Imagine arriving in a strange city, speaking little or none of the language, with almost nothing but the clothes you are wearing – and finding yourself caught in a tangle of bureaucracy, fear, and uncertainty. It is a situation faced by hundreds of people every year in Oxfordshire, and for many, the first door that…
Last night, in the beautiful surroundings of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, I had the privilege of attending — and saying a few words before — a quite extraordinary concert by the Polish pianist and composer Marcin Masecki. The event formed part of this year’s Oxford Science and Ideas Festival, and it…
This evening, I had the enormous pleasure of joining Oxfordshire Scouts for their annual Adult Awards Dinner, held at the beautifully appointed Bicester Hotel and Spa. Nestled just outside Chesterton, it’s a rather lovely setting – part country retreat, part hive of activity – and it proved the perfect venue for a night of celebration,…
Every now and again, a social media storm comes along that makes you stop and think about identity — what it means to belong, to be from somewhere, or of somewhere. The recent one that caught my attention involved the writer Michael Rosen, who found himself being told by strangers on the internet that he…
This evening, I was delighted to join the six-monthly meeting of Oxfordshire’s magistrates, held in the Council Chamber at County Hall. My thanks to Carole Payne, Chair of the Bench, for the kind invitation and warm welcome. The meeting began with the presentation of long-service decorations by James Macnamara, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and himself…
Mark and I were truly delighted to be the Civic Guests at last night’s Trafalgar Night Dinner, held at The Bear in Wantage and hosted by the Royal Naval Association (Wantage Branch). It was a particular pleasure for me to attend this year, not least because of my recent appointment as a National Vice President…
Tonight at Christ Church Cathedral we gathered to mark the inauguration of Oxfordshire’s legal year — the Court Sermon and Glove Ceremony, a tradition that binds together city, university, church and the realm of justice in a single act of worship, symbolism and renewal. In the hush and candlelight of the nave, with the procession…
It was a real pleasure to be in Thame this afternoon for the Mayor’s Civic Service at St Mary’s Church – a beautiful, uplifting occasion that perfectly captured the spirit of civic life in Oxfordshire. Many thanks to Andy Gilbert for the kind invitation. It was lovely to see Bernard and Sarah Taylor (Sarah, of…
This morning, Mark and I were delighted to be guests of the High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire, Sean Taylor, at his Judicial Service at Reading Minster. We were joined by our fellow High Sheriff, Pippa Kirkbride of Buckinghamshire, and her husband, for what proved to be a joyful and uplifting occasion of…
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…
