In This Issue…

Tourists from across the world flock to the UK each year for a glimpse at traditional British life—cosy pubs lit by warm log fires, quaint corner shops stocking delicious local produce and the smile of the village greengrocer, surrounded by glossy fruit and veg. But the swift tide of modernity is threatening many of the hallmarks of our traditional villages with extinction.

On p72, we meet the communities taking matters into their own hands. From the Trawden Forest Community Pub Group, who clubbed together to save their local watering hole, to the baker who has turned abandoned telephone boxes into pop-up cake shops, their stories are inspiring, and sure to give you a dose of good old fashioned community spirit.

Anna

Grace Dent might be best known for her restaurant criticism, but looking at her agenda for the world on p72, you have to agree: she’d make a great world leader too. From national “stay at home with your pet” days to Michelin-starred meal vouchers, life would be a much brighter, more colourful affair under her reign.

One of her more serious concerns, though, is dementia awareness.

Calling it a “thing so terrifying that people just blank it out” she worries that thousands of families in the UK who are dealing with it are overlooked. We need to raise awareness in every way possible, which also includes art. On p118, we review Gaspar Noé’s latest film, Vortex—an unflinching look at the condition, which thoughtfully fulfills what Grace is calling for—talking about the unspeakable.

Eva