Launton Lines Issue 279 February 2024

Here and There for February 2024 Rapunzel and Bobby

From costume rehearsals, the leading girl (Rapunzel) and the Principal Boy (Bobby), played by Natasha Patrick and Beth Heale, in The Village Players’ 37th Panto Rapunzel.

See pages 24-25 for a report and information about showtimes and tickets. We hear that the daytime shows are almost sold out but there are still tickets for evening shows.

Just to let our readers have an idea of the difficult circumstances in which I am having to produce this issue, the hibiscus flower and bush behind it is staring me in the face when I lift my eyes from my laptop screen and try to think of what to put in this space. And it is 29oC in the shade.

It’s a hard life for an editor.

The front cover shows flooding (or maybe just standing water) in The Island Pond Wood on New Year's Eve 2023: it seems to sum up the year just passed. See pages 33-35 for a report from the Woodland and page 43 for more photos. Cover designed by Matt Hill.

Photo by Mick Jennion

The Editor writes …

Apologies again to our readers, but this issue will be a few days late: we were held up waiting for promised material. The good side is that we could include some very late materials from around Launton: we need copy by the 20th of the month before the issue - so by 20 January for the February issue.

Although I'd like to get the length down to 44 pages, contributors keep sending material in and we depend on our advertisers to be able to keep publishing, so I'm happy that we have a healthy number of ads each month.

There is news in this issue of two pantomimes for Launton. On page 24 the LPFA write about Cinderella from Chaplins Pantos on 3 December as part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations. Then on pages 34-35 the Launton Village Players tell more about Rapunzel, their 37th Panto on over half-term in February (with some photos on page 2, opposite).

There is an appeal for mince pies on page 19, for two village events: the Community Choir Christmas Concert (page 48) on 9 December, and the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols on 17 December (page 11).

Greta Walker shares (pages 28-29) the second part of her memories of the area during the Second World War. There is all the normal content (Parish and Cherwell Council reports, and reports from all village organisations, and children from the school writing about Cross-Country running) as well.

Robert Cornford

Launton Village Support: Contact Details Group email: village.help@launton-pc.gov.uk PHONE Numbers: 9:30am to 5:00pm

07522 231 100 - Janice | 07305 303 889 - Jane Olds (Launton Parish Council) 01869 241755 - Lesley | 07921 392 201 - Abi Dowman 01869 242685 - Nick Cherry Pharmacy Runner

Launton Lines

A monthly newsletter for Launton. Published around the first of each month by the Launton Community Communications Group © 2024 Launton Lines email: launtonlines@launton.org website: https://launton.org/launton-lines/ The Launton Lines Committee 2023-24 Chair: Jon Spinage | Secretary: Toby Aspel | Editors: Robert Cornford, Matt Hill | Treasurer: Carina Collins Distribution: Shirley Johnson | Advertising: Jenni Walker

To book the Parish Hall Contact the Parish Council Contact: Joan Packer Council Clerk | Mrs Jane Olds Address | 13 Oak Close, Bicester, OX26 3XD Phone: 07922 042 133 Parish Hall Committee: Christine Massey; Audrey email | clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk Deeley; Lynne Harper; Joan Packer; Simon Turner; Phone | 07305 303 889 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 2024 for entry in the March 2024 issue of Launton Lines.

February 8 | Sponsored by Bob Roberts to celebrate the birthday of his mother Ann Roberts February 29 | Happy Eleventh Birthday to Tamlyn, a Leap Year girl. Sponsored by Robert and Gaye Cornford

Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 4 January 2024 at 7:30pm in Launton Parish Hall

Councillors present Mr Andrew Briant, Mrs Abigail Dowman, Mrs Lesley Thompson, Mr Simon Turner (Chairman), Mr Richard Walker, Mrs Jaqueline Webber Apologies Mr Ed Sanders In attendance The Clerk, Mrs Jane Olds; Cllr Gemma Coton (CDC); 4 members of the public East West Rail No report had been received. If anyone has any queries, please contact directly at publicinformation@ewralliance.co.uk or call the 24 hour helpline at 03457 11 41 41 Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 4

Reports from District and County Councillors Cllr Coton reported that the CDC Full Council Meeting took place on 18 December. Motions considered included a solar strategy, how CDC properties could help with women’s ‘period poverty’, how CDC could help to deal with Section 21 no fault eviction notices and how Cherwell properties could be used as banking hubs. The proposed office move from Bodicote House to Castle Quay in the centre of Banbury was approved. The new Chief Executive - Gordon Stewart has been appointed and was scheduled to start on 8 January.

No report had been received from Cllr Corkin (OCC).

Meeting Dates from April 2024 The dates of meetings have been agreed to be the usual first Thursday of the month apart from the January 2025 meeting which will change to 9 January 2025.

The Village Annual Parish Meeting will be on 18 April 2024.

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

The Council considered the detailed budget and agreed the level of £52,754 for the year 2024/25. This took into account the range of Parish responsibilities, including village grass cutting and weed spraying, dog bin emptying, meeting costs, saving for replacement street furniture (such as bins and benches) together with reserves. The particular focus this year has been on the Parish Hall commitment which was likely to be significant following the receipt of the Lease.

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 619.9; this was a slight increase from 615.7 the previous year. Following the calculations, it was agreed to increase the Precept to £51,592. The annual cost to a Band D household would be approximately £83.23 - an increase of £18.68 over the whole year. https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/agenda-and-minutes/2023-2024agenda-and-minutes/ More information about how the Tax Base figure is calculated is available on the Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/financialinformation/financing-the-parish-council/ Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 5

For anyone interested, the draft budget and Precept calculations can be found on the Parish Council website under the January items for information at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/agenda-andminutes/2023-2024-agenda-and-minutes/ Planning All planning applications, which include the links to Cherwell’s Planning Portal, are put on the Parish Council website when received (www.launton-pc.gov.uk in the Agenda and Minutes section).

If a villager has concerns or comments about a planning application, they are welcome to come 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 can respond is on the Parish Council website: www.launton-pc.gov.uk/planning-applications Parish Hall With the Lease finalised and a commencement date of 4 January given, the Parish Council has now taken over management of the Parish Hall.

While we continue to apply for the grant funding to do the renovation project, we don’t intend to drastically change the management of the Hall. Joan Packer has kindly agreed to continue to help with bookings.

Paying for Hall hire will need to change to the Parish Council’s bank account with cheques made payable to Launton Parish Council.

The previous Hall Management Committee was run by the PCC and so we will also be looking for members of a new Committee. You don’t have to be a member of the Parish Council to join the Committee, so if you would like to help with the day-to-day management of the Hall, please do get in touch with the Clerk.

We are still waiting for a new installation date from Gigaclear.

Highway and Traffic Issues We are currently waiting for further information about the OCC funding for the Vehicle Activated Signs before the order can be placed. We hope to have installation dates shortly.

