The cover photo was taken in the Island Pond Wood on 28 January - one of the few days in January when it was neither overcast or raining. The skeletal trees against the blue sky is an unusual combination in winter. Did you spot the grey squirrel? Cover designed by Matt Hill.
Photo by MagalieHill
Our front cover this month features an unusual sight for January 2026some blue sky and a clear view. it was taken in the Island Pond Wood at the end of the month. I like the clear and sharp patterns of the branches against the clear sky - all with the added interest of the squirrel. All in all, January was very wet and dark. But just look at snowdrops - featured on out new feature of village nature notes on page 23, and now bursting out all over the place - and you know that spring is not far away.
The centre of this issue (pages 19-22) has the second part of David Thompson’saccount of his trip to Ukraine in November. A bit further east page 14 features a welcome to the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse from The Sun Wahtakeaway in LangfordVillage. Closer to home, pages 10 and 11 show (with photos) the result of the two-week gap over Christmas in collecting from the rubbish and dog-poobins at the playground.
The WI(on pages 16 and 39) has news of their February meeting - on local Sky Wave Gin - which will be open to all (even men!) , and the Historical Society lists on page 15 their speakers for the first half of the year. FoLPH (pages 25-26) reports on the Parish Hall project and lists (pages 26-27) the nine key points from an energy survey of the Hall. We have also listed on page 8 Save The Dates for March meetings of FoLPH, FIPW, the Launton Lines organisation LCCG, and LES: A busy month. We have a new advertiser in this issue. GoodOaksprovides home care you can rely on (page 8). Please support all our advertisers - we need them to keep Launton Lines going. And there is news (page 25) of the Eighth Tythe Barn Quiz on 20 March - tickets on sale on 24 February at Costcutter.
A monthly newsletter for Launton. Published around the first of each month by the Launton Community Communications Group © 2026 Launton Lines email:launtonlines@launton.orgwebsite:https://launton.org/launton-lines/
The Launton Lines Committee 2025-2026
Chair: Vacant | Secretary: KateGreig | Editors: RobertCornford, Matt Hill Treasurer: CarinaCollins | Distribution: ShirleyJohnson | Advertising: JenniWalker
Contact the Parish Council
Wenowhavealocumclerk,Gill Peacock.You can contact the Councilbyemailatclerk@launtonpc.gov.uk or on the Council’smobile at 07305303889.
To book the Parish Hall
Contact:JoanPacker Phone:07922042 133
Parish Hall Committee: The Parish Council has now established a new Management Committee
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 February 2026 for entry in the March 2026 edition of Launton Lines.
8 February | Sponsored by Bob Roberts to celebrate the birthday of his mother AnnRoberts
Notes from the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 8 January 2026 at 7.30pm in the Grange Farm Conference Room.
Councillors present: MrGlynAustin, MrAndrewBriant(Vice Chairman, 6 November), Mrs JackieHackett, MrSimonTurner (Chairman), Mrs JaquelineWebber
Apologies: None
In attendance: 5 members of the public.
There were no reports from either County or District Councillors.
An Oxfordshire-based locum Clerk, Gill Peacock, had been approached to take over the vacant role until a permanent Clerk can be found. Gill’sappointment was confirmed at a Staffing Committee meeting on 13 January: she is now in post but is unable to attend meetings, which will continue to be run by the Chairman. A new job advert and job description have already been drafted and the recruitment process for a permanent Clerk will begin again shortly. The updated Emergency Plan has been adopted.
There are still vacancies for two Councillors, details of which may be found on the Parish Council website.
The Finance Report is available on the Parish Council website.
The Council considered the budget for 2026/27 and agreed the level of £64,086. This took into account the range of Parish responsibilities, including the village grass cutting and weed spraying, the dog bin emptying, meeting costs, saving for replacement street furniture (such as bins and benches), other reserves and of course the Parish Hall, which continues to be an ongoing focus.
The Parish had been given the Tax Base figure (broadly, the number of Band D equivalent dwellings in the village) by Cherwell District Council which was estimated at 621.9; this was again a slight increase from the previous year (620.1). Following the calculations, it was agreed to leave the Precept at £51,592, the same as the previous two years. The annual cost to a Band D household would be approximately £82.96 – a decrease of £0.24.
More information about how the Tax Base figure is calculated is available on the Parish Council website at https://www.launtonpc.gov.uk/financial-information/financing-the-parish-council/
For anyone interested, the draft budget and Precept calculations can be found on the Parish Council website under the 8 January items for information at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/agenda-andminutes/2025-2026-agenda-and-minutes/
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). There were no new applications this month.
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/
The Advisory Working Group is looking at advice from the recent ESOxenergy efficiency assessment, including lighting and air-to-air heating, while continuing to seek quotations from local builders for the refurbishment work and look into possible funding opportunities.
Progress is being made on the flooring in the toilets, replacing the exterior lighting to the side and rear of the Hall, and replacing the failed kitchen door.
If you would be interested in joining the Parish Hall Management Committee to help with the management of the Hall, please contact SimonTurner (simon.turner@launton-pc.gov.uk) for more information.
After a meeting with OCCHighways Engagement, some (but not all) flooded drains have been addressed and letters have been provided to send to households that are allowing encroachment of vegetation or gravel on to footways and the highway in general. The new dog bin has finally been installed, and the Council is looking into installing a dog bin on Station Road if a suitable site can be found.
Adateforyourdiaries:theSpringTidy-upissetforthemorning ofSaturday28March.Moredetailsinnextmonth’sLauntonLines.
