Still a bit later than I’dhoped, but as you’llsee this is a bumper 48 page issue. Many thanks to co-editorMatt Hill for putting together the photo features on StMary’sFayreand Flowerpot Festival (pages 23-26), and on the Monopoly Run (pages 40-41), with a report on page 19. And to Advertising Manager JenWalker for the first of - I hope many - tasty seasonal recipes from The Village Coffee Shop on page 27.
The front cover shows the wedding couple from the Flowerpot Festival at StMary’sFayre, and see pages 16-17 and 23-26 for more news. An update on the Poppy Cascade is on pages 12-13, and two items from the Youth Football teams, on the Girl’sU10s on pages 10-11, and on new kit (page 42). There is also a FoLPH report on pages 37-38, and an alert on another Christmas Community Choir event (page 15), and news of the 2025 Panto tickets on page 31. The Ride&Stride team report on pages 43 and 47, and pages 2 and 20 cover the 25th Anniversaryevent in the Island Pond Wood, and we meet the new Landlady at The Bull (pages 18-19). Pleasesupportouradvertisers:weneedthemtokeepLauntonLinesgoing.
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 October for entry in the November 2024 issue of Launton Lines.
October 18 | Remembering Mum and Dad, Eddieand HelenCannon, on what would have been their 99th birthdays [September 21, and October 18]. We miss you so much!
With love from Shirley, Terry, Mike, Val, and all the family
In attendance The Clerk, Mrs JaneOlds; the Chair of Launton Plotters and 10 members of the public.
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
CllrCotonsent a written report. A new consultation which is open until 1 October has been launched about the Housing Allocation Scheme and is
available on the CDCWebsite.
No report had been received from the County Councillor Finance
The Finance Report is available on the Parish Council website. The Conclusion of Audit Report has now been received from the External Auditor and has been published in the 23/24 Accounts section of the website.
Planning
All planning applications, which include the links to Cherwell’sPlanning 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 about 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
As mentioned in the September edition of Launton Lines the Council is very grateful to the WIfor organising the smartening up of the Hall decoration.
The revised cost of the roof has come in very much more expensive than anticipated, mainly due to the increase in building costs and because of doing the roof as a stand-alone project which will require more changes together with a full roof scaffolding cover. The full funding will need to be obtained before it is possible to start the work and unfortunately this will increase the delays. This is not ideal, but the economic climate and the grant climate has changed markedly since the initial suggestion of the Parish Council taking over the running of the Hall.
The Lease is between the Parochial Church Council, the Diocesan Board of Trustees (Oxford) Limited, and the Parish Council. It specifies that it is for the current building, not a new building and so the Parish Council has no option but to renovate the current Hall rather than start afresh. While it may have been more cost effective, the Council understands that the carbon footprint of a new building would have been far greater than
rejuvenating an old building.
We are where we are, and the thing to do is to move forward with what we have.
Allotments
The Council welcomed the Chair of the Launton Plotters who gave the meeting an update on the recent developments and changes since the EWRproject left the site.
Highway and Traffic Issues: Speedwatch
The Speedwatchteam will always welcome volunteers - if you’dlike to help out, please contact speedwatch@launton-pc.gov.uk
Poppy Cascade
The Parish Council was pleased to be able to support the Poppy Cascaderswith the purchase of strong waterproof bags to store the nets of poppies so that they can be re-used in future years.
Agenda items and dates of the next meetings
The next meeting will be on Thursday 3 October 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 7 November meeting need to be with the Clerk by 24 October and items for the 5 December meeting by 21 November.
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/
Working Parties in the Woodland
We have taken the decision to cancel the September work session scheduled for Sunday 29 due to shortage of session leaders. We will be going ahead with the October weekend session on Sunday 27 to undertake some pond maintenance.
We also will still run the midweek session on Tuesday 8 Octobermeet at the seat by the pond from 10am. Please check our Facebookpage for regular updates, and have you noticed the new FIPWnotice board at the West End entrance to the Woodland.
