Launton British School held in connection with the Congregational Chapel for the purpose of imparting an unsectarian education, and supported by voluntary contributions, was re-opened on Monday last, February 20. The committee have secured the services of Miss Moxey[sic], a trained and efficient teacher from Borough Road Training School, London, and there is every prospect that the school will be conducted and carried on with vigour and success. The number of children received on the day of opening was 42. It is hoped there will soon be 60. The committee have requested Mr Francis Shouler, of Launton, to act as treasurer, and the Rev W H Dickenson, of Bicester, as secretary and collector.

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Parish Council Elections 6 May 2021 Could You Join Launton Parish Council?

Following last year’s cancelled elections, we are now hoping that we will be able to hold the Parish Council elections this year, although it will be a three-year term rather than the usual four.

The Council is a constantly changing body of people; once elected, Parish Councillors can usually sit on the Council for a maximum of four years (although this time it will just be three). If they then want to stay in the post they must stand for re-election. Parishioners are actively encouraged to apply to join the Parish Council, and it is always good to welcome new members. Ideally, all age groups and a wide demographic should be represented on a Council and we’ve been lucky enough to have this in the past. There are seven seats on the Council, so if more than seven people stand, there will be a ballot and the seven candidates with the most votes get elected.

A Parish Council is the local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the Parish and makes representations on their behalf to other bodies (eg on planning matters). It is the level of government closest to the community, with Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council above it. As it is the authority closest to the people, the Parish Council is invariably the first place people will go with concerns or ideas.

For this reason, it is a vital part of any community.

Who can become a Parish Councillor?

Any resident of Launton who: has occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the Parish area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of nomination and the day of election; is at least 18 years old; is a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union (this hasn’t changed!).

Also, you’d need to meet at least one of the following four qualifications: 1 You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the Parish in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards; Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 34

2 Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the Parish/community area; 3 You have lived in the Parish or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election; 4 You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the Parish during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.

What do Parish Councils do?

Parish Councils make all kinds of decisions and make representations to other local and national bodies, on issues that affect the local community: from working on the Parish Hall project, liaising with the Police and other services, liaising with the East West Rail team, creating an emergency plan, arranging the mowing of the road verges, managing some of the open spaces and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities, to commenting on planning applications and representing the Parish in meetings with assorted external bodies, working with the County Council on traffic matters and engaging with other local Parish Councils on matters that affect us all.

There are limited powers to make decisions, but Parish Councils do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions.

For more information and a nomination form: please contact the Launton Parish Clerk, Jane Olds email: clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk 13 Oak Close, Bicester, OX26 3XD Phone: 01869 247171

Launton Lines records births, marriages, civil partnerships, and deaths in the village and of people from the village.

Just let the editor or one of the team (see page 3) have your information and any wording you would like us to use.

There is no charge for any such notices.

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A Vet’s Voice: Scanning for answers

I guess everyone is familiar with ultrasound scanning in healthcare settings whether it be for checking on pregnancies or diagnosing heart disease, thrombosis or appendicitis. It’s hard to believe that when I graduated from University, ultrasound was a new and poorly developed technology. We had rudimentary equipment that could measure the depth of fat on the back of a pig or pick up the heartbeat of a calf or foal in the womb.

In the early days of practice here in Bicester, we purchased a machine which was used for pregnancy diagnosis in cattle and horses and proved to be a great addition to just relying on rectal palpation. This machine was also used in our small animal work for pregnancy scans and basic heart scanning. Compared to what we have today, looking back the images seemed very basic, yet it still provided a huge advance for the practice at the time..

I’m pleased to say we have just purchased probably the 5th or 6th replacement of that original machine and the advancement of technology is incredible. The level of

Peace of mind for pet owners...

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Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 36

detail we can now see, even compared to the last machine we had from 5 years ago, is amazing.

Like anything this advanced, it still needs an experienced operator. In the past we have had specialists who would visit the practice for referral level scanning. Our last specialist Helen Renfrew had to stop visiting us as she has become head of the imaging department at Eastcott Referrals in Swindon.

Luckily, we have several vets who have developed their skills to a high degree including younger Vet Elliot Smith who hopes to complete an Imaging Certificate over the next few years.

Hopefully, your pet won’t need an ultrasound scan anytime soon, but for those that do, this upgraded scanner will help to give us a detailed and accurate picture of their problem and hopefully lead us to the answer much sooner than before.

Enjoy your pets Jason Williams | Bicester Vets Bicester Good Neighbour Scheme (BGNS) is a voluntary group that offers free support and friendship to older people in Bicester and nearby villages, including Launton. We match our clients (known as friends) with local people, who give some of their time to help.