ThenextmeetingwillbeonThursday5February2026intheParishHall,starting at7.30pm.Ifyou’dliketochatwithaCouncillor,comealongafter7.15pm. Suggestionsforagendaitemsforthe5MarchmeetingneedtobewiththeClerk by19Februaryanditemsforthe2Aprilmeetingby19March.
Ifyou’renotsigneduptoourmailinglisttoreceivenewsfromtheParish Council,youcanfindasignupformatthebottomleft-handmenuoftheParish Councilwebsiteatwww.launton-pc.gov.uk/Council,youcanfindasignup formatthebottomleft-handmenuoftheParishCouncilwebsiteat www.launton-pc.gov.uk/
The Watercolour Group normally meets on Mondays in the Parish Hall between 2pm and 4pm.
In February 2026 we meet on all Mondays - so 2, 9, 16, and 23 in the Parish Hall. We have some new joiners this season, and more will always be welcome. Here is a piece from a recent class - a very autumnal scene. If you are interested in attending the watercolour art group, please emailPaul.Ebberson@gmail.com
Friends of Launton Parish Hall (FoLPH)
Open meeting on Wednesday 4 March at 8.00pmat The Parish Hall
Friends of Island Pond Wood (FIPW)
AGM on Thursday 19 March at 7.30pm at The Parish Hall
Friends of Launton Parish Hall (FoLPH)
TytheBarn Quiz on Friday 20 March at 7.30pm in The TytheBarn
Launton Community Communications Group (LCCG)
AGM on Wednesday 25 March at 8.00pmat The Parish Hall
Launton Environmental Society (LES)
Open Meeting on Friday 27 March at 8.00pmin The Parish Hall
It is advisable to refer to StMary’sFacebookpage for up-to-date information in case changes have been necessary; Or please contact
This begins (see above) on 16 February and runs for the subsequent five Mondays (until 24 March) taking the place of the usual Fellowship Group Please contact Celia(M) for full details of the sessions or just come along.
We are currently working on the relaunchedCommunity Café and are actively looking for pre-schoolersplus carersto join our thriving welcoming group from the general Community who come along to enjoy a cuppaamongst friends. If you are in either category, please contact us below or just come along on a Tuesday in term time from 9 - 11am.You will be most welcome!
These photos of the playground at the Playing Fields were sent to us on Thursday 8 January.
There is an explanation for the mess (see below), but this really does not explain why people think it is OK to leave unsealed dog-poobags around bins, and why people leave rubbish in full bins. A mix of seagullsand foxes will scatter rubbish from bins without a top.
Maybe the Parish Council should make sure that current bins have lids attached, and any new or replacement bins can be closed - like the ones at the Costcuttershop or near the entrance to the Island Pond Wood. Why should the Parish Council fix a problem caused by people?
What is the explanation for all this mess?
Cherwell District Council are responsible for emptying both the rubbish bins in the village, and the dog bins. They do this on Thursdays. And, in 2025, Christmas Day and New Year’sDay both fell on a Thursday. These are public holidays, so there was no collection on either day, so there was a gap of 21 days between Thursday 18 December and Thursday 8 January.
The next time this happens will be 2031 – and perhaps by then there will be an emergency collection in place.
This explains why bins were not emptied - not why people left rubbish piled on top and around them.
All our Obedience Training is part of The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Jennie, our Instructor, is an Approved Instructor (Academy of Dog Training and Behaviour), Agility Club Approved Instructor, UK Agility Instructor and Accredited UK Scent Sport Instructor.
AgilityandHooperclassesatGrendonUnderwood
ThursdayClassesinArncottVillageHall
PuppySocialisation,starts6.45pm
BasicObedience,starts7.30pm
RallyorScentwork,everyalternateweekforeach class,from8.15pm
IntroductiontoMantrialingandIntroductiontoTracking are also offered at a day and time to suit the trainer, yourself, and your dog.
Housemaintenance
Repointing
Internalandexternaldecorations
Patios Decking Fencing
LESCOPMOPELFLELFTwith only a touch of CHOCOLATE. A simple recipe for a more sustainable world:
LES(Launton Environmental Society): A village group dedicated to help concerned individuals and families do their best to tackle global warming by eliminating waste and reducing their impact on the environment (Carbon Footprint).
COP (Conference of the Parties): An annual Conference of World Leaders organized by The United Nations to promote unity between all the countries of the world to reduce and repair the damage caused by global warming. These talk-talk summits have been instrumental in reducing projected warming from 6oCin 2009 to 2oCtoday.
MOP (Meeting of the Parties): Our local version of COP.
ELF (Our Environmental Legacy Fund): Our mission is simple - buy some land and start managing it for wildlife. In a mere 25 days our Downpayment/Christmas Campaign raised (as of 14 January) £1,845.
LELFT(Launton Environmental Legacy Fund Trust) The land that we are purchasing will be for Mother Nature (Enhancing biodiversity) ‘owned’ by the people of Launton via this TRUST.
Mix ingredients together along with FIPWLLVPLWILHSFoLPHetc. etc. and you have a community enjoying loads of different things but united in their efforts to make Launton a great pace to live!
Like to know more about all these letters (LES, COP, MOP)? Contact us on launtonenvironmentalsociety@gmail.com.To do more for Launton and Planet Earth keep supporting our ELF via the JustGivingQR(still on a pole near you). And join us at our next MOP meeting where you can help formulate a strong Environmental Trust and help plan our next fundraising opportunity, The Downpayment/Easter Campaign. We’llbe encouraging folks to spend less money on extra-large overpackaged chocolate eggs and buy one of Our ELF’splots!