Watercolour ArtGroup
Watercolour Classes will run on every Monday in October, on 7, 14, 21, and 28. Classes are held in the Parish Hall on Mondays, between 2pm and 4pm. The photo shows a recent class in the Hall. If you would like more information, or to join the class, email Paul.Ebberson@gmail.com
See page 11 for report. Photos from Launton FC
The Launton U10sin the Women’sFA Cup qualifiers ... OK maybe one day! However the girls were invited to be mascots for the Women’sFA Cup qualifier between Oxford City and WoodleyUnited on Sunday 22 September.
With 10 of the girls in attendance they took on some shooting and passing drills under the watchful eye of the Oxford City coaching staff in the lead up to kick off. Then came the walk out of the tunnel, 10 young Cheshire cats holding hands with the Oxford City ladies. A proud moment for the parents congregated in the stands.
Half time saw them continue their passing drills entertaining the crowd and at full time the girls rushed to get autographs of the Oxford City squad. One day in the future it may well be them signing autographs for the next generation!
Huge thank you to Oxford City for welcoming our young stars. It’sa day that they won’tforget!
Poppy Cascades for Launton
By the time this copy of Launton Lines reaches the village, we will have had our final workshop meeting in the Parish Hall, and will have attached all of our poppies to the camouflage netting and the other displays, ready to install at the end of October.
Since we launched the project in March we’vecollected more than 4,000 poppies, knitted, sewn, and crafted from fabric, metal and ceramics.
Our plan is to make a wooden frame to install behind the water pump on Station Road, on which we will hang one of the poppy covered nets as a backdrop for the pump. There are more plans for the pump: watch this space!
The war memorial on Bicester Road is a challenging space; the weight of the installation is the challenge here, but we do have a plan or twoso again, watch this space!
Thanks to everyone who has contributed, shown support in lots of
ways, attended meetings, given help and ideas and generally enthused and encouraged us in this project. The next few weeks will be a mission, but hopefully by the beginning of November all the hard work will be worth it .
The Launton Poppy Cascaders
Two of the “Tree Huggers” put together at the workshop on 28 September, using some of the poppies made by children at Launton School.
Photos by Lesley Thompson
LAUNTON ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY
The following is an abridged version of the LESAnnual General Meeting held on 13 September in the Parish Hall.
I want to set out what we have done since our First General Meeting which was held on Wednesday 13 September last year. This is what I reported to the Parish Meeting held in the Hall on 18 April 2024.
“LESaims to help people and our community reduce their carbon footprint. We are a non-judgemental, information based, motivational, encouraging tool.” To achieve this ‘...we’llrely less on meetings - more on emails, newsletters, occasional speakers, outings, and workshops.’
“The following is a list of what we did do in the past year. There are 42 items to report: 5 Village Meetings; 2 formal meetings with the Parish Council; 2 personal meetings with other environmentalists; 1 Group Field trip. There were 11 articles in Launton Lines and members received 12 monthly updates, and 9 other items of a planning nature. A detailed list is available on request, and to be published on our (future) website. “There is no Financial Report, as currently, we do not hold any money.
Membership: Currently there are 63 members in LES, and 38 Members in our sister group LES+S. (for non-Launton residents). Total is 101. The goal of achieving 300 Founding Members still exists. We have 3 members on our Steering Committee, 3 Active ‘helpers’ and 1 hyperactive Dictator.
“I hope that tonight we’ll replace the Dictator with a Management Team, a group of volunteers willing to take an active role in guiding us into the future. Our message is an important one. There is much work to be done”
The above is what we can quantify. It is more difficult to quantify how many people have actually heard and are indeed heeding our message. ‘Our Planet is on fire. We, all of us, are unwittingly, and perhaps unknowingly, stoking that fire’. What we do about it is entirely up to us. There are a lot of people doing their very best to turn things around. I spent most of the AGM introducing two Carbon Heroes, Charlie
Burrelland IsabellaTree, owners of KNEPP.They are the creators of a new ‘Re-’ word; there is Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Renovate, Re-jig, Recycle, and now there is Rewilding! The soil at Kneppis recovering: wildlife is flourishing, farming is now profitable, and it is a Nature Reserve like no other. But this Rewildinghot spot is in West Sussex!