BGNS volunteers normally make home visits but have temporarily switched to phone calls, until it is safe for everyone to meet face-to-face again. Our friends, who often live alone, tell us they look forward to chatting with their volunteer each week. Hearing a familiar voice is very reassuring and helps lift the spirits, particularly just now.

During lockdown the Scheme’s DBS-checked volunteers continue to do essential shopping and errands for our vulnerable and housebound friends.

To arrange a regular phone call or get some help, please contact our Scheme Coordinator, Kat on 07849 799530 or email BGNS@live.com BGNS office hours are Monday to Thursday, 9am to 12pm. To find out more about BGNS and volunteering visit www.goodneighbourscheme.com Libby Griffin | Chair, Bicester Good Neighbour Scheme Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 37

Football under Covid-19

It must be awful being a professional footballer under coronavirus restrictions. You have to be free of the virus before you can play. If you catch it, you risk infecting others around you, causing matches to be postponed at short notice, and risking your longer-term health by permanently damaging your lungs. It’s a big responsibility. You’d really think that they’d take it more seriously.

Considering these Covid-19 risks, it’s disturbing to watch players hugging and kissing when they score a goal. What’s wrong with a polite elbow bump? Instead, they slide along the grass on their knees and get buried under a mountain of bodies, as teammates fondle them in irresponsibly intimate ways. Managers greet each other in a fond embrace at the start and end of matches. Some spectators, when they’re allowed into a ground, huddle together like star-struck lovers, when they should be two metres apart. It’s not surprising that so many matches have been disrupted by this virus. Some managers wanted a football ‘firebreak’ postponement of all fixtures to check the spread of the virus.

Big money sports like rugby, cricket, tennis and football use VAR to help with difficult decisions. Sadly, VAR has turned football into a laughingstock. In the other three sports, technology is welcomed because it ‘assists’ the officials to make better decisions. VAR is short for Video Assistant Referee. The clue’s in the name. In football it’s become Video Actual Referee. The referee on the pitch is routinely undermined by Mr Busybody VAR, in his hut somewhere miles away. Surely, if the ref saw nothing, the players saw nothing and the crowd saw nothing wrong, the game should go on uninterrupted. Instead, it’s being rudely interrupted by meddling Mr Busybody who thinks he knows better than everybody at the ground.

Premier League teams have been ‘robbed’ of perfectly good goals this season. As evidence - the index finger of Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) at Crystal Palace, and the arm of Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) at West Ham. VAR is ruining football.

Perhaps the worst aspect of VAR is when the away team scores a goal. The referee sees nothing wrong with it, neither does the home team, and they’re already lining up to re-start play. Then Mr Busybody sends a secret message Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 38

to the referee, who stops play. Fans around the ground sit and twiddle their thumbs for minutes until the man in the hut decides what happened on the faraway pitch. After drawing many electronic lines on a screen, he decides that the attacker’s fingernail is a millimetre in front of the last defender’s bootlace - and disallows the goal. Who cares if the other 99.9% of the attacker is in line with or behind the last defender? When “No Goal” appears on the big screen, thousands of home fans start cheering, to applaud a goal NOT being scored. In the words of The Jam, “That’s Entertainment”.

The problem for VAR in football is that there’s no line on the surface to denote ‘offside’, unlike in cricket or tennis. Therefore, Mr Busybody has to waste everyone’s time drawing his magical electronic lines on the screen to check for offside. This ruins the flow of the game for the key people – the spectators. Every schoolkid knows that: ‘if you’re in line with the last defender, you’re onside’. Unless a player is clearly ahead of the last defender, he’s onside. The advantage should always go to the attacking team, to reward attacking football. Crowds come to see goals. VAR is determined to ruin their day out. VAR should only be used when the referee or either team captain is convinced that there’s a serious error. If the ‘spy in the sky’ could make a simple, quick, decision with the naked eye in 10 seconds, let’s retain VAR to ‘assist’ the referee - when asked.

Otherwise, dump it, or use it differently.

VAR should use this pandemic to improve its rotten image. It should be fighting Covid-19 in football. How? Let’s remember how the virus is spread. It spreads through breathing in particles/droplets from infected people’s breath, through physical closeness to other people. It spreads through infected saliva and mucous, which is precisely what happens in football. The TV shows players spitting on the ground or honking slimy material to the ground from their blocked noses. What happens when the goal scorer slides along that contaminated grass? He’s picking up other players’ snot and spit. How disgusting! A slide tackler collects more spit and snot. What’s VAR doing about that? Nothing! VAR should be helping the referee to fight the virus - “Stop the game, ref. That striker just spat on to the ground. Give him a yellow card.”

