The Editor writes
Late again! Sorry! Somehow life gets in the way of Launton Lines. I’vegiven myself some extra days for the next few issues - copy in by 18 September please. But even if late, I hope this issue is worth reading.
The front cover shows poppies from Launton that travelled to the D-Day beaches for a photo: next stop will be tied onto netting for the Poppy Cascade in November. The WI has been very active with reports and photos on pages 2 and 10 , and on page 18 a report on sprucing up of the Parish Hall that they led. I love the colour of the front door: it’sOxford Blue. There is also news (pages 29 and 40) of the next FoLPH event - a Monopoly-style quest around Launton - and page 28 a reminder of the FoLPH meeting on 19 September. More seriously a piece by EdHamill from Launton Environmental Society is on pages 14-15 about Waste, with the LESAGM on 13 September. The Grumpy Old Men are back (page 26) and The Village Players (pages 27 and 32) are starting work on their 2025 Panto. Oh, and the new school year has started.
Pleasesupportouradvertisers:weneedthemtokeepLauntonLinesgoing.
RobertCornford
LauntonVillageSupport:ContactDetails Groupemail:village.help@launton-pc.gov.uk
PHONE
Numbers: 9:30amto 5:00pm
Janice:07522231100|JaneOlds(LauntonParishCouncil):01869247171 LesleyThompson:01869241755|AbiDowman:07921392201
NickCherryPharmacyRunner:01869242685
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.orgwebsite:https://launton.org/launton-lines/ The Launton Lines Committee 2023-2024
Chair: JonSpinage | Secretary: KateGreig | Editors: RobertCornford, Matt Hill Treasurer: CarinaCollins | Distribution: ShirleyJohnson | Advertising: JenniWalker
Contact the Parish Council
CouncilClerk|MrsJaneOlds
Address |13OakClose,Bicester,OX263XD email| clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk
Phone|07305303889
To book the Parish Hall
Contact:JoanPacker Phone:07922042133
ParishHallCommittee: The Church Parish Hall Committee has stood down, and the Parish Council is appointing a new committee.
LIGHT UP A LIFE
Would you like to sponsor an evening’sfloodlighting at St. Mary’sChurch in memory of a loved one, to give thanks for the birth of a child, or to celebrate a baptism, a birthday, or a wedding?
A minimum donation of £10 is suggested which can be Gift Aided. Please contact JoanPacker on 01869 241694 by 20 September for entry in the October 2024 issue of Launton Lines.
September 9 | Sponsored by MaureenRoberts to celebrate the birthday of her mother, Iris Baker
Councillors present Mrs AbigailDowman, MrEdSanders (Vice Chairman), MrSimonTurner (Chairman), and Mrs JaquelineWebber
Apologies MrAndrewBriant, Mrs LesleyThompson, In attendance The Clerk, Mrs JaneOlds; CllrGemmaCoton(CDC), the Parish Transport Representative and 3 members of the public.
Councillor Resignation
The Council noted RichardWalker’sresignation and thanked him for his contribution to the Council during his tenure.
The resulting vacancy has been advertised and, if there is no call for an election (by 20 August), the Council will ask for nominations for co-option [see page 25]. See the website at https://www.launtonpc.gov.uk/becoming-a-councillor/ for more information.
East / West Rail
No report had been received. If anyone has any queries, please get in contact directly at publicinformation@ewralliance.co.ukor call the 24 hour helplineon 03457 11 41 41.
Reports from District and County Councillors
CllrCotonreported that the May elections had resulted in the Liberal Democrats providing a minority administration as the largest elected party without overall control. Their priorities include the finance of the Council and the infrastructure issues in the Local Plan. Unfortunately, the General Election had delayed the Council’s business.
No report had been received from the County Councillor.
Finance
The Finance Report is available on the Parish Council website.
Planning
All planning applications, which include the links to Cherwell’s Planning Portal, are put on the Parish Council website when they are received (www.launton-pc.gov.uk in the Agenda and Minutes section).
If 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 is able to respond to planning applications is available on the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/planning-applications/
Village Matters
Parish Hall
The Council has welcomed the offer from the WIto help to refresh the paintworkin the Hall. Volunteers may well be needed - watch this space! [see page 18 for a report on the work from the WI]
The architect is currently looking at revising the plans so that the works on the roof can take place this autumn. We are also looking at further funding opportunities, including the SSENCommunity Resilience Fund, which may be able to help with the solar panels.
Allotments
The Council will start to look at the allotment lease as this is due for renewal in 2028. more members! If you use the hall, have used the hall in the past or may like to use it in the future, come and join the committee to help run it.
Highway and Traffic Issues: Speedwatch
The Speedwatchteam will always welcome volunteers - if you’dlike to help out, please contact speedwatch@launton-pc.gov.uk
Parish Transport Report
As mentioned in last month’sarticle, the bus provider, Red Rose, has surrendered the contract for the number 17 route between Launton and Bicester and between Aylesbury and Bicester from Saturday 26 October.
Further negotiations between OCCand Buckinghamshire Council are ongoing to work out an alternative solution. The Council has been assured that there will still be some form of bus service connectivity to Bicester. We hope to know more in September.
Agenda items and dates of the next meetings
The next meeting will be on Thursday 5 September in the Parish Hall starting at 7.30pm. If you’dlike to chat with a Councillor, do come along after 7.15pm.
Suggestions for agenda items for the 3 October meeting need to be with the Clerk by 19 September and items for the 7 November meeting by 24 October.
