Issue 236 Lockdown Launton
June 2020
De-vegging Launton A close view of the machine decimating our hedgerows and small trees on the routes of both EWR and HS2. In culinary terms it is called a de-vegging machine. The copse to the north of the village, at Folly Cottage, was “treated� last week and the final flourish will be on 11 June when the roadside trees are felled during a road closure. For details of EWR operational policies in de-vegging, including checking for birds, bats and other fauna, see their website. On the progress on footpath closures, see the report on page 12 of this issue. Photo from Peter Cox
Launton sheep strut their stuff on a global stage
Some Launton sheep, together with goats from the Cotswold Farm Park, have a global following of vets in a new book published by Oxford-based Elsevier. The two photos were taken by Kim Benson, formerly from Ambrosden, has many years of photographing round Launton at the same time as performing in Launton Pantomimes and BCOS shows. More information about the book (available in print and in multiple electronic formats) is at www.uk.elsevierhealth.com/sheepgoat-and-cervid-medicine9780323624633.html The authors are all USA-based, three from Alabama, and one from Indiana. Front cover shows five of the families featured in the Launton in Lockdown project undertaken by Launton-based photographer Ben Smith - see the project report on page 30 of this issue with details of the facebook based slide album. Photos by Ben Smith
The Editor writes …
It’s been another short month what with two bank holidays, but contributors have been very supportive. It is a shorter issue than normal, mainly because so many village activities have been disrupted, so we have fewer reports and less content – particularly in this June issue where there would have been a lot of material about the Fete. But we do have a rich menu for you. There is a challenging response to the news of the closure of the Playgroup following its eviction from its premises, from a concerned villager (pages 16 and 17) and news of the final half-term at the Playgroup, with the promise of a photo gallery of children who have passed through since 1973 (page 12). Our front cover shows a few of the families who took part in the Launton in Lockdown photo project, and there is a brief report on page 30 with the url for the village facebook page where you can find the slideshow from the project. There are tributes to two much-missed villagers, Bob Ancil (page 9) and Jean Castle (pages 36-37), and a letter from and photo of one of our youngest readers on page 40 the back cover. There are regular contributions from the Parish Council (pages 5-7), the WI (14-15), and the Friends of Island Pond Wood (pages 18-19 and 38), and an update on the impact of the East West Rail project on the Allotments (2829).The Ex-Launton Boy (34-36) brings tales of life in Launton’s past, and Danny Cunningham writes about multiculturalism and his mother on pages 31-33. Finally we repeat the takeaway offerings from The Bull (page 10) and The Black Bull/Launton Arms (page 11), and hope we’ll soon be using them as full village pubs. I’ve enjoyed food from both, but would love a proper pint.
Robert Cornford
Launton Lines
A monthly newsletter for Launton. Published around the first of each month by the Launton Community Communications Group © 2020 Launton Lines email: launtonlines@launton.org The Launton Lines Committee 2019-2020 Jon Spinage, Chair Jenni Walker, Advertising Manager Robert Cornford, Editor | 241883 Michael Stack, Treasurer | 242600 Kathy Gilbert, Associate Editor Shirley Johnson, Distribution | 369269
Contact the Parish Council Council Clerk | Mrs Jane Olds Address | 13 Oak Close, Bicester, OX26 3XD email | clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk Phone | 01869 247171
To book the Parish Hall Contact: Joan Packer Phone: 07903 610405 Parish Hall Committee: Christine Massey; Audrey Deeley; Lynne Harper; Joan Packer; Simon Turner, Robert Cornford
LIGHT UP A LIFE
Would you like to sponsor an evening’s floodlighting at St. Mary’s Church in memory of a loved one, to give thanks for the birth of a child, or to celebrate a baptism, birthday or wedding? A minimum donation of £10 is suggested which can be Gift Aided. Please contact Joan Packer on 01869 241694 by 20 June for entry in the July 2020 issue of Launton Lines. May 5 | Congratulations to Melanie and Joel Davis on the birth of your daughter Madelyn Ann on this day, in Georgia USA. A great-granddaughter for Rita Jones May 5 | Sponsored by Rita Jones. Congratulations to Susan and Michael O’Gorman on the birth of your granddaughter Madelyn Ann, with love from Mum. June 5 | In memory of Jim Wright. It's now been five years since you were taken away from us. Our thoughts and memories are with us every day. From your loving wife Hils, and family June 21 | Sponsored by Maureen and Bob Roberts in memory of their respective fathers Joseph Baker and Cyril Roberts
Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 4
Launton Parish Council Annual Meeting held on Thursday 7 May 2020 at 7.30pm online through Zoom
Councillors present Mr James Allpress, Mrs Lizzie Chisholm, Mr Chris Fox (Vice Chairman), Mr Mike Murphy, Mr Ed Sanders, Mrs Lesley Thompson, Mr Simon Turner (Chairman) Apologies None In attendance The Clerk, Mrs Jane Olds; two members of the public and Mr Alex Bond from PCMS Design. Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman Councillor Turner was elected as Chairman and Councillor Fox was elected as Vice Chairman. Appointments As well as the election of the Chairman and Vice Chairman, the May meeting is the time when other appointments are made. Councillor Thompson has agreed to stay on as the Parish Council representative for the Friends of Island Pond Wood; Councillors Turner and Sanders (together with the Clerk) will represent the Parish Council on the Parish Hall Working Group and Councillor Allpress will be the Councillor responsible for Internal Financial Control. Reports from District and County Councillors No District or County Councillors attended the meeting. Finance The Finance Report was available on the Parish Council website. The Statement of Accounts was agreed and the Annual Governance and Accountability Return completed as far as possible. As the Council’s income was over £25,000 this year (just), the rules require that the Parish sends all the documents to the External Auditor for scrutiny. The Period for the Exercise of Electors’ Rights will be announced once an inspection can be made safely. Planning All planning applications, which include the links to Cherwell’s Planning Portal, are put on the Parish Council website when they are received (www.launton-pc.gov.uk - in the Agenda and Minutes Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 5
section). If a villager has concerns about a planning application, they are welcome to come along to Parish Council meetings to raise those concerns. Mulberry Homes Development Following suggestions which were submitted to CDC the previous month, the Council has agreed the following names of roads for the new development: The Timbers, Wetland Drive, Beech Road and Coppice Way Village Matters Parish Hall It was great to be able to welcome Mr Bond from PCMS Design to the meeting to discuss his initial findings. This report would be discussed further with the Parish Hall Working Group. There were still issues with the finalisation of the Agreement to Lease because of the PCC Solicitor. The PCC was trying to obtain clarification from a Senior Partner. COVID19 The Council welcomed Janice Hawes who had started the Launton Help for Self-Isolating Residents group (sorry about the name - we couldn’t think of anything snappy at the time!) who outlined the work which had been done to help villagers over the last three months. The Council wanted to thank both Janice Hawes and Lesley Thompson for all the work they had done behind the scenes and to thank all of you who have been looking out for your neighbours, shopping, fetching and carrying. Please keep the leaflet which was delivered recently - it has lots of useful telephone numbers on - and if you have concern about a neighbour do let us know. East / West Rail A new Liaison Officer was due to be appointed shortly. It was hoped that this would help clarify queries more quickly. Station Road Drainage Issues The OCC Highways team have finished their investigations and have come to the conclusion that there are some land drainage issues Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 6
beyond the highway which were likely to be the responsibility of private land owners who would be contacted directly. Agenda items for the next meeting As Parish Councils are now able to hold meetings virtually via online platforms, the Clerk will need to have items for the next agenda by 21 May with any items for the July agenda by 18 June. Dates of next meetings Thursday 4 June and Thursday 2 July via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/76605157135 (meeting ID: 766 0515 7135) at 7.30pm. As with in-person meetings we will start at 7pm for anyone who wishes to raise anything with the Council, look at planning applications or at other meeting papers, and will then start the formal meeting at 7.30pm. Full minutes are available on the Parish Council Notice Boards in the village (by The War Memorial and on the wall of the Parish Hall), and on the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk See below for more information and updates.