MOP XIIFriday 27 March 7:30PMat the Parish Hall.
Submitted by Edfrom LES (launtonenvironmentalsociety@gmail.com)
What is SCOTS? It stands for Switch Computers OffTomorrow’s Saturday.
It’san informal group started some time ago in Launton for people working from home, to try and get them away from their home offices.
SCOTS meets on the second Friday of the month in The Bull from 6pm.
Do join SCOTS, to meet new faces, for a drink, and maybe stay for a meal.
Our first meeting in 2026 was right at the end of January, too late for this Launton Lines deadline. But we’llreport on Oxfordshire in the Cold War in the next issue.
We’vehad interesting speakers since LHSstarted up again after the pandemic. We’re lucky living here because we can draw on speakers with links to Oxford, mainly through the list drawn up by the Oxfordshire Local History Association (OLHA). In turn, speakers tell us about other possible sources, such as SpeakerNet.
In the year ahead we have two speakers who have been before: Tim Healey, who spoke early on about Drovers’ Roads, and later about Apples (so much more to this than you would guess), returns in June to talk about StGiles’ Fair. In February, DeborahHayter returns to talk about how enclosures (when common land became private) shaped the county’slandscape. Last time she spoke about the lost villages of Oxfordshire.
Speakers also tipped us off that some local history groups have wine at their meetings. We didn’tneed to be told twice and have incorporated wine into our post-talk offerings, alongside hot drinks and Mary’shome made cakes and biscuits.
Here are our speakers for the next six months, and later on in the year we have a speaker on tythebarns and one on aspects of pre-history.
26 February: DeborahHayter: Common Right - Private Property - How Enclosure Shaped the Oxfordshire Landscape
26 March: Frank Collingwood: The Oxford Bus Museum at Long Hanborough
30 April: StephenWass: The Secret Gardens of Oxfordshire and the Birth of Modern Science
28 May: AndrewLong: The Naming of Oxfordshire Pubs
25 June: TimHealey: StGiles’ Fair
All meetings are at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall and everyone is welcome. You can join and be a member, or pop in now and then. There’sa small fee which goes towards costs.
GwenSkinner
There was a weather warning predicting damaging rain, wind, and perhaps snow for the evening of Thursday 8 January, for our first meeting of 2026. With blizzards forecast over many northern counties we agreed with our potential speaker who would have to drive from MiltonKeynesand her assistant from Daventrythat it would be best for everyone to cancel the talk.
We took the opportunity to reschedule the meeting for the few members who were still committed to coming out on a horrible wet evening to our newly reopened pub, The Bull. Landlord ChrisMorleymade us very welcome and gave us a brief resume of how he and Sue came to the village. We enjoyed a very social evening.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 12 February at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall when RachelHicks, co-founder of Sky Wave Gin will be telling us of their journey, with tasters and Gin for sale. This will be an OPEN meeting so everyone is welcome (Men included!). Non WImembers will need to pay £3 on the door.
EleanorShakespeare
Part1ofDavidThompson’saccount,intheJanuaryissueofLauntonLines,toldof thejourneyofConvoy51,4x4evacuationvehiclestobedeliveredtotheworkshopof theorganisationDrivingUkraine,inthetownofLviv.DavidendedPart1withthe deliveryoftheconvoy’svehiclesinLviv.NowfindouthowhegotbacktoLaunton.
Andriy, the husband of our Ukrainian guest in Launton, Oksana, had already met up with me in Lviv, driving down from Lutskin the morning. I was to spend the next 3 days with him, an interesting time in many unforeseen ways.
He took me to the CarpathianMountains, which were stunning, especially with the newly fallen snow. From there, the next morning, we drove to Lutsk.At one point in our journey the air raid sirens went off, and I saw children being ushered into bunkers. Imagine this happening 1, 2, 3 or even 4 times a day, and you can understand how their education suffers. (Even if the risk is not in the area, any missiles over Ukrainian airspace will trigger the alarm for children).
During this time the GPSsignal is jammed as well, so GoogleMaps did not work.
We drove past mobile radar posts, and in the distance a missile battery, all part of the anti-missile defences.
In Lutskitself, which is quite far West, it does not suffer in the same way as Kyiv, and further East in Donetskwhere the battle is raging. However, due to the Russian attacks on infrastructure, in particular electricity generation, they suffer from power cuts. Many businesses and restaurants now have generators as the norm, photographed here in Lvivand seen everywhere.
On my first morning in Lutsk, at 6.45 am, air raid sirens wailed over the town. By looking at
‘Telegram’, Andriycould see that these missiles were going towards Kyiv, and sadly this was the case, with fatalities. For me it just reinforced the point that although you think you are in a safe zone, you may not be, and in fact Lutskhit the news 2 weeks later, suffering missile attacks.
On the second morning, as I woke up, I was almost expecting the same thing to happen. But no, and I am sure this is all part of Russia’spsychological war as well.
We had a day sightseeing, and Lutskseems to have as much history as many English towns, with the main difference being the cost of entry. Imagine getting into BlenheimPalace for £3.00!!
After visiting Lubart’sCastle (photo right) I had another ‘interesting’ experience; out of nowhere a white Duster Car coasted silently to a halt, and before it had done so the doors were open, and two army people got out.
They were assertive, not aggressive, but there was little doubt that they were in control of this situation, and got us to provide ID. All Andriy’spapers on his phone were in order of course, and my passport satisfied them that even if I was too old to be ‘enlisted’, to put it politely, that I was the person on the passport.
