What a delight to be present at this morning’s official opening of the Carterton Women’s Institute’s beautifully refurbished hall by HRH The Princess Royal. The receiving Deputy Lieutenant was my good friend Alison Derham, and it was a pleasure to catch up with both Councillor Mark Lygo, Chair of Oxfordshire County Council, and the Mayor…
I was delighted to be invited to visit the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College by Nicky Beard, daughter of the Headmaster whose vision first brought this extraordinary place into being. Also joining the visit was Jane Cranston, a former High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, and Vivien Payne, widow of the late Michael, a former…
This evening I had the great pleasure of joining the Parasol Project for their Annual General Meeting — a truly inclusive gathering that brought together children, young people, and adults alike. It was wonderful to see the mix of generations in the room: young people proudly sharing their experiences, parents and carers reflecting on the…
One of the quiet joys of being High Sheriff is being asked to open things. This evening I had the pleasure of doing just that at Wesley Memorial Church in Oxford – though there was no ribbon to cut, only the rather more meaningful opportunity to open a door and welcome everyone present into the…
What a joyful law service it was today, just over the border in Buckinghamshire, supporting their High Sheriff, Pippa Kirkbride. It was a true celebration of community, song, and reflection – and all the more special for being shared with fellow High Sheriffs from neighbouring counties: Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, and Hertfordshire. The music was simply…
The City of Dreaming Spires has a new addition to its iconic skyline Mark and I were pleased to attend the launch of the Red Hall at Oxford North this week – a striking new building that has already become a landmark in the north of the city. The Red Hall is the centrepiece of…
This evening brought a particular joy, and a trip down memory lane, with a visit to the 1st Langford Village Cubs. It was working with Cubs in Bristol in the early 1980s, as service for my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, that set me on the path of more than 40 years of volunteering with…
Over the past week I’ve been in touch with senior colleagues in Thames Valley Police about the climate of fear being stirred nationally around asylum hotels and migrant communities. I asked for a clear-eyed picture of what’s really happening here in Oxfordshire – and I want to share some of that with you. Chief Superintendent…
Yesterday I joined the Lord Lieutenant on a visit to Trax, a charity that has been serving young people in Oxfordshire for more than thirty years. Founded in the early 1990s as a “motor project” to teach mechanical skills, Trax has grown into a well-established alternative education and training provider, helping young people who might…
I try not to use the word inspirational too often in this blog, but to be honest it’s quite difficult not to. The people I am meeting around the county this year – and the causes they champion – are genuinely inspirational. It is not hubris that makes me write this, rather genuine awe at…