Additional Defibrillator London Hearts (a defibrillator charity) offered Parish Councils the Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 6

opportunity to apply for a matched funding grant (of £750) to buy an additional defibrillator and cabinet. The Parish Council has taken up the offer so we could provide access to a second defibrillator.

It is hoped that by the time you read this it will have been installed on the front of the Parish Hall.

If you are able to help someone with a medical emergency, you should dial 999 and ask for the Ambulance Service.

The Ambulance Call Handler will decide whether a defibrillator is needed, will tell you where the nearest one is and will give you the access code. It may be that you need to send someone else to get it while you stay with the casualty.

The Call Handler will then stay with you on the telephone and instruct you on what to do until the paramedics arrive.

The British Heart Foundation produced an informative two-minute video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A0kljQU48U (available on YouTube) which may be of use.

Village Spring Clean A date for your diaries. We hope to hold our annual Spring Clean and litter pick on Saturday 9 March between 10am and 12noon from the Parish Hall. Do come and join us!

Agenda items and dates of the next meetings The next meeting will be on Thursday 1 February 2024 in the Parish Hall, starting at 7.30pm. If you’d like to chat with a Councillor, do come along after 7.15pm.

We are trying to reduce our printing and paper use, so if you would like hard copies of the agenda or any of the meeting papers, please let the 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 7 March 2024 meeting need to be with the Clerk by 22 February, and items for the 4 April 2024 meeting by 20 March.

If you’re not signed up to our mailing list to receive news from the Parish Council, you can find a signup form at the bottom left hand menu of the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/ Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 7

Sponsor a Tile: a community project for the Parish Hall The Lease on the Hall is now signed and dated and so the serious work of raising funds can begin. The Friends of Registered Charity Launton Parish Hall has already raised a considerable amount Number 1199171 and we have been very fortunate in having several generous donations.

We are now launching “Sponsor a Tile”. This is a simple way of raising funds for the Hall: we are asking business, individuals and any groups to pay £20 to “Sponsor a Tile” on the new roof of the Hall. The names of all Sponsors will be added to the list displayed in the new refurbished Hall, but you can opt out: for details see the Sponsor a Tile form on page 36).

There are different ways of paying: BACS, cash, cheque, and even a Just Giving page for those who live further away. Please send your form and payment by using the email address on the form, or send by post to FoLPH Treasurer, 31 Ancil Avenue, Launton OX26 5DL The final roof covering will be zinc sheets, so not tiles! “Sponsor a Sheet of Zinc” didn’t sound quite so good! If we raise more money than is needed for the roof, the remainder will go towards the Improvement Project.

The Hall is well used but as many know, in desperate need of improvement.

We are getting closer to realising the project but raising the full amount of the required funds (around £525,000) will take a little time.

We hope you’ll be able to Sponsor a Tile but if not, do join our next events: The Sixth Grand Tythe Barn Quiz on Friday 8 March at 7:30pm - see page 23 of this issue of Launton Lines for more details The Spring Fair on Saturday 6 April from 10am at the Parish Hall

Robert Cornford | FoLPH Communication Officer

Wheelchair available in Launton

The family of a former editor of Launton Lines has given a wheelchair for short-term use by residents of the village, recovering from an accident or operation or needing support moving around.

If you think you could use it, contact Editor@Launton.org or phone 01869 241883 Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 8

Launton Watercolour Art Group

The Watercolour Classes are back with regular meetings weekly for February on Mondays 5, 12, 19 and 25. All meetings will be in the Parish Hall from 2pm.

We have space for some new members at £8 per session.

Here is a work in progress from the class tutor, David Meeks, based on The Causeway in Bicester.

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

Professional studios in Launton with qualified and DBS checked teachers.

Easy parking, waiting area, and students’ changing rooms.

Great opportunities for all students to develop and achieve!

Studio Classes, Theatre Performances, and Exams.

Classes for Preschoolers, Children and Students in Acro, Ballet, Modern, Tap, Commercial, Street, and Contemporary.

Adult classes in Tap and Ballet

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 9

Christmas at The Bull in 2023

The fundraising at The Bull over Christmas was quite extraordinary.

According to landlady Karen Blainey, “We made an astonishing £2,650 - way more than we have achieved in any other Christmas. The raffle drawn on Christmas Eve by two local Santas working in tandem, with an elf in support, raised £1,665. Elaine’s Knits on sale from the bar raised £185. Then, to top it off, there were two personal donations which totalled £800. The raffle took nearly two hours to draw as there were so many prizes donated by local (village and area) businesses. Thank you everyone who took part.”

This was a great record for Karen and Brandon at their last Christmas at The Bull. It sets a challenge for whoever takes over for 2024.

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 10

News from st mary’s ChurCh serviCes aNd eveNts for feBruary 2024 You are most welcome to join the February Services and Events listed.

This month we are pleased to welcome our new Team Vicar Rev’d Sarah Mortimer 4 February

Services

8.00am BCP Holy Communion 11.00am Family Service - Welcome!

11 February 6.00pm Evensong 14 February 11.00am Ash Wednesday Service 18 February 11.00am Morning Prayer 19 February 2.30pm Diocesan Come and See Lent Course 25 February 11.00am Holy Communion 26 February 2.30pm Diocesan Come and See Lent Course Please check on the Facebook page for St Mary’s Church Launton to see the latest information, or contact one of the Churchwardens at St Mary’s Joan Packer j.packer779@btinternet.com 01869 241694 Celia Manderson celiamanderson@aol.com 01869 571735   

The Fellowship Group will be replaced by the Diocesan Come and See Lent Course for six weeks between 19 February and 25 March, every Monday at 2.30pm, in the Church.

Further details, once known, from Facebook or from Celia, as above.   

The Community Café closes at 4.30pm on 6 February and reopens at 9.00am on 20 February.

ALL WELCOME!!!

Volunteers are needed to help run the Café.

For more information, please contact Celia Manderson for a chat email: celiamanderson@aol.com phone: 01869 571735 Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 11

Launton WI reporting for January 2024 On 11 January a slightly reduced number of members gathered in the Parish Hall for the monthly meeting. It would appear that ‘warmer climes’ had attracted several members!

In the absence of Gaye, Helen stepped in as President to conduct the official business including: Reminder to submit voting slips for the Resolutions Final reminder to join the 400 Club Information about a trip to Greys Court The birthday girl for January was Lesley We were then entertained by our speaker Pam Newell, who regaled us with a talk entitled ‘Alpine Rambles and a Meeting with Mozart’. We

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

Contact us today for a FREE initial meeting.

We will proactively listen to your business needs and create personalised solutions. email@stackandjones.co.uk Tel: 01869 277973 Unit 4, Willows Gate, Stratton Audley Bicester, Oxon OX27 9AU Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 12

were taken on a whistle stop tour of Austria, going up mountains in cable cars, visiting ornately decorated churches and chapels, and walking through colourful parks. The tour finished in Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart. If this talk, together with the splendid photographs, hasn’t whetted everyone’s appetite to visit Austria, then nothing will!

