The 2009 Festival took place from 4th to 17th July.

This longer period meant that attendances for some events were lower than in 2007, but overall the Festival was a great success. There was modest increase in the capital, which was then distributed around local good causes, including the schools, the churches, the Tolsey Museum, the Scouts, the Pavilion youth project, the Bowls Club, and the Fire Service Benevolent Fund. A contribution of £1000 was made to support the Chamber of Trade’s Bonfire and Fireworks event in 2010.

A new venture was the Cotswold Food and Drink Day, with stalls on Church Green and in the Boarders Orchard, with the kind permission of Burford School Boarding House. As well as the twenty stalls providing beers, ice-cream, cheeses, honey, liqueurs, fruit juices, oils and so on, representatives from Potenza Picena, our Italian twin town, offered produce from the Marche. ITV cameras were there to film John Sargeant on his “Tourist Trail”, but in the event the Burford footage ended up on the cutting room floor and was never broadcast.

Another innovation was a Reception for the Friends of the Burford Festival, without whose support the Festival would struggle to survive financially. This event was entirely sponsored by Cotswolds Inns at the Bay Tree Hotel. A beautiful evening in the garden was made perfect by the generous canapés and wine.

A third new activity was opening the Tower of the Parish Church for those fit or daring enough to climb. The view across Burford is spectacular and the whole evening was highly successful.

The Community Tea Party was again a success, generously sponsored by Huffkins, and served by a team of volunteers with the aid of six urns and twenty-four teapots.

The Blues and Jazz events in the Burford School Hall were not well attended. Whether this was due to the clash with the Cornbury Festival weekend or because people are reluctant to attend in the school remains an unanswered question.

The highest attendance at a concert was for Vivaldi’s Women, which was much enjoyed. A late change to the programme for the concert featuring Michael Bochmann only increased the pleasure for the eighty members of the audience; Jane Leslie Mackenzie’s singing and David Watkins’ harp combined so well with Michael’s violin.

Old favourites continued and flourished. The Banquet, the Open Gardens, the Bowls Evening, the literary evenings and the events organised by the mayor all attracted many people. The purchase of two marquees, erected in the garden of the Warwick Hall, was a wise move. They are an asset for future festivals and provide a delightful venue.