The Editor writes
This issue will be earlier for the month. But any offers of help in collecting, chasing, and collating contributions will be really helpful.
The front cover this month features the winning Launton Girls Under 8s six-a-side team as they celebrate their winning the Plate for their age group in the Launton Youth FCsummer tournament. There is a report on the three days of football on page 17, with a full list of all the winning Cup and Plate teams. On Sunday 22 June there was the Ladies five-a-side Tournament: there is a report on page 27, and some photos on page 34. The centre pages 20-21 feature photos from the tournaments. There is information on forthcoming village events. The Village Players’ Summer Show on pages 28 and 40; The FoLPH Summer Afternoon Tea in the re-roofed Parish Hall on page 2 and the Churchyard ClearUp is on page 8. The annual StMary’sFayreon Sunday 14 September features on pages 23-25 and on page 39,with entry information for the Art and Craft show, and updates on all the stalls.
The Parish Council reports on pages 4-5, our MP CalumMiller writes on page 6, and our District Councillors tell about consultation on the future shape of local government on page 11. The Poppy Cascaders update us on their Christmas plans on pages 12-13, and The Grumpy Old Men of Launton return on page 35 with questions, and some answers, about traffic in the village.
Children from the school tell of their field trip at WaddesdonManor on pages 18-19 (with photos) and a local vet reports on pages 26-27. Please support our advertisers: we need them to keep Launton Lines going.
RobertCornford
Launton Lines
A monthly newsletter for Launton. Published around the first of each month by the Launton Community Communications Group © 2025 Launton Lines email:launtonlines@launton.orgwebsite:https://launton.org/launton-lines/
The Launton Lines Committee 2024-2025
Chair: Vacant | Secretary: KateGreig | Editors: RobertCornford, Matt Hill Treasurer: CarinaCollins | Distribution: ShirleyJohnson | Advertising: JenniWalker
Contact the Parish Council
WhilewearewithoutaClerk, you cancontacttheCouncilbyemailat clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk or on the Council'smobileat 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’s floodlighting 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 July 2025 for entry in the August 2025 issue of Launton Lines. July 26 | Sponsored by MichelleMcIlrath. Remembering GeoffBarker on what would have been his 53rd birthday. With love from Michelleand all the family
LAUNTON PARISH COUNCIL
Combined notes from two meetings of the Parish Council, held on Thursday 5 June 2025 at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall (Ordinary Meeting) and Monday 16 June 2025 at 12.30pmin the Parish Hall (ExtraordinaryMeeting).
SomedocumentsrequiredfortheCouncil’sexternalauditwerenot completedintimeforthe5Junemeeting;theymustbeapprovedbythe Councilandsubmittedtotheauditorby30June,soanextraordinary meetingwascalledtoenablethesedocumentstobeapproved.
Councillors present: MrAndrewBriant(Vice Chairman), Mrs Jackie Hackett(16 June), MrSimonTurner (Chairman) and Mrs Jaqueline Webber.
Apologies: MrGlynAustin (both meetings), Mrs JackieHackett(5 June)
In attendance: CllrWill Boucher-Giles(OCC) and 5 members of the public on 5 June; none on 16 June.
Reports from District and County Councillors
Councillor Boucher-Gilesaddressed the Council about recent developments at the County Council since the elections in May.
Governance and Consultations
There are still vacancies for two Councillors and the Parish Clerk, details of which may be found on the Parish Council website. Anyone interested
should contact the Chairman at simon.turner@launton-pc.gov.ukor call the Parish Council’smobile number (07305 303889).
Finance
The Finance Report for the 5 June meeting, and all financial documents dealt with in the 16 June meeting, are available on the Parish Council 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-inthe 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 is available on the Parish Council website at https://www.launtonpc.gov.uk/planning-applications/
Parish Hall
The roof replacement is, at the time of writing, tantalisingly close to being complete: some guttering downpipes and the removal of the remaining refuse are still to be done. However, with the removal of the site fencing and the minimal amount of work remaining, the Hall is now available for daytime use again.
The Parish Hall Development Advisory Group is continuing to look into the next steps for the Hall using the responses to the recent survey.
Highway and Traffic Issues
The resurfacing of Bicester Road is almost complete, with road markings needing to be reinstated.
Agenda items and dates of the next meetings
ThenextmeetingwillbeonThursday3July2025intheParishHall,starting at7.30pm.Ifyou’dliketochatwithaCouncillor,docomealongafter 7.15pm.
Suggestionsforagendaitemsforthe7Augustmeetingneedtobewiththe Clerkby24Julyanditemsforthe4Septembermeetingby21August.
Ifyou’renotsigneduptoourmailinglisttoreceivenewsfromtheParish Council,youcanfindasignupformatthebottomleft-handmenuofthe ParishCouncilwebsiteatwww.launton-pc.gov.uk/
From our MP, CalumMiller . . .