Fear not! We have some pretty exciting places closer to home. BBOWT (Berks, Bucks, OxonWildlife Trust) has 80+ sites local and there is the RSPB Reserve on Otmoor, and our very own Island Pond Wood as well. All well worth a visit!
Submitted by EdHamill, Founder of Launton Environmental Society
P.S.There were no takers to join the management team. So you are stuck with my ‘preaching’ for the foreseeable future. However, you can do something to help ‘put out the fire’. Join LES- emailus at (launtonenvironmentalsociety@gmail.com). Come to MOP IVon Thursday 17 October 7:30PMat the Parish Hall. Together we CAN make a difference!
The Community Choir Christmas Concert
We are happy to announce that this popular event will be returning on Saturday 7 December at 5pm in StMary’sChurch.
If you would like to join us in the Choir then please just let us know either by emailat celiaevans@outlook.com or by phone at 07884 135 994
NickyRobertshas kindly agreed to lead us again with rehearsals during November and early December. The Concert will be a mixture of popular Christmas carols and songs, with Christmas readings.
Tickets will be £10 for adults and accompanied children will be free. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served. More news about when and where tickets will go on sale will be in the November Launton Lines and on the StMary’s facebookpage soon.
We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you on 7 December.
LauntonWIreportingforSeptember2024
On 12 September we met as usual in the Parish Hall for our monthly meeting. The speaker was Deborah Ellis, her talk was entitled I’ma poet, but not as you know it.
Deborah started the evening by explaining that she began writing poems when she was nine and wrote a poem about granddad.She described her style of writing as a “hybrid of Ann Summers, Pam Ayresand Victoria Wood”. After a period of illness, she retired early from her job as a Paramedic and needed to change her career.
She wrote for magazines and the radio, starting with poem about VAT on pasties, which was read on a radio show. Her poems very much reflect life and its ups and downs, for example: mental health, dangers of social media and relationships. Two of her poems were sent to the current Prince and Princess of Wales, and she was delighted to receive replies from them both.
Deborah ended her talk with some answerphonelimericks, which were a lot of fun. Her family challenged her to write limericks that included difficult words, such as origamiand orangutang.Finally, we all enjoyed singing “you are my sunshine”, accompanied by her playing her ukulele. This was a very entertaining and funny evening, which everyone enjoyed. Our next meeting is on 10 October when our speakers will be Peter and Fiona Stickler creating a Whodunnitfor us in Devising a Murder. We meet at 7.30 pmin the LauntonParish Hall and all new members are very welcome.
Theresa Meacock– WI Launton
StMary’sFayre: reporting on the event on Saturday 7 September
The third StMary’sFayrewas held on a lovely late summer afternoon with lots of people browsing the stalls and enjoying a cuppatogether. It was a great team effort, and thanks must go to all involved.
A huge thanks to the organising group who put in much time and effort and an extra big thank you to Rebeccaand Tom for hosting us in their beautiful garden. Many thanks to all who “manned” a stall and a special thank you to all who donated items such as terrific homemadecakes and
toys as well as much more. The event would not have been so successful without your input. Thank you.
Another special mention must go to AndyNgand Will Deeleyfor donating raffle prizes and all businesses who supported us as well.
Huge appreciation must go to our removal team who lifted and moved tables, chairs and trestles at the beginning and at the end of the day, and to Rob Cornfordfor lending and putting up the gazebos at6the Refreshments station. Thank you so much, we couldn’thave done it without you all.
The children’sgames were popular especially the jam jar stall; thank you to the organising team and volunteers for the brilliant and original games.