We look forward to another of Pam’s enthusiastic talks on another occasion.

Our next meeting is on 8 February in the Parish Hall and has a change of speaker from the published Programme, when Christine Green will talk about Working with Auntie. She is a graphic designer who has worked behind the scenes for many years at the BBC. New members and guests are always welcome to our meetings.

Joan

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 13

150 Years Ago: The Bicester Herald, January 1874 Friday 13 February Launton We are sorry to say John Ashby Esq, of Launton, met with an accident from a fall at Brighton, on Monday February 2, by which two bones of his leg were broken. Mr Croft, surgeon, Bicester, is in attendance on Mr Ashby at Launton, under whose care he is, we are glad to be able to announce, progressing favourably.

LAUNTON WORKING MEN’S INSTITUTE Concert in the School-Room In aid of the Launton Working Men’s Institute, a concert was given in the National School-Room, Launton, on Thursday evening last, February 12. The rooms were densely crowded, the first and second seats being filled by a fashionable audience, many of whom came from Bicester and from surrounding villages. The following is the programme:Part 1. Part Song, Let the Hills Resound, Choir. Song, Come Home Father, Miss Roberts. Duet, Kathleen Aroon, Rev C E and Mrs Bagshawe.

Song, I’ve Nothing Else To Do, F J Staples-Browne Esq. Quartette, Far Away, Messrs W H Piggott, W Foster, A H Denny and A Young.

Song, The Yeoman’s Wedding, Rev T Ivens. Solo and Chorus, Just Before The Battle, solo Mr W Foster. Song, Happy Be Thy Dreams, Mrs Hazell.

Part 2. Glee, Mark, The Merry Elves, Choir. Song, ’Twas Within A Mile Of Edinboro’ Town, Miss Roberts. Song, A Life On The Ocean Wave, Rev C E Bagshawe. Trio, The Wreath, Messrs W H Piggott, W Foster and A Young. Song, The Watchman, Rev T Ivens. Duet, As It Fell Upon A Day, Miss Roberts & Mrs Bagshawe. Song, The Quiet Sort Of Way, F J Staples-Browne Esq. Chorus, Lutzow’s Wild Chase, Choir.

The Choir acquitted themselves in their pieces very creditably. Miss Roberts in her song Come Home Father was applauded, and in her song Twas Within A Mile Of Edinboro’ Town was heartily encored, to which she kindly replied by singing Coming Through The Rye. The duet by the Rev C E and Mrs Bagshawe was well given and received applause. F J Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 14

Staples-Browne Esq gave his songs in excellent style, each of which gained a well merited encore. This gentleman replied to the encore to his first song by giving I’m Sorry I Made The Remark, and to his last song

by A Cup Of Tea, which also gained an encore, and deafening applause.

The quartette by Messrs W H Piggott, W Foster A H Denny and A Young, and the trio by Messrs Piggott, W Foster and A Young, were well received and gained applause. Mrs Hazell’s song gained an encore, to which she replied by singing The Voice Was Near. The Rev C E Bagshawe’s song A Life On The Ocean Wave gained an encore, to which he replied by giving the last verse. The Rev T Iven’s songs were well given, and The Watchman the chorus of which was given by F J StaplesBrowne Esq, Mr Piggott, Miss Roberts and Miss Blomfield, received an encore, to which he replied by giving the last verse. Miss Roberts’ and Mrs Bagshawe’s duet gained hearty applause. Mrs Blomfield, Mrs Staples-Browne, Mrs Bagshawe, and Miss Robert gave the accompaniments on the piano. In the course of the programme Mr J Baker said in consequence of a family bereavement Mr Lawson was unable to be present. Major Cramer Roberts at the close of the programme, in the place of Mr Lawson’s pianoforte solos gave a reading The Crew Of The Nancy Bell, which was highly amusing, and was much applauded.

The Rev J C Blomfield then rose and said – My friends, there are two objects in view in this entertainment – one object being to raise the funds of the Working Men’s Institute, which are very low, and the other to give you a pleasant evening, which, I’m sure, you all agree with me, you have just had, but you would do better if you joined the Institute. To our worthy squire, my two reverend brothers, Major Roberts, the Choir, and also, but not least, to the ladies who have given us this pleasant evening, we owe our hearty thanks. (Applause).

The company then joined in singing a verse of the National Anthem, after which they dispersed, apparently well pleased with the evening’s entertainment.

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 15

A Letter to Launton Lines Dear Launton Lines, It is with sadness that I write that I was the one to collect the defibrillator from The Bull Inn for my husband while my cousin did CPR on him. This was on 6 November 2023.

Sadly, my husband Mr Clive Williams did not recover, and died.

I would like to thank Karen from the pub who collected and passed the defibrillator to me and then took it upon herself to come to my home to help. I was grateful for her help as I was in too much shock to follow the instructions. Having been trained in CPR and using a defibrillator I found myself unable to do so, so do take the opportunity to take the chance of any training on offer. We also had the wake at The Bull Inn as a thank-you for her help. She organised and presented the food and also worked on the Tuesday although it was her day off.

Also, thanks to paramedics, ambulance crew and Thames Air Ambulance who all attended and worked so hard on Clive.

Simon Nash Heating & Plumbing Services Installation - Maintenance - Servicing

Domestic Oil Natural Gas Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

07483 864 571

Your local, regular and reliable window cleaner

Domestic and Commercial window cleaning using pure water and a Reach & Wash system.

We clean: Windows  Conservatory roofs  Soffits and fascias   Guttering (clean and clear)  Cladding  Internal glass partitions  Signs  Solar panels Contact us now for a free, no obligation quote

01296 770005 or 07702 498 942 www.wallacewindowcleaning.co.uk enquiries@wallacewindowcleaning.co.uk

Public liability insurance Member of the Federation of Window Cleaners Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 16

Clive was a much-loved husband of 44 years, and a great father and grandfather. He is very much missed by all.

With thanks from Janet Williams (Mrs) and family Clive Williams with his son Edward at an Ipswich Town home game, with Clive in his Town hat. Clive was born in Ipswich and lived in a Suffolk village until he was 5, and was a long-time supporter of Ipswich.

Clive and Edward were members and went to every home game at Portman Road, and many away games. Clive was only 63 years old when he died.

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 17

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 18

Hoopers: A New Sport for Dogs in the UK (part 2)

Last month Jennie Fairweather introduced Hoopers, the new sport for dogs introduced in the UK from the United States. Here she adds some more information about this exciting (for both dogs and owners) activity.

So, what exactly is Hoopers?

The dogs are trained to run a course of upright Hoops mainly based on the ground, through tunnels, and around barrels. The barrels and tunnels are used to ‘smooth’ out the course ensuring that there are no sharp turns for the dogs. The dogs are able to run at their own speed and the courses are so designed to be free flowing with no sharp turns, climbing or jumping.