My team and I were heartbroken when we learnt the dreadful news that we had lost three members of our community in the fire at Bicester Motion. DaveChester was a well-known and liked business owner. JennieLoganand MartynSadlerwere doing their job protecting us, running towards danger when we all run from it. My thoughts and prayers are with their bereaved families and the two injured firefighters. I would like to thank campaigners whom I have worked alongside to make the case for a fully accessible underpass to replace the London Road crossing in Bicester. At the end of March, I met with the Chief Executive of East West Rail, David Hughesand the Rail Minister, Peter Hendy.Following our discussion, I got written confirmation that two underpass options, one including space for cars (as well as cyclists and pedestrians) are now being considered. This is a welcome update, since the consultation at the start of the year did not include this option. In June, I presented the House of Commons with my petition, signed by over 4,500 people calling for an underpass that will allow cars as well. The response from the community to support this was incredible and I am so grateful to all those who collected signatures and all those who signed. It is important that the voice of local people is heard when this decision is made by ministers over the summer. I continue to work hard, with the support of my small team, to represent you in Parliament and to ensure that the issues you raise with me are addressed. Since setting up the office and hiring the team we’vereplied to thousands of emailenquiries and picked up a wide range of casework. We have assisted flood victims, followed up with problems in housing, education and health to name just a few. My small team and I work to represent all the (approximately)102,000 people across our constituency of Bicester and Woodstock.So far, our first year has been a privilege and a steep learning curve. One of the best things about my job is meeting more people in communities like Launton, where I joined a “Wetting the Roof” gathering last month to mark the new roof on the Parish Hall, and elsewhere.
Launton Watercolour Art Group
The Watercolour Group normally meets on Mondays in the Parish Hall between 2pm and 4pm.In July we will return to the Hall on these days: 7, 14, 21, and 28 as work on the Hall roof should be complete.
Many thanks again to Peter Cox who made the Boardroom at Grange Farm available for our meetings while the Hall roof was being replaced. Here is a work from our of our class members.
If you are interested in attending, please emailPaul.Ebberson@gmail.com
StMary'SChurChyard SuMMer Clear up Saturday 12 july froM 09:30aMto lunChtiMe
It would be useful if you brought aselection of garden tools (loppers, secateurs, rake, fork, saw) and some gloves or gauntlets. We will be supplying elevensies. We hope you Will join uS
You are most welcome to join our Services and Events listed here. All are in StMary’sChurch.
6 July 8.00amBCPHoly Communion 11.00amFamily Service
7 July 2.30pmFellowship Group meets in St. Mary’s
13 July 6.00pmEvensong
20 July 11.00amHoly Communion
21 July 2.30pmFellowship Group meets in St. Mary’s
27 July 11.00amMorning Worship
It is always advisable to refer to the Facebookpage for StMary’sChurch Launton for the most up-to-date information in case any last minute changes have been necessary, or please contact The Team Vicar
MorninG CoMMunity Cafe
The Community Cafémeets every Tuesday between 9am and 11amuntil school closes for the Summer on Tuesday 22 July. Please look at our Facebookpage for the latest details.
Launton WIReporting . . .
At the June meeting of Launton WIwe had a really interesting talk from Miles Penhallow, called Tales from a Detectorist.
Miles began his talk by explaining how he first became interested in metal detecting a few years ago. He talked about the discoveries that he made in the local Launton area, and also further afield with metal detecting clubs.
He brought with him many examples of the finds that he made over the years, for example: lead shot, old coins, brooches, buckles, a dog whistle and even a gold brooch. Some of his finds dated back to AD700.
He also explained how you need to obtain permission from landowners to be able to detect on their property. He went on to explain how with experience, you can start to work out where finds are more likely to be found: beside old pathways, under old trees, beside rivers and even the very centre of a square field. This was a very interesting and engaging talk. Several of us said at the end of the evening that we might want to give metal detecting a go, as it sounded a lot of fun. But maybe a little addictive . . .
Our next Launton WImeeting will be held on 10 July 2025, at 7:30 pm, in the Parish Hall. The speaker we had booked has had to withdraw, so the Committee has organised a themedevening Books and Bingo: Come along to find out more.
Newcomers are always very welcome to our meetings.
TheresaMeacock
Cherwell District Councillors reporting . . .
There is only one major thing to report on at the moment.
Local Government Reorganisation
As some of you may already be aware, the Government have asked all local councils with a two tier authority (District and County) to come up with proposals for a unitary authority. Cherwell, alongside the other District Councils, have put forward a proposal for two unitary councils, broadly following the existing boundaries of the councils. They have proposed one council, called Oxford and Shires, which will consist of Cherwell, West Oxfordshire and Oxford City, and a second, called Ridgeway, which would consist of South Oxfordshire, the Vale of White Horse and West Berkshire. You can find out more about the proposal here: https://twocouncils.org/home. This proposal is currently out for consultation until 16 July and we would encourage you all to talk part.
Oxfordshire County Council has put forward an alternative proposal for one unitary council, which would consist of all of Oxfordshire. You can find their proposal here:
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/council/local-governmentreorganisation-and-devolution/interim-proposal
Oxford City Council have also put forward a proposal which would consist of three unitary councils within Oxfordshire. You can find their proposal here: https://greateroxford.org/
Get in Touch
As always, please do get in touch! Our emailsare below: gemma.coton@cherwell-dc.gov.uk, alisa.russell@cherwell-dc.gov.uk julian.nedelcu@cherwell-dc.gov.uk or phone us on 01869717712.
All the best, Gemma, Alisa, and Julian
Launton Poppy Cascadersdo Christmas
Our first meeting in June was very successful. Thank to everyone for your support. Bob Robertscame along with some of the trees he has made, which are looking great.
Bob and his team are going to have a couple of day sessions later in the summer to build the stock of trees. This will include some trees that he hopes to sell at the Island Pond Wood event on Saturday 27 September, all proceeds from these trees to go to IPWfunds.
Currently we have a plan to site the trees on the corners of most of the main roads in the village, plus the Parish Hall, War Memorial, crossroads, water pump, Island Pond Wood, The Village Coffee Shop and possibly the Church. Atthemeetingwehadlotsofideasformakingdecorations;itwillbeinteresting toseeoverthenextmonthshowmanyandhowvariedtheyallare.Wehave somepatterns,butthereareplentyonYouTubeandEtsyifyouwantideas. Ideallythedecorationsneedtobeamaximumof5inches(125mm)tall.
