IT is a pity that there is no longer any community spirit left in the Cotswolds is the opinion of many who I encounter in my Gloucestershire life.

Politeness means I am not completely dismissive of a view that is total tosh.

Cotswold life has changed, and as a consequence communities have changed, but an unquenchable spirit still remains.

Different? Yes, but still lively.

The changes in agriculture since WW2 have had a huge impact.

Villages contained the families of the many numbers needed to work on the land.

Few had cars and the village needed a school, a shop and perhaps there was both a football and cricket team.

The village hall held dances, whist drives, jumble sales and fairs.

There may have been a pub with skittles and darts teams.

Two major events changed matters considerably.

Motor car ownership became more widespread and for many it was no longer the shop on a busy village corner.

It was instead the town round the corner. Fewer people were needed to work on the farms so families left, and with them went the young people and children, shops closed, as did schools.

Moving into the empty cottages came retired people or second home owners. Commuting to work to larger towns became easier and the nature of village communities changes.

It could have been disastrous but many of the newcomers had and still have so much to offer.

They value village life as much as us Cotswold veterans.

I have in front of me Sheepscome News, an amazing monthly publication from my childhood village. Readers will not need telling that it remains my favourite.

It contains news of a book club, textile group, history society, table tennis, lunch club, cricket club, yoga classes and school news.

These are different from my childhood but so evident of how a community can change but can constantly evolve. With a pub that caters so well for local drinkers and travelling diners.

I know where I would like to live, were it not for steep hills and steeper house prices!