If you’re not signed up to our mailing list to receive news from the Parish Council, you can find a signupform at the bottom left hand menu of the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/
Watercolour ArtGroup
Watercolour Classes will start after the summer break on 9 September, and will be on every Monday - on 16, 23 and 30 September.
Classes are in the Parish Hall on Mondays, between 2pm and 4pm.This work is from a recent class. If you would like more information, or to join the class, email Paul.Ebberson@gmail.com
Congratulations to all Students for an amazing Show! We are so excited to resume Dance Competitions in the upcomingacademic year.
Free trial classes during term time and free open day event on Saturday 7 September for Children/Students. PAYGclasses in Ballet and Tap for Adults, Beginner, Improverand Advanced levels.
LauntonWIreportingforAugust2024
It has been a busy August for the WI - mainly outdoors in different gardens, and in different weather conditions, and indoorsattheHallovertheholidayweekend(seepage2).
On Wednesday 24 July, LauntonWI were joined by LangfordVillage WI for a croquet challenge and bring/share lunch by kind invitation of MrsPat Mitchell in her delightful garden on West End. Led by Langfordpresident, Val Finlay against Launton’sHilary Bradshaw the event was eventually declared a draw after much hilarity and good-natured competitiveness. It was good to catch up with friends from other institutes.
Despite the cancellation of the intended Aunt Sally competition due to wet weather, the annual WI BBQon 8 August was voted a success. Some members invited friends whom we hope to see again at future meetings. Thank you to committee members who provided all the salads, Eleanor for the desserts and the BBQchefs/wine waiter Sue, Mike and Brian.
Our next meeting is on Thursday 12 September at 7.30pmin the Parish Hall. Our speaker will be Deborah Ellis on I'm a poet but not as you know it. If you would like to come to WI we meet in the Parish Hall on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pmand you would be very welcome.
Eleanor Shakespeare
There are photos of WI activities in August on page 2.
100
Years ago, from TheBicesterAdvertiser 26 September 1924
THERESIGNATIONOFDRBURTONLLD,BA,FSAAWonderful CareerDrBurtonleftLauntonyesterday,afterhavingbeenitsRectorsince 1915.Veryfewpeopleareawareoftheexcellentrecordheholdsanditis difficulttodofulljusticetohismanyqualities.DrBurtoncomesfromanold Lincolnshirefamily.HewasbornatUppingham,Rutland.
Whilst vicar of South Banbury, he was chaplain to the Duke of Marlborough; acting chaplain to the 2ndVolunteer Battalion Oxford Light Infantry and second senior chaplain to the Southern Counties Brigade and also chaplain to the chapel in BroughtonCastle......
DrBurtonwas an enthusiastic Freemason. He was initiated in the year 1880 in the AlbanyLodge, Newport, Isle of Wight, and in 1887 was appointed Provincial Grand Chaplain of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, by the Rt. Hon.
W W Beach, MP, Provincial Grandmaster. In 1900-01 his Majesty King EdwardVII(then Prince of Wales) appointed him Senior Grand Chaplain of England.
The rev. gentleman took especial interest in educational matters and raised £2,000 for Christ Church, Banbury, Schools. He was appointed domestic chaplain to Field Marshal the Earl of RobertsVC, and held this appointment till the death of the Field Marshal in France in 1916 [...].
On leaving Launton, DrBurtonpresented several fine pictures to the Church, and these were hung for the first time on Sunday last. During his incumbency at Launton, DrBurtonhas effected many improvements to the Church.
Mrs Burtoninterested herself enthusiastically in the formation of the village nursing association, which has proved of such benefit to the parishioners.
OUTING
On Thursday in last week a party of about 40 had a trip by motor bus to Wembley [for The British Empire Exhibition]. The day happened to be a fine one, and the visit to the exhibition was much enjoyed. The trip was organised by MrMatthews.
Recent deaths in the village
Launton Lines tries to record significant events in the village. We aim to list births, marriages, civil partnerships, and deaths as we are told. To have a listing included, contact launtonlines@launton.orgor drop a note in at 36 West End. There is no charge for such reporting.
With much sadness Marettaand family would like to announce the passing of KevinAbbott, on 15 August in the Churchill Hospital. Known by many as the man in the van, with his dog. He will be very much missed by all.
ValThorpe, who with her husband Paul ran the village shop in the 1990s, died on 31 July in ChacombeNursing Home in Northants. The funeral will be on 2 September at North Oxford Crematorium, withat the family’srequest - a dress code of “colourful clothes”.
CecilJamesFoster died on 27 July, aged 88. The funeral was held in StMary’sChurch, Launton on 8 August.
Poppy Cascades for Launton
Some of our beautiful poppies have been on tour to the poignant Normandy D-Day beaches, (Arromanchesin the photo below and on the cover).
Our next meet-up, to continue attaching our 2,500 poppies to the camouflage netting, is on Saturday 28 September at 10.00-11.30 in the Parish Hall.
Please join us if you can: no experience is needed. If you haven’tbeen before please come along and say hello, see our progress, and have a cuppa.
Everyone is welcome, not just ‘ladies knitting’ by the way! We would love to see gents and children too!
See you there.
The Poppy Cascaders
P.S.Please bring your own scissors.
LAUNTON ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY
“Waste Not! Want Not!”