There’s a simpler solution. Each player should have a nicely pressed Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 39

handkerchief in each pocket. Or an extra-absorbent sweatband, like tennis players have on their wrist. If a player feels the need to clear his passages, then he should use his hankie or his sweatband. If VAR finds him honking on to the pitch – yellow card. A spit followed by a snot means a straight red card. That would reduce the number of postponed fixtures, and help to keep 22 players on the pitch, while improving the manners of the players.

VAR should encourage good hygiene. If all else fails, make them all wear masks – to spit into!

VAR could even award its own prizes. Best quiff – Olivier Giroud; Best man-bun – Andy Carroll; Best tattoo – You decide. Best chunky legs – Jack Grealish; Best shirt tugger – your call. Best teeth – Roberto Firmino. Best haircut – Paul Pogba. Best diver – over to you. Most miserable manager – where to begin? VAR can become a Covid-19 hero. VAR – The Virus Slayer.

Danny Cunningham

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Launton Operation Valentine Event

Spreading the love let’s decorate the village in pink and red in time for Valentine’s Day on Sunday 14 February!

OUTDOORS Look for heart shaped stones or paint a stone in pink/red or write a message and leave it round the village for someone to find Draw red and pink hearts using chalk on the pavements when on your walk Make heart shaped flower arrangements for your windows Make heart red and pink posters and put them up in the village Make pink and red bunting for outside or your window SWEETS, CAKES AND DRINKS Bake heart shaped biscuits | Bake pink and red heart cup cakes Make valentines sweets! | Make pink and red fruit desserts Bake a heart shaped big cake for afternoon tea Have fun making pink and red cocktails – non-alcoholic and alcoholic WINDOWS Male a Valentines wreath for your door | Make pink and red suncatchers Make red and pink ‘stained glass’ | Put Valentine messages in your window WRITING, DRAWING AND PAINTING Write a Valentine Poem - for someone special | Write a Valentine Joke Make a Valentines card for someone special or to cheer someone up Design and make heart-themed paintings and drawings Download the free heart colouring in templates at this link: www.bakerross.co.uk/media/patticrafts/K749%20Heart%20colour%20in.pdf ARTS AND CRAFTS Make heart shaped knitted pom poms | Make heart mobiles decorations Make felt shaped hearts | Make tissue paper hearts Make paper hearts on sticks | Design paper plate hearts sewing craft Make sequin hanging hearts | Make hearts using pink and red buttons DANCE AND DRAMA Create a Valentines day dance | Fancy dress Valentine theme or costume Write a Valentines Day Song | Face painting - hearts pink and red theme Take pictures of your artwork/creations and post them on the Launton facebook pages. Send them in to Launton Lines for possible feature in the March issue.

Happy Valentine’s Day – from Wendy Foster xxx Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 41

Memories of an Ex-Launton Boy

This month the Ex-Launton Boy muses on how easily we can be frightened by the unknown remembering listening to Journey into Space on the radio in the 1950s and stories of the panic after Orson Welles’ radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds in 1938. He hopes we have become less willing to believe fictions, but a recent phone call with a distant cousin who will not be taking a Covid-19 vaccination when offered has jolted him back on his heels.

Well, that was Christmas, of a sort, and New Year celebrations (if at all) were somewhat subdued. How many of us, I wonder, sat through countless television repeats of repeats of repeats?

I can usually find something with which to constructively occupy myself out in the garden, but it has been so dreadfully wet, there was nothing to be done without damaging the lawns or the flower beds or even the vegetable plot.

And there is only so much one can do in the garden shed or the greenhouse.

And going for a walk wasn’t all that much better, especially if wearing face masks and being ultra careful in a Tier 4 lockdown area such as Medway where at various times we have been the worst-rated and most-infected area in England. Not exactly a league table that one desires to be at the top of.

The good news though, at least for some, is the arrival of the Oxford version of the Covid vaccination. I say, at least for some, for there are Heating Plumbing Servicing unbelievably those who will have nothing to do with it for the strangest Domestic Oil and Gas Servicing of reasons.

Installation and Maintenance Remember how as children we could be very easily frightened by virtue of Gas Safe Registered the fact that our young minds were somewhat naive and we could be Oftec Registered extremely gullible. I mean, just look at Santa Claus as a prime example (don’t “A local Business let the children see this). from Launton” I don’t know if any of you of my generation (I was 73 a few days ago Phone: 07483 864 571 on 29 December), ever used to sit up in the evenings and listen to the Email: simonnashserv@aol.com wireless series called, Journey into Space,

Simon Nash

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which on the one hand I found to be compulsive listening, but on the other hand, I found it to be very eerie and scary so much so that I was frightened to go to bed because I was frightened to go to sleep because I did not want to experience the almost inevitable nightmare as a consequence of having listened to the programme.