We saw more evidence of the war, a blown-out block of flats, and in a local museum a Shahid missile lay on the floor. These are routinely sent over from
Russia in waves, some with explosives, others like this one without. Disarmingly simple, made of thin plywood, expanded polystyrene, and a fabric outer skin. A plastic bladder serves as the fuel tank, all powered by a small, probably 30cc2 cylinder engine at the back driving a 10 inch diameter wooden propellor, with of course some high techcontrols and GPS.All quite fun if you had built this as a model aircraft project, as a hobby. Faced with waves of these, at nighttime, is a totally different matter.
I left Lutskat daybreak on 26 November, with Lubart’scastle etched against the colourful sky.
I left Lutskand Andriyby bus to Poland on an interesting journey: at the border a well-dressed lady on the bus bought and sold currency to the passengers, only to get off immediately after we crossed the Polish border, presumably to re-board another bus going back. No doubt, as well, the wheels of commerce oiled with a small payment to the bus driver.
Talking of bus drivers, this one, and as I understand it on good authority, many others, had his own little enterprise going: About 5 minutes after crossing into Poland he pulled into a lay-by, stood up and started walking down the aisle to the back of the bus. I twigged, after he had bought duty free bottles of spirits and cartons of cigarettes off many of the passengers, in return for cash. He returned down the bus, carrying 2 bulgingly full carrier bags of his purchases, stowed them at the front of the bus and drove off. Presumably, he had a ready market in Poland, very enterprising! Warsaw
Warsaw was interesting as a tourist, but of course relatively benign without any of the ‘excitement’ of Ukraine in its current state.
However, I learnt a lot about their war history, about communism and its fall. I can understand, having borders with Russia and Belarus, how nervous they may feel.
I spent 3 days as a tourist there, went to a Chopin piano recital, and the Opera. Its transport system is not only efficient, but also inexpensive.
Our convoy was part of the efforts of Driving Ukraine, a volunteerrun group that gathers donated or purchased 4×4sand ambulances in the UK, and drives them over 1,300 miles to western Ukraine, where they join frontlinemedical and evacuation teams, in the East.
It had been a long journey - rough in parts, and sometimes hilarious, sometimes quietly serious, always interesting and totally unforgettable. I just wanted to do my bit for Ukraine. I did enjoy ‘the adventure’. I encourage you to look at Driving Ukraine’swebsite, or simply Google“Driving Ukraine”, and maybe consider lending a hand.
Thank you to everyone who sponsored or supported me on this trip. It did turn out to be a trip of a lifetime, which I could not have envisaged. From meeting and becoming friends with a Hollywood legend, to posing in bright blue and yellow Ukrainian colours in front of the border sign; seeing the same blue and yellow repeated hundreds of times, over the graves of young brave Ukrainian soldiers; and observing a country at war, trying to live a ‘normal’ life.
I feel grateful and humbled to have been able to take on this journey through Europe, and a country struggling to survive. When the war does properly end, I for one will be going out there again as soon as I can. It’sa lovely country, nice people, and it needs all the support it can get from its friends.
David ThompsonDecember 2025
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It has been a very busy few months for FoLPH - lots of work on the Parish Hall Advisory Group with the Parish Council, some fun at the Beetle Drive, and planning a thermometer to show fundraisingfor the front of the Hall.
On 19 January, accompanied by the rattle of dice and the excitement of throwing a 6 to be able to start a round with a body, we held a Beetle Drive in the Hall, which proved a lot of fun on a dark and wet winter evening.
Our next fundraisingevent will be the Eighth TytheBarn Quiz on Friday 20 March - many thanks to Will and EmmaDeeleyfor providing the venue. Tickets (£10 per person) will go on sale on Tuesday 24 February at the Costcuttershop (cash only, please). On the night there will be the quiz devised by ChrisFrost, homemadecakes and tea and coffee, and the cash bar at the Barn. Teams will compete for The Wise Owl Trophy, and a hand-crafted Wooden Spoon trophy too. But the star of the evening is - of course - the beautiful 14thCentury TytheBarn. Numbers are limited, so buy your tickets early.
Then we’re having the regular Spring Fair on Saturday morning 9 May at the Parish Hall. It’lloffer cakes and other baked goods, marmalade, jams and chutneys, as well as plants, and the return of the popular Grow a Sunflower competition. There will also be refreshments.
Depending on work on the Hall, we also expect to run the Afternoon Tea event in August again, and later in the year to put on a Race Night at The Bull (watch this space). If people have ideas for other events we should offer, please let us know.
This is booked for Wednesday 4 March at 8pmin the Parish Hall. We will then have the AGM in May (date to follow).
There is much to report. The Parish Council will install LED lights for the footpath and back area. These will be working when you read this. Although the Hall is not responsible for the access road and the car park (which are in a terrible state) the Parish Council is trying to make progress with all those involved to improve the area.
The blocked drain that produces the huge puddle on the access road has been jetted and now drains reasonably effectively - at least the puddle is not as deep or as long-lasting.
The new Parish Hall Committee has been agreed by the Parish Council and will have its first meeting soon. Anyone interested in supporting the village by joining should contact the Clerk at clerk@launton-pc.gov.ukor phone 07305 303 889.
We are also getting quotes for replacing the external doors in the Halldouble front doors, and a new kitchen door.
A comprehensive energy audit was commissioned from Energy Solutions Oxfordshire (ESOx), an energy consultancy based in Oxford BrookesUniversity. There is a summary of their report below.
