UpFront 01/21
The fact that this is the twentieth year that I have worked on our New Year’s issue was brought home to me by a customer I spoke to on the phone last week. He was in the process of winding Read more »
Editorials
Up Front 12/20
In his audio interview with Seth Dellow, West Dorset MP, Chris Loder mentions the silver linings around the upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic. He points to what he sees as a completely new approach to how communities support each Read more »
UpFront 11/20
Having a last look over this issue before it goes to the printer, there is a lot to take in. From Margery Hookings’ communication with local people overseas to Samantha Knights’ explanation of modern slavery, as well as articles about Read more »
UpFront 10/20
In his new book, English Pastoral, Lake District farmer James Rebanks echoes the thoughts of many people when he says he is tired of the ‘absolutes and extremes, and the angriness of this age’. He says ‘we need more kindness, Read more »
Up Front 09/20
One of the last live sporting events I attended was when Exeter Chiefs hosted Sale at Sandy Park in January. It was a disappointing result for the home team and a fairly mediocre game. But despite that, I doubt that Read more »
Up Front 8/20
Growing up in a pub, when my father was also the village undertaker, gave me a unique opportunity to listen to people speak when they had let their guard down. As we all know, a couple of drinks or an Read more »
Up Front 07/20
Sitting here, finishing off the last pages of our first print issue in three months, on the same day as the ‘final’ Downing Street coronavirus daily briefing, it’s hard to know what to think. We are obviously a long way Read more »
UpFront 06/20
‘Slowly easing out of lockdown’ are not words that many of us would have expected to use this year. Especially as we emerged from the Christmas break to what we then called ‘normality’. Every year lots of us experience something Read more »
UpFront 05/20
In the film Cast Away, Chuck Noland, a systems engineer for the delivery firm FedEx is stranded alone on a desert island. Played by Tom Hanks, Noland develops a relationship with a volleyball which he calls Wilson. Since Noland is Read more »
UpFront 04/20
Although it’s only a few weeks since I talked with Oliver Letwin about his book Apocalypse How? it feels like a very long time ago. We discussed his concerns over our heavy reliance on technology and the difficulties that this Read more »