As meteorologists and scientists try to figure out if recent icy winters and wet summers are due to natural variation or climate change, we can only observe the weather as it comes and take it one day at a time. Granted, the glorious days in May did fall on the bank holiday weekends, which was a
first and an added bonus, but the wet and windy often leaves balmy summer evenings far and few between. This time last year, many events sadly had to be cancelled, so let us hope we will fare better this year. Most organisers have taken precautions as a result and are providing shelter for planned
events to take place no matter what falls down from above.

There are some exciting events to take part in locally over the summer months, from Oundle Food Festival, see pages 52-53; and the 29th Oundle International Festival, see pages 64-67, whose Picnic in the Park will take place in the grounds of Boughton House; to Cranford Live! Music Festival, see pages 84-85. Boughton House will also be the backdrop for the al fresco screening of Les Misérables, see page 106, allowing you to see the award-winning film in the very setting where it was filmed. Other outdoor performances will take place at Lamport Hall, Kelmarsh Hall and Stanwick Lakes, so get your picnic baskets out and enjoy a summer evening with a cultural aspect.

The Summer Fun section, pages 106-115, is jam-packed with fun for all the family, and motor enthusiasts can look forward to the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival: Silverstone Classic, see pages 76-77. The pages ahead are bursting with posters of summer fêtes, fairs and open gardens for us all to support - a wonderful time of year!

On a personal level, family celebrations are stacking up in July: twenty years in Geddington, the graduation of our oldest son Daniel and, finally, our silver wedding to be shared in our beloved Italy with relatives from Denmark and the US. I shall certainly treasure the memories to be made in the
months to come and hope that you will have an enjoyable summer too.

Hillcrest House

Church Hill

Geddington

Northants

NN14 1AH

Tel: 01536 744700