Six Years in a Country Town: Pages from R.F. Leslie’s ‘Charlbury News’

Six Years in a Country Town is a quirky and affectionate evocation of a small community on the edge of the Cotswolds at the end of the 20th century.
Professor Robert Leslie, who wrote and edited the local newsletter in the Oxfordshire town of Charlbury, had a highly individual idea of what constituted news. Through his eyes we see a community in which everyone seems concerned about each other’s welfare, and where the only thing lacking is a good local limerick. … Yet there is also a darker side, with the recurring problems of vandalism and petty crime (generally blamed on organised gangs from the outlying villages), and above all the worrying decline in the number of local pubs.

ISBN 0954 6342 1 7/978 0954 6342 1 6; 128 pp; £3.99 softback

(Cover picture of Charlbury by Piotr Fafrowicz)

One reason for the publication of Charlbury News is to ensure that local gossip is put on a scientific basis. Recently a number of rumours have been in circulation which the Editor decided to investigate.

Reviews

'Delightful ... It brings back some very happy memories' – Michael Palin

‘A great book and a very enjoyable read’ – David Cameron MP

Professor Robert Leslie (with notebook) at the Charlbury Playgroup Fair, June 1994:
‘It was good to see the Playing Close used for its historic purpose.’