Parish Council Additional Information
The Parish Council has recently set up an email mailing signup list. It is on the left hand menu of the Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk. If you’d like to receive email notification just add your details. This will only be used for Parish Council and essential village news - please sign up! Advanced Warning – Blackthorn Road Closure The Blackthorn Road will be closed between 29 June and 3 July to enable excavation in the verge and road to connect parent main to the new site main in the carriageway. More information can be found on the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/road-closures/ Annual Parish Meeting Unfortunately, there was a misunderstanding between the Editor and the Parish Council and it is very unlikely that an Annual Parish Meeting will take place this year - we hope that normal service will resume next year. Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 7
CHURCH NEWS June 2020 Suspension of Community CafĂŠ and Church Services One of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the right accountant.
Contact us today for a FREE initial meeting. We will proactively listen to your business needs and create personalised solutions. email@stackandjones.co.uk Tel: 01869 277973 Unit 4, Willows Gate, Stratton Audley Bicester, Oxon OX27 9AU
In line with Government advice, Community CafĂŠ sessions have been suspended until further notice. The Church of England has also taken the decision to suspend Sunday and midweek public worship until Government advice changes. Worship and ministry will continue in other forms (for example, with online streaming of some services) and you are invited to contact Revd. Peter for more information, or just to talk: Phone 01869 572272 Mobile 07966 531921 email revpeterwright@gmail.com
The following websites can also offer help and support. www.stedburgschurch.org/ www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavir us-covid-19/livestream/
Launton Congregational Chapel
There will be no Sunday services at Launton Chapel because of the Coronavirus, for the foreseeable future. We will advise readers when services start again Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 8
A Tribute to my Uncle (Mr Robert Marselle Ancil) Sadly on 24 April 2020 my Uncle (Bob) passed away. Our family have lived in Launton and the surrounding villages for many years. Bob was born on 21 February 1930, a farmer’s son at Green Farm, Station Road, Launton (the house I now live in). He had a twin brother who sadly died 2 weeks after being born, and elder sisters Yvette (Nicky) and Margot (my Mum). Green Farm was a dairy farm and my Uncle was experienced with milking the cows and then delivering the milk around the village by horse and cart. In the early 60’s my Grandfather Tom Ancil sold the land at the rear of Green Farm for a housing development now known as Ancil Avenue. After my Uncle’s wife (Rita Naylor) passed away in July 2012 he enjoyed going out for Sunday lunch and of course home-made roast dinners where we all loved to listen to his stories of days gone by. There’s very few left in Launton who know the true history of the village and we feel the information my Uncle passed on to us will always be treasured. He had great stories of our family’s relationship with horses, horse racing and my Great Grandfather being head huntsman at Stratton Audley Kennels. Rest in peace Uncle Bob. His ashes will be interred next to his beloved wife Rita at Launton Bethel Chapel. Kim Nolan The photo shows Bob and Kim at a formal event.
Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 9
The Bull Inn, Launton
SPECIAL TAKEAWAY MENU Monday to Saturday Free Home Delivery to Launton Residents Self-Isolating MAINS
Breaded Whole-tail Scampi £8.00 Served with garden peas and chips Beer Battered Fish & Chips £9.50 Line-caught Cod in home-made beer batter. Served with garden peas and chips Beef Chilli con Carne £8.00 Home-made classic Mexican chilli con carne. Served with rice and garlic ciabatta bread Five Bean Chilli £8.00 Home-made classic Mexican chilli with five beans. Served with rice and garlic ciabatta bread
For daily home-made specials see our Facebook page PIZZAS
Two for £18 | All our pizzas are hand-stretched and made to order, with a home-made tomato base. The American £10 Chorizo, Ham, Pepperoni, and Cheddar Cheese The Vegan £10 Falafel, Red Onion, Mushrooms, and vegan cheese The Hawaiian £10 Ham, Pineapple, and Cheddar Cheese Margherita £9 Classic Cheddar Cheese and Tomato
BURGERS
Two for £17 | All our burgers are in rustic Ciabatta rolls with salsa, tomato, and red onions, and served with chips and onion rings. The Bull Burger £9.50 Home-made beef burger topped with Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Falafel and Salsa Burger £9.00 Grilled Halloumi and Mushroom Burger £9.00 Southern Fried Chicken Burger £9.50 Topped with BBQ sauce and Cheddar Cheese The Ultimate Chicken Burger £9.50 Chicken breast topped with Cheddar Cheese and Streaky Bacon
SUNDAY ROAST TAKEAWAY
Traditional home-cooked Sunday Lunch. Choice of Beef, Chicken, Pork, or Nut Roast. Served with Seasonal Vegetables, Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, Stuffing and Gravy. Adults £9.00 Children £4.50 Call us on 01869 248158 to order all items Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 10
The Black Bull
(Soon to be The Launton Arms) Keep up to date with what we can offer at
facebook.com/bblaunton
You can continue to shop with us at
the-launton-arms.myshopify.com
where we have an online order and delivery service for the village only, offering drinks, takeaway food and extra grocery items for those stuck in isolation.