Whilst we all agree there’sno hurry for the decorations to be made, it is nice to get the project underwayand to gradually build up a stockpile of decorations to give us an idea of how many we will need. We are grateful to Launton Parish Council for supporting this community
event. We are exploring the prices of battery-operated timed lights for the trees, and we will apply to LPCin due course for a grant to cover the cost of the lights and other sundries.
We hope to have another meeting in the next few weeks, so look out for posters and social media for dates.
Some of us try to go to the Knit and Natter at the Village Coffee Shop on a Wednesday 10 - 12.00, if you fancy joining us.
We welcome anyone who is interested in making the trees or the decorations. Please get in touch, or for more information contact any of the following:
MaryCarter email carmore2007@hotmail.co.uk
HilaryBradshaw emailhilaryannbradshaw@hotmail.com Tel 01869 241989
LesleyThompsonTel07971381074
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
IntroductiontoMantrialingandIntroductiontoTracking arealsoofferedatadayandtimetosuitthetrainer, yourself,andyourdog.
LAUNTON ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY
HOME SWEET HOME . . .
What do you think of as home? To some people home is ‘where they hang their hat’ to others it may be ‘where their heart is’. I must admit that I personally fall into the latter. Therein lies my quandary. My house may be in one place, but my heart is in two places, the ‘land of my birth’ (USA) and the ‘land of my fathers’ (UK). Geographically they are 4,000 miles apart, but matters of the heart are not measured in miles. I am fortunate to have loved ones in both continents and feel love for both places because they are both a part of the same place . . . Planet Earth. To many it may be just earth, but to me it is HOME. Planet Earth is my home, it is your home, it is home to all of us rich or poor. We are not doing a very good job in taking care of Mother Nature. According to the International Displacement Monitoring Centre between 2008 and 2016 each year an average of 21.5 million people lost their homes due to Climate Chaos. And that number is rising. In 2022 that figure reached a record 32.6 million. Floods, storms, wildfiresand drought are forcing people out of their homes, not only in poorer countries, but in richer countries as well. Sadly, that number is bound to rise. Global Warming must be taken seriously! What can we do? As a people, we can follow the lead of The United Nations through their COP (Conference of the Parties) gatherings and work with governments and agencies to try and limit the rise in Global
LOCAL, TAILORED SUPPORTFORYOU INYOURHOME
temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industriallevels. Individually, we can try to reduce our personal impact on the environment by working with Mother Nature and using efficiently but not abusing our valuable, and scarce, natural resources. We can change our mind set from ‘Bigger is Better’ to ‘Less is More’. To learn more, sign up for LESat launtonenvironmentalsociety@gmail.com.Or, if possible, come along our next Meeting of the Parties gathering. If you haven’tgiven much thought to the environment lately or want to share some ideas that you have found useful, to pick up a few ideas or to just spent an hour with like-minded people a ‘mop’ might be just what you need. MOP VIIIis on 18 July at 7:30 PM in The Parish Hall. Together, and with the help of biodiversity, we CAN change things around.
Submitted by EdHamillfrom LES
Launton Youth FCTournament 2025 - What a fantastic 3
days!
This year’sLaunton Youth Tournament was our biggest and best yet - 215 teams came together across two weekends of football, with the tournament taking place over three action-packed days. A total of 1,720 players took part, playing 637 matches and scoring 1,045 goals across six busy pitches. In total, we witnessed over 95 hours of football - a fantastic effort from all involved. Teams travelled from far and wide: HungerfordTown made the longest trip. Closer to home, Launton Youth featured strongly, with 32 teams entered. It’salways hard to pick standoutperformances, but a special mention goes to the Launton Girls U8s(on the cover for this issue). Last year, as U7s, they didn’twin a single match. This year, they came back stronger and went on to win the plate final in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out - a brilliant example of perseverance and progress.
The event was kept running smoothly thanks to the hard work of 23 referees and the incredible support of 101 volunteers. With more than 1,500 cars parked over the weekend, it was a huge logisticalchallenge that simply couldn’thave been managed without the dedication of our volunteer team. A huge thanks to every one of them - without their commitment of time and energy, this tournament simply wouldn’tbe possible. We’re incredibly grateful. Thanks also to the players, coaches, supporters and everyone who made this year’stournament so special. Roll on next year! The Cup and Plate winners in each Group for this year is in the table below.
Age group
Cup Winners
Plate Winners
Boys U7s BanburyUnitedYellowsU7's WheatleyFCU7's Boys U8s DidcotDynamosFCU8's GreaterLeysU8's Boys U9s ChestertonCubsU9's CartertonU9's Boys U10s BartonRaidersU10's BicesterParkRangersU10's Boys U11s OxfordCityAU11's LauntonYellowsU11's Boys U12s KidlingtonYouthFCWolvesU12's AstonYouthFCU12's Boys U13s DucklingtonU13's CademyWhiteU13's Boys U14s BartonUtdBlackU14's DucklingtonYellowU14's Boys U15s HungerfordTownCrusadersU15's CumnorMinorsFalconsYellowU15's Boys U16s LauntonBluesU16's KenningtonU16's Girls U7s& U8s CumnorMinorsSnowLeopardsGirlsU8'sLauntonGirlsU8's Girls U10s WitneyHornetsAGirlsU10's WitneyHornetsBGirlsU10's Girls U11s BartonFoxesGirlsU11's HeyfordParkRangersGirlsU11's Girls U12s CumnorTigersWhiteGirlsU12's LauntonYellowsGirlsU12's Girls U13s BicesterParkFCGirlsU13's BrackleyTownJuniorsGirlsU13's Girls U14s AbingdonUnitedBlackGirlsU14's OxfordCityGirlsU14's Girls U15s BartonUnitedFCGirlsU15's TringTornadoesZebrasGirlsU15's
Launton School reporting . . .