My Mom, in the past, seemed to mention those word often, and I imagine yours did too. ‘Waste’ and ‘Wants’ are words from our past that are still pertinent today. Recently, we at LEShad our first field trip to ViridorERF, The Energy Recovery Facility in Ardley. Its motto is ‘to build a world where nothing goes to waste.’ What I found most upsetting was the vast amount of waste that they must process every day. We, as a society, waste too much. So, to my Mom’s saying, “Waste Not! Want Not!” I would like to add my bit. “Buy what you NEED but think twice before you buy what you WANT”. Beware of impulse buying! Recently, we had MOP III.Our MOP meetings (Meeting of the Parties) are a local version of the United Nation’sCOP (Conference of the Parties): these are brainstorming sessions of which they recently held COP 28. We have selected a date for MOP IV.Please put in your calendar Thursday 17 October at 7:30pmin the Parish Hall. You do not have to be a member of LESto join us, just someone who would like to do a little more to help mend our Burning Planet. Did you see the ‘Reddish Blue Moon,’ caused by recent wildfiresaround the world? If you would like to know more about what is being done and what you can do in the battle to control Climate Change why not come to our AGM on Friday 13 September at 7:30pmat the recently tidied up Parish Hall. And do bring the whole family along too. We will be looking for new committee members, but we will keep the AGM bits brief as there will be a talk about KNEPP the rewildingenvironmental initiative in West Sussex, recently featured in the film Wilding.I found out about Kneppfrom my grandchildren, their children just love it! If you would like to be a member of LES, it’seasy and even painless. Just e-mailus at launtonenvironmentalsociety@gmail.comand ask to be
placed on our membership list. Do state how many members of your household you would like to join with you; and we will be in touch through your e-mailaddress.
One last thing: if you want to increase the energy efficiency of your home there is help available via Government Grants administered by WarmaUK.The folks there have been a tremendous help to me personally and if you would like to know more about how it works let me know. To see if you qualify for this grant (not means-tested) and get an application form call WarmaUKdirectly on 0330 4600 065 or check their website at https://warmauk.com
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and do come to our AGM on Friday 13 September.
EdHamillfrom LES
Ride + Stride 2024
The Historic Churches Ride + Stride will take place on 14 September this year. Participants are invited to Walk, Cycle or Ride Horses around Oxfordshire churches and collect sponsorship to raise funds for the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust. For more information, see page 28.
Half of the money raised will be returned to the church, so a small but determined team will be cycling to raise funds on behalf of StMary’s Launton, so any sponsorship is most welcome. If you would like more information, please contact Chrison chrismefrost66@gmail.com He may also be at StMary’sFayreon 7 September with sponsorship forms.
WelcometothenewpeopleintheCostcuttershop
Therearefourpeopleyouwillseeintheshop.Theyareallfromthesame familywholiveinwestLondonandcurrentlycommutetoLauntoneveryday. Therearetwobrothers,andcousins.TheyareGayandipGulati,Gurjeet Gulati,AmandilGoulati,andPavandipGoulati
ItalkedtoGayandipwhoconfirmedthatthenew,extended,openinghours willbeMonday-Saturday:7am-9pm|Sunday:8am-6pm
Mobilecontactnumbersfortheshop:07452838910or07535945213
AndSagarikawillbeworkinginthePostOfficesideforabitwhilethenew peoplearetrained.
150 Years Ago, from The Bicester Herald, September 1874
Friday 4 September 1874
PETTY SESSIONS An Extension of Innkeepers’ Time for Launton Feast MrWilliamGessey, landlord of the Bull Inn, Launton, made application for an extension of hours on Monday August 31, in consequence of being “feast time” at that village. MrMarshamasked for the Act of Parliament, and said every village had its feast; if they (the Bench) granted it to one they would be expected to do so to others.
In reply to the Earl of Jersey, MrGesseysaid he wished for permission to keep his house open two hours later, and he would see that everything was conducted properly.
TheChairmanstatedthatthenewActwouldcomeintooperationon October10,andbythatitapparentlywasnotthewishofthe Legislaturetoextendthetimeatall.AfterMrMarshamhadtoldMr SuperintendantMouldenthatnodrunkennessorriotingmustbe allowedatthesefeasts,hesaidMrGessy’sapplicationwouldbegranted.
[Report of the Petty Sessions held some time previously, but reported in this edition.]
Friday 18 September 1874
MrGessey, Bull Inn, Launton, sustained, on September 10th , severe lacerations to two fingers on the left hand, when assisting in removing a weighty cask.
PETTY SESSIONS Launton Feast Drunkeness John Marriott, known by the cognomenof “Pettit,” labourer, Launton, was summoned by Police-constable GeorgeStockford, for being drunk andriotousintheparishofLaunton,onTuesdayevening,September1.
In reply to the charge, defendant said – I am guilty of having a “drop” of beer. I don't know that I was riotous. I went home when I was ordered.
PC Stockford, in support of the summons, stated that, on the Tuesday
evening in question, he was on duty in Launton. Shortly after ten o'clock at night, he saw the defendant with a lot of people around him, and he was challenging to fight any one there. Witness requested defendant to go home, but he refused. He afterwards took defendant home, with the assistance of a young woman. After that defendant came into the street again, and was quarrelsome.
The Chairman (to defendant) - What have you to say to this?
Marriott– I had had some beer, because it was feast time. I did not know what I was about.
In answer to Marriott, PC Stockfordsaid – You did not go home when I first ordered you to go.
Superintendent Mouldenput in previous convictions against the defendant. One in January, 1878, for refusing to quit a public-house when requested to do so, and he was also committed for 21 days’ hard labour, for being concerned with others in stealing, in December last, money from a public-house.
Marriott, in answer to the Chairman, stated – I am 20 years of age. I have been at work for nobody lately. I am now working on the farm at Grave Hill Wood.
The Chairman – A young man like you ought to keep steady. It is bad for a healthy-looking fellow like you to lose your character.