The Advisory Group, where FoLPH has members, has been working on plans for Stage 2 of the project (Stage 1 was the new roof). This will focus on the interior of the Hall, on insulation and heating, on electricsand lighting, and updating the toilets. The Group has been getting quotations from suppliers at the same time as applying for grants to fund the work.
Fundraising
The Parish Council has made a major application to FCC, the funding outlet for the landfill industry, and to Awards for All. We should hear about these by mid March, We have also made smaller applications to four other funders, and have two more ready to go. It is time consuming, but we have found that AI can be quite helpful.
RobertCornford| Chair, Friends of Launton Parish Hall
FoLPH commissioned a survey of the Hall from Energy Solutions Oxfordshire (ESOx), an energy consultancy based at Oxford Brookes University. Their report recommended the following actions to bring the Hall up to standards for heating and energy efficiency
1. Add internal wall insulation
2. Remove (suspended) Hall ceiling
3. Add underfloor insulation
4. Upgrade lighting to LEDs
5. Install a heat pump system for heating: they suggest that we
investigate an Air-to-Air system rather than the more traditional hot water radiators.
6. Install heating controls linked to a new onlinebookings system
7. Consider hot water options in toilets and kitchen
8. Add solar PVpanels and storage battery system
9. Monitor meter readings and water usage and instal smart meters
We recognise that the installation of interior insulation will have the greatest impact on the warmth and heating of the Hall, now that we have a fully insulated “warm roof” installed. A Heat Pump will provide adequate background heating when linked to a PVsolar panel system with storage batteries: this combination will offer a low running cost heating solution for the Hall.
We had originally planned for a hot water radiator-based heating system, but following advice from different sources have realised that a hot air system will be more cost effective with less plumbing, less kit (radiators and water heating tanks), and less energy loss, and the distribution network can be installed with the interior insulation. We are now investigating in detail what is involved in an Air-to-Air system
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4 February 1876
PETTY SESSIONS Gross Assault on an Elderly Man at Launton Alfred Marriott, sawyer, of Launton, was summoned for assaulting an elderly labourer, named John Cartwright, at Launton, on Saturday night, January 22. Marriottdid not put in an appearance. PC GeorgeStockfordspoke to serving the summons at Marriott's residence.
Prosecutor (whose face was discoloured all over from the effects of the blows said to have been received on the night in question) stated that he was at his house at Launton, about half-past 10 the previous Saturday night, when Alfred Marriottcame in and “fell” upon him. Marriottsimply said he would give him a “good hiding.” They had words together, between seven and eight o'clock the same night, at the “Fox.” He could not state what they were quarrelling about, for
they always did so when had had a little beer. They did not strike any blows at the “pub,” at which witness stayed about half-an-hour. He was sober when he left, but Marriottwas not. After he left the “Fox,” witness went to see his daughter. Marriottknocked him down, knelt on him, and “pummell’dhim about the face. He did not hit Marriott back. A little boy and Marriott’swife came and pulled him off. Marriottwas about 30 years of age, and he was over 70. Marriotthad never “ot” him before; but he always insulted him when he had had some beer.
Marriotthad the following “reference” put in for him: February 28. 1862, committed for trial for stealing wood at Tusmore, for which he was sentenced to four months’ hard labour; August 29,1862, committed for trial charged with assaulting the police, for which he received nine months’ hard labour; and on November 30, 1866, he was fined 1s, and 13scosts, for drunkenness and refusing to quit a public house.
Ordered to be taken to Oxford gaol for 21 days’ hard labour.
Later in the day, Marriottgave himself up to the authorities.
[Historical note: the following week two other Launton men appeared at the local magistrate's court, also in trouble for drunkenness. His final comments from the Bench were - "We must do something, as I have seen you six times in this Court, and I don't how many times you have been seen by others. You are each fined 2s 6d, and 9scosts, or 14 days' hard labour.
Botleywas allowed a month for payment, and told to keep sober, as the Bench did not wish to see him there every month or so.
Jeacock'swife paid the money for her husband, who had previously been twice summoned. "
Reading the local newspapers of this period, the large number of cases of drunkenness and of assaults - often caused through drunkenness - was not just confined to Launton! “The Fox” referred to in this report was probably The Fox & Hounds (now NayworthHouseeon Bicester Road). ]
It’spanto time, and only a couple of weeks until we bring to life the magical island of Tresoriain our family show!
There’sstill time to buy your tickets and come to enjoy our story of TreasureIsland- get your tickets at www.ticketsource.co.uk or call 07864 715708.
Remember that we also have 14 additional tickets available for each show which are only available to purchase on the door. These are at the back of the hall and are accessedup a large step. Performances will be in Cooper School Performance Hall, and the times and prices are:
* Relaxed performance
Our relaxed performance is suitable for all, particularly anyone who might prefer a more laid back theatre experience. We are also pleased to have British Sign Language interpreter ChristineDeBlasejoining us on stage again for our relaxed performance. on Thursday morning.
TreasureIslandisfullofmagicalcharactersincludingaGoodFairywhois alsoalibrarianaswellasPollytheParrotandsomenaughtysanddevils! There are all the usual elements of a family panto; lots of audience participation and fun, as well as not just one but two comedy duos! There are free puzzle sheets and glow sticks for children, so you can join in with the magic, cheer on the heroes, and boo the baddie(who really is enjoying himself far too much!). Come along and find out:
If the treasure is found?
If the Good Fairy can stop the wicked Captain Hook?
If the villagers of Launhavenget fed up with digging?
