I am not a member of any political party. That feels worth saying at the outset. For many years, I belonged to the party I had followed since I was a student. It helped shape my political instincts and gave expression to many of the values I still hold. But in time I resigned my…
There are some moments in public life that feel quietly significant, even if – to anyone passing by – they look faintly ridiculous. This morning was one of those. Easter Sunday, 9.30am, on the Marcham Road roundabout in Abingdon. The timing was meant to keep traffic to a minimum. In truth, it was still busy…
There are some moments that stay with you not because they are grand or formal, but because they feel real. Opening BrownieMacs today in was exactly that. I have been buying Charlie Humphrey’s brownies since he starred selling them on Bicester’s Friday market (he still does, and will continue to do so). A stall, trays…
Over the past year as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, one lesson has come through consistently: if we want to change outcomes for young people, we must start with relationships. That demands a different kind of attention, and a different kind of leadership. Over the past year, as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, I have worked under…
There are moments in this role when you can feel something beginning to shift. Last week at Broughton Castle, I had the privilege of attending the launch of The Sun Fund – a bold, business-led initiative aimed at tackling youth disadvantage in Banbury and opening up real pathways into employment for young people. What struck…
Last thing on Sunday evening, I had the pleasure of joining Radley College for the opening concert of its splendid new Music School – a wonderful way to end the weekend. It was a memorable occasion, with HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh attending as guest of honour and unveiling a suitably elegant plaque to mark…
There are few things guaranteed to keep one grounded in public life, and a primary school assembly is right up there. On Friday afternoon, Mark and I joined Windale School for their end-of-week celebration assembly – a school very much at the heart of its community, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, encouragement and helping…
This evening I had the great privilege of hosting the High Sheriff’s Probation Awards at County Hall in Oxford. It was an opportunity to recognise the dedication, professionalism and compassion of the many people who work within the Probation Service across Oxfordshire – people whose work is often unseen, but whose impact is felt every…
This evening, Mark and I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours in one of Oxford’s most beautiful spaces, the Sheldonian Theatre, for a performance of Edward Elgar’s great oratorio The Kingdom by the Oxford Bach Choir. We were seated in the Proctor’s Box, which offers a rather wonderful vantage point from which…
I spent an inspiring morning today at the Oxford Combined Court Centre watching the Oxfordshire round of the Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition. For those unfamiliar with it, the competition gives young people aged 12–14 the chance to take part in a realistic courtroom experience. Working in teams, students take on the roles of lawyers,…