You can also call us on 01869 248846 during times displayed on our Facebook page. We send our best wishes to all, and stay safe. Kyle and the team And don't forget that we offer takeaway pizzas: on a hand made thin crust traditional Italian Base Basic (sauce and cheese) £8.90 Margherita (just sliced tomato) 9.20 Farmhouse (ham & mushroom) £9.90 Hawaiian (ham & pineapple) £9.90 Pepperoni Delight (double pepperoni & cheese) £10.20 Ham & Egg (ham & 2 free range eggs) £10.20 Veggie (pepper, onion, mushroom, sweetcorn) £9.90 Chilli BBQ Beef (beef, peppers & spicy BBQ sauce) £10.90 Hot One (meatballs, pepperoni, jalapeños & hot sauce) £10.90 BBQ Chicken (double chicken & onions with BBQ sauce) £10.20
Big Meatie (chicken, ham, pepperoni, meatballs & spiced beef) £11.90 Or Make Your Own Start with two Basic toppings included and add as many as you like for just £1 a topping, from this list Sliced Tomato Sweetcorn Onions Spiced Beef Pineapple Mushrooms Chicken Jalapeños Pepperoni Extra Cheese Ham Baked Beans Meatballs Fresh Egg Anchovies Bacon Peppers
Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 11
Footpaths and East West Rail
The Parish Council and the East West Rail Alliance were rather surprised when notices about the footpath closures went up in mid-May. Unfortunately, this was due to an over-zealous contractor who had not cleared the wording with anyone. A great deal of work will be taking place along the railway line in order to bring it up to standard and the footpath closures are necessary to keep both the public and the work force safe at all times. The work will include building a haul road which will run parallel to the railway line, ensuring that as many as 500 HGV journeys per day do not come through Launton - something which the Parish Council fought hard for at all three of the consultation stages, the last one of which was in 2018. Unfortunately, as with projects of this magnitude, there will be disruption to the footpaths during the works and the village will be affected. However, the EWR team have assured the Parish Council that they will try to keep the disruption to a minimum and as soon as they can, the paths will be re-opened, but we don’t have time scales at the moment. It’s not possible to create temporary diversions because all the closed paths go over the railway. The Parish Council has asked for clearer maps than the ones provided to Oxfordshire County Council for the temporary closure request. As soon as these are received, they will be published on the Parish Council website at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/footpath-closures/ It is understood that an East West Rail Liaison Officer will be appointed shortly and we will look forward to working with them over the next months and years. The Parish Council has invited a representative from East West Rail to the next Parish Council meeting on 4 June and will hope to make an update soon.
Playgroup Reopens for a final Half Term
Launton Playgroup will be returning for its final half term from 1 June. It has plans in place to ensure a safe return for children, who will be starting big school in September, and the Playgroup staff. The Playgroup team says, “This will be a very different playgroup from the one we are all used to but we are sure we will have a great half term of fun and play with lots of interesting activities to keep us entertained.” Here in Launton Lines we have been promised a gallery selection of photos of children who have passed through the Playgroup since it opened in January 1973: look out for this feature and see who you can recognise. Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 12
NEWS FROM ST MARY’S – WITH A DIFFERENCE! Since the Church building had to close in line with country-wide directives we have found a new way to be together, albeit via Zoom, which is proving very successful. We have been enabled to continue to enjoy weekly Services and a couple of weeks ago, on the Sunday after Ascension Day, we were happy to hold our first Family Service since lockdown. This was well attended with some 20 children, plus parents, from Launton, Bucknell and Caversfield, when we explored PEACE with a story and a lively talk from Revd Peter, as well as songs and craft activities, including a treasure hunt. We also celebrated April and May birthdays. We hope to be able to hold more such Services so we can keep in touch with our friends until we can be back together again in Church, just as soon as the time is right! If you would like to join any of our Services, please contact Revd Peter on revpeterwright@gmail.com or on 01869 572272 for a chat
R J WAKELIN Painting & Decorating Specialist
ROYAL FOOTCARE Professional and affordable foot care in the convenience of your own home
INTERIOR - EXTERIOR PRIVATE - COMMERCIAL Contact
Telephone: 01869 243264 Mobile: 07947 822794
“your feet are in safe hands” Sharon Ball S.A.C. DIP.FHPT S.A.C. DIP. FHPP Registered foot health practitioner // www.royalfootcare.co.uk
Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 13
Launton Women's Institute May 2020
At our May meeting we discuss the Resolutions - issues put forward as worthy causes for campaigning by the National Federation of WIs. We usually have a lively and informative time discussing the subjects and voting on which we will ask our delegate to support at the Annual Meeting. We also enjoy some cheese and wine, which makes it a very sociable evening too. The Resolutions for consideration this year were ‘A call to increase potential stem cell donor registration’ and ‘End modern slavery’. Sadly, in the current situation none of this has happened. The Board of the National Federation will be deciding upon how to proceed with the 2020 Resolutions and, also, the 2019 Resolutions (‘A call against the decline in local bus services’ and ‘Don't fear the smear’) which were to be voted on at the Annual Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall in June which obviously has had to be cancelled. Campaigning on social issues has always been an important part of the WI's remit and has also met with considerable success, so hopefully the proposed Resolutions will be taken forward. Meanwhile, although we are unable to hold meetings we are keeping in touch
Grange Mews News June 2020
Commercial Offices, Industrial Units and Storage for Lease
The first buds of the new beginning are starting to appear. However, Launton Travel have had all their summer work cancelled. Their workshops did urgent repairs to a concrete ready-mix wagon to help the construction industry keep going. Keith, as an Army reservist, has been in training for some time, and is being deployed on 1 June. Maskell Carpets have now closed, with their place taken by Shortstays who are actively housing people, on short or long stays, in the area. Shine and Glow are still active in the cleaning industry. Performance 213 are importing from USA and exporting to Germany. Justin Bucknell has electricians off furlough at work, as do our plumbers GPD Plumbing. Dojo Sports sadly closed as they could not see their type of activity being safely offered in the future. Bicester Car and Van Rental continues to offer a large range of cars and vans. Planet Kitchens and Bicester Glass and JF Office Fitting have work but are often unable to gain access or obtain materials from suppliers. Peter at the prize-winning studio All People Photography has devised an App shown in The Bicester Advertiser. Walton Moore who do playgrounds and car parks are furloughed. Kirsty and Hannah and Roxie at The Brow Barn with their
complementary therapies are just waiting for the word Go.