The very nice thing about Hoopers is that you don’t need to run with your dog, and can lose points if you do as there is a designated handling area in the ring where you must stand and will have points deducted for stepping out of the area or gain points for staying inside as you handle your dog round the course. So, Hoopers teaches dogs distance handling which gives them freedom to think about what they are doing and builds confidence as well as listening to (and following) directions. And suddenly owner and dog become a team, and as the saying goes, “There is no I in team”!

As this sport has grown and started to develop, the hoops and tunnels are now designed with no bases; this has opened the activity up to those dogs who either only have three legs to run with or those dogs with wheels for their legs as with no bases there is nothing to be run over.

Jennie Fairweather | Fair Weather Dog Training | 01869 322996

Contacting the Parish Council is now easier There is a new contact number for the Parish Council and the Parish Clerk You can now call or text on

07305 303 889

but remember that the Clerk only works part-time Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 19

Reporting from Launton School: Exploring Art and Architecture

There are five children from years 4 and 5 here today. They are talking about art and architecture.

We have been studying Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect. He designed the Guggenheim Museum and Falling Water, which is a house in a forest. We like his buildings and think they look quite modern, but we wouldn’t want to live in the Falling Water house because of all the visitors.

We have looked at the work of Andrea Palladio who was an Italian architect. He designed Villa La Rotunda, a building which is the same on all four sides. We had to draw one side of the building. Some of us found it easy, but there were also challenging bits, like getting the domes and angles of the building right.

We have also been studying Sunga Park. She is a South Korean artist.

She travels the world and uses buildings as inspiration for her art. She chooses a section of a building and paints it, but does not paint the whole building. This lets the person looking at the picture use their imagination to finish the painting. Some of us like her work, and some of us are not sure - we’d like to see a finished picture.

We used her art as inspiration for the pictures here and on page 21.

We drew a section of a building in pencil, then went over it in pen and then with watercolour paints, using ‘cold’ and ‘warm’ colours. Then we used a wet brush to drag the paint and fade it so the person looking at the building can fill it in with their imagination.

We all enjoy art. It’s really fun and you can draw anything you want.

We are very proud of our portfolios.

Ella, Adriana, Elsie, Noah, and Jack | Years 4 and 5 Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 20

More of our drawings based on Sunga Park's work

These pictures, and those on the facing page 20, were created by some Year 4 and 5 children, inspired by the work of the South Korean artist Sunga Park..

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 21

Launton Sports & Social Report: February 2024 Just reminding everyone that we are open to the public with no membership required.

We continue to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the clubhouse throughout this year with a series of free or heavily subsidised events for the local community.

On Friday 16 February we are hosting a Children’s Entertainment and Disco featuring Aaron Williams, the award winning children’s entertainer who many of you will know from previous birthday parties.

The cost of this is only £3 per child and we hope that parents will buy a drink and support the bar.

On Saturday 23 March we are hosting a Race Night.

This is a free event but tickets must be reserved in advance so we can manage numbers.

On Saturday 20 April we have an 80’s Disco (£5 per adult, kids free) - feel free to dress for the occasion!

Saturday 11 May Tribute band Like the Beatles will be here.

Widely acclaimed, they have performed at a host of national events, and we are fortunate to have booked them.

Tickets are £15 per adult.

All of the above events can be booked via Eventbrite.co.uk and there are links on our Facebook page.

We very much hope the local community will support us in our 50th anniversary celebrations and reward the tremendous efforts of the voluntary committee.

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 22

Friends of Launton Parish Hall The 6th Grand Tythe Barn Quiz Charity We are pleased to confirm that Registered Number 1199171 the Launton Tythe Barn Quiz will be on for its 6th year in the beautiful and historic Launton Tythe Barn

Registered Charity Number 1199171

on Friday 8 March 2024 by kind permission of Emma and Will Deeley.

Doors will open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start Sort out a team of up to six people and join in this general general knowledge quiz!

Or come along and make up a team on the night!

You never know - you might be in the running to win the coveted

WISE OWL TROPHY Tickets £10 per person From the Costcutter shop - cash only, please Cakes, tea and coffee will be served in the interval.

The Tythe Barn Cash Bar will be in full flow throughout the quiz.

Proceeds split between The Friends of Launton Parish Hall and St Mary’s Church Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 23

Launton Village Players present their 37th Panto It’s panto time, and we’re on the final countdown to creating the magical world of Brushington for Rapunzel!

Tickets are selling fast, particularly for the daytime shows, but there’s still time to buy yours and come along and enjoy our story of Rapunzel - get your tickets at www.ticketsource.co.uk or call 07864 715708.

Performances will be in Cooper School Performance Hall in Bicester. Times and prices are listed here: Date

Performance Times

Weds 14th Feb Thurs 15th Feb Fri 16th Feb Sat 17th Feb

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

7:30pm 7:30pm

Adult (18+) £12 £12 £14 £14

All our Obedience Training is part of The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme.

Jennie, our Instructor is an Approved Instructor (Academy of Dog Training and Behaviour), Agility Club Approved Instructor, UK Agility Instructor.

A new venue under cover in Grendon Underwood

Agility Class, starts at 12 noon on Saturdays Hoopers Activity Monday from 11am Thursday Classes in Arncott Village Hall

 Puppy Foundation Assessment, under 6 months, starts 6.45pm  Bronze Award, for dogs age 6+ months starts 7.30pm  Rally Obedience, for any dog with some obedience training starts 8.30pm

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 24

Child Babes (1-17) in arms £6 Free £6 Free £7 Free £7 Free

*Our Thursday morning performance will be a Relaxed Performance.

Come along and find out: If Rapunzel can escape from her tower? If Felix the Phoenix can help Rapunzel? If Wash and Go can find a job? If Mother Gothel is defeated? If Rapunzel will see the lanterns?

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

Here’s what has been said about some of our previous pantomimes: “If you missed it you missed a treat!”

“Outshone all the bigger theatre panto productions we’ve seen!”

“I smiled and laughed from start to finish!”

“Excellent entertainment for the grandchildren. Their first time at a panto and they thoroughly enjoyed it” Get your tickets now so you don’t miss out on Bicester’s biggest and best award-winning panto!

All profits from our show will be donated to Bicester Autism, a local charity who provide much needed support and opportunities to the families and carers of autistic children, those with ADHD or those awaiting a diagnosis of autism or ADHD. We really look forward to seeing you, and remember, the magical land of Brushington is only there for one week!

Thank you for all your support.

And there is a photo on page 2.

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 25

A report from LES on MOP 1

The mess is still there, but we have made a start in cleaning it up. When Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General opened COP 28 he stated that, “to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrialisation levels, emissions would need to be cut by 8.7% globally every year remaining in this decade”. We have a challenge, a challenge set last decade at the Paris Agreement. - 10 years to cut our carbon footprint by 50%.