The free craft activity went well and many pots were decorated with seeds that would grow into straight or curly hair! Great thanks to the organisers for the brilliant idea and making it happen. It was novel to have 2 PCSOswith us who had key rings that could include your fingerprints. Thanks must also go to our first aiderwho fortunately was not called upon!
The Flower Pot Festival in the Church was amazing and there were so many wonderful models from elephants to minions, from a teddy bear to a snowman, from a sheep to a cow and a lighthouse and windmill! And the most beautiful model of a wedding couple (see the cover of this issue) came too. All fantastic, thank you to all of our entrants. The collection of photos we have on pages 24-25 show the colourful models and array of ideas, with more of the Fayreon pages 23 and 26. Thanks to our photographer too for recording the day.
Thank you to all the people who helped to make this event happen. We raised just over £1,200 for StMary’s, our lovely Grade 1 Listed Church. Thank you for all your support.
The StMary’sFayreTeam
New landlords at The Bull
By the time you are reading this, The Bull (the pub on the crossroads) will have new landlords. After Karenand Brandonleft it was taken over by father and son team of Nick and Mark Duval, but from 1 October it will be run by Natasha(Tash) Rush and Matthew (Matty) Minter.They will be taking over the tenancy, and Natashawill become the new Landlady. We went to talk to her to find out about her, and their plans for the pub. Tashhas “20 or so years” of experience in the pub business. Her first job was in the BureFarm pub on the newly-built estate, and was most recently Assistant Manager at The White Horse in Bicester for three years. She says, “The Bull will be a lovely change for me. A village pub is so different from town or estate pubs, and I want to make sure it stays a village pub.”
Tashis a local girl: she lived in AncilAvenue until she was 7 and went to Launton Playgroup. After her parents moved to Bicester, she went to Glory Farm school, then on to Cooper School.
She is very excited about her plans for The Bull.
“We’llhave a specially-brewed The Bull Pale Ale from GreeneKing on the pumps for all the time, along with IPA, and at least one guest ale. We’llalso be changing some of the keg beers and cider on the bar, but will definitely keep the Guinness. And we will have branded Bull straight pint glasses, too.
“We’llbe closing the kitchen for the first week of October to have a deep clean, and will then be re-inspected by the Food Standards Agency later in the month. We’llhave a new menu, and we’re planning to offer a brunch, as well as full menus. There will be vegetarian options, and about 99% of the menu will offer gluten-free options. Where possible we’llbe buying ingredients locally, and all our meat will come from Peter Gossin Bicester.
“Look out for the new menu on our new website and facebookpage - to be launched soon. In the meantime you can emailus for information at thebullinn2024@gmail.com.And we will soon have our new internet connections and a new phone number with ee.
“We’re planning to be open on Christmas Day this year between 12 and 4pm, and to offer a full Christmas Dinner.
“We’vegot plans for events, too. On 5 October there will be a Caribbean
Day, with a food van in the car park (our kitchen will be closed) and music and a singer in the bar. On 18 October there will be local singer Jamie Felton, and on 26 October we’llhave the local band Cherry Smoke. And every Sunday there is the Quiz starting at 8pm.This summer’sHoedown dance day raised £444 for the Air Ambulance. Next summer the Aunt Sally season will start up again.
“We plan to live upstairs, and we’vealready booked The Bull for our wedding party in 2025.
“Come along to The Bull and give us a try. We hope you’llenjoy it.”
Launton’sMonopoly Hunt
Registeredcharity number1199171
On 22 September the village was turned into a giant Monopoly board as 51 people and 3 dogs took part in an afternoon of fun and challenges. There were 14 Teams who had 90 minutes to track round the village and visit all the 22 Properties, 4 Stations, 2 Tax points, 2 Utilities (Water Works on the old village pump and Telephone Company on the OpenReachbox), 3 Community Chests and 3 Chance cards (we didn’tsend anyone To Jail in our version). There were various challenges round the course for Free Parking, including an anagram that none of the teams could solve.