If Pat and Natcatch enough fish for the Fish Festival? There’sa bundle of fun, magic, music and colour in our story as well as slapstick and much audience participation. Here’swhat our reviewers said last year:
“On an ordinary Bicester evening in February we escaped with you
heartily to Fairy Tale Land, where you collectively made a positive impact on the lives of many ordinary people, before dropping us gently back in Bicester Town with a smile, brains re-set, ready to engage with renewed vigour and resilience back in the real world”.
“This was a true pantomime in the best possible way, including all the necessary elements to make it so”.
“A well received and innovative pantomime, with some wonderful choreography and set pieces with a clear focus on putting their audience experience at the heart of the show”. Get your tickets now so you don’tmiss out on Bicester’sbiggest and best award-winning panto! All profits from our show will be donated to Dementia Oxfordshire and Dementia Active. These two charities provide support, advice and opportunities to those with a dementia diagnosis and their families in the local area.
We look forward to seeing you: if you need more information contact us on info@launtonvillageplayers.org.uk, Facebookor our website www.launtonvillageplayers.org.uk.
Thank you for all your support. The LVP team
50 Years Ago: from TheBicesterAdvertiser
12 February 1976
WILL RING FOR BELL MAN Members of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Bellringerswill ring a special peal at StMary’s Church, Launton, today at the funeral of the master of the guild, Mr FrederickSharpe, of Derwen, Launton, who died on Saturday, aged 70. A widower, MrSharpeleaves a daughter.
A leading campanologist, MrSharpewas a former president of the Central Council of Church Bellringersand acted in an advisory capacity on the safety of church towers, bellhangingand repairs. He had one of the biggest private collections of handbells in the country –more than 200 – and was founder and conductor of the Launton Church Handbell Ringers founded during Festival of Britain year. He was the author of numerous books on church bells and his twenty second title, the “Church Bells of Herefordshire” was published just before Christmas. He had another in preparation: “Church Bells in Gloucestershire”. MrSharpewas a lay reader and was churchwarden and treasurer at Launton Church for more than 40 years.
Members of the Launton Tower will ring a muffled peal tomorrow for MrSharpe, who was captain of the tower. Other towers in the deanery will also ring muffled peals.
In addition to his interest in bells, MrSharpe, in his younger days, was a keen sportsman and he was secretary and treasurer of Launton Cricket Club for 29 years until the club ceased to exist in 1961.
[Historical note: FredSharpelived all his life in Launton and was employed as clerk of works to his uncle, the builder LewisPenn, whose premises are now used by Jewsons.As president of Central Council of Church Bellringers, he travelled widely overseas. During WW2he ran the Home Guard in Launton .
MrSharpe’strustees donated several items to Launton Historical Society, including his cricket cap and his Home Guard Log Book covering the latter part of the conflict.]
Fossil found in Launton
I found this fossil in the field next to The Island Pond Wood, with my Grandad.When we were out walking our dog, I was looking down on the ground and found an interesting stone and when I picked it up, it looked very bubbly, shiny and dirty. I turned it over and it was a big surprise to find such a beautiful fossil on it.
We looked on Googleto find out more about my fossil and took this photograph of it. The information that we found said:
the fossil was almost certainly from the Middle Jurassicperiod,
meaning that it was between 160 and 165 million years old,
when this area was covered in warm shallow tropical seas.
that it would fit well with the Great OoliteGroup or CorallionGroup
the fossil is of a Brachiopodin a grey limestone matrix. A Brachiopodis a marine vertebrate, with a two part shell, similar to a clam.
I am going to keep looking for more fossils, and if I do I’ll show you in Launton Lines. Also on this walk, we saw a murmurationof starlings, which was wonderful.
Lisette, age 8 (Theresaand Tony’s granddaughter)
and Social is open to all.
Opening Hours
MondaysThursdays 5pm- 10pm
Fridays 4pm- 11pm
Saturdays 12pm- 11pm
Sundays 1pm- 12.30pm
Today some Year 5 children are speaking to us about poetry and mountains, both of which they are learning about in the classroom.
InclasswehavebeenreadingTheJabberwockybyLewisCarroll.Itisa nonsensepoemthathewrotein1872.Wethinkthepoemisabouta dragoncalledJabberwocky.LotsofthewordsthatCarrollusedarenotreal words,whichiswhyitisanonsensepoem.Wedidlookupsomeofthe wordsinadictionary,butnotallofthemwerethere.Thepoemhasseven stanzas,andthelaststanzaisthesameasthefirst.
Ourteacheraskedeachofustorewritethepoemusingourownwords andinterpretthenonsensewordsusingourimaginations.Someofthe wordswechangedwere‘burbled’,changedtowordslike‘belched’, ‘burped’,‘mumbled’and‘talked’;‘snicker-snack’became‘swish’;the TumTumTreebecameaChestnutTree,becauseweareinChestnutclass; theJubJubbirdbecameaHobHobbird.Weallreallyenjoyedthepoem andhadfunchangingthewordstocreateourownnonsenseversion.
Wehaverecentlystartedtoresearchandlearnaboutmountainsandmountain rangesacrosstheworld.WehavelookedatmountainsintheUK,andwe knowthatthehighestmountainisBenNevis,whichis1345metreshighand inScotland,thesecondhighestmountainisSnowdoninWales,whichis about1085metreshigh.InNorthernIrelandthetallestmountainisSlieve Donard,whichis850metrestall.
Onamapoftheworld,wehavebeenabletoidentifythelocationsofother mountainranges.TheHimalayasareinAsia;MountEverestisaHimalayan mountain.WeknowthattheUralsareanaturalborderbetweenEuropeand AsiaandthattheAtlasMountainsareinNorthAfrica.Wehavelookedatthe rangesintheUSA,liketheRockyMountainsandtheAppalachianMountains.