Today some Year 4 children are talking to us about their recent trip to Waddesdon Manor.
We have been learning about Greek Myths and on 18 June we had a trip to WaddesdonManor. We travelled on a coach, leaving school at 9am.When we got to the manor, the coach driver dropped us off by the large fountain and we walked to the house and went inside using the staff entrance. There were two people to show us around and explain some of thing we could see in the house. There were another two people who were there to help us with activities when we went into the learning room.
In the first corridor we saw lots of shovels on the walls. Each shovel had a name engraved on it. This meant that the person whose name was on the shovel had planted a tree at the Manor. We saw shovels labelled for Queen Victoria - the handle of this shovel was covered in red ribbon - Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, and King Charles III.
As well as the shovels in the house, we also looked at some paintings. One in particular was HerculesReceived into Olympus by Jacobde Wit (painted in 1725). We each had a booklet, and we had to identify some of the figures in the painting, with the help of the two guides. Some of the figures we could name were Hermes- who was the god of several things, including trade and wealth; Zeus- god of the sky; Erosgod of love; the Three Fates - goddesses of destiny; and Demetergoddess of agriculture, fertility and the harvest. We could also identify Hera, Aries and Athena.We knew about some of these figures because of our topic at school.
Outside we saw several statues, one was of Proserpinebeing dragged to the underworld by Pluto.We learned that Proserpinewas allowed to be in our world for six months and then had to be in the underworld for six months. When Proserpineis in our world it is spring and summer and when she is in the underworld it is autumn and winter. Another statue we looked at was of Herculesfighting the Nemean Lion.
Continued on page 19
We spent a lot of time in the gardens where there was plenty of nature to see: flowers, birds, bees and butterflies. We saw the grave of Baron Ferdinand’spoodle, Poupon.The head stone is on Ash Tree Walk. He was the Baron’sfavourite dog.
After a picnic lunch we went to the learning room where we decorated small terracottapots. We could choose what to paint, some of us painted figures from Greek Mythology, others painted Greekstyle patterns, and some of us painted the bird that is the mascot of the Manor, Mimithe Mynah.
Mollie, Fleur, Darcey, Laylaand Luca- Year 4
Here are some pictures from our visit.
We really enjoyed our trip to the Manor and would like to go back. Our favourite bit was decorating the pots, and we enjoyed looking at all the statues.
STMARY’S FAYREARTS & CRAFTS SHOW
Sunday 14 September, 1.30pm- 3.30pm
COMPETITION CLASSES
Flowers (Gold cup adults, Hackling cup children)
An arrangement in a jar
1a Adults (year 7 and above)
1b Children (nursery/reception)
1c Children (year 1/2/3)
1d Children (year 4/5/6)
Photography (PatsyStephenscup)
Open (any photograph)
2a Adults (year 7 and above)
2b Children (nursery/reception)
2c Children (year 1/2/3)
2d Children (year 4/5/6)
Nature around Launton village
3a Adults (year 7 and above)
3b Children (nursery/reception)
3c Children (year 1/2/3)
3d Children (year 4/5/6)
Crafts (Jenny Brindcup)
Students from Launton School will design a greetings card from Launton to be distributed to local care home residents
Entries will be submitted through the school
RULES and INFORMATION
Entry is free
Judging will take place before noon on Sunday 14 September, no late entries will be accepted and the judge’sdecision is final
All entries must be accompanied by an entry form
Entries can be dropped off at St Mary’schurch on Sunday 14 September 9.30am-11.00am
Entries to be collected on Sunday 14 September from StMary’schurch by 4.30pm. Any items left after this time will be disposed of at the organiser’s discretion
Trophies
Gold Cup, Hackling Cup and Jenny BrindCup – Launton residents and/or members of StMary’schurch eligible
PatsyStephensCup – all entrants eligible
Photography
Maximum of two entries per class per person
For further information, please contact Paulaon 07713069259
The Entry Form for all Classes is on page 24, over the page.
Once again the popular StMary’sFayrewill take place in the garden of The Old Rectory, (our thanks to Rebeccaand Tom Sowler) and in StMary’s Church on Sunday 14 September, from 1.30pmuntil 3.30pm We will have all the normal stalls for you to enjoy such as cakes, plants and produce, tombola, books and toys. There will also be children’sgames, a craft activity and a visit from our local police, hopefully with a police car this year and some free activities.
Refreshments will be served with a choice of tea, coffee and cakes, and a chance to sit and catch up with friends, old and new.
This year we are running an Arts and Crafts Competition in the Church: the entry form is below and will also be available in Church. Please do enter. Classes will be judged and some trophies awarded (see page 23 for details).
Donations of cakes (with an ingredients list please) and plants along with tombola items and good toys are welcome, so please bring these along to the Church on Friday 12 September from 6pmuntil 8pmor Sunday 14 September between 9.30amand 11.30am.
More on our Facebookpage www.facebook.com/stmaryschurchlaunton/ Many thanks and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday 14 September. The SMFTeam Entry form for StMary’sFayreArts and Crafts
A Bicester Vet writes . . .