That was a reduction of 5% each year. We have not been doing very well, in some areas we have increased the problem. We now have just 6 years left in this decade. That is quite a challenge. It is going to require a big effort. If we ignore the challenge this year, next year we will just have 5 years left in the decade. That will require an even greater effort. A 10% reduction each year!

How does that translate to that average individual, the one with the 6.375 tonnes carbon footprint? If they want to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem, in 2024 they would be looking at a reduction of 555.625kg (6375Kg * 8.7%). The average carbon footprint in the UK is 9.3 tonnes, so to do their bit the average UK individual would require a reduction of 809kg.

However not all footprints are the same size. Do you know your carbon footprint? If you do, it is easy to work out how much you must reduce it if you want to be a part of the solution. Some people only have a tiny footprint and can get away with doing little bits. For those of us with a larger than average footprint doing just a little bit might not be enough.

Most of us in the Global North have got our work cut out for us. We are going to need a concerted effort, to seek and apply innovative ideas, become wise consumers, and we must not be afraid of change. And that is where MOP 1 was so successful.

There was a good turnout. It was not a traditional meeting, although Bob Roberts gave an extremely useful short powerpoint presentation. The meeting was more a brainstorming session, full of useful ideas which I’ll be expanding on in these pages in the future. I personally found it quite uplifting. There was a feeling that we are not in this alone and together we will achieve a much better success. Everyone came away feeling hopeful and ready to take on the challenge. So much so that the group as one agreed on having MOP 2. It will take place, not in a years’ time but in Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 26

6.375!! ... LES three months, on Friday 19 April at 7:30pm in The Parish Hall.

Until then I do hope that you will continue to find ways, be they little bits or costly endeavours, to reduce your carbon footprint. If you need help and encouragement don’t forget that LES can help. And please join us in April, if you can.

Ed Hamill at LES P.S. To find out a personal carbon footprint, we use The World Wildlife Fund system. Google ‘wwf footprint’ to find out more. Our email address is launtonenvironmentalsociety@gmail.com

Peace of mind for pet owners...

Compassionate and Caring at all times  Long opening hours for your convenience  24 hour on-site nursing care as standard for all our hospitalised patients  24 hour Emergency service provided by our vets at our practice  A service that's second to none from North Oxfordshire's most established,  independent, speciality small animal hospital.

Launton Lines January 2024 Issue 279 | Page 27

LAUNTON OVER 60’S: an update

The editor apologises that this report was not included in the January issue - an oversight on his part. The text is below, together with information on the dates of 2024 meetings.

We’ve had a very busy December: on the 6th we enjoyed a splendid three course Christmas lunch at The Nightingale at Langford Village which included a glass of Prosecco. This was free for all members followed by a raffle thanks to local businesses who donated prizes.

On 13 December we had a sausage and chips lunch followed by mince pies; this took place at our normal meeting place - The Launton Sports and Social Hall.

At this meeting the bingo jackpot of £17 was won by Edwina Royston from Bicester. To finish off the afternoon every member was given a box of chocolates.

As a community we are so lucky to have this group in the village: thanks must go to Edwina and her tireless committee who work very hard!

Finally our secretary Pat Court suffered an unfortunate accident. I understand she is progressing well in her recovery and we all wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing her back in the New Year.

Shirley Johnson Regular meetings are on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, House maintenance  and if there is a fifth Wednesday we Repointing  have a meeting then, too.  Internal and external decorations All are in the LSSC Hall: regular Patios  meetings start at 1.30pm and end at Decking  about 3.00pm. There are also lunch Fencing  meetings (with food) that start at 12:30 and have the bar open. In For a personal service, 2024 these will be on March 27, May call Peter N Southam 22, July 31, and September 25.

01869 278333 We welcome new members, so do 07721 633 220 come and join us. You will be made peteroofer@aol.com very welcome.

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 28

My National Service (Part 2)

Last month John Stephens wrote about the start of his National Service, the training in London and Catterick, and then his assignment to and early travels around Malaya. Here he completes the story.

After six weeks with the artillery, I was returned to KL, then shortly afterwards I was posted to Taiping, North Malaya. Taiping means ‘Haven of peace’. I was at Taiping for about nine months, helping to maintain a radio transmitter site containing a 53 set and several RCA BC610 radio transmitters, together with a transmitter belonging to the local telecommunications company, Telecom. The transmitter site was in the town whereas the main army camp was about 3 miles outside the town and we had to travel there by Jeep every day for our meals.

The weather at Taiping was remarkably consistent. Every day it would be sunny until about 1pm when heavy clouds would suddenly appear over Maxwell's hill and there would be torrential rain for an hour or so, often thundery, then the rest of the day would be hot and sunny again. This happened every day Sunset over Taiping for the whole of the time I was there, apart from one week of dry weather. I have since learned that Taiping is the wettest place in Malaya!

Sometimes the lightning would disrupt the town’s electricity supply, then we would all have to leap into action, turn off the transmitters and start up the diesel-powered emergency electricity supply. The three-cylinder Lister diesel needed a lot of effort to get it going. Two of us would turn a handle until the oil pressure was high enough, then we slammed down a lever to close the exhaust valves, whereupon the diesel would start very slowly at first and then accelerate. When it had settled down we would then have to switch on each transmitter and tune it, which took quite a few minutes. Our sleeping quarters were upstairs above the transmitter room and we had to use mosquito nets at night. We took daily doses of Mepacrine, an antimalarial medication which turned us slightly yellow. At the site we had a nightwatchman, a Tamil named Naryansamy.

Taiping had a very attractive park known as the ‘Lake Gardens’, formed by allowing old tin mine workings to fill up and become lakes. Many beautiful Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 29

trees and shrubs were planted, with splendid results. The landscaping was due to the wife of a former British Adviser to the Sultan of Perak; she wanted something to remind her of the English Lake District.

During this time at Taiping I was sent to visit a unit at Kota Baharu for a day up on the North East coast. (Kota means ‘Fort’ and Baharu means ‘new’, so Kota Baharu can be translated as ‘Newcastle’.) There was a detachment of a Malay regiment there and three Royal Signals personnel maintaining a radio transmitter station. We flew from Taiping airfield in an Army Observation Corps DC3 Dakota with a platoon of the Malay Regiment plus all their gear in packing cases down the middle of the cabin, giving us little leg room! After flying over jungle covered mountains we landed at Kota Baharu, whereupon the pilot came into the cabin to say, “Well guys, I've just worked out that we’ve been flying with a two thousand pound overload!”

Some weeks later I was sent again to Kota Baharu to stay for about a month. This time I had to travel up to Penang and fly from there to Kota Baharu in a Malayan Airways Dakota; much more luxurious than an army plane! As well as maintaining the radio transmitter I also helped out with duties as a cipher clerk.

Ma’atna getting us a boat from his village at We had a Chinese cook and a young Malay servant named Kota Baharu. Will they on the way to the beach?