Aswellaslocationswearealsolearningaboutdifferentfeaturesofmountains. Wehavelookedatthesnowline,thesummit,anoutcrop-whichisarock formationvisibleonthesurfaceofthemountain,valleysandslopes,theface, ridges,plateaus–whichareareasofflat,highground,andthetreeline,which isthehighestpointonamountainwheretreesarefound. Someofuswouldliketoclimbamountainoneday,butotherswillmakedo withbighills!
Sienna,Amy,FleurandDarcey-Year5
The ex-Launton Boy writes this month about school meals, exercise, and fast food through the years.
Well, here we are. It’s2026 and the world has managed thus far not to blow itself apart, although the threat remains and gets worryingly stronger each passing day. So with that, I will wish everyone a very Happy New Year.
Remember, from my generation, when we were kids and young teenagers and we lived under the threat of the ‘Four Minute Warning’? I fear the world is more unstable today than it was back then, and has learned nothing from history. And so I try to recall fondermemories from then, when it was more stable worldwide and the way of life for we young ones was a comparative doddle.
At our infant and junior stages, we used to walk leisurely to and from Launton School and when moving up to senior school in Bicester, either catch the school bus from further outlying villages or cycle on the Oxfordshire County Council freely issued school bicycles for those of us who lived in Launton (which we were able to keep after we had left school). That helped to keep us Launton kids relatively fit, compared to the transported kids.
The roads were free of traffic compared to today’sschool run with cars of all shapes, sizes and colours coming at you from every which way, parking in the most ridiculous of places and causing traffic mayhem, thereby starting the day off with high tension for rushing parents and students alike and others trying to get to their places of work on time.
In the MedwayTowns here in Kent, because they are transported everywhere and fed on ‘fast-food’ and today’sanswer to ‘school dinners’, there are far too many children who are morbidly obese.
I remember the fabulous school dinners (except for Irish stew) that we had at HighfieldSecondary Modern School in Bicester. I was so thin and scrawny (there was more fat on a greasy chip than on me) which came from severe whooping cough when I was 2, that the Dinner Ladies, who were lovely, piled my plate up in response to my “As much as you can spare please!” and I used to go back for seconds, when they would say, “Here he comes again!”. I could eat like a horse, at home too, and not seem to put on any weight at all. When I joined the army, three months before my eighteenth birthday, I weighed just under nine stones. But as much as I enjoyed school dinners, I used to look forward to the morning break and the Tuck Shop in school, run by fourth year pupils with some fabulous goodies. I had three favourites - two still available: JammyDodgers and Wagon Wheels (the latter have shrunk over the years). But my absolute favourite, sadly no longer available, was Burton’sPotato Puffs. They were an absolute delight, light and airy but above all, tasty. Today’sHula Hoops, Wotsitsand Potato Crisps (varied flavours) don’thold a candle to them. I don’tknow why or when they disappeared, but it was a very sad day when they did.
Of course, there are many other reasons why so many of us weren’tobese back then, not least of all the austerity hangover after WWII along with eating foods that were seasonal, and wholesome, and home-cooked.
In my early teens, we began to get into Bicester on a Saturday night. There, a Hot-Dog stall/van on Sheep Street, between what was the Midland Bank and the public toilets, did tremendous business after the last film at the Regal Cinema and/or the pubs closed.
A couple of years later a Chinese takeaway opened in North Street and of course the old Grimsby Fish Bar run by Jockin North Street had been there seemingly forever. But that was it for fast food for a while. Then, as with elsewhere in the UK came the invasion; the WimpeyBars; the KFC’s; the Burger Kings and the ubiquitous McDonaldsand then the floodgates so that, as High Street shops closed, fast food chains took their place - with Pizza Huts of all sorts, Mexican foods, Kebab shops . . . The list goes on with concoctions filled with heaven knows what ingredients and additives.
Don’tget me wrong, I’m all for a wide food choice bringing cuisine from across the world, as long as it is of good quality, well prepared, well cooked and wellpresented without the preservatives and goodness knows what other obesitycreating ingredients that fast foods seem to rely on.
My youngest daughter, Anouska, asked me one day, when she was a very young teenager herself, “Dad, why is it that all the foods that are supposedly bad for you taste and smell so delicious, and the foods that are supposed to be good for you are so dull and boring?” I hadn’tactually got the answer, but I knew exactly where she was coming from.
Having spoken of ‘fast food’, does anyone remember the days, or more specifically evenings some years ago when David (Razzle) Jeacockand Den Lapper(Denner), both of Sherwood Close, had a Fish ’n’ Chip van from which they fried some lovely grub around the village and beyond? From what I can remember, this might have been within the six years I served in H. M. Forces and my experience was when I was home on leave. What you might call good old English comfort food, which for me made a pleasant change from bratwurstmit pommesfritzundmayonnaise.
During six months over 1968/69, when on a trade training course at 1RSME Chathamas a young L/Cplin the Royal Engineers, I managed to get home most weekends on a 48-hourpass. On Sunday nights, on my way back to base, alighting from the train at Chathamstation I would drop in at the hot-pie stall just down the road for a hot steak ’n’ kidney pie and a mug of hot OXO.Those really were the days, and that was proper ‘fast food’!
Keep healthy and Stay SAFE!