We let offices and industrial space and can be found at pacox@grangemews.co.uk and our website www.grangemews.co.uk Phone 01869 252846 or 07711 778 230
with members by email. We will also be contacting members by telephone once a month to check all is well. Another initiative is compiling a scrapbook to chronicle these strange times and we are asking our members to contribute items - experiences, anecdotes, poems, photographs. News and Views, our monthly Oxfordshire newsletter, is being put out digitally (with printed copies for those not online). The Oxfordshire Federation is also offering a Virtual Activities and Events programme with some interesting talks on Zoom. Our lovely birthday posies, beautifully made by Betty each month, have been temporarily replaced by handcrafted birthday cards, also beautifully made by Liz. As it was Liz’s birthday this month her delightful card was made by Pam (see the photograph on page 22). Obviously we cannot meet in June but the speaker, the Oxford historian Julie Ann Godson, has kindly agreed to defer her talk until June 2021. We wait to see how events unfold. Until we meet again, take care and keep safe.
Gaye Cornford THE BLUE TEXEL FARMSHOP BUTCHERS & DELICATESSEN From our Farm to your Fork Fresh, local & seasonal produce
STATION ROAD, LAUNTON OX26 5DS www.thebluetexel.co.uk 01869 252619
OPENING HOURS TUESDAY - FRIDAY 8AM-5PM | SATURDAY 8AM-3PM SUNDAY 9AM-1PM | CLOSED MONDAYS Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 15
EVICTION OF LAUNTON PLAYGROUP: A Concerned Villager Comments
My name is David Clayton and I’m happy to say that I have lived in and been part of the Launton Village Community for nearly 35 years. My three children have passed through the Launton Playgroup (LPG) and School while my Grandchildren have both benefitted from being at the Playgroup. It was with a sense of dismay that I read the article in last month’s Launton Lines announcing the “eviction” of the Playgroup from their current premises. The School Governors and the Diocese have decided that they need the space - currently occupied by LPG - to expand the school facilities. Using the full force of a break clause in the lease, the combined power of the Diocese and the School Governors have ensured that the remaining approx 14 years of the lease in place will be cut short; the LPG have six months to find new premises (from January this year). Over the years when changes have been on the horizon in Launton I have felt very much that the community has been consulted and informed prior to decisions being made. Unless I have overlooked some prior info on this issue then this is not the case here. In the past both the School and the LPG have been fully supported by the Launton Community while raising much needed funds; the two organizations offered distinct, separate and mutually beneficial functions for the village. The School in its expansion may be offering places that correspond to some of the LPG activities, but not all; I believe the loss of the full nursery function is to the detriment of this village.
The time scale does not leave the LPG much time to regroup although I believe the facilities offered by the LPG are very much wanted and needed in a growing Launton. Surely the Diocese and the School could have given more notice to the LPG, given that they had the legal backing of the lease? I would be unhappy and concerned if they felt that they could offer the bare minimum of notice “just because they can”; where is the community spirit in that? Yet there is another issue that concerns me. In 2009 I understand that the LPG (not the School) applied for and gained a grant for £175k from OCC; the award was made to LPG to replace its old building with new premises for the Playgroup to be used on a long term basis. OCC were, I understand, involved in the lease negotiation for the new LPG building; I wonder how they feel now that the Diocese and the School have somehow managed to superimpose their own conditions on the grant they made, after only 10 years of a long term project? I mentioned earlier that I feel Launton needs the full extent of the LPG activities, especially for the early years of nursery. Soon there will be a further 60 new homes in Launton for which the services of the LPG will undoubtedly be needed. There may still be time to support the current LPG and find alternative premises in which the furniture, fittings and equipment of the LPG can be used; the LPG needs to bring this plea for help out into the open in the limited time available. Finally, I’d like to make a point about leases. I would hope that other leases that may be under consideration for property to be used by the villagers of Launton will be far more robust in their protection of all parties. I would sincerely regret supporting funding for projects within the village only to find there is no long term protection of the results for those involved in fund-raising. David Clayton If you would like to support the continuation of Launton Playgroup, would you please (initially) confirm your interest by email to Dclayton@btinternet.com and we will see what happens next. Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 17
News from the Woodland
In 2019, which seems a long time ago now, Jenny Jones surveyed the flowering plants in the wood, following up her first survey 5 years previously. Jenny walked round the wood every two weeks from January to November and her report was presented at the Friends of Island Pond Wood AGM in January. Among the findings was a clump of dog violet, which wasn’t there at the time of the previous survey. This was particularly pleasing as our historian Pat Tucker has reported that years ago children used to pick violets in the field which became the wood. This year, the bluebells continue to spread. No large clumps as yet, but small clumps in many locations around the wood. These native bluebells have been mainly grown at home from seed by volunteers and then planted out. At the moment, the yellow flag irises are in flower, a pleasing sight at the pond edge. The celandines have been lovely, the cowslips have been a treat and the lady’s smock is dotted throughout the wood. Dominant at the moment is the cow parsley, a real summer scene. If you are not a plant expert, a phone app such as flora incognito will do the job for you - identifying herb robert, wood avens, cut-leaved cranesbill and great hairy willowherb. Jenny said in her report that she hoped some different species such as foxglove and ox-eye daisy could be added this year and we can thank Colin in the butchers for growing these at home and adding them round the wood. At the far end of the wood, opposite the wild orchard and the bench, there have been snakeshead fritillaries: not so many as last year - someone stole one. But mostly that doesn’t happen. People have said it would be good to have more noticeable and colourful flowers in the wood and we are getting there. Gwen Skinner
Yew Tree Walk
Many people will doubtless have passed through the churchyard recently on a daily walk and may have noticed work being carried out on the yew trees. Over the years the 14 yew trees beside the path have become very top heavy and were keeping out the light, particularly from some of the graves. Recently, the canopies have been sympathetically and professionally thinned, thus enabling light to get through, so not only can the grass grow on the graves near the trees, but the path may not get quite so soggy in winter. The work was funded by a very generous donor to whom we are all very grateful. Joan Packer Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 18
Flowering plants from the Island Pond Wood
Clockwise from top left: Celandine with small tortoiseshell butterfly; Cow Parsley and Buttercup; Lady's Smock; Fritillary. See report on page 18 Photos by Bob Roberts
Apple blossom in Chestnut Close, from Ella, our staff photographer Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 19
East West Rail clearance work
Above and Right: clearance of hedgerows and trees in Charbridge Lane in preparation for work on the relief road to allow for construction of the bridge to replace the
level crossing. This has let us see the warehouses for the first time.
Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 20
East West Rail clearance work
Left: clearance of hedgerows up to the Launton roundabout for relief road work. See the report from the Launton Plotters on pages 28-29 for the impact on the Allotments. Right: the old railbed looking up to the Launton railway bridge, where all vegetation has been removed, with only one old tree remaining . The allotments are to the left of the cleared area. All photos by Robert Cornford
Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 21
Photos from stories in this issue
Clockwise from top left | The hand-made birthday card for a WI member, see pages 14-15 | Rita Jones’ daughter, Susan, with her Great Grand Daughter, Madelyn Ann, see page 4 | A peacock butterfly in the sun on the path, by our staff photographer Ella | More work at the crossroads, an inspection chamber and cabinet base for Openreach cables. Photos from Liz Colyer, Rita Jones, Ella, and Robert Cornford
Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 22
Report from Parish Hall Improvement Project and the Hall Working Group
Just when we thought we would be able to sign the Agreement to Lease (before the Lease itself) in April a combination of Coronovirus restrictions and problems raised by the diocesan solicitors representing the PCC meant we are stalled and have to try to get the process moving again. We will get to a full signing this year, though if it is the calendar year or the financial year is still open to debate. The Parish Council has appointed PCMS Design from Thame to work on the project. Alex Bond from PCMS visited on 11 March, before lockdown, and has submitted a report analysing the present Hall, and outlining possible ways forward. The next meeting of the Working Group will review his report. We have also begun work on identifying funding sources. Of course, current uncertainties from Covid-19 means it is difficult to make detailed plans. We are investigating the possibility of the Parish Council taking out a long-term loan from The Public Works and Loans Board to fund the work. All quite frustrating, but we can see beyond the present disruptions. The current funds held by PHIP are just under £20,000 following the donation from The Village Players of £7,000 from the 2020 Pantomime. Robert Cornford: Information Officer PHIP ALL ROOFS, GUTTERS & CHIMNEYS
HOUSE MAINTENANCE | REPOINTING INTERNAL & EXTERNAL DECORATIONS
PATIOS | DECKINGS | FENCING
FOR A PERSONAL SERVICE CALL
PETER N. SOUTHAM 01869 278333 OR 07721 633 220 peteroofer@aol.com INSURANCE APPROVED Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 23
An update from Bicester Green
Mid March, and before the lockdown was formally announced, we had to take the decision to temporarily close. For the wellbeing, health and safety of our volunteers it was the only decision we could make. I can’t tell you how difficult that last week was in both our wood and electrical workshops. Volunteers came in every day to make the most of the opportunity to tinker but more importantly socialise, as it appears it could be some time before those opportunities return. But you know what? We will return to that sense of normality and when we do maybe we’ll treasure every moment just that little bit more. While our workshops, shop and the kettle have all fallen silent, our ethos remains true and in fact Simple things such as buying less, making new out of what we’ve already got, re-wearing, reducing and reusing are becoming the new norm. The core ethos of Bicester Green seems to be popping up in households across the area. With it being difficult to know when we might be able to reopen, we are planning for such a time that it might be possible. Indeed, we have been trialling ‘socially distanced selling’ of bikes, which have become the optimum mode of transport lately, and our COVID Secure Dr Bike sessions. The latter are supported by Cherwell District Council and have worked by booking an appointment to drop off and collect your bike. With both sessions being fully booked in under an hour it’s fair to say they are popular, as are bicycles right now! We are planning another Dr Bike session for 13 June, advance booking will be mandatory again and the bookings will open after the 30 May session has been completed. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Dr Bike, it’s a FREE* bike repair service held at Bicester Green on the last Saturday of every month (we missed March and April so are making up for those now!). So if your bike needs gears setting up, brakes adjusting, or just a check over to make sure it’s road safe then it’s for you. *Labour, cables, brake blocks and inner tubes are all covered in the FREE price! If your bike needs other parts we can source those for a charge. What is not to love about that price? Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 24
Much of our communication is done through our Facebook page, we know not everyone is on Facebook, so we try where possible to keep the website updated with information and news, but it’s not always the most speedy of channels, so if you’re not on Facebook, and don’t wish to be, but know someone who is then why not ask them to take a look for you? We are keen to find a way to reopen as soon as is possible and safe, in particular for our SESI refills and bikes, but in the meantime you can visit us online at www.bicestergreen.org.uk or follow us on www.Facebook.com/BicesterGreen Celia Cornforth
50 Years Ago: May 2020 A reader has sent in the attached:
Dear Editor I'm not certain how it happened but I have come across a print copy of Launton
Lines for May 2070 which has an interesting article on the events going in its 50 Years Ago feature. I attach a photo of the piece in the paper copy, still being distributed. Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 25
150 Years Ago: from the school log book, June 1870
Wednesday June 1st Intended taking the children to the Rectory Lawn for their annual Treat (usually given on May Day ), but it rained so heavily as to oblige us to postpone. Thursday June 2nd Children had their treat today. ... Tuesday June 14th Cricket match. “Ch Choir v Village”. Half holiday. ... Friday June 17th Av for week 92.5 Monday June 20th New mistress Jane Ellard took charge of the infants and sewing. Three of the Committee, Rev J C Bloomfield, Mr C R Killby and Mr J Baker visited the school this morning. Monday June 27th Raised the scale of payments. To Tradesman and Artisans 6d per week. Two or more in family 4d. Labouring poor. 2d per week. Two or more In a family. 1½d per week. None allowed free. Friday June 31st Av for week 79.9, decreased in consequence of raised payments.
Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 26
[Historical notes. The school managers were the rector, the farmer at Manor Farm and a shopkeeper in Bicester who who lived at Langleys, West End. Jane Ellard taught at the school until 1901 (she died seven years later). A farm labourer earned about 12 shillings a week, so even if you paid the lower rate because you had several children, the fees would make a large dent in your income.]
A CAKE STALL - IN JULY
A suggestion has been made that we hold a cake stall in front of the Parish Hall. A possible date would be Saturday 11 July in the morning for a couple of hours. Social distancing will apply of course. Over the next weeks we will canvass bakers to see if they are willing to supply ‘the goods’. If you are prepared to help please contact Joan Packer on 01869 241694 for further details. Proceeds will go towards the Parish Hall Improvement Project (PHIP) and St. Mary’s church. More details will be in the July issue of Launton Lines.