Bellais a 4 year-old moggywho presented to Vet Laurenrecently with a very painful and swollen leg. Laurenfound a small cut on the leg and a crunchy feeling on palpation of the bone. She quickly recommended x-rays, and everybody was horrified by the results.
Beautiful Bellahad been shot! The pellet had passed through the humerus, smashing the bone and stopping just short of the chest cavity. Bellawas very lucky to be alive.
Fortunately, Laurenand Kyrahave both done years of additional surgical training and regularly perform orthopaedic surgeries. They were delighted to put their skills to use in retrieving the pellet then repairing the fracture. This was done by inserting a pin down the middle of the bone to realign the ends then attaching a plate with 9 screws to hold things firmly in place whilst the bone heals. Bellawas a wonderful patient. She tolerated weeks of crate rest and within 3 weeks she was using the leg well again. She’llbe back for a check-up and follow up x-ray in the summer and hopefully we can tentatively start to have some more normal exercise. We are all horrified that someone’spet cat could be shot like this and are thankful that the pellet stopped short of the chest. A few more centimetres and Bellamight not have survived. This incident happened in Wendlebury, and the owners would be pleased to receive any information on how this might have happened.
Thankfully, Bellais doing well, and we trust her positive recovery will continue, and that she’llbe back to her wonderful self very soon.
JasonWilliams
Launton Ladies FCreporting
Sunday 22 June saw 42 teams visit Launton for our annual 5-a-side tournament! There were over 50 different matches played, with teams from all over Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Launton had two ladies’ teams and also a teams from our U17’ssquad, so were well represented.
Our tournament day is run by Claireand Nick, the managers of ladies team, along with their team of volunteers from the ladies team, family and friends. We had a busy BBQ, tuck shop and ice cream van on the day, as well as the Sports and Social bar being open for refreshments.
This year, we were joined by our new match kit sponsor The Order of St John’sCare Trust who came to support the ladies and ran a raffle for us, to raise funds for the LangfordView Care Home, as well as to hand out the trophies to the winners and runners up of the tournament. We remain a community and family club and had a wonderful day celebrating women’sfootball! We are still looking for 1 or 2 experienced players to join our ladies squad, contact Claireon 07540 013105. There are some photos from the tournament on page 34. ClaireFinn
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Launton Village Players
Family Variety Show: “Heroes and Villains”
We are getting closer to our summer variety show Heroes and Villains. There are performances at 1:30pmand 6pmon Saturday 12 July and at 2.30pmon Sunday 13 July. The show is suitable for the whole family and will include some songs all related to the heroes and villains, some known and some new ones! It will be a real variety show, featuring songs, music, dancing and comedy, with a few surprises thrown in along the way. We have some short comedy sketches including SherlockHolmestrying to solve his biggest mystery, and even an insight into the most ineffective bank robbery! There will be fun and laughter with Superheroesin 60 Seconds and well-loved songs from artists such as Elvis, JohnnyCash and Charlie Puth.We’re definitely “Holding out for a Hero”!
The 1:30pmshow on Saturday 12 July will be a “relaxed performance”, aimed at those who might require a more relaxed environment. The show will be exactly the same but will involve the following adaptations:
Music will be turned down.
We will provide a small area to be used as a chill out space.
A visual story will be made available before the show.
The cast and crew will have an open attitude towards audience noise and movement.
We are performing in our Big Shed Theatre at Hare LeysFarm, Launton, Bicester OX265AB.Please bring a foldable chair or blanket to sit on. If you can’tmanage this we have some spare chairs available. There is plenty of parking, and disabled parking is near the Theatre doors.
Doors will open 45 minutes before each show. Refreshments will be on offer before the show as well as in the interval, including prosecco, Pimms, beer, fruit juice, tea and coffee, as well as homemadecakes, and ice creams. We take cash and contactlesscard payments.
To book tickets go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/lvp.Tickets cost £12 for adults and £6 for children. (booking fee applies). You can also book refreshments but these will be available on the day too. If you are unable to buy online, call us on 07864 715708 for cash and cheque purchases.
As well as celebrating all kinds of heroes and villains we are also raising money for our own stage block fund, so there will be a raffle with some lovely hampers as prizes. We hope you will be able to support us and help raise funds for our new staging.
If you have any questions please contact us on 07864 715708 or by emailtickets@launtonvillageplayers.org.uk
Welookforwardtoseeingyouandthankyou,asalways,foryoursupport.
The LVP team.
Friday 24 July
There was a crowded attendance at the Congregational Church, Rothwell, Northamptonshire, on Thursday in last week, when the Rev WHSansom.BA, of Launton, was welcomed as the new minister . . . MrSansom, replying to the address of welcome, said he would not soon forget the day when, as a stranger, he walked for the first time into that church; very warm was the welcome he then received . . . Mr Sansomwas on Tuesday shown over the Council School by Captain ButlinCC, and introduced to the scholars by the headmaster. He was afterwards one of the speakers at the ceremony in connection with the annual distribution of prizes.
FOOTBALL CLUB
The annual meeting was held on Thursday of last week at the Bull Inn, MrJFStarbuckpresided. The financial statement, presented by MrD Osborne, showed a fair balance in hand. It was decided to enter the Jersey League and the Oxfordshire Junior League. MrH Foster was elected captain, and MrW Austin vicecaptain. MrD Osbornewas re-elected honsecretary and treasurer, and MrAlbertMatthewsassistant secretary. The following committee was appointed: MessrsOwenCastle, ErnestCastle, Charles Simons, Fred Massey and G Penn.
Votes of thanks were passed to MrHawes, for the use of the ground, and MrH Carter for the use of the headquarters.
Launton Historical Society reporting . . .