Feedback was good, many saying they’dlike to do it next year. “Loved it, hope it’san annual event” and “It was absolutely brilliant, and incredible what you achieved. We loved it. Thank you”, and “Loved this event, perfect length. Happy to do a longer event with a bigger area.”
The Teams were allocated to three Groups, so Teams were only competing against 4 or 5 other Teams in their Group. The Rules (too complicated to explain here) are on the website www.launton.org/run. The winning team in Group 2, and the overall winner with the largest property (Houses and Hotels) portfolio, was Wandering Walkers. Group 1 winners were Team Sigma, and in Group 3 PHEnopoly. The event raised £310 for the Friends of Launton Parish Hall (FoLPH), and many people had a good time.
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 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 for out Halloween party on 1 November (see page 48) and the Bingo on 23 November.
AllourObedienceTrainingispartof TheKennelClubGoodCitizenDogScheme Jennie,ourInstructorisanApproved Instructor (Academy of Dog Training and Behaviour), Agility Club Approved Instructor, UK Agility Instructor.
SaturdayclassesatWestfieldStables,SteepleAston
Introduction to Agilitystarts at 12 noon
Introduction to Hoopersstarts at 1.30pm
Thursday Classes in ArncottVillage Hall
Puppy Socialisation, starts 6.45pm
Basic Obedience, starts 7.30pm
Rally or Scentwork, every alternate week for each class, from 8.15pm
As the topper created by the Launton Yarn Bombers to mark the 25th Anniversary of the planting of the Island Pond Wood is due to be removed soon, here is a photo of the complex piece.
We wonder how it was made, and how it has survived the rain and wind of the last few weeks. Our thanks to the Bombers for giving us something to smile at.
I hope the driver of the car coming down Station Road when it was pouring with rain recently gets to read this.
I walk down Station Road most days and see my share of lunatics but this one took some beating. He was driving well above the speed limit past the pond when the whole road was awash with water .
As they came past me they sent a huge amount of water over the bottom half of me. It was just as well they did not stop even to say sorry: they would have been given a good mouthful of what I thought of them! As it was I did shout a few words (that cannot be published) that were heard by a delivery driver who saw what had happened. He wound his window down and said he would have said a bit more than what I had.
I hope the driver gets the same treatment that I had, and that they collect a puncture in all four wheels at the same time in the middle of nowhere when it is also pouring with rain!
Did I get wet? NO! I had a very good rain coat on as well as waterproof over trousers - but that's not the point.
Just learn to read the road signs and obey them.
Slow down going past people when there are puddles across the road.
Am I still angry? You bet I am!
Regards
Terry Vale
Reporting from Launton School
Today some Year 5 and Year 6 children are talking to us about the cross-country competition and also ‘Growth Mindsets’.
Our school is competing in a cross-country competition, with other local schools. In the cross-country we have to run 4 kilometres (which is about 20 times round our school field!). The top four runners from each year group go through to the next round. We made it through round 1 into round 2. After round 4 the overall winner is announced. Round 2 is on 3 October at The Cooper School, and we’re hoping to run well enough to get through to round 3. To prepare for the competition we do Launton Laps every morning. We have 5 minutes to complete at least 3 laps of the path on the field. Sometimes our teachers walk around the path and encourage us to keep going if we’re getting tired. Straight after the laps we feel tired, but then our brains wake up and we are ready to learn in our classes. We feel confident that we can get to round 3.