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Launton Plotters June Update
What a strange year we’ve had so far, thank goodness the weather has been kind to us, making the daily exercise rather pleasant, also those of us lucky to have an allotment have been able to get out even more. Many plotters have made the most of the extra time on their hands whilst furloughed. There is plenty of room to adhere to the social distancing at the allotments even for those more vulnerable as long as we are all careful. Not only have Plotters had the worrying uncertainty of Covid19 we have the ongoing uncertainty of the East West Rail Alliance (EWRA) works. You can see by the brutal clearing of trees and hedgerows along the railway route that it is very much going ahead. Luckily Plotters will still be able to access the allotments during the works although a number of plots will be lost permanently and a larger number lost temporarily. The largest affected area is along Charbridge Lane, from the rail crossing back to the roundabout where they are building a single carriageway bridge
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(with provision for dual carriageway in the future if required). This will entail a large embankment which will encroach on the allotment site taking 3 rows of plots on the main side and one row of plots on the smaller organic side. This will also block the entrance to our car park. EWRA are building us a new access road from the Bicester Road side opposite their compound entrance, this should be completed around October 2020 prior to the closure of our original access. The clearing of this scrub area should have started already. It is unknown at this point exactly how much land EWRA are taking along the railway line end of the allotments, looking at the fencing they have already erected in other places this can vary, we are hoping that most of the plots at this end will be minimally affected. All plotters who have been displaced by the works have been found a temporary or permanent plot to use if requested. This was accomplished over the last year or so by moving plotters to recently vacated plots, sometimes plot sharing for the duration and not bringing any new tenants in. This means all plotters will have some land to cultivate throughout the works. EWRA have been very helpful throughout, making it possible for us to still access the allotments during works, and not clearing hedges along the allotment boundary until as late as possible. Compensation will be given for loss of sheds fencing etc and land returned as was, hopefully by 2022! As is normal with large developments such as this, there have been delays and changes e.g. they are not enlarging the Bicester Road Bridge as electrification of the line was cancelled, so it was no longer necessary. Covid19 has also obviously slowed works down even more. The allotments are looking very scruffy on the Charbridge Lane side where we have abandoned our plots, for the moment to nature but later to the developer’s wheels. I am not the only one I am sure who will be mightily glad to see the end of development and to get back to whatever normality Covid19 will allow us. Stay safe and carry on where you can. Jackie Hackett Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 29
Launton in Lockdown, May 2020
Ben Smith walked around the village in a week in May to try and record aspects of the Coronavirus lockdown. He invited families to have their photos taken “at their front door” (though sometimes at their back door). Ben used a camera phone (an i-phone) and natural lighting to try and capture the reality of the experience. Fortunately it was sunny for most of the week. Ben initially asked for volunteer families through the village facebook page, and while walking round taking pictures over the VE Day holiday weekend others asked to be included. “Eventually there were 62 households taking part, with 19 dogs featuring. In addition I took 33 scenes in and around the village, 16 sheep, 8 cows, 4 piglets, and a donkey. I then made a slideshow of the images and loaded it onto the Launton Community Group Facebook page on 19 May. The url is https://www.facebook.com/groups/1698647367052927/ “This all provides an informal record of the community in lockdown and acts as a reminder of the countryside and village resources we have available to us. “My thanks to everyone who took part.” Five of the photos from the project are on the cover of this June 2020 issue of Launton Lines.
Beginning to look ahead
As I write this we should be having the final planning meeting for the 2020 Launton Fete. But, as we all know... things changed ... and the 2020 Fete was cancelled in late March. The fete organising group decided to concentrate its energies on the 2021 Fete to be held on Saturday 12 June next year. But at the same time we would like to at least start making plans for a “Not The Fete” event later in the year. If we can do it in the open air on the Playing Fields then it'll have to be before the end of September ... otherwise in the LPFA Hall. It won’t be the Fete, but it can at least be something to look forward to.
Not for fundraising... just for fun! Robert Cornford, Launton Village Fete Coordinator Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 30
The Growing Pains of Multiculturalism in These Uncertain Times
We’re used to getting confusing information these days. So let me give you something confusing to mull over - Multiculturalism, especially among older people, like my elderly mother. Accurately defining it is like herding cats. The Oxford English Dictionary calls it, “the policy or process whereby the distinctive identities of the cultural groups within such a society are maintained or supported”. Whichever way you define it, unkind people might claim that my mother doesn’t understand it. I’d say it’s not that simple. I may be biased, but I’d say she’s a saint. However, here’s why she might need extra training. She is the product of a sheltered life regarding the “foreigner”. She couldn’t tell the difference between Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi people. Or for that matter black Caribbean or black African people. She can’t work out how ‘foreign’ doctors speak such good English. In fact, better English than she speaks. She’s also delightfully inconsistent. For example, she’ll say, “You can go through some towns in this country and hardly see a white face”. That’s despite her only leaving West Cumberland for an annual trip to the Canaries. In the next breath she’ll say, “Doctor Siddique did a brilliant job on my new knee. He’s a lovely man, even though he’s foreign”. She cannot get her head around the idea that Dr Siddique may have been born in somewhere like Blackburn, like comedian Tez Ilyas, who starred alongside Guz Khan (from Coventry) in BBC’s hit comedy series ‘Man Like Mobeen’. In her defence, she’s very different from knuckle dragging skinheads shouting abuse at Asian bus drivers or Romanian fruit pickers. Or the layabouts condemning “lazy foreigners idling in our British fields earning easy money cutting our British asparagus for us to eat”. She’d never dream of wearing Union Jack Y-fronts and string vests. That would look ridiculous on a 91-yearold woman from Workington. Her innocent collision with multiculturalism extends to the England football team. Question: “Why’s he playing for England? He’s as black as the ace of spades. Where’s he from?” Answer: “Manchester, mother”. Question: “So why does he look so foreign?” Answer: “Have you heard him speak, mother? He’s a proper Manc”. Question: “Why aren’t there more white people playing for England?” Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 31