Marriott– I am steady enough; only it was feast-week.
The Chairman – It was not the time for fighting if it was.
Superintendent Mouldensaid Marriotthad been charged with poaching, but let off on payment of expenses.
PC Stockfordstated that was about four years ago.
Marriotthaving promised not to again take too much beer, and that he would go on different in future, The Chairman said the magistrates taking into consideration that it was feast time, would only order him to pay a fine of 1s, and the costs 10s6d.
Marriottpaid the amount named, and left, thanking the Bench for their kindness.
BankHolidayWeekend
IfyouusetheParishHallnowyoumaynoticeadifference!Orifyouare justpassingandnoticethenewkitchendoorandthebrightfrontdoors. LedandorganisedbyLauntonWIwithhelpfromotherfriends,familyand villageorganisations,theParishHallhadatotalspruceupandre-paintover theBankHolidayweekend.
Thewindowswerecleanedinsideandout,curtainswashed,guttersemptied ofweedsandleaves,pathsswept,grassedgedandmown,frontborders weeded,weedcontrolfabricandnewstoneslaid.Thefrontdoornowisless likelytodroptopieceswithsturdyboardsholdingittogether.Thewalls abovetherailweredustedandcleanedwithsugarsoap.Thedadorail,wall belowandskirtingboardswerecleanedandrepainted.Thefoldingdoors hadfourcoatsofemulsion(notbychoice,theyjustsoakedupthepaint). Theentrancehallhadacoatofemulsion.TheParishHallsignwasoneof manyjobsrefurbishedto‘shabbychic’standardbyEdwhoalongwith28 othervolunteersdidsomuchovertheweekend.Thankyoutoeveryone whocalledintotheHallandencouragedourvolunteers.Itwasmuch appreciated.Whiletheworkwenton,peoplesharedmemoriesofeventsin theHall-frombirthdaypartiestoMillenniumdinners,Anniversaryparties andJubileeevents,BarnDancesandTableTennistournaments.
BrewersDecoratingCentresverygenerouslydonatedtheemulsion,gloss paintandundercoat.Donationswerekindlyreceivedfromwithinthevillage forothernecessities.Therearesomephotosonpage2.
Itishopedthesetemporary‘fixes’willmaketheHalllessembarrassing whenwehavevisitingspeakersandmorepleasantfortheregularusersin theveryshortterm.Wehopetohearsoonaplannedorderofworkforthe Halltoaddressurgentlytheholesintheroof,andothervitalworkswithin thefundscurrentlyavailable.
EleanorShakespeare,PresidentLauntonWI
The Roll of Honour: those who helped with the Work on the Hall: Amy Bradford, HilaryBradshaw, MaryBrydon, SandraClayton, Pat Court, Lida Eddy, CeliaEvans, Martin Evans, KateGreig, EdHamill, BrianHazell, Bob Herring, MickJennion, RachelKing, Bill Lawrie, JaneLeach, John Leach, SherieParrot, CathyProcopiou, Bob Roberts, AnastasijaShakespeare, JonathanShakespeare, EleanorShakespeare, MichaelShakespeare, Lesley Thompson, David Thompson, Pat Tucker, JackieWebber, SteveWebber.
Just a quick reminder that Launton Sports and Social is your local family and dog friendly pub/bar in the heart of the community of Launton, run by a small and perfectly formed group of volunteers and OPEN TO ALL – NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED. We show all major sporting events, including Sky Sports and TNT Sports, serving a wide range of drinks, including Real Ale. We have been serving the community of Launton for over 50 years, as a Sports and Social event venue.
We also have an event hall for hire which has seen many various types
of events from birthday parties to weddings, along with the regular events that the LPFAput on for the community.
Visit our brand new website at www.launtonsportsandsocial.co.uk for further information, a fantastic photo gallery and booking details.
We hope to see you and your families soon!!
The Village Coffee Shop
When will you be open?’
It’sa question we get asked almost daily by our customers and fans!
It’sa question we can’tanswer at the moment, but wanted to give you a little update, and assure you we are working hard behind the scenes Firstly, we WANT to be back open as soon as possible. We miss seeing all our lovely customers and do we miss those delicious cakes!!!!
It’sa long, arduous and expensive task converting a pool house into a coffee shop (little did we know quite how much!)
Tons of red tape, permits to dig the road, electricity and water reconnections, sourcingequipment, building walls ... just some of the many elements needed.
But, we are so fortunate to be surrounded by friends and helpers who boost us when we feel it’sall getting a bit much and are helping by doing work inside the coffee shop to bring you what will be an amazing community driven space to enjoy!
You can follow us on Facebookfor further updates. We’re at https://www.facebook.com/TheVillageCoffeeShopLaunton
StMary’sFayre
Saturday 7 September 2024: 2pm-4pm
The Church and Churchyard and the Old Rectory will be the location for StMary’sFayreand the Flower Pot Festival. This popular event will once again be a chance to enjoy Beckyand Tom’slovely front garden as well as admire our historic Grade IIlisted Church. Come along and peruse all the stalls we have, these will include cakes, plants, produce, books, tombola, toys, as well as a Children’scorner of games and fun. There will also be a craft activity that you can help with, which involves flowerpots and googly eyes. A police car will be on show along with activities too.
Also, as part of the StMary’sFayre, there will be a Flowerpot Festival in and around the Church to enjoy. There will be many different models, maybe from Harry Potter to a caterpillar or even a Minion! What will these three on page 20 be when they are finished?
