We have been told that Raymond's funeral will be a private event for family and invited guests. It is possible that a larger event to celebrate Raymond's life will take place at a future date but to the best of our knowledge nothing has been settled at this time.

West Oxfordshire District Council has launched the statutory consultation on the Draft West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2043. The consultation will run until 9 October 2026 and is open to all local residents, businesses, community organisations and other interested stakeholders. The Draft Local Plan sets out: The Council's proposed planning policies for West Oxfordshire to 2043. The proposed strategy for accommodating future housing, employment and infrastructure needs. Pr

David Cohen has kindly provided this tribute to a truly eminent Burfordian. Raymond and Joan arrived in Burford in 1960 and set about restoring Cobb House, which is still the family home. They both joined the faculty of Burford Grammar School. I came to Burford in 1980 and first became aware of Raymond when, in 1983 Raymond and Joan published “The Book of Burford.” I went to visit them to discuss the history of The Highway Hotel. One of many visits that started out as a quick

At the time of the conquest in 1066 the Manor of Burford was in the ownership pf the Godwin family but when King Harald Godwinson lost the Battle of Hastings it passed to Bishop Odo, William’s half-brother. When William I died in 1088 Bishop Odo thought he should be king and rebelled against William II. Bishop Odo was unsuccessful and was sent back in disgrace to Bayeux. William II gave the Manor to Robert FitzHamon, one of his loyal Norman knights, and he granted Burford a c

Oxford Traffic Filter Scheme It looks as if Oxford’s controversial traffic filter scheme will come into force soon, replacing the temporary congestion charge. It was put on hold while the Botley Road work was being carried out. It is now said that Botley Road will be reopen on 20 September. It seems therefore that the filter scheme will come into effect soon thereafter, although we have not seen anything official to confirm this. The filter scheme is the latest attempt to

The government has today (16 July) announced that Oxfordshire and West Berkshire’s seven existing councils will be replaced by three unitary councils from 1 April 2028 as part of its plans for local government reorganisation (LGR). The new councils will be: Greater Oxford Council – covering Oxford and its immediate surroundings. Northern Oxfordshire Council – covering most of the existing Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts. Ridgeway Council – covering most of the exis

The shrine of St Swithun in Winchester Cathedral (Wikipedia) Today, 15 July, is St Swithun (or Swithin's Day). The day is chiefly remembered for this rhyme: St. Swithun’s day if thou dost rain, For forty days it will remain, St. Swithun’s day if thou be fair, For forty days ’twill rain nae mair. So if you were hoping for some rain for your garden or to avoid a hosepipe ban, tough luck. Saint Swithun was a bishop in Saxon times. He was born in 800 AD in Wessex. He was fa

The draft of the West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2043 is now available online. It sets out WODC's ideas on how our area should develop over the next 15 years. There will be an opportunity to comment on it during a consultation period runnng through August to mid-September. The intention is that it will be submitted to the government's planning inspectorate around the end of the year with a view to it being approved sometime next year. It will then be the guiding principle by

Message from Burford Town Council Burford Town could be the UK Town of Culture 2028! 🏆 We have officially entered the competition to become the UK Town of Culture 2028! In celebration of our town’s culture and heritage, we have submitted a digital postcard to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). You can view our entry alongside others from across the country on the official UK Town of Culture Digital Map Find the postcard here. Be sure to follow our social

Here are some images from Sunday's Dragon Parade, kindly provided by Derek Cotterill and Andrew McKerlie. No doubt many people took their own photos. The parade was filmed by BBC South and got a mention on their Monday evening news bulletin. However the programme was very short, squeezed between lengthy coverage of Keir Starmer's resignation and the World Cup, so if you blinked you could have missed it.

A few years ago the editors went to a talk and recital by Crispian Steele-Perkins, the distinguished trumpeter. We enjoyed it so much that we were very pleased to see that he was appearing at the Burford Festival and this went straight onto our list of must-see events. On the previous occasion he explained a lot about the trumpet and other brass instruments and illustrated this by playing music on some of them, including something that we had never thought of as an instumen

Additional information: If residents and businesses are following the story, they'll remember in short: - April Easter holidays - there would have been 5 days closure during day. - Burford and Fulbrook councillors held site meeting with OCC Highways Lead project manager and lead designer to change the works to flat pavement which meant works could be done overnight and in 3 overnights. - Council liaised with businesses, schools and residents to determine when windows that cou

Like us, you may have seen the yellow signs which have sprouted along our roadsides referring to "Cereal production" or similar terms. Well, we decided to find out what it is about so you don't have to. No, it doesn't mean that some new episodes of Downton Abbey are being filmed in our area. Instead it's described as "a massive trade show dedicated to arable agriculture." It is being hosted at Diddly Squat Farm by Jeremy Clarkson, who seems to be everywhere at the moment.

Burford Town Council is holding its annual public meeting in the Warwick Hall at 7pm today. This is your chance to meet the new mayor, Karl Morris (shown above) and the town councillors - some new, some familiar faces - and to give your views about the future of our community.

On Sunday 17 May the Rev Jan de Haldevang was ordained as a priest in the Church of England at St Mary's Church in Great Barrington. This church is part of the Windrush Benefice which also includes Little Barrington, Aldsworth and Sherborne as well as Windrush village (as opposed to the Windrush valley). Jan, in the centre of the photo, was ordained by the Bishop of Tewkesbury, the Rt Rev Robert Springett, shown standing on Jan's right (left in the image).

The following have been elected to serve on BTC for the next four years: Name Votes Peter Higgs 417 Michael Taubenheim 409 Jane Tunnell-Westmacott 336 Corinne Ash 322 Jennie Craven 295 Robert Alexander 294 Roxanne Suratgar 289 Jacqueline Neagle 288 Karl Morris 276 Andrew Foster 237 Paul Newman 215 The following were not elected Dan Derry 210 Maureen Percival 203 Corinne Hoge 183

Nick Field-Johnson has been elected as district councillor for the Burford, Taynton and Fulbrook ward. Full results: Name Party Votes % Nick Field-Johnson Conservative 370 40 Leslie Channon Lib Dem 330 35 James Poxon Reform UK 189 20 Natalie Baker Green 39 4 Nathaniel Miles Labour 8 1 Total votes 936 Elsewhere in our area, Rosie Pearson has been relected as the Green Party councillor for the Brize Norton and Shilton ward.