Whatatreat.MartinSirotSmithcametospeakaboutDailyLifeinTudor Times.HeemergedfromthestoreroomoftheHallinfullTudorgarb,in thepersonaofLawrenceWashington,whoacquiredthemanorof SulgraveandStuchburyfromHenryVIII,builtSulgraveManorHouse andwasthethreetimesgreatgrandfatherofGeorgeWashington,first PresidentoftheUnitedStates.Martingaveussomuchgrippingdetail, thisisjustasnippet.
TheTudorperiodlastedfrom1485totheearly1600s.ifyouthinkyou fancyasliceofTudorlife,asseenallcleanandglamorousonTV,see whatyoureckontothis.
6%ofthepopulationwere‘civilised’oreducated,94%werepeasants, totallyuneducatedandlivedinhovels.Theyweredependentonthelocal manorforwork.Lifewasadailystruggleforthem.Fouroutoftenbabies diedonthedayofbirth.Twomoreweredeadbytheendofthefirstyear. Ofthefoursurviving,onlyonelivedto‘oldage’,ieage40. TheChurchprovidedthecomfort,keptpeoplegoing.Lifeonearthwas seenasatestingground,soyou couldproveyouweregoodenough forheaven.Thefootoftheladder wasearth,thetopwasheaven,with angelsandsaints.Noteveryone couldattainthatortheladderwould beunbalanced.Godputtherulersin place,tocontrolsociety.
Dideveryonelookglamorous?No. Clothescostalot,evenforthe aristocracy,andyouworethesame costumeforweeks.Richmenwore trunkhose,attachedtothedoublet andpaddedwithwool(Blackadder’s pufflepantsIthink).Aswellas warmth,thetrunkhoseprovided upholstery–thefurniturehadnone (itwouldhavebeeneatenbyrats)so youhadtoupholsteryourself.
Itwastreasonoustowearpurple.Aristocratscouldwearredandblue. Youcouldhavefurifitwastrappedonyourownestates.Gartersgave status.Afeatherinthecapcouldonlycomefromyourownestate.Ladies hadthickdressesandworeacoif,aclosefittingcapwhichkeptthehair’s wildlifeundercontrol.Atnightanightcapwaswornlestmorewildlife descendfromtheroofing.
Youwouldcarryyourowneatingimplementswithyou–aknifelikea daggerandaspoon.Noforksasyet,theseappearedfirstinItalythen France.Everyoneatevastamountsofstonebakedbread,about5loavesa dayperadult.Thepoormighthaveasmallbowlofpotage,astewofpeas andbeans,andtheymighthavemeatiftheykilledtheirpig.Butthepig wasyourbank–youcouldmortgagehalfapig.Therichhadvast amountsofmeatfromhunting,shooting,trapping.Manydiedofheart attacksintheir40s.Vegetableswereforanimalsandfruitwasbadfor you,thoughitcouldbeboileddownintosugar.Teethsuffered,theworst inhistory.ThediethadnoVitaminC,sowhendiseasehit,itwaslethal. Therewasnodrinkingwater–itwashorriblypolluted.Thestreetswere runningsewers.Muchbeerwasdrunk–mashingthebeerkilledoff impurities,sobeerwassaferthanwater.Therichdrankwine–afterall, weownedhalfofFrance.Therewasnounderstandingoftheimportance ofmilk–itwasn’tpossibletochillit,soitwasturnedintocheese.Hardly anycalciumintheTudordiet,somostpeoplewereunder5ftwithweak bones.Brokenboneswereadeathsentenceandthesecondbiggestkiller inTudortimeswasgangrene.Homeswereprettysmellywithrush flooring,ratdroppingsandfoodchuckedonthefloorfordogs.
AnyonefortimetraveltotheTudorperiod?
WewillmissMartin.HehasspokentoLHSonanumberofoccasions andwethankhimforentertainingandinformingus.MrsSirotSmithhas suggestedthat,withthepassingoftheyears,hespendmoretimeindoors. BythetimeyoureadthiswewillhaveheardGillianCanetalkabout BletchleyPark,thenwehaveaJulyoutingtothatveryplace.August bringsasocialatPat’shouseandon25Septemberwereconvenetohear DickRichardstalkaboutTheCommonwealthWarGravesCommission. Allarewelcome.
GwenSkinner
150 Years Ago: from TheBicesterHerald
9 June 1875
THE ANNUAL PICNIC AT LAUNTON was held on Wednesday, 7 July, in a large orchard belonging to MrThos.Taylor, of Launton, at which upwards of 100 persons were present (including about 50 from Oxford). Cricket and various other sports were entered into with spirit.
Adinnerwasprovidedinalargeshedintheorchard,aswerealsoteaand supper.Overtheentrancetotheshedwasplacedthewords“Welcome ToAll,”theinterioroftheplacebeingalsotastefullydecoratedbythe MissesTaylor,Linnell,Hazell,Gessey,ParrottandHolt.
Dancing was kept up until dark to the strains of the Bicester String Band, which was engaged for the occasion. After supper songs were sung and cheers given for JAshbyEsq, for flowers and fruits sent, and to Mrand Mrs Taylorand family, for their hospitality, and the singing of “God Save the Queen” brought the day’s proceedings to a close, which was apparently enjoyed by all
DEATHS, July 9, at Launton, after a short illness, William Long, grave-digger at the Congregational Burial Ground, Launton.
[Historicalnote:severaleditionsofthe paperwereprintedeachweek,sothis obituarymusthavecomefromalater edition.TheTaylorslivedinapropertyin WestEndwiththeirextensivefamily.]