Ma’atna. Once in a while we would get Ma’atna to fetch us a boat (prau) from his village (kampong) and we would paddle two miles down river to the sea and spend an hour or two on the beach. On one of these trips down river we rounded a bend to see a naked young Malay girl washing herself in the river. She hurriedly covered herself, but what a wonderful sight! On one occasion Ma’atna approached me in a state of panic. He said, “Please take my photo, Sir!” I asked him why and he said “For my passport. Gurkha come!” It seemed that he should have carried a pass with his photograph to get in and out of camp, but the Malay soldiers didn’t bother too much about this. When he found that a Gurkha platoon was due to take over, he knew Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 30

about their reputation and that they would do things by the book and he would not be allowed in without a pass. So I took his photo and he got a valid pass.

About once a week we went into town to the cinema travelling in a threeton truck with about a dozen or so Malay regiment soldiers. I saw an Indian comedy containing two characters rather like Abbott and Costello, a Tamil drama entitled Gnana Soundri and a Hollywood film The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn, when the audience made the show so much more entertaining by their reactions. They cheered the heroes and booed the villains and when Robin Hood and his men were hidden up in the trees waiting to ambush the Sheriff of Nottingham’s procession the audience all stood up on their seats in anticipation. When Robin Hood’s men dropped out of the trees the audience screamed and applauded!

Sometime after returning to Taiping we were all sent on an operation close to the Siam border. I travelled in an LCV (Local Command Vehicle) which carried a 53 set and which was very smoothly sprung so that a radio operator could use a Morse key while on the move. In the northernmost state, Perlis, I remember going into a village shop and seeing rows of bottles of Guinness on the shelves. The label stated “Bottled at St James’ Gate, Dublin”. I don't know who drank it but I could not drink Guinness at a temperature of 90 degrees F and near 100% humidity! We generally drank lager; we could get Carlsberg or Tuborg, but they were expensive, so we mostly drank the local brew, Tiger Beer, which was quite strong.

For a few days we camped at an airfield at Alor Setar where I found that the 53 set had stopped working, owing to a power supply fault. There was a lot of wiring behind a panel which was very difficult to remove. With the aid of a friend named Goucher, a vehicle mechanic, we were able to fix the fault but it took us all night and we got no sleep!

At Alor Setar we were also visited by the High Commissioner, Sir Henry Gurney. He arrived by vehicle, and when his air taxi arrived to collect him (a small twin-engined plane - a Miles Gemini) it burst a tyre on landing, eventually coming to rest after a spectacular ground loop. Fortunately, there was no other damage, and the burst tyre was repaired by our vehicle mechanics. A few months later Sir Henry was assassinated by terrorists on the road up to Cameron Highlands.

Eventually my two-year service was up and it was time to go home. I was Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 31

lucky to board the Georgic, a vessel that took emigrants to Australia in the £10 assisted passage scheme. It had just been used to rush out troops for an emergency at Hong Kong and was returning empty, so we were lucky to have that for the voyage home; not hammocks but nice cabins with bunks.

Finally, I returned to ‘Civvy Street’ in October 1949.

Looking back on my two years National Service, I can honestly say that it was a most worthwhile experience, most An LCV (Local Command Vehicle) in Alor Setar. enjoyable, and I saw The author (J C H Stephens) is on the left. much of the world at the Government’s expense! It is a great pity that we no longer have this scheme. Most young people would benefit greatly from such experience, learning useful skills or trades and learning teamwork and discipline, especially self-discipline. I’ve never regretted a moment of it.

Michael Portillo’s programmes “Great Asian Railway Journeys” on BBC4 were most enlightening. When he asked a woman historian in Penang why place names like Georgetown and Butterworth were not changed to Malay names after independence he was told “Oh, they’re part of our history!”

When independence was achieved on 30 August 1957 and control was handed over to the Malayan ruler Tengku Abdul Rahman he complimented the troops who quelled the communist rebellion and said “We were blessed with a good administration. Let this legacy left by the British not suffer in efficiency or integrity in the years to come.”

The photographs with this article were taken with a Kodak ‘Brownie’ box camera which I purchased in 1947 for five shillings and sixpence (27.5p).

Many thanks to Matt Hill for his work on enhancing the images for print John Stephens Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 32

Report from Island Pond Wood The FIPW AGM This will be on Thursday 21 March at 7:30pm in The Parish Hall. The Annual Report for 2023/2024 will be presented along with information about future plans, existing work and upcoming events. You will be able to meet the Directors and other members of the Friends of Island Pond Wood.

Following the meeting, there will be the opportunity for informal discussion with refreshments. We look forward to welcoming existing members and new faces, and we appreciate your support of our village woodland.

Volunteer work sessions for 2024 For 2024 we’ve looked at when we run Volunteer sessions to try and get more help, as nature keeps growing each year so we need all the help we can get.

Weekend working parties We have scheduled these to be the last Sunday of each month.

Midweek working parties We have scheduled these to be the second Tuesday of each month.

The work we do can include clearing undergrowth and brambles, tidying up around benches, or learning new things such as coppicing or hedge laying (as

Grange Mews News February 2024

Commercial Offices, Industrial Units and Storage for Lease I mentioned the Village Hall project last month, and it seems that the Parish Council have now signed the lease on the Hall (Who knew? It was actually reported on page 34 in the January Launton Lines).

Meanwhile, Sports and Social are marking the 50th anniversay of opening their Hall. In 1974 there was a team of maybe 30-year-olds very actively working together to get the playing field and the building for the benefit of Launton.

And don’t forget the work by Eddie Cannon, Taffy Bates, and Squadron Leader Gold, who knew so many people that we didn’t.

I didn’t know anybody, being new to Launton then.

More thoughts on the Parish Hall Project next month.

Ah, onto business as well: since yesterday we have had a longstanding tenant decide to downsize so there is a 1,100 square foot storage unit, with fibre broadband, available.

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

you’ve probably already seen around the woodland).

It is also a good chance for fresh air, a chat with fellow villagers, and most importantly the chance to help us improve our woodland for everyone’s use.

We look forward to welcoming back existing volunteers and new friendly faces to as many or as few sessions that you can support.

Please mark these days in your diaries and if you would like to know more or be on an email for hearing about what work will be happening on each upcoming session then please drop us an email to fipwlimited@gmail.com We look forward to seeing you around the Island Pond Wood in 2024 as a walker, a visitor, or (ideally) as a member of our working parties.

Ongoing work in the Woodland We have works from year two of our Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) grant underway this winter. Keith and Henry from Alchester Tree Services have been busy taking out aspen trees encroaching on the wildflower meadow and making a start on thinning the southern block of woodland. Most of the results of this work will be chipped for paths or stacked in habitat piles.

We also have Tim Jenkins coming in to create another wildlife pond in the top

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

BICESTER’S ONLY INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTOR

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

Private Chapel Of Rest



Jaguar Fleet of Funeral Cars 

Perfect Choice Funeral Plans

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 34

meadow. Given the success of last year’s pond we are excited to see how this one will develop. We’d like to thank everyone using the wood while work is underway for respecting path closures and safe working distances.

