There are evenings when you know, almost from the opening minutes, that you are listening to someone whose ideas will stay with you for a long time. The St George’s House Annual Lecture, delivered this year by Lord Jonathan Sumption, was one of those occasions. It was a privilege to be there. Lord Sumption hardly…
On the wall of my study hangs an old cutting from the Lichfield Mercury, dated 11 November 1988. The headline reads: “Breaking out!” The page is yellowed now, the photographs are grainy and the print has faded. But it remains one of the things on my wall that means the most to me. The article…
Walking around the Leys Festival in Blackbird Leys at the weekend, I was struck by just how much society depends upon volunteers. The festival itself was created through a partnership between local residents and the University of Oxford’s Cultural Programme, bringing together community organisations, performers, sports coaches, artists and many others for a day devoted…
I don’t often write directly about local political issues. When I do, I think it is important to be clear that these are my own personal reflections as an Oxfordshire resident. They do not represent the views of any organisation I lead or support, nor of any of the civic offices I am privileged to…
There is something rather wonderful about the end of term. Schools empty. Teachers exhale. Parents begin wondering how many days it will be before someone announces they’re bored. And youth organisations across the country somehow summon the energy for one last concert, performance or celebration before everyone disappears for the summer. Those who know me…
On the 250th anniversary of American independence Happy 250th birthday, America. It takes a certain confidence to declare independence from the world’s most powerful empire in 1776. It takes even more confidence to spend the next two and a half centuries explaining to everyone else why you were right. As someone with both British and…
There is always a particular energy about a school at the end of term. It is not exactly calm. It is not exactly chaos. It is somewhere between the two, with a faint scent of exhaustion, excitement and impending freedom in the air. So when I was invited to speak to the girls of Downe…
It was a pleasure to attend this year’s American Independence Day celebrations at RAF Croughton. Although held a week ahead of the Fourth of July, the event marked a particularly significant milestone. This year sees the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, a moment of profound historical importance that continues to shape…
Standing Together: It was a pleasure to represent the Lord-Lieutenant at this year’s Armed Forces Day celebrations in Bicester. These occasions are always uplifting. They bring together serving personnel, veterans, cadet organisations, charities, local communities and families in a shared recognition of those who serve our country. They are not simply military events; they are…
One of the greatest privileges of leading Cats Protection is seeing the remarkable contribution that volunteers make every single day. Across the UK, more than 10,000 volunteers give their time, skills, energy and compassion to support cats and the people who care for them. They foster cats, support our cat centres and branches, volunteer in…