PhotosfromClaireFinn
TheGrumpy OldMen of Launton return
We were delighted to read the results of the readership survey carried out at the end of 2024, and to see that we, the Grumpy Old Men, had such a ringing endorsement from your readership. We were further honoured to receive your invitation to contribute further to the village newsletter. So where to start? Maybe with roads and potholes. Or traffic reporting and speeding? Or perhaps with the road drains and ditches. Or the overgrown footpaths and pavements? There is plenty to discuss.
On the roads, it’sgood to see the resurfacing of Bicester Road has been done in time for some really hot days: maybe the top dressing and sealing will harden up once the temperature drops below 25C.A couple of us swapped memories of growing up in the 1950sand walking to school in the country along roads where the tar was coming up in blackcurrant-shaped bubbles. We were 6 at the time and didn’tunderstand the difference between blackcurrants and hot tar – and came home with our fingers covered in black sticky stuff that certainly wasn’tblackcurrant juice. Do they use different tar nowadays, or were the summers of 1953 and 1954 so much hotter than today? We all agreed (or all of us who were round to remember) that certainly the summer of 1953 was cold and wet and miserable.
So now we wait for road markings to be reinstated. With any luck they will have some built-in traffic-calming in the shape of one way traffic and lights.
And while on the topic of traffic calming, what has happened to the County Council proposal for a raised cushion across the village crossroads covering all four roads and the crossing. We tried to remember how long ago this was put forward following a visit by a County Council expert: at least two years ago - maybe three, maybe four. It seemed a simple but effective solution and it could be one that would work: it was from the responsible authority (County Council handles highways and traffic). They normally told us why some traffic measure proposed from other villages (like chicanes, or narrowed entrances to the village, or “give way to oncoming traffic” road narrowings, or sleeping policemen) could not be applied in Launton - so it might, possibly, be implemented. We asked around our group, and outside it… and no one could remember anything beyond the original proposal. Had it been shelved? Was there no money? Had the enlightened highways engineer moved on? Or had it just got lost (like so many other things) in post-Covidoverload? We agreed that we would try to find out. Here’slooking forward to next month!
The Grumpy Old Men of Launton
Memories of an ex-Launton boy
This month the ex-Launton boy recounts some recent work in Rochester Cathedral restoring the Summerhouse in the Cathedral Gardens with a team of Royal Engineers volunteers. This takes his mind back to some of the work he did as a young apprentice in Launton, on the lychgateroof at StMary’sand on the cricket pavilion at TusmorePark. Then he tells of the unexpected opening of the restored Summerhouse.
I have been involved with the running of a team of veteran Sappers of the MedwayBranch of the Royal Engineers Association in the refurbishment of the Rochester Cathedral Summerhouse in the Cathedral Gardens.
The structure was first built in 1979 by a team from the Corps of Royal Engineers which is very closely associated with Rochester Cathedral. The Corps, albeit under a somewhat different guise, maintains its origins go back to Bishop Gundulf, Chief Engineer to Williamthe Conqueror, who was responsible for the design and construction of Rochester Castle which stands immediately next door to Rochester Cathedral.
There are a great many commemorative plaques inside the Cathedral dedicated to the Corps of Royal Engineers, especially on the inside of the West Wall which houses the main entrance to the Cathedral.
The Summerhouse was first constructed to mark the strong connection between the Corps and the Cathedral, and having fallen into a state of disrepair, the Cathedral officials wanted veterans of the Corps to restore and refurbish it.
I ran a team of just over half a dozen of us, of which four of us were taught the rudiments of designing and making stained glass windows, five in total, which were installed in the Summerhouse, separated by plain glass panels and the roof covered with cedar shingles.
As I reflected on the work we were doing, I was taken back to when I was 15 or 16 years of age as an apprenticed carpenter and joiner with the Launton Building firm of LewisPenn& Co. FredSharpe, of whom I have written on numerous occasions was then the proprietor of the business which by then had moved from constructing new houses to renovating old and well-established buildings, such as farmhouses, vicarages, churches and Estate stable blocks. Most of the work as I recall was ecclesiastical, i.e. church-related. And it reminded me of a time when I was involved in some restoration work on the porch over the main gates to St. Mary’schurch, Launton, and on another occasion when I made a new notice board for
outside of the Chapel in Station Road.
I also worked on the building of a new entrance porch to the little church at Oakleyat the time the Great Train Robbers were just up the lane at LeathersladeFarm counting out their ill-gotten gains, from where we then went to Haddenhamto work on the church roof and then back to St. Edberg’sat Bicester to do likewise.
Back then, we didn’tjust have tradesmen, we had Master Tradesmen, people like BertMassey and FredReeves who weren’tjust ‘bricklayers’, they were stonemasons and took a great deal of time and pride in their work, so much so, that by today’sstandards, you probably couldn’tafford to employ them commercially.
But it was working with them and Jack Spence, the brilliant carpenter and joiner to whom I was apprenticed, that I found myself working on the roof of the cricket pavilion at TusmorePark, where we re-roofed it using cedar shingles that prompted me to suggest to the Cathedral Principals that maybe we should re-clad the roof of the Summerhouse with cedar shingles for their durability and appearance, to which they agreed.
For those ecclesiastical refurbishments I was involved with when a young apprentice, I was paid a meagre apprentices’ wage. However, the reward for working on and restoring the Summerhouse was quite different and quite unexpected.
I was asked to assemble the team, or as many as were available, to gather at the site of the Summerhouse on the morning of Friday 13 June for a special Open Day, preferably dressed in our blazers, flannels and Corps tie, which we dutifully did.
