The Editor writes for August 2025: Issue 296

This issue is one of the longest I’ve put together - 48 pages. There is so much on in Launton over the summer and into early autumn.

The cover this month is from drone coverage of the march to the level crossing on London Road on 17 July. Over 250 people showed support for keeping Bicester united. We wait to see if the Government is listening!

We have two photo spreads in the issue: The Village Players’ Summer Show (pages 24-25), and the Classic and Retro Car Show (pages 8-9). There is also a celebration of the summer-themed Post Box Toppers on page 31, and a review of the Village Players’ show on pages 19-21.

August sees the start of the football year, and page 38 has an invitation to join the three main adult teams for pre-season games, with a list of all fixtures on page 41.

We also have news of events in August: The FoLPH Afternoon Tea is on page 48; The Jay Lapper Match Day including a charity auction run by Charlie Ross on page 40; events at The Bull on page 42; and the programme at The Village Coffee Shop on page 32. And we remember Muriel Beck’s 104th birthday on page 37.

For September, work is in hand for St Mary’s Fayre - The Art and Craft Show is on pages 27-28 and 47, and more on pages 2, 29, and 43. There is also, on page 29, news of The Ride & Stride event.

There are reports from the Parish Council (pages 4-5), from CDC (page 6), the WI (pages 12-13), the Environmental Society (pages 16-17), and the Historical Society (pages 36-37), and a donkey reunion on page 13.

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Robert Cornford