Answer: “They pick the team based on whether you can play football, mother, not on your skin colour. If you think it’s bad in England, try watching the French football team”. Her local awareness of ‘foreigners’ has sharpened since 2004. That’s when more ‘foreigners’ from Central and Eastern Europe started moving into West Cumberland, especially into Maryport. Maryport serves a particular purpose for residents of Workington, six miles further south. It boosts their fragile selfesteem. Although Workington is a dump, its citizens comfort themselves that it’s not as much of a dump as Maryport. For example, in Workington, a former steel town, they have concealed its dirty past by landscaping the ‘slag bank’. ‘Slag’ is a by-product of steelmaking that nobody wants, so over the decades the steelworks just dumped it along the shoreline in a very large brown heap. Now they’ve turned it into a more attractive green heap that people can walk along with their dogs while gazing over at the Isle of Man. What a difference that’s made. The arrival of ‘foreigners’ caused mixed reactions from my mother. At one extreme, it means that she has had to listen to impenetrable foreign tongues from Poland and Lithuania. On the other hand, the Poles are often more Catholic than she is. They swell the ranks of the previously dwindling church congregation and they add to the parish priest’s coffers. As a devout believer, she knows a kindred spirit when she sees one. The Poles get a solid endorsement from my churchgoing mother. God forbid if they’d been Protestants. My mother has form on Polish matters. Back in the late 1980s, before the collapse of the Soviet Union, my mother was brilliantly proactive. The few Poles working in Cumberland back then were fund raising to help their struggling Poles back home, collecting things like clothes and medicines, for “Polish Aid”. My mother, hardly a young person even then, was in the thick of it. She even travelled to Poland in a 3-tonne aid truck and helped to distribute aid to schools and hospitals. She was supporting the “foreigner” when others weren’t. The Lithuanians presented a different challenge. She can understand just as much Lithuanian as she can Polish - not a word! However, she loves seafood. And Mayport’s fish factory wouldn’t have existed without Lithuanians. The locals had largely given up on jobs that made you smell of recently gutted fish. For the Lithuanians it was just a job. How did my mother react? No Lithuanians or no local seafood? No contest! “They’re all right, those Lithuanians. They’re grafters, working away in that fish factory while the rest Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 32
of Maryport sponges off the dole”. Another glowing example of her early adoption of multiculturalism. Her innocence is a precious commodity. In 2016, my wife and I went to Stratford to watch the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) perform a unique production of Hamlet, with an almost all-black cast. Hamlet was played by a relatively unknown 25-year-old actor, Paapa Essiedu, who got rave reviews. One broadsheet newspaper headline read: “A star is born”. Paapa’s origins were from Ghana, but he was born in East London, growing up in a oneparent family. To land and then master the role of Hamlet was a massive achievement. On the day after, we were still in awe of what we’d seen. I rang my mother for a catch-up. “We went to Stratford to see Hamlet, mother. It was an all-black cast”. Her puzzled reply was: “That’s odd? Couldn’t they find any white actors?”. Based on what you’ve read here, I hope you’ll agree that multiculturalism is no less confusing than it was before you read this. But I bet that you already like my mother!
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Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 33
MEMORIES OF AN EX-LAUNTON BOY
This month the Ex-Launton Boy muses on the long summers of his youth, and how he filled those endless days around the village. Then he started work and became aware of the passing of time. Now, in this Coronavirus Summer, he is reliving the time-extended days of his childhood.
Time and the perception of time depends to some extent on one’s age at the time. With this superb (depending on your viewpoint) weather we are currently enjoying at the time of penning this, I am reminded of those fantastically long hot summers of my childhood in Launton. In particular, I remember the month of July when I and my brother Cliff would be helping with the haymaking whilst still in short trousers. Such fabulous times working for no pay alongside the grown men of the village was in itself a ‘not-to-be-missed’ education. But after the haymaking was done and dusted, what then? Six weeks of summer holiday away from school and back then, our parents along with most of the other parents in the village, were in no position financially to consider holidays abroad. In fact, apart from the very occasional day-trip, we couldn’t even afford to take a holiday at all, other than perhaps going to Argate. For the uninitiated, Argate is at the bottom of our front path. But as I have described before, we kids were not at a loss what to do with our time, having the freedom Heating Plumbing Servicing of the surrounding fields and countryside to wander, with the Domestic Oil and Gas Servicing permission of local family famers. As I recall, at that tender young Installation and Maintenance age, time was a very slowly moving Gas Safe Registered experience. From summertime mornings through to summertime Oftec Registered nights seemed to go on for ever. We would momentarily lose all “A local Business consciousness of time whilst across the fields all day. It was growing from Launton” hunger in our bellies that told us when it was time to go home. Phone: 07483 864 571 Can you remember as children, Email: simonnashserv@aol.com when there was a forthcoming
Simon Nash
Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 34
special event to very much look forward to, it could never come soon enough? Time seemed to drag and our childish patience was often put to the test, much to the annoyance of our parents who seemed to have a different perception of time altogether. And for me, back then, I clearly remember that after four weeks of a six weeks summer holiday, I was dead keen to get back to school. I had a thirst for learning and for knowledge that wasn’t being quenched during the school holiday, as great as it was enjoying the freedom of the great outdoors. Then I left school and became an apprenticed carpenter and joiner, apprenticed to a superb craftsman by the name of Jack Spence who lived in Bicester but came originally from Stratton Audley, a lovely man with a thirst for cricket and a liking for the horses. During the summer, whether in the carpenter’s shop or on site, he would have the radio on to listen to the cricket test matches and the County games. I remember one Wednesday saying to him, “Roll on Friday”, to which he responded, “Don’t go wishing your life away Ant, it’ll go soon enough”. And now that the decades have slipped by, I know exactly what he meant. From the long slow summer days of childhood I moved into the rat-race of adulthood. Never enough hours in the day to achieve all that one wanted to or aimed to, resulting in a lifetime of playing ‘catch-up’. The list of today’s ‘to-do’s’ was often not achieved by the day’s end, which meant carrying it over to tomorrow’s ‘to-do’ list, and so on. I still cannot believe that last month, my eldest daughter celebrated her 45th birthday. It seems like only yesterday when she took her first tentative steps as she tottered towards me with her little arms outstretched. But now we have ‘lock-down’ and boy, what a transformation. All of a sudden the clock-watching has come to an end. Deadlines and appointments and meetings have been temporarily suspended. For the past few weeks I have been able to accomplish so many jobs in and around the house and garden that with every good intention I have been wanting to do for so long now, but just couldn’t find the time. The garden looks better than it has ever looked and my vegetable plot looks promisingly good, so we’d better start eating what’s in the freezer to make room for an anticipated bumper crop. For me personally, this ‘lockdown’ has been most welcome. Now the local refuse tip has opened up again, the queues to get there have been enormous, so much so that the Local Authority now insists that would-be dumpers must make an appointment rather than just turning up. Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 35