Join us on the day to admire all the entries in the church. Then you can relax with a cuppa, enjoy some cake and have a chat.
We would love to have donations of cakes for refreshments or the cake stall, plants, tombola items or working toys, including soft toys. Please bring these, along with your Flowerpot entries, to the Church on Friday Sept6thbetween 6pmand 8pmor on the morning of Sept7thbetween 10amand 12 noon.
If you need information please contact events@stmaryslaunton.org.uk. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for all your support.
Proceeds to StMary’sChurch
“ThankYou!”tothe volunteerswhorefreshed theParishHall
Launton Parish Council would like to thank EleanorShakespeare and the WImembers and other volunteers for the time and effort spent organising the Parish Hall spruce up over last weekend. 29 volunteers gave so much of their time on the bank holiday weekend, resulting in the Hall looking cleaner and fresher and a few things repaired. Thanks also to organisations and individuals who donated supplies and loaned equipment.
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM LAUNTON’S COMMUNITY CAFÉ
You may be interested to know that since Launton’sCommunity Caféhas been operating for some years now with the invaluable help of a dedicated team of volunteers, we felt it was time to take the opportunity afforded by the long summer holiday to review the activities on offer. Until now the Caféhas operated on a term-time only basis with two, weekly sessions:
The morning session opening between 9 and 11am which welcomes allcomersfrom the community, particularly including pre-schoolerswith their carers, to enjoy congenial company, refreshments and play! This is largely self-sufficient and our guests enjoy the relaxed atmosphere which promotes an overall beneficial generationalmix. We envisage that the future will see our extending the scope of these sessions by widening our publicity to attract more guests. We open again for the morning session at 9amon 10 September - you are more than welcome.
The afternoon session, latterly running between 3 and 4.30pm, also in term time, welcomed visitors as in the morning, but with an additional emphasis on accommodating school-aged children or siblings straight from school, by offering craft based activities.
Although this has been largely successful, we have been questioning whether or not there might be an alternative way of meeting this group’sneeds in a more relevant, innovative way. So, in taking this opportunity of a rethink by addressing what we are offering, we decided that this was the time to suspend the afternoon sessions for now, and we are delighted to let you know that we are actively planning to launch a new initiative by introducing
hoLiday famiLy fun sessions
the first of these is scheduLed for 1 november –the friday of the haLf term hoLiday it wiLL be a faith-based morning fuLL of fun for chiLdren with their carers.
pLease save the date and check our facebookpage (Launton church facebook)for more detaiLs in the meantime have a great start to the new term. From your friends at StMary’sChurch
TheGrumpy OldMen of Launton reporting
We’veall been away over the summer - grandparent duty, holidays, work projects, gardening among many other tasks - and have only now been able to get together for consultations. There are four things we’veconcentrated on.
1 Why can’tpeople and organisations take down their posters when events are over? Seems a very simple thing to organise, but also seems beyond the wit of many - especially groups from outside the village!
2 And on the topic of posters, why can't someone organise notice boards at Yew Tree and Launton Mews. If people moving to live in the village want to find out about activities and events, we need places to provide it. Perhaps the residents can ask the managing agents to arrange this.
3 We've almost given up on describing Launton as a two-pub village as The Launton Arms is so inconsistent in its opening hours - and if you don’tuse facebookyou’llnever find out. The Bull is - we think - improving, but we work on the rule “New Landlord ... New Style”. The beer is still good.
4 We - like many - are really sorry to see Nixson, Sagarikaand Sethhave to leave the Costcuttershop. They were a bright spot in everyone’sday.
Peaceofmindforpetowners...
CompassionateandCaringatalltimes
Longopeninghoursforyourconvenience
24houron-sitenursingcarestandardforallhospitalisedpatients
24hourEmergencyserviceprovidedbyourvetsatourpractice
Aservicethat'ssecondtononefromNorthOxfordshire'smost established,independent,specialitysmallanimalpractice.
FriendsofLauntonParishHall(FoLPH)
ThankyoutoeveryonewhocametoourAfternoonTea,on11 August.Itwasalovelyevent andalsoraisedabout£300for FoLPH.Herearesomephotos. Ourfutureeventsinclude:
Sunday22September:MonopolyHunt Thiswillbeaneventbasedonthegame Monopolyandwillbesuitableforfamiliesandchildrenaged8+.Seepage29 oppositeandthebackcover.
Thursday19September:FoLPHMeeting
OurnextFoLPHOpenMeetingwillbeonThursday19Septemberinthe ParishHallat7.30pm.Comealongandfindoutmoreaboutoureventsand progresswiththeParishHallplans.
Saturday23November:AneveningwiththeBoogieWoogieBellas Thiswonderfulgroupofsingerswillbeentertainingusagainwithavarietyof songsandmaybeevenafewChristmasnumberstowardstheend!
Welookforwardtoseeingyouand hugethankstoallwhosupportour eventsandhelpusraisefundsfor LauntonParishHall.
WestillneedapermanentChair AtthemomentthepostofChairof FoLPHisbeingcoveredonarolling basisbymembersoftheTrustee group,butwe’dreallyliketohavea permanentChair.Couldyoubethis person?CometotheOpenMeeting on19Septembertofindoutmore.
MonopolycomestoLauntoninSeptember
Pleasemark22SeptemberinyourdiaryfortheLaunton MonopolyRun,agamedesignedtoappealtoolderchildren (recommendedage8+)andadultsalike.Fulldetailsandjointing instructionsareontheRunwebsiteathttps://launton.org/run.
