The Banbury Grumpy Weatherman column: London has the money, Bradford has the title, Banbury has the engine
The Banbury Grumpy Weatherman's latest column focuses on the town's bid for the UK Town of Culture 2028.
Look out the window. It’s raining. Again. In Banbury, the "weather" has been miserable for a while now. If it’s not the literal rain soaking your shoes on the way to the car, it’s the financial downpour: the cost of living, the £130 million debt on a shopping centre that’s currently about as lively as a library on a Sunday, and the general feeling that we’ve been left to dry.
I don’t do "fluff," I don't do politics, and I certainly don’t do fairytales. I’m just a resident who keeps an eye on the public records and points out when the clouds are gathering. And right now, there is a massive break in the clouds.
If you check the records this morning, you’ll see the news: Cherwell District Council has officially put Banbury’s name in the hat for the UK Town of Culture 2028. They are teaming up with the Town Council and a group called the Banbury Quays Consortium. For the record, I have absolutely no affiliation with any of them. I'm just an independent observer watching from the sidelines with a tepid cup of tea and a healthy dose of skepticism.
But here is the factual, "no-nonsense" reality: there is a £3 million prize sitting in London, probably being guarded by a bloke in a tailored suit who thinks the M25 is the edge of the known universe and that Banbury is just a place you drive past to get to somewhere better. As of today, our town is officially in the ring to take his money.
Look at Bradford. A few years ago, they were the ultimate underdogs. Now? They have millions in investment and a sense of pride that’s actually infectious. It’s like watching your local football team get promoted against all odds. I want that exact same winning energy for Banbury.
The head judge in London, Sir Phil Redmond, doesn't want another polite, quiet village. He’s the man who gave us Grange Hill, not Downton Abbey. He wants working-class grit. He wants the Three Pillars of a real town:
1. Our Story: The Anchor. Look at the rest of our beautiful county. It’s a luxury yacht—all dreaming spires, perfectly manicured lawns, and people eating overpriced cheese. It’s stunning. But Banbury? Banbury is the anchor. We are heavy. We are made of ironstone. We get dragged through the mud (sometimes literally, if you’ve walked the canal towpath in November in the wrong shoes). But without the anchor doing the dirty work, that luxury ship just drifts off and smashes against the rocks. Tooley’s Boatyard has been the beating heart of the canal since 1778. We aren't a museum piece; we are a working engine. That is our "Pillar One."
2. Culture for Everyone: The Fightback. The judges want to see a community that actually cares. Well, look at the 1,184 of you who recently stepped up during the public consultation to protect the Banbury Museum’s funding. For once, common sense actually beat the spreadsheet. You saved a place where our kids go on a rainy weekend to learn about who they are. You proved that culture in Banbury belongs to the everyday people, not just the elite. That’s "Pillar Two" checked off.
3. Making it Happen: Taking the Wheel. The London judges might assume the town will be too busy rearranging the deckchairs and arguing over whose logo goes on the new wheelie bins to actually deliver anything. They’re wrong. Delivery groups like the Consortium are already in the tunnel, ready to take the pitch. They are stepping up to hold the pen and steer the ship.
Why Do I Care?
People will ask: why is a miserable bloke like me—a man whose resting face makes a bulldog look cheerful—getting so worked up over a culture bid?
I’ll be honest. I am not originally from Banbury. But my daughter is. This is her hometown. And like any parent, my job is to hold the umbrella through every storm so she doesn't get wet. I want her to grow up in a town that has its swagger and its pride back.
To a parent, this £3 million isn't about fancy art galleries. It’s about giving our teenagers something positive to do. It’s about breathing life back into our town centre so families actually want to spend their Saturdays there instead of driving to a different town. That is what these local groups are fighting for.
The Bottom Line:
I’m going to use a word now that usually makes me break out in hives: Positivity. I know, hearing me talk about positivity is like watching a cat try to do algebra, but bear with me.
Positivity is a choice, and pride is infectious. Winning this £3 million would be the ultimate promotion. The judges in London are watching our digital footprint to see if we actually care. So, don’t just read this. Hit the share button. Back the people who are fighting for this town.
Or don't, and we can all just go back to complaining about the traffic on Cherwell Street. Your choice.
Let’s show London that the Banbury Engine isn't just idling—it’s about to roar.