Weekday working sessions in the Woodland The wood took a battering from the heavy rain in December with severe flooding on two occasions (see the cover of this issue). Despite the floods two mid-week work sessions (held on the second Tuesday of the month) were held, with our small team of volunteers, on relatively mild sunny days.

In December we continued to cut back overgrown vegetation along the east end of the wood in preparation for the Vale Countryside Volunteers next visit at the end of January when they will start laying the hedge.

For the session in January we had to seek out a relatively dry location following the flooding over the new year. We have started to lay a hedge along the Blackthorn Road boundary as this will enable us to control the spread of vegetation in that area. This work will continue in future work sessions. As well as the cover, there are some photos on page XX. Friends of Island Pond Wood Team

Launton Lines January 2024 Issue 278 | Page 35

Sponsor a Tile (SAT) We are raising money to start the renovation work on Launton Parish Hall. About £525,000 is needed.

Registered charity We will continue to organise fund raising events, and number 1199171 apply for grants.

We are also asking people, businesses and interested groups to

Sponsor a Tile

(though the roof will be covered with zinc sheets).

A tile will cost £20 and your name will be added to the Sponsors’ Display List which will be in the refurbished Hall. If you would rather not be on this list, just tick the box below or email treasurer@folph.org.uk Money raised through Sponsor a Tile will go to the new roof or, if there is any money left over, to the refurbishment of Launton Parish Hall.

For more information go to www.launton.org/folph/ How can I pay to Sponsor a Tile?

1. Cash 2. Cheque: made out to Friends of Launton Parish Hall 3. BACS or Bank Transfer Account name: Friends of Launton Parish Hall Sort Code: 30-91-91 Account number: 53871468 (reference SAT) 4. Card: via the FoLPH contactless payment device 5. Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/folph 1, 2, and 3 above are preferable and 4 is only at FoLPH events, If you would like to add Gift Aid to your donation please complete a gift aid form from FoLPH. I would like to Sponsor a Tile for Launton Parish Hsll Name: ....................................................................................................

Number of Tiles............................ Amount £ .....................................

Please do not include me on the Sponsor Display List  Thank you for your support.

please 

Launton Lines December 2023 Issue 277 | Page 36

Launton Historical Society

Launton Historical Society’s November meeting was entitled The Romans of Oxfordshire. Despite the freezing temperatures the meeting was very well attended. Our speaker was Marie-Louise Kerr who brought her enthusiasm for the subject to talk about the Romans in the local area.

Before the arrival of the Romans this area was inhabited by Iron Age tribes. When Julius Caesar planned his invasion of Britain in 54 and 55 BC he was opposed by tribes such as the Atrebates. The Atrebates were not complete barbarians. They traded across Europe and although they didn’t leave any written records their grave goods showed that they had discovered how to work metals. Many of the items in everyday use are similar to ours e.g. urns and bowls and in addition, tools made from flint. Julius Caesar described the people of Britain in his account of the Gallic Wars and he declared himself victorious but he actually failed to subject Britain.

This was a significant cultural turning point as the people became familiar with Roman culture but still sufficiently independent to be regarded as “barbarians”. When the Emperor Claudius sent his army to conqueror Britain in AD43, tribal warfare was still common. It is thought that Verica of the Atrebates travelled to Rome after the loss of his crown in battle, seeking help. He offered the Roman Emperor Claudius an unopposed entry into Britain via the Sussex coast, in return for the slaughter of his enemies and reinstated kingship.

Claudius took advantage of the invitation in AD43 and the rest is, literally, history.

Roman remains at Uffington suggest that a villa may have been there.

There are also remains of a villa at North Leigh which was discovered during the nineteenth century on land owned by the Duke of Marlborough. This villa is noted for an early 4th-century mosaic floor, lifted and re-laid in 1929, and displayed under a cover building on the site. The building protecting the floor is one of two built by the Duke, following excavations between 1813 and 1817, after two other mosaic floors had been destroyed by souvenir hunters. It is thought that the Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 37

villa was home to Britons who aspired to the Roman way of life. North Leigh is close to Witney and is well worth a visit.

Alchester is probably our closest connection with the Romans and is the site of an ancient Roman town. The site is not included in any ancient references by the Romans and so the name is not known however, there is a suggestion that it appears as Alavna with the addition of the Old English ceaster to signify a Roman fort. It is about 2 miles south of Bicester, in the parish of Wendlebury. Alchester had a strategic location in Roman Britain at a crossroads which led to the significant Roman towns of Silchester, Dorchester, Towcester and Cirencester. Recent excavations have shown that it was the site of one of the earliest legionary fortresses in Roman Britain after the invasion of 43 AD. In 2003, smashed fragments of the tombstone of Lucius Valerius Geminus, a veteran of the Legio II Augusta were found. It is significant in that it shows he retired from the legion while stationed at Alchester even though he came from north-west Italy and lived in the vicinity until his death. The fortress must have been well-established.

The inscription says: “To the soul of the departed: Lucius Valerius Geminus, the son of Lucius, of the Pollia voting tribe, from Forum Germanorum, veteran of the Second Augustan Legion, aged 50(?), lies here. His heir had this set up in accordance with his will.”

The Launton Historical Society welcomes visitors at its monthly meetings held at 7.30pm on the last Thursday of the month in the Parish Hall, but we did not meet in December 2023.

We have just met on 25 January to hear Alan Lavender speak about his time as the Chef at Chequers, for Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. More about that next month. We meet next on 29 February at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall, to hear John Tyler talk about The Forgotten River, which is the Thame, not far from us. All are welcome to LHS meetings.

For further enquiries please contact cathyprocopiou@hotmail.com Kathy Gilbert and Gwen Skinner Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 38

Memories of an ex-Launton Boy

This month the ex-Launton Boy considers The Post Office - both the old Post Office in Launton, and the postmasters and postmistresses, and postwomen who delivered the mail, and the current scandal-ridden Post Office. He has been watching the television programme Mr Bates v The Post Office and has been outraged by the happenings.

How things have changed over the years!

Here’s wishing the people of Launton a belated Happy New Year and hopefully a healthy one and if not prosperous, then one in which we can all get by.

Well, what about the Post Office scandal then?

I can remember as a young lad growing up in Launton when we had very few buses a day, but we used to get two postal deliveries a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Indeed, quite apart from our own village Post Office, we had our own village post lady delivering the post on her bicycle, the late Mrs Connie Austin who lived next door to us in Green View, Station Road, she being at Number 1 and we being at Number 2 Green View. She was formerly a Ewers from Blackthorn, (coincidence as my maternal grandmother, who was formerly a Markham and the very first occupant, with her children, of Number 2, also came from Blackthorn). Connie had three daughters, Jo, Marjorie and Gwen. Jo married David Rose and they moved away to Kent, not all that far from where I now live. Connie was married to Fred Austin, a man of few words who worked at the London Brick Company at Calvert and was the keenest of vegetable gardeners.