Now that was when I was a child with the very impressionable mind of a child. That said, I also remember hearing about the radio broadcast in America in 1938 (I seem to remember on Halloween night) of the HG Wells story The War of the Worlds involving, I believe, the actor Orson Welles. The programme opened with a series of news reports that the Martians had landed in New Jersey, in an attack on the USA. The difference was that this time, it was adults who went into absolute panic mode to the extent that there were riots in the streets as people were desperately trying to get away from their homes to escape the Martian invasion.

It is incredible how the human mind was able to be manipulated back then.

And one of the easiest ways was and is to tell a lie loud enough and often enough either verbally or in writing or a combination of both with visual support through camera manipulation, and many people will end up believing it. The Nazis in the 1930’s were a real dab-hand at it, especially in their disgusting portrayal of the Jews. One could say that similar tactics were employed in this country very recently indeed, the sad consequences of which we have yet to fully realise.

One might have reasonably thought that with modern day education and access to factual material, society would be less gullible today. One must always expect a degree of naivety, but even then, if such individuals were to be confronted by the actual facts of a matter, one could reasonably expect such individuals then to be able to distinguish between fact and fiction.

But no! I was quite astounded to find out otherwise. Now was it me who was being naive?

I mentioned that it was my birthday a few days ago, and on that day I received what was initially a very pleasant telephone call from a distant cousin, wishing me a Happy Birthday. We then drifted into talk about Brexit (nothing unusual for us as we have opposing views, he being a sort of confused Brexiteer and me being a committed Remainer). Anyway, having chewed the fat for the umpteenth time on that one, we then drifted into talking about Covid (as you do these days), when he asked me, when my Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 43

turn is called, will I have the Covid-19 vaccination? To which I immediately replied in the affirmative. “In fact,” said I, “the sooner the better”.

My cousin responded by saying that under no circumstances whatsoever would he be having it, and when I questioned him as to why not, I was totally stunned by the answer he gave. “I’m not going to risk being secretly microchipped!” I decided in a flash to play along, thinking at first that he was joking and I asked him, “Why on earth would the government want to microchip us, even if it were possible as part of a vaccination, which it isn’t?” to which he responded, “So they can keep track on the movements of all individuals!” He was being deadly serious and as the conversation progressed it became even more bizarre and thankfully I was rescued by an incoming call from my GP. Now I know that there are an awful lot of, shall we politely say, sad people who post goodness knows what total and utter tripe on social media, this being one such piece of disinformation, for what purpose, other than to have some distorted sense of power, I really do not know. Why oh why would people want to disrupt the possibility of defeating Covid by putting such tripe as this on social media to dissuade people from having the vaccination? And this is not the only example of disinformation being posted with regard to Covid and the Covid vaccination.

When I first came across it, I thought, “Well no-one is going to believe this utter infantile nonsense so why bother posting it?” How wrong I was, and badly so, for my very own distant cousin, whom I had taken to be a wellbalanced and quite knowledgeable individual, uttered those very words to me, “Because I don’t want to risk being secretly micro-chipped!”

It seems that some things haven’t moved on that far since the 1950s after all!

I can understand some people being reluctant to have the Covid vaccination until yet further tests have been carried out, so quickly has it arrived from initiating the programme. It has however been determined that the Covid vaccine cannot give one Covid because in itself it is not a live virus. I would much rather risk having a few initial aches and pains and general discomfort (which incidentally is not the experience of most recipients so far), than risk getting Covid at my age and not seeing any more Christmases or New Years.

Happy New Year everyone and keep healthy and stay SAFE! Tony Jeacock | Ex-Launton Boy Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 44

150 Years Ago: from the School Log Book for February 1871

Wed 1 Feb The Catechism was said much better this morning than of late.

Thur 2 Feb Rev JC Blomfield prevented by a cold from taking his Class this morning.

Fri 3 Feb Examined IV, V and VI Stdds in Arith. The IV Std was very good, others very fair. Av for week 86.1.

Mon 6 Feb Several children away with the Hooping [sic] cough, many with bad colds.

Wed 8 Feb Devoted this morning’s Scripture Lesson to a lesson on the Church Service.

Thur 9 Feb Rev JC Blomfield from 9.30 to 10.15. III Standard commenced Division.

Fri 10 Feb Very wet day - a few children away in consequence. Av for week 82.1.