TheRun(well,itcanbeanAmbleoraHunt)willinvolvegoing aroundthevillage,tryingtoclaimPropertiesinspiredbythe classicgamewe’reallsofamiliarwith.TherewillbeChancechallenges,Free ParkinggamesandofcoursepassingGoalongtheway-weprobablywon'tbe sendinganyonetoJailthough.Differentlocationsinthevillagewillreplicatethe traditionalLondonstreetnames:whowillhaveWhitechapelRoad?Wherewill beMayfair?
You’llneedamobilephonetotakepart,andexperienceusingtheWhat3Words appwillalsobehelpful,butweplantooffersomebasictrainingontheday.All fundsraisedwillgotowardsTheFriendsofLauntonParishHall(FoLPH).
TheRunstartsattheParishHall.Arriveat1.30pmforyourteampackand briefing.Thegamewillstartat2pm,andteamsmustbebackintheHallwith theiranswersby3.30pm.Wehopetoannouncewinnersby4pm.Whileyouare waiting,therewillberefreshmentsforsaleintheHall.
Therouteis1.8miles(2.9km)onlevelgroundaroundthevillage-on pavementsandoff-roadfootpaths:itshouldbeaccessibleforpushchairsand wheelchairs(weatherandmudpermitting,ofcourse).
Therearetwodifferentprices.Ifyoubookaheadoftime,Adultticketsare£5, andChildren(under18)£2.50.Ontheday,adults£6,children£3.
Thereismoreinformationavailableonlineathttps://launton.org/run
Launton Historical Society visits Rousham
Hall and Park
AtRousham,eventhechickensareextrabeautiful.Atoursummerouting on25Julyweweregreetedbyaflockofmillefleurbarbud’ucclebantams -namedbecausetheylooklikeathousandflowers.
Weknewthatthegardenswouldbelovelybutthistimewecouldsee insidethehouse-itopensforbookedvisitsinthesummermonthsfor groupswithaminimumchargeof£200,or£20perpersonforatleast10 people.Builtabout1635,justbeforetheCivilWar,RoushamHouseis stillownedbythesamefamily,theDormers,nowtheCottrell-Dormers. Theyhaveholesinthefrontdoorsothatgunscanpokethrough,oneof thefeaturesofacivilwarbuild-thefamilywereRoyalists.
TheCottrell-Dormersusesomeoftheroomsinthehousebutalsohave separateaccommodationontheestate-theVictoriancentralheatingno longerworksandthehouseisfreezinginwinter.Youdogetthesense thatthisisafamilyhome,notjustashowpiece,elegantasitis.
Thehousewasremodelledinthe18thcenturybyWilliamKent,a YorkshireladwhodidthegrandtourandcamebackfromItalywithnew ideasforhouseandgarden.Hewassaidtobecharismatic,andMonty Dondescribeshimasbeingageniusandhavingatalentforschmoozing thearistocracy.Theideawastobringthehouseandcountrysidetogether asone,usingdevicessuchasaneyecatcher,afakeruininthedistance. RoushamisMonty’sfavouritegardeninEngland.Inthelate19th Centurytherewasmoreremodellingandanextensionattheback,which makesthoseroomslookdifferent,moreairyandspacious.
Theparlour-verygreen-hasanopenfireandapaintedceilingwhich hadtoberepairedjustonce,afterabathoverflowed.Theroomhasfour doors,onlyoneofwhichisanactualdoor,therestbeingaddedfor symmetry.Thegreatparlour,formerlythelibrary,hasanornateceiling suspendedonchainswhichisratherfine.Thereisasenseabout Roushamthatmaintenanceisachallenge.Therewasaroomwithseveral costumes-andverynarrowshoes.Apparentlythewearersdidnotwalk somuchaswedonow.
Thereisonebedroomwhosedécorhasremainedunchangedsincethe 1600s,thoughitdoeshaveadressingtablefromthe1851Great Exhibition.Thereareloadsofbedroomsontheupperfloors,butthese
Roushamdoeshaverestrictions-nochildrenunder15andnodogs. Thereisnotearoombutthereareloosanda£10ticketwillmeanyoucan spendalldayinthegardensifyouwant.Youareencouragedtohavea picnic.
Thegardensarefabulous.CountyLifepraisesthemasthebestinthe country.Wespenttimeinthelarge17thcenturywalledgardenwithits deepbordersofplantsanddifferentareas,invisibleonefromanother. Therearehugenumbersofplantsplusvegetablesandorchards-and someseats.Therestofthegardenshavestatuesandarcadesandpondssomuchtosee.Aswellasthechickensthere’saherdoflonghorncattle whichapparentlylookpositivelyprimevalbutwedidn’tseethemso that’sforanothervisit.Thereisaphotofromthevisitonpage2.
ThankyoutoBobandGlynfororganisingthevisitandtoMaryfor mastermindingtherefreshments.Wemeetagainat7.30pmintheParish Hallon26September,whenStephenBarkerwillbetalkingaboutTrench HumourintheFirstWorldWar.
GwenSkinner
Launton Village Players
reporting
It’sShowtime!SummerShow WearepleasedtoannouncethatIt’sShowtime!raisedanamazing£2,250which willbedividedequallybetweenBicesterBabyBankandtheLVPStageblock Fund.Thankyoutoeveryonewhotookpart,helpedandsupportedorwere partofourwonderfulaudiences.