In our PSHElessons we have been talking about ‘Growth Mindsets’ and looking at a book called You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed.In the book he talks about Kid Average and Kid Awesome. Kid Average gives up when things are hard and doesn’tbother to try but Kid Awesome keeps practising and trying hard and doesn’tgive up. Kid Awesome has a positive mindsetand knows that even if things are hard it is worth trying their best to improve - so their mindsetgrows from knowing they weren’tvery good at something but with practise they have improved at it. The author talks about people who have found things hard, like J.K. Rowling- lots of publishers didn’twant to print the Harry Potter books, but she didn’tgive up and eventually someone said they would print it for her. He also talks about how SerenaWilliamsis so successful at tennis because she practises a lot. We have tried to use the Kid Awesome mindsetof being positive when we are doing subjects we don’tthink we are very good at. Having a Growth Mindsetis better than having a Fixed Mindset.A Fixed Mindsetnormally means somebody is naturally good at something, and doesn’ttry to get any better at it. It is better to have a Growth Mindset.
Teddy and Lexi, Year 6 and Tobyand Tilly, Year 5
Launton Village Players Booking opens for the 2025 Pantomime
We are excited to announce that tickets for our 2025 pantomime BeautyAndTheBeastwill be on sale from Friday 11 October 2024.
With an original script packed with comedy, magic, live music and audience participation, this traditional panto is suitable for the whole family to enjoy.
Our 2024 panto won the “Best Pantomime” award from both the Oxfordshire Drama Network and the NODALondon Region, so don’t miss out - book your tickets early as they sold out quickly last year! Make sure you see the best!
Performance dates and times are:
Family tickets are also available at discounted prices. Book early and save!
Use the code EARLYBIRDat the checkoutto get an additional 10% off your tickets – but this will only be available until the end of October.
Tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/lvp or scan this QRcode.
Alternatively, you can call 07864 715 708 for cash or cheque purchases or for assistance.
Launton Historical Society reporting…
In August we met in Pat’sgarden for a bring and share supper - good food and no rain this time. Thank you Pat.
In September we heard StephenBarker talk about trench humour in the First World War, and more about that next month.
For the next few months, these are our speakers. Always on the last Thursday of the month (except December when we generally don’t meet) at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall. You are welcome to come to all or any of them: you can be a member or pay a small fee per meeting.
Thursday 31 October AlastairLack on Oxfordshire Country Houses. Alastairhas visited us a couple of times before, he is knowledgeable with a light touch of humour. I think he will mention Roushamin his talk this time.
Thursday 28 November SteveWebberon Blockbuster, in the Beginning. This is the same Stevewho lives in Launton and he’sgoing to tell us about his experiences in the video industry.
Thursday 30 January Pat Snelson on Bicester's Gothic Architecture. Pat is a great speaker and she will make you notice bits of very old Bicester that you never spotted before.
Thursday 27 February JanineKilroe- Piers, their History and Future. Janineis a fine art photographer who lives in Bicester. So as well as an interesting talk, there should be some good pictures of piers to cheer February up.
Thursday 27 March AntoniaKeaneyon Odd Men and Necessary Women (staff at Blenheim). We booked Antoniaa long time ago and had to wait as she’svery popular. It’sthe first time - in recent years at least - that we’vehad a speaker about Blenheim. At the end of each meeting there’srefreshments and a chance to chat to each other if you want, so it’squite a social event.
GwenSkinner
150 years ago, from TheBicesterHerald
October 1874
Friday 2 October
Launton Church choir had (on the occasion of MrTNewton, late school master and choirmaster visiting them) a supper in the National school-room on Friday evening, September 25. After supper several songs were sung, and a very pleasant evening was spent, MrNewton expressing the great pleasure it gave him in coming to see them. The cost of the supper was defrayed by MrC R Killby, churchwarden, Manor Farm, Launton, who has on several previous occasions shown great interest in the choir in many ways.
Launton Harvest Thanksgiving offertory on behalf of the Additional Curates Aid Society amounted to £2 6s4d.
Friday 16 October
The Launton Church Choir members, both male and female, were invited to and kindly entertained at BrashfieldHouse, Caversfield, by F JStaples-BrowneEsq, on Thursday evening last, October 15, when an excellent supper was provided and a pleasant evening was spent.