They weren’t the first to live at Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 39

Number 1, having previously lived down West End I believe and only moved in after the elderly Mr. and Mrs Timms moved into a bungalow in Sherwood Close, beneath the village water tower.

For the benefit of the newcomers to the village, way back in the 1950’s, when I were a lad, the Post Office Stores was next door but one to ‘Sabanel’ (where I lived during the first year of my first marriage) on the crossroads side, and was run by old Mr Albert Matthews who was a lovely old man and a very kindly man too, having enabled my mum to run up a slate to be able to feed me and my brother Cliff when Dad was seriously ill in the Churchill Hospital, Oxford with tuberculosis and there was no money coming in.. People in the village were so very kind, looking out for each other back then.

I don’t suppose half the village even knows the other half these days, the village now having grown to such a size. Back in my day, everybody knew absolutely everybody and if somebody hadn’t been seen all day, there would soon be someone knocking on the door to check if everything was alright.

Such a terrible shame that didn’t happen for the dad with the fatal heart attack and the terrible tragedy of his son, that poor little two year old mite who subsequently starved to death. Why oh why can people not be more caring instead of immersing themselves in their mobile phones and social media, unaware of what is going on around them in real life? In my view, neighbours should do what Social Workers are supposed to do and so often fail to. It’s not enough to say, “Lessons have been learned” when clearly they haven’t. That little boy was on their register….so what happened?

Back to the Post Office, which on Albert Matthews’ retirement and his son, Norman, a fully-qualified football referee (who incidentally I watched refereeing a match between Aldershot and I cannot remember who, at Aldershot when I was on my resettlement course prior to leaving the army), decided to move away to Lower Heyford, or at least, one of the Heyfords, the Post Office Stores was taken over

by Mr Percival Harding who ran it for several years aided by his wife and occasionally by his daughter, Janet.

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 40

Then a new village shop was built in what I still refer to as School Lane (Bicester Road) and a new Post Office was established in Sherwood Close. I remember when I left the army it was being run, I believe, by Shirley (formerly Cannon, now Johnson) and Barbara Jeffries (formerly Jeacock), and I am given to understand that they were subjected to at least one cowardly armed robbery. Who would want to be a postmaster/mistress with that risk constantly hovering like the sword of Damocles? [Editor’s postscript: After Shirley closed the Post Office on the corner of Sherwood Close it moved, and is now in the capable hands of Nixson and Sagarika Annamale in the Costcutter shop on School Lane/Bicester Road.]

But to be robbed by the Post Office itself, well that is an almost unbelievable scenario, I say “almost”, but after binge-viewing the four episodes of Mr Bates v the Post Office, I think I must have gone through every negative emotion it was possible to go through. I challenge anybody who has not seen it to watch it on catch-up, and if not tremendously moved by it, then I would suggest an urgent visit to a heart-surgeon.

And I wonder to myself, was the Launton Post Office subject to the clutches of the Post Office Horizon system? If so, I do hope the village has given them every support.

What a travesty of justice. I am convinced that heads should roll on this. Those postmasters/mistresses who have been traumatised by all this, broken homes; lost homes; lost financial security; lost liberty; lost lives; lost everything! No amount of compensation could ever be enough for their suffering, but compensated they must be and quickly so. But it should not be the taxpayers footing the bill. It must be those who bear the responsibility.

So much for our large and long-established institutions which we were brought up to admire, respect and have absolute faith in. I don’t think so brother……not any more!

Keep healthy and stay SAFE. Tony Jeacock MInstRE | The ex-Launton Boy | February 2024 Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 41

Diary Dates: February 2024

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

FEBRUARY Thursday 1 Parish Council Meeting, Public Session 7.15pm, Council Meeting 7.30pm. Launton Parish Hall Sunday 4 Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family Service - Welcome (for the new vicar Revd Sarah Mortimer), 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 5 Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 6 Rubbish Collection: garbage bin | Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30pm4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Thursday 8 WI Meeting, Christine Green talking about Working with Auntie (the BBC), Parish Hall, 7.30pm Friday 9 Last day of school for winter half term: back to school on Monday 19 February | SCOTS Meeting, The Bull, from 5.30pm Sunday 11 St Mary's Church, Evensong, 6pm | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 12 Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 13 Rubbish Collection: recycling and garden bins | Community Café is closed this week for school holiday | Island Pond Wood Working Party, 10am | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday14 Launton Over 60's Meeting, Sports and Social Hall, opens 1.30pm, ends about 3.30pm | Launton Village Players Pantomime, Rapunzel, Cooper School Performance Hall, 7.30pm Thursday 15 Launton Village Players Pantomime, Rapunzel, Cooper School Performance Hall, 10.30am and 2.30pm Friday 16 Sports and Social 50th Anniversary, Children’s Entertainment and Disco (featuring Aaron Williams), Sports and Social Hall, 7.30pm | Launton Village Players Pantomime, Rapunzel, Cooper School Performance Hall, 2.30pm and 7.30pm Saturday 17 Launton Village Players Pantomime, Rapunzel, Cooper School Performance Hall, 2.30pm and 7.30pm Sunday 18 FINAL DATE FOR COPY FOR THE MARCH 2024 ISSUE OF LAUNTON LINES: SUBMIT TO launtonlines@launton.org | St Mary's Church. Morning Prayer, 11am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 19 Back to school for Spring Half Term | Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 20 Rubbish Collection: Garbage bin | Community Café opens for new school term, Parish Hall: 9am-11am; 2.30pm-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Sunday 25 St Mary's Church, Holy Communion, 11am | Island Pond Wood Working Party, 10am | Weekly Quiz at The Bull, 8pm Monday 26 Watercolour Art Class, Parish Hall, 2pm-4pm Tuesday 27 Rubbish Collection: recycling and garden bins | Community Café, Parish Hall: 9am11am; 2.30pm-4.30pm | Rock Chorus, Parish Hall, 7.30pm Wednesday28 Launton Over 60's Meeting, Sports and Social Hall, opens 1.30pm, ends about 3.30pm Thursday 29 Launton Historical Society, John Tyler speaking on The Forgotten River (the Thame), Parish Hall, 7.30pm Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 42

Two scenes from the Woodland this winter

Photos by Mick Jennion

 The Pond after the rains on New Year's Eve 2023 The top (east) of the Woodland where there was some dry ground 

Launton Lines February 2024 Issue 279 | Page 43

Launton Lines is the newsletter for Launton It is published monthly by the Launton Community Communications Group which also manages the Launton website www.launton.org and the Launton Village Facebook Page and Group www.facebook.com/launtonvillage Launton Lines is delivered free to every address in the village. It is funded by 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 the January 2020 issue on www.issuu.com © MMXXIV Launton Lines. We reserve the right to edit articles submitted for inclusion.

Neither the Committee nor the Editors are responsible for views expressed in readers’ contributions.