LVPPantomime2025:BeautyandtheBeast
HavingstagedIt’sShowtime!inJuly,we’reontoour2025pantomimeBeautyand theBeastwrittenbyMartinEvans,adaptedanddirectedbyJuliaWest. ThestoryissetinFairyTaleLandwherethePrinceisturnedintoaBeastby thebaddiewhowantstoruleFairyTaleLand.Therearemanytraditional pantocharactersaswellallthefunandmagicyouexpectfromaLVPpanto. Onceagain,wehaveoriginalmusicwrittenbySteveWebberwhichtheLVP bandwillplayduringrehearsalsandtheshows.Thepantowillrunduringthe 2025FebruaryhalftermfromWednesday19toSaturday22February.Tickets willbeonsalefromFriday11October.
AnyprofitsfromBeautyandtheBeastwillbedonatedtoTheHummingbird Centre,aLauntonbasedcharitythatprovidescancersupportandtherapy. Workisalreadywellunderway-thescriptisbeingfinalised,themusic recorded,thesetbeingbuiltandwearebusyplanningforour…
LVPOpenEvening
WeareholdingourOpenEveningonSunday15Septemberat7pminthe ParishHall.Wemayhaveoneortwospacesforafewnewenergeticchorus members!Ifyouareinterestedinjoiningusonstage,orhelpinginanyway,or justwanttocomeandfindoutmoreaboutLVP,docomealongandmeetus. Therewillbesomeacting,singinganddancingandofcourse,acuppaand cake!Youdon’tneedanypreviousexperienceandweareafriendlybunch whowelcomenewfaces!
Ifyouwouldliketofindoutmore,comealongon15Septemberorgetin touchviaemailonmembership@launtonvillageplayers.org.uk,oron Facebookoratourwebsitewww.launtonvillageplayers.org.uk.Welook forwardtohearingfromyou!
TheLVPteam
Memories of an ex-Launton boy: Highways
and byways
This month the ex-Launton Boy is shaken by hitting a pothole in his home town, and muses on his youthful experiences in Launton, where the village railway station offered an alternative to road travel. He is so lost in the past that he still thinks that Bicester North station is called by that name!
My God, how my vehicle suspension is still in one piece beats me. I kid you not, I hit a pothole earlier today that was so large and quite unexpected, I thought I was about to be swallowed up.
The state of our roads and footpaths these days leave an awful lot to be desired. They are absolutely disgusting and quite frankly, dangerous too. The very worse ones around here in the MedwayTowns in Kent are in the town centres and in the streets of the local suburbs. I cannot remember the last time I saw roads being repaired of their potholes. I have driven over better quality unmade and unadoptedroads.
What we do have at the moment is plenty of trenches being dug here in almost every other street with traffic diversions galore. If these are not to do with the laying of cable, they are the laying of new gas pipes.
Now there is something that seems not to have changed all that much, i.e. the digging up of roads and footpaths other than much of it today is done by using mechanical diggers.
Remember back in the day the size of the hole-digging crew? There was one on the pick-axe and another on the shovel. There was yet another operating the manual traffic stop/start sign and then the most important one, he who was constantly making the tea. And all of this was being overseenby the all-important (don’tget your hands dirty) foreman. Five men minimum to dig a hole with occasionally a sixth, just in case someone needed to be relieved!
And how is it that when the Gas Board come along to dig a hole, they fill it in when they have finished and make good the road surface, for the Water Board to come along and dig up exactly the same hole, then fill it in when they have finished, making good the road surface, only to be
followed by the cable people digging up the exact same hole, etc., etc?
Would it be beyond the wit of man to get in touch with the local authority and collectively book a notifiable period for the road to be closed, the hole, once dug, being left open for each of the contractors to immediately follow on from each other, the last of which fills in the hole and makes good the road surface, thereby saving time and disruption?
And when travelling out on the highways and byways, how frustratingly annoying when coming across lengthy coned off areas, funnelling traffic into a single lane with a speed restriction that you cannot even reach because everything is nose to tail and when you get to the end of it, you discover not one single soul is actually there on site. Absolutely no work whatsoever is being carried out.
Going back to the potholes, quite apart from the damage being caused to cars and light goods vehicles, spare a thought for both motorcyclists and pedal cyclists who come an absolute cropper if they hit one of the nastier potholes, particularly at night when it is more difficult to read the road ahead - or worst of all in the dark and in the rain!
Now, on this I am sure my memory is not playing tricks, but back in the 1950’s/60’sas I recall, especially being a cyclist back then, cycling quite some distances from Launton for a young fourteen years old boy, to Princes Risboroughin one direction and Didcotin the other, I do not recall roads being in the appalling condition they are in today. In fact I have some fond memories of seeing road repairs in and around Launton when the roads were nowhere near in the poor condition they are generally in today throughout the country.
The country roads in particular stand out in my memory, where the tar had been spread and the road chippingshad been laid and the diesel rollers (steam rollers were no longer used for the purpose of rolling the highways), rolling the road surface flat, ensuring the chippingswere well embedded into the tar beneath.
I recall the lovely smell of the tar on a hot summer’sday and when a road had been thus treated, the temporary road signs instructing drivers to slow down due to temporary loose chippingsthat could fly up from the rear wheels of the vehicle in front, possibly damaging your windscreen or chipping the paintworkof your vehicle.
It was always a pleasure as I recall, cycling on a freshly made-up road. Back then of course, a significant amount of heavy freight was transported on the railways, where in my opinion it should be today. For those of you who are not originally from Launton or who were born long after the event, there was a time when Launton Station had its very own sidings, albeit only small.
In my book, branch lines should be restored where possible so that each town of any significant size could have its own sidings with a distribution depot. If they can do this sort of thing with ship containers going all round the world, they can do it with railways, whereby a shipment can be dropped off by a train at the relevant station/depot/sidings for collection and local distribution by light axle-weight vehicles, which would quite apart from anything else positive, improve the longevity of our road surfaces by removing or greatly reducing the need for and us of heavy goods vehicles on our roads.