Clearly others have utilised this newly found time to do likewise and conduct that long overdue clear out. But perhaps even more importantly, people now have time for people. They say that every cloud has a silver-lining, As dreadful as the Coronavirus is, and it truly is dreadful, for those of us lucky enough not to have been struck down by it and who have not had occasion to sadly mourn for family members or friends and neighbours, it has had its’ compensations in adjusting our clocks, enabling us to appreciate time and how to make the most of it. There are however, two sides to a coin in that we should not forget those who are self-isolating, especially in flats with no garden. For many of them, time drags on and on. Let us hope that when this is all behind us we will not lose sight of all the positives we have learned. Time is after all, a precious commodity. Don’t let’s waste it. Keep well and stay SAFE. Tony Jeacock | The Ex-Launton Boy | June 2020
Jean Kathleen Castle
Born 5 November 1928 in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex Died 31 March 2020 in Launton, Oxfordshire Jean’s mother, Kathleen Castle, was born in Launton in October 1906. She later worked for a doctor in the area who then moved to Southend on Sea. Jean’s mother went with him and moved to Southend. While there she met and married Jean’s father John Meddle. Jean was born in 1928 followed by her two brothers Leslie in 1934 and Ronald in 1937. During Jean’s early years she visited Launton for holidays staying with her grandparents. During the second world war Leigh-on-Sea, being at the mouth of the Thames estuary, was on the flight path of the German bombers going up to bomb London during the blitz and she told us many times how when the planes were flying back from their missions they would drop Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 36
any of their leftover bombs into the estuary. Some of these stray bombs would also destroy houses in Leigh. Jean told us about how people she knew were killed in this way. For this reason Jean and her brothers were evacuated from Leigh to Launton until it was safe to return. After the war Jean used to return to Launton for holidays and on one visit met her husband-to-be Stanley Castle who was playing the piano in the Black Bull pub in West End. They were married at the Methodist Chapel in Leigh-on-Sea on the 23rd July 1949. Once married, they moved to Bicester living in rooms above the shops in Sheep Street near to the Bell pub. They moved to Launton in 1952 after purchasing the cottage in West End for the sum of £750, and four years later their son Kevin was born in 1956. After Kevin was old enough to be left with his grandmother and family friends Jean returned to work at the Kerby Engineering factory (where The Glades now stands) in Launton as a machine operator. Her husband Stan was also working there after previously being a signalman at Bicester North Station. Jean was also a member of the Launton Players in the 1960s and 1970s both on stage and behind the scenes. Her husband Stan died in 1992 and Jean lived alone in the same cottage for 28 years. During this time Jean worked for several people in the village doing such wonderful jobs as housework and ironing (she was one of the very few people I have known to actually enjoy doing these tasks); she also loved her garden and has spent many happy hours out there keeping things under control. Jean loved living in Launton, she loved the village and had many friends within it. I am sure many of you will miss seeing her and her walker around the village as even at the age of 91 she still liked to get out as much as possible and have a good old gossip (no wonder it took her so long to go up to the shop). The family would like to thank everyone in the village who has sent either donations in Jean’s memory along with the many cards, letters and kind words. They have bought back many fond memories and have made us realise how popular she was. Thank You. Kevin Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 37
Diary Dates: April-May 2020
With the closing down of almost all community activity and events, we have decided to hold off including Diary Dates in issues until we come out the other side of restrictions. The only information to carry forward are online Parish Council meetings via Zoom (see page 7). The next meetings will be on Thursday 4 June and Thursday 2 July. The other date to list is the copy deadline for the July issue of Launton Lines. This will be Wednesday 20 June: send to launtonlines@launton.org.
Island Pond Wood
Our village wood - Island Pond Wood - is looking stunning at the moment. The trees are in full leaf, the grasses and wild flowers are growing in the meadow area, the pond is teaming with wildlife, butterflies, and the bird song reassures us that the birds are loving it as much as we are. We are all enjoying walking around the wood, but do we realise that this precious village amenity needs funding to maintain it and to keep it safe? Grass cutting is paid for with a Parish Council grant, but there are other hidden costs that have to be covered every year, including insurance, maintenance and furniture such as benches etc. Approximately £1,500 per year! If you have been enjoying walking in the woods, exercising yourselves or your dogs or children, please would you consider becoming members of the Friends of Island Pond Wood? For just £10 per person, or £20 per family per year, you can help to support our village wood and be reassured that it will remain as beautiful as it is now. For more information and a membership form, please contact islandpondwood.launton@gmail.com or complete the form below and return it to Judy Taylor, 17 Blackthorn Road, Launton, OX26 5DA
Island Pond Wood Membership Form Friends of Island Pond Wood are kept informed of all matters to do with the wood; they are invited to work sessions and to the AGM. Annual Subscription £10.00 per person £20.00 per family
.............................................................................................................. Email: .............................................................................................................. Address: ........................................................................................................... Telephone: ........................................................................................................ Signature: ......................................................................................................... Name:
Date:
............................................................................................................... Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 38
Saying Hello and Thank You to some of our service workers this month
Readers have suggested that we should recognise some of the service workers in Launton over the past months, so here are our two posties, Andrew (Blenheim and Station Road) and Jeff (the rest of the village), and the binmen on a green-bin collection in May. We didn’t manage to get a photo of the brown-bin crew at work. All photos by Lesley Thompson
Launton Lines June 2020 | Page 39
A very satisfied and critical reader Dear Editor Our daughter aged 14 months (Iona Sankey) very much enjoyed this month’s issue of Launton Lines - she kept turning to the pages which featured some pictures from the village. Picture Number 3 on page 23 of Launton’s sheep got her particularly excited seeing the sheep, and she excitedly made a sort of “Baa!” noise at it! We very much look forward to receiving our issues and are saving current issues for our ‘lockdown’ keepsake box. Keep up the good work! Zara Sankey, Launton Launton Lines is the newsletter for Launton. It is published monthly by the Launton Community Communications Group which also manages the Launton website www.launton.org and the Facebook page www.facebook.com/launtonvillage Launton Lines is delivered free to every address in the village. It is funded by its advertisers and Launton Parish Council. Further print copies are available at £1.00 per copy from Shirley Johnson. Launton Lines is also available online from January 2020 on the Issuu.com publishing website. © MMXX Launton Lines. We reserve the right to edit articles submitted for inclusion. Neither the Committee nor the Editor is responsible for views expressed in readers’ contributions.