Earlier this year we suddenly lost an old and dear friend – Debra Roeder Shaw, late of New Jersey and for many years a pilgrim to Cropredy. In the nineties and almost up to the lost years of Covid she was set up backstage (and sometimes on the field) offering therapeutic massage for aching backs and legs and revitalizing anyone passing with healing hands and her cheery demeanour. She even promoted the band a couple of times in and around her home town of Whippany, and the gigs were memorably fun and the catering superb.

We were all looking forward to seeing her again this August for the first time in a while, and she’d already got her tickets booked. Her many friends made over the years will all miss her as much as we will – she left suddenly and without any warning.

It was always Debbie’s wish on her passing to have a small portion of her ashes scattered by Jonah’s Oak on the Cropredy festival field. Sadly her ashes weren’t with us in time for the Festival, but they have now made it safely to us and we will be celebrating our memories of Debbie at 2.00pm on Monday 27th October at Jonah’s Oak. Debbie had many friends this side of the Atlantic and you are welcome to attend.

**THERE ARE CATTLE IN THE FIELDS. PLEASE PARK IN THE VILLAGE AND CLOSE ALL GATES BEHIND YOU**