It’scalled, having an integrated transport policy, something which seemingly, we have never had. This idea would, in my mind, be far more beneficial and far reaching than the idea of HS2.
Of course, with Launton sadly having lost its railway station, that opportunity no longer exists, but when you look at the possibilities with Bicester on the old LMS(Oxford-Bletchleyline), not the GWR(Bicester North), there was always the branch off the main line into the Army Ordnance Depot where the systems, civilian and military worked closely with each other very successfully. An ideal location for such a scheme if ever there was one!
It could be done, it should be done, but of course, it won’tbe. In the meantime, our roads will continue to receive their constant battering from heavy axle-weighted goods vehicles and with local authorities being starved of adequate funding for so many years, our potholes will continue to be a danger to us and our highways will make us look like a third world country.
Keep healthy and stay SAFE! Oh, and try to avoid the worst potholes! TonyJeacock, MInstRE | The ex-Launton Boy | September 2024
DiaryDates:September2024
TWiththe coming of autumn, there are more events in September. Send in details of events at the Sports and Social, at the pubs, at sports teams, and from village organisations, to launtonlines@launton.orgfor a FREE listing here.
Sunday1StMary'sChurch,HolyCommunion(BCP),8am;FamilyService-TheOlympics,11am|Quiz NightatTheBullfrom8pm
Monday2FellowshipGroupMeetinginStMary'sChurch,2.30pm
Tuesday3RubbishCollection:garbage(green)bin|RockChorus,ParishHall,7.30pm
Thursday5ParishCouncil.PublicSession7.15pm,CouncilMeeting7.30pm,LauntonParishHall Friday6ArdleyTipclosedtoday
Saturday7StMary'sFayreinthefrontgardenoftheOldRectoryandintheChurchandChurchyard,see pages2pm-4pm
Sunday8StMary'sChurch,PatronalEvensong,6.00pm|QuizNightatTheBullfrom8pm
Monday9WatercolourPaintingGroup,ParishHall,2pm-4pm
Tuesday10RubbishCollection:recycling(blue)andgarden(brown)bin|CommunityCafé,ParishHall,9am11am|IslandPondWoodWorkingParty,meetbythePond,10am|RockChorus,Parish Hall,7.30pm
Wednesday11Over60sClubMeeting,SportsandSocialHall.Doorsopen1.30pmforrefreshmentsat2pm, closesabout3.30pm
Thursday12WIMeetingwithDeborahEllistalkingonI'mapoetandIdon'tknowit,ParishHall,7.30pm
Friday13LauntonEnvironmentalSociety(LES)AGMandtalkonKneppRewilding,ParishHall,7.30pm
Saturday14Ride+StrideforOxfordshireHistoricChurchesTrust-allday.Seepages15and28fordetails Sunday15StMary'sChurch,MorningPrayer,11am|QuizNightatTheBullfrom8pm
Monday16WatercolourPaintingGroup,ParishHall,2pm-4pm
Tuesday17RubbishCollection:garbage(green)bin|CommunityCafé,ParishHall,9am-11am|Rock Chorus,ParishHall,7.30pm
Wednesday18FINALDATEFORCOPYFORTHEOCTOBER2024ISSUEOFLAUNTONLINES:SUBMITTO launtonlines@launton.org
Saturday21IslandPondWood25thAnniversaryCelebrationintheWoodland,seepage39,1.00-5.00pm Sunday22StMary'sChurch,MorningPrayer,11.00am|FoLPHMonopolyRunEvent,startsatTheParish Hallat1.30pm,endsabout4pm,seepages29and40|QuizNightatTheBullfrom8pm Monday23WatercolourPaintingGroup,ParishHall,2pm-4pm|FellowshipGroupMeetinginStMary's Church,2.30pm
Tuesday24RubbishCollection:recycling(blue)andgarden(brown)bin|CommunityCafé,ParishHall,9am11am|RockChorus,ParishHall,7.30pm
Wednesday25Over60sClubMeetingwithLunch,SportsandSocialHall.Doorsopen12.30pmandbaropenand Lunch,closesabout3.30pm
Thursday26LauntonHistoricalSociety,StephenBarkeronTrenchHumourintheFirstWorldWar,ParishHall, 7.30pm
Saturday28LauntonPoppyCascadersWorkshopMeeting,ParishHall,10.00-11.30am
Sunday29IslandPondWoodWorkingParty,meetbythePond,10am|StMary'sChurch,TeamService, 6.00pm|QuizNightatTheBullfrom8pm
Monday30WatercolourPaintingGroup,ParishHall,2pm-4pm
LauntonLinesisthenewsletterforLaunton ItispublishedmonthlybytheLauntonCommunityCommunicationsGroupwhichmanagestheLauntonwebsitewww.launton.organd theLauntonVillageFacebookPageandGroupwww.facebook.com/launtonvillageaswellasLauntonLines LauntonLinesisdeliveredfreetoeveryaddressinthevillage.ItisfundedbyitsadvertisersandLauntonParishCouncil. Furtherprintcopiesareavailableat£1.00percopyfromShirleyJohnson(01869369269) LauntonLinesisalsoavailableonlinefromJanuary2020onwww.issuu.com ©MMXXIVLauntonLines.Wereservetherighttoeditarticlessubmittedforinclusion. NeithertheCommitteenortheEditorisresponsibleforviewsexpressedinreaders’contributions.