Friday 23 October
LAUNTON WORKING MEN’S INSTITUTE
In connection with this Institute it is arranged to give a series of Penny readings during the winter months, which is worthy of the support of the parishioners. A lamp is now placed over the entrance gate to the institute which affords benefit to the members, and on which is painted the name of the Institute. The first of these entertainments came off on Tuesday evening, October 20, in the Reading Room of the Institute which in every way proved a success. The room was crowded. FJStaples-Browne Esq, of BrashfieldHouse, Caversfield, presided, and said there were two objects in those entertainments – viz., one to increase the number of members and the other to give the parishioners a little enjoyment. The charge for the admission of members was 6dper quarter, and if they paid two quarters at once it would be 10d, therefore making a reduction of 2d.He wished the Institute success and hoped that the entertainments would answer the objects for which they were intended ….
16 October 1824
On Wednesday last Henry RevellReynoldsEsq, the Chief Commissioner of the Insolvent Debtors’ Court, held his first Sitting in the Town Hall of this city, for the hearing of Insolvent Debtors’ cases....and the following was the result... JosephEllisand John Corbett, of Launton, farmers, were opposed by their detain Creditors, and in consequence of their having disposed of a small part of their personal property since their being in confinement, they were adjudged to be further imprisoned for one month each.
Oneofthemostimportant decisionsyouwillmake ischoosingtherightaccountant. Contact us today foraFREEinitialmeeting. We will proactivelylisten toyourbusinessneeds andcreatepersonalisedsolutions.
Make a difference to Launton - vacancy for Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer to the Parish Council
Following JaneOlds’ decision to move on, the Council would like to appoint a new Parish Clerk. This is a great opportunity to be actively involved in the Launton community supporting the Parish Council in its work to enable the village - and Council - to continue to thrive.
The role is predominantly home-based with the exception of the Council meetings which are held in Launton Parish Hall on the first Thursday evening of each month. The hours are 50 per month and are flexible. Salary will be based on the sector standard between SCP18 and SCP23(details on the website) dependent on qualifications and experience.
The successful person will be someone who is confident, highly motivated and an excellent communicator with good organisational and administrative abilities. They will be able to work alone but will also be comfortable taking instruction from the Council. They must be IT literate and be able to manage the Council’swebsite. A laptop and mobile ’phone will be provided, together with any training and mentor support required.
For more information about how to apply contact the Clerk –clerk@launton-pc.gov.ukor the Chairman, SimonTurner –simon.turner@launton-pc.gov.uk and see the website at https://www.launtonpc.gov.uk/clerk-vacancy/
The closing date for receiving applications is Wednesday 23 October 2024.
Reports from The Friends of Launton Parish
Hall (FoLPH)
Sunday 22 September Monopoly Run
Registeredcharity number1199171
This was a novel idea and thanks to Jonand Cathy Spinagefor organising this for FoLPH. Teams enjoyed looking for 22 Monopoly properties and other features ifromthe board game, and taking their “Chance” as they walked around Launton. Thank you to the 51 people and three dogs who came along and took part. See the report on page 19, and photos on pages 40-41. The event raised £310 for FoLPH funds.
FoLPH Meetings
Thursday 19 September
At our September meeting the Grants Action Group discussed how to cope with the rising costs of the Project. Investigations have been done by the Parish Council into doing the Project in phases. The Parish Council is also discussing a management group for the Hall project that will drive the project forward: FoLPH will press to have members on this group. The most important work before the winter really sets in is repairing the roof (to buy time for making decisions on how to proceed and following grant applications and targeted fundraising), followed by making the building more usable by providing better (though temporary) heating and insulation. Once the Hall is made weatherproof then plans can go ahead for the main project. We will also need to update the community consultation for new grant applications.
The “smarten up” led by The WI in August has made a big cosmetic change to the Hall. People may have noticed that the kitchen has a new outside door (the old one is on a bonfire in the village) just waiting for painting in the Oxford Blue of the main doors. The Treasurer reported that FoLPH had just over £45,000 in funds. Rob Cornfordagreed to become Chair of the group at the September meeting, and our thanks to Rob for taking this on.