Mon 13 Feb Made a fresh organisation of the School for Scrip lessons so as to provide for all Classes to receive instruction at the same time, viz: from 9 to 10 in the morning; Rev JC Blomfield assisting every morning.

Thur 16 Feb The 4th Standard now work Comp[oun]d Short Division very well. They do not work the Long Multiplication Sums so well; for although they very thoroughly understand the principles, they are very prone to make trifling mistakes. When this occurs, they are compelled to stay and rectify them after school - every day.

Fri 17 Feb Examined III, V and VI Stds in Arith[meti]c, II Good, V very fair, VI Bad. Tried I Std in a reading lesson very much in advance of them, which they had not seen before, with good results. Their progress has been rapid and very satisfactory.

Mon 20 Feb Admitted Sar Marriott. Many absentees with bad colds.

Tue 21 Feb The III Std Arith[meti]c is in a very satisfactory state, the whole class worked three sums without a mistake.

Thur 23 Feb The weather was so splendid this morning that I allowed the children to go into the playground for the 15 min recess.

Fri 24 Feb Gave the 1st and 2nd Classes a writing lesson (on paper) this morning - they do not write with the regularity and freedom I should like to see.

Mon 27 Feb IV Standard commenced Comp[oun]d Long Division. Many children away with very bad coughs - in some cases I am afraid its Hooping [sic] Cough. Those present cough incessantly.

Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 45

Diary Dates: February - March 2021

It looks as though we will be in an extended period of national lockdown at least through February. This will slow down the revival of community activities and events. We have decided to only list those public events that we know will be going ahead online so we list the online Parish Council meetings via Zoom (see page 8) on Thursday 4 February and Thursday 4 March. Some services from St Mary’s will continue and the church will be open on Sundays, see page 12 for details.

The other date is the copy deadline for the March issue of Launton Lines. It will be Saturday 20 February: send contributions (words and photos) to launtonlines@launton.org.

What about a 2021 Launton Fete?

It’s hard to think about the warm days of early June, but the Fete group have had a first call round to think about planning for a village fete for 2021. The fly past has been applied for (thanks Wendy!). But that's as far as we’ve got.

We don’t know how things will look on 12 June, but need to start making plans - if only to shelve them if it’s clear that a social event won’t be possible.

So here is the plan - to have two plans: a Plan A and a Plan B. Plan A assumes that there is some return to semi-normal by June, with outdoor gatherings possible for larger groups - but almost certainly not a fullblown Village Fete. But maybe something on the Playing Field?

Plan B assumes less “normal” but will still try for a village event to involve all, where people feel safe to take part, as “stall holders” and as participants.

What could a Plan B look like? Scattering stalls round the village: some in ‘public’ spaces (outside the Parish Hall, the garden in Sherwood Close, the Island Pond field); some in ‘social space’ like the gardens of the two pubs; and some in house spaces (either on front verges or spilling out onto the road or pavement, or on front gardens or lawns). Have some major stalls (books, bric a brac, plants, etc.), and some entertainment space.

We need to assume that by mid-June there will be enough relaxation to allow something outdoors, involving walking and social distancing. If not possible by mid-June, it looks like we’re in for a restricted life through to the autumn.

We can begin to make outline plans for A and B, and then on 6 April (just after Easter) we’ll need to decide which to go with.

Of course there is a Plan C: cancel all plans and start with 2022.

Robert Cornford | Fete Coordinator Launton Lines February 2021 | Page 46

More snow scenes in Launton Four photos of trees and plants in frost and snow around the village, three by Ella Rayner and one (bottom right) by Peter Cox.

Launton Lines January 2021 | Page 47

Launton Dog of the Month As we’ve been outside and walking a lot more we’ve got to see many of the dogs of the village.

Launton Lines wants to feature our canine stars in the months ahead.

Here is the first report.

Dog’s Name: Pippin Age: 6 years approximately Gender: Female Breed: Jack Russell How long in Launton: 3 years, 8 months.

One interesting fact: If my master goes out without me, I always bring him a toy when he returns so that he can play with me I came from: RSPCA rescue at Blackberry Farm Habits: Barking at the postman Favourite food: Chicken Favourite game or toy: Catching a ball Favourite Launton walk: Island Pond Wood If you would like you dog to feature in this column please email Kathy Gilbert, kathleengilbert533@googlemail.com or ring on 07812 604032 Launton Lines is the newsletter for Launton It is published monthly by the Launton Community Communications Group which also manages the Launton website www.launton.org and the Launton Village Facebook Page and Group www.facebook.com/launtonvillage Launton Lines is delivered free to every address in the village. It is funded by its advertisers and Launton Parish Council.

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