TonyJeacock, MInstRE | The ex-Launton boy | February 2026
Startinganewyearmeansplanningnewevents.SenddetailsofeventsattheSportsandSocial,at pubs,atsportsteams,andfromvillageorganisations,tolauntonlines@launton.orgforaFREElisting. Sun1StMary'sChurch,BCPHolyCommunion,8.00am.FamilyService-Journeys,11am|MusicatTheBull,Jay McKechnie&Friends,startsat7.00pm|QuizNightatSportsandSocialfrom8pm Mon2WatercolourPaintingGroup,2pm-4pm,intheParishHall|FellowshipGroupmeetsinStMary'sChurch,2.30pm Tue3RubbishCollection:garbage(green)bin|CommunityCafé,ParishHall,9am-11am|RockChorus,ParishHall, 7.30pm
Wed4KnitandNatterattheVillageCoffeeShop,from10.30am|RummikubGroupatTheVillageCoffeeShop,2pm Thu5ParishCouncil.PublicSession7.15pm,CouncilMeeting7.30pm,LauntonParishHall|QuizNightatTheBull Inn,from7pm
Fri6DiscoBingoatSportsandSocial,firstgamestartsat8pm
Sun8StMary'sChurch,Evensong,6pm|QuizNightatSportsandSocialfrom8pm Mon9WatercolourPaintingGroup,2pm-4pm,intheParishHall
Tue10RubbishCollection:recycling(blue)andgarden(brown)bin|CommunityCafé,ParishHall,9am-11am|FIPW Midweekworkingpartyinthewoodland,Meetatthepond,10.00am
Wed11KnitandNatterattheVillageCoffeeShop,from10.30am|Over60sClubLunchMeeting,Sports&SocialHall. Baropensat12.30pm,meetingendsabout3.30pm|RummikubGroupatTheVillageCoffeeShop,2pm Thu12WIMeeting,SkyWaveGinspeakingabouttheirbusiness-withtastings,thisisopentoall(£3.00fornonmembers),ParishHall,7.30pm|QuizNightatTheBullInn,from7pm Fri13Lastdayofschoolforwinterhalfterm:backtoschoolonMonday23February|BookClubmeetsatTheVillage CoffeeShopat1:30pm|SCOTSmeetatTheBullInnat6.00pm Sat14ValentinesDay|MusicatTheBull,JoshWhite,from7.30
Sun15StMary'sChurch,HolyCommunion,11am|MarshGibbonFarmer'sMarketattheVillageHall,10am-1.00pm| TrinityCamerataConcert,StEdburgh'sChurchBicester,4pm|QuizNightatSportsandSocialfrom8pm Mon16WatercolourPaintingGroup,2pm-4pm,intheParishHall|LentCoursebeginsatStMary's,2.30pm Tue17PancakeDay/ShroveTuesday|RubbishCollection:garbage(green)bin|RockChorus,ParishHall,7.30pm Wed18StMary'sChurch,AshWednesdayService,11.00am|KnitandNatterattheVillageCoffeeShop,from10.30am |RummikubGroupmeetatTheVillageCoffeeShop,2pm|LauntonVillagePlayersPantomime,Treasure Island,CooperSchoolPerformanceHall,7.30pm
Thu19LauntonVillagePlayersPantomime,TreasureIsland,CooperSchoolPerformanceHall,10.30am(relaxed performance),and2.30pm
Fri20LauntonVillagePlayersPantomime,TreasureIsland,CooperSchoolPerformanceHall,2.30pmand7.30pm Sat21ValeBreweryOpenDaywithfoodvan,from12noon,LugershallRoad,Brill|LauntonVillagePlayers Pantomime,TreasureIsland,CooperSchoolPerformanceHall,2.30pmand7.30pm
Sun22StMary'sChurch,MorningPrayer,11am|QuizNightatSportsandSocialfrom8pm Mon23BacktoschoolforSpringHalfTerm|WatercolourPaintingGroup,2pm-4pm,intheParishHall Tue24RubbishCollection:recycling(blue)andgarden(brown)bin|TytheBarnQuizticketsgoonsaleatCostcutter Wed25KnitandNatterattheVillageCoffeeShop,from10.30am|Over60sClubMeeting,Sports&SocialHall.Doors open1.30pm,meetingendsabout3.30pm|RummikubGroupatTheVillageCoffeeShop,2pm
Thu26HistoricalSociety,DeborahHayterspeakingonCommonRight-PrivateProperty-HowEnclosureShapedthe OxfordshireLandscape,ParishHall,7.30pm
Fri27BookClubmeetsatTheVillageCoffeeShopat1:30pm|EastWestRailConsultationonLondonRoadLevel Crossing,KingsmereCommunityCentre,2pm-7pm|MusicatTheBull,Malish,from7.30 Sat28EastWestRailConsultationonLondonRoadLevelCrossing,TheMethodistHallSheepStreet,12pm-5pm LauntonLinesFebruary2026Issue302|Page38
LauntonLinesisthenewsletterforLaunton ItispublishedmonthlybytheLauntonCommunityCommunicationsGroupwhichmanagestheLauntonwebsite www.launton.organdtheLauntonVillageFacebookGroupwww.facebook.com/launtonvillageaswellasLauntonLines LauntonLinesisdeliveredfreetoallhouseholdsinthevillage,fundedbyitsadvertisersandLauntonParishCouncil. Furtherprintcopiesareavailableat£1.00percopyfromShirleyJohnson(01869369269) LauntonLinesisalsoavailableonlinefromJanuary2020onwww.issuu.com ©MMXXVILauntonLines.Wereservetherighttoeditarticlessubmittedforinclusion. NeithertheCommitteenortheEditorisresponsibleforviewsexpressedinreaders’contributions.