Continued on page 38
Thursday 21 November
Our next FoLPH meeting will be in Launton Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 21 November. Come along and find out more about our events and more about the plans for the Parish Hall. FoLPH meetings are open: you can just turn up.
Future events
Saturday 23 November
An evening with the BoogieWoogieBellas
This wonderful group of singers will be entertaining us again with a variety of songs and maybe even a few Christmas songs towards the end! There will be wine and nibbles as well as soft drinks available.
We look forward to seeing you at our meetings and events, and huge thanks to all who support our events and help us raise funds for Launton Parish Hall.
This month the ex-Launton Boy’sgreat grandson Reggiehas been to nursery for the first time. The writer recalls that time in his youth, before nurseries existed in the numbers they do today. He didn’tenjoy his first day at Launton Infants when he was quite a bit older than Reggie.Then he thinks back to when he was a young parent, and didn’thave the time to see his own daughters through their childhood. So he is really relishing his great grandson.
As I write this, it was my great grandson’sfirst day at nursery school today. He is just 18 months old and an absolute little darling. As I understand it, he will be going just two days a week, from 9 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon, with a nap somewhere in between. Personally, I think it is a wee bit too soon but, then, I am old school and at that age such facilities weren’tavailable anyway, apart from which back then, for most of us, our mothers were at home to look after us.
My wife, Julie, took him and, as with her own children when she first deposited them at pre-infants, she found it very difficult as he cried; the poor little mite.
I’llbe honest, if it had been me I would have picked him up and taken him back home. (I’vebecome a bit of a softie in my old age). But then I stopped and thought for a moment, remembering as if it were only yesterday, my very first day at Launton Infants school, when the teacher was Mrs Freeman, who used to live up by the duck pond in Station Road.
As I saw the back of my mother disappear out of the door, I burst into a flood of tears, “mummy, don’tleave me”.
Do you know, there could not have been a more able and genuinely caring teacher for infants than Mrs. Freeman. She gently coaxed me into taking a stick of chalk and copying onto a mini-blackboard (slates were obsolete by then), the letters she had written out on a card that spelled my name.
At lunch time, mum came to take me home for lunch, and according to her, I couldn’twait to get back to school for the afternoon session. Poor little Reggiethough: when Juliewent to collect him at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, he ran to her with arms open wide and crying.
From the scant report received from the staff on this first day it is difficult to make a true assessment as to what sort of day Reggiehad. Apparently, he did sleep for almost an hour and a half and hardly touched his packed lunch. He normally has a very good appetite.
I suggested to Juliethat maybe she’llget a better idea when she next takes him and sees his reaction.
As I said, I think it is a wee bit too early, but with no siblings (yet) it could be beneficial to him in interacting with other infants, although there is plenty of interaction between us when he is at our house, which is usually at least three times a week. What pleases me immensely is my ability to absorb every precise moment I have with him, to share his journey through his various emotions, tantrums, giggles and sheer wonderment. And that is because I have the luxury of being a great grandparent.
On reflection though, it also saddens me when I think back to when I was a young parent myself, striving to put a crust on the table and keep a roof over our heads.
I have three lovely and very beautiful daughters from my first marriage. Such was the nature of my work, combined with extremely unsocial hours it involved, I did not have the opportunity to indulge myself in ‘quality-time’ parenthood with my own children. As a consequence, I dipped out on what should have been, but more importantly, my daughters dipped out too as children. I think that is probably my greatest regret in life, and the relationship I have with my great grandson serves to amplify that.
I am so very much hoping that I will be around long enough for my great grandson, Reggie, to take me out and buy me a pint……legally. Keep Healthy and Stay SAFE!
TonyJeacock, MInstRE | The ex-Launton Boy | October 2024