Half an hour later we heard a helicopter coming in to land somewhere nearby, Half an hour later again, I was introduced to Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh. She is such a lovely lady and so easy and relaxed to speak with. I introduced her to the members of my team and then escorted her to the inside of the Summerhouse, with which she was most taken, especially the stained glass windows. She stayed with us for a good twenty minutes in blistering heat.
What a reward, better than any wage packet. Keep healthy and stay SAFE!
TonyJeacock, MInstRE | The ex-Launton Boy | July 2025
DiaryDates:July2025
WithearlySummer,therearemoreevents.SendindetailsofeventsattheSportsandSocial,atthepubs, atsportsteams,andfromvillageorganisations,tolauntonlines@launton.orgforaFREElistinghere. Tue1RubbishCollection:recycling(blue)andgarden(brown)bin|CommunityCafé,backinthe ParishHall,9am-11am|RockChorus,ParishHall,7.30pm
Wed2Over60sClubLunchMeeting,Sports&SocialHall.BarandDoorsopenat12.30pm,meetingends about3.30pm|VillageCoffeeShopreopensafterholidaybreakat9.30am
Thu3ParishCouncil.PublicSession7.15pm,CouncilMeeting7.30pm,LauntonParishHall Fri4DiscoBingoatLauntonSportsandSocial,8pmstart
Sun6StMary'sChurch,HolyCommunion,8.00am.FamilyService,11am|QuizNightatTheBull from8pm
Mon7WatercolourPaintingGroup,2pm-4pm,intheParishHall.ContactPaul.Ebberson@gmail.com| StMary'sChurch,FellowshipGroupmeeting,2.30pm
Tue8RubbishCollection:garbage(green)bin|CommunityCafé,backintheParishHall,9am-11am| FIPWMidweekworkingpartyinthewoodland,Meetatthepond,10.00am|RockChorus,Parish Hall,7.30pm
Thu10WIMeeting,BooksandBingo,ParishHall,7.30pm Fri11SCOTSatTheBullfrom5.30pm|
Sat12StMary'sChurchyardSummerCleanUp,from9.30amtopastnoon|LauntonVillagePlayers SummerShowHeroesandVillains,HareLeysBarnTheatre,1.30pmand6.00pm(seepage40)| BeerFestivalatTheHorseandGroom,Caulcott,allweekend
Sun13StMary'sChurch,Evensong,6pm|BeerFestivalatTheHorseandGroom,Caulcott,all weekend|LauntonVillagePlayersSummerShowHeroesandVillains,HareLeysBarnTheatre, 2.30pm(seepage40)|TrinityCamerataConcertofAmericanmusic,StEdburg'sChurch, 7.30pm|QuizNightatTheBullfrom8pm
Mon14WatercolourPaintingGroup,2pm-4pm,intheParishHall.ContactPaul.Ebberson@gmail.com Tue15RubbishCollection:recycling(blue)andgarden(brown)bin|CommunityCafé,backinthe ParishHall,9am-11am(thisisthelastCaféuntilschoolreturnsinSeptember)|RockChorus, ParishHall,7.30pm
Wed16Over60sClubMeeting,Sports&SocialHall.Doorsopenat1.30pm,meetingendsabout3.30pm Thu17HistoricalSocietyoutingtoBletchleyPark,leaveLauntonabout10:30am,returnabout5.00pm Fri18LauntonEnvironmentalSocietyMOPVIIImeeting,ParishHall,7.30pm Sat19ValeBreweryOpenDaywithfoodvan,from12noon,LugershallRoad,Brill|BCOSConcert, TheMusicofTheCarpenters,StEdburg'sChurch,7.30pm Sun20StMary'sChurch,HolyCommunion,11am|MarshGibbonFarmer'sMarketattheVillageHall, 10am-1.00pm|QuizNightatTheBullfrom8pm
Mon21FINALDATEFORCOPYFORTHEAUGUST2025ISSUEOFLAUNTONLINES:SUBMITTO launtonlines@launton.org|WatercolourPaintingGroup,2pm-4pm,intheParishHall.Contact Paul.Ebberson@gmail.com
Tue22Lastdayoftheschoolyear:backtoschoolaftertheSummerHolidayonTuesday2September| RubbishCollection:garbage(green)bin|RockChorus,ParishHall,7.30pm Sun27StMary'sChurch,MorningWorship,11am
Mon28WatercolourPaintingGroup,2pm-4pm,intheParishHall.ContactPaul.Ebberson@gmail.com Tue29RubbishCollection:recycling(blue)andgarden(brown)bin|RockChorus,ParishHall,7.30pm Wed30Over60sClubMeeting,Sports&SocialHall.Doorsopenat1.30pm,meetingendsabout3.30pm LauntonLinesJuly2025Issue295|Page38
LauntonLinesisthenewsletterforLaunton ItispublishedmonthlybytheLauntonCommunityCommunicationsGroupwhichmanagestheLauntonwebsite www.launton.organdtheLauntonVillageFacebookGroupwww.facebook.com/launtonvillageaswellasLauntonLines LauntonLinesisdeliveredfreetoallhouseholdsinthevillage,fundedbyitsadvertisersandLauntonParishCouncil. Furtherprintcopiesareavailableat£1.00percopyfromShirleyJohnson(01869369269) LauntonLinesisalsoavailableonlinefromJanuary2020onwww.issuu.com ©MMXXVLauntonLines.Wereservetherighttoeditarticlessubmittedforinclusion. NeithertheCommitteenortheEditorisresponsibleforviewsexpressedinreaders’contributions.
