It was a real joy to attend the Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra’s Summer Concert last night at the Centre for Music in Oxford. The performance was held separately from the main Oxfordshire Music Service gala, as the Orchestra is heading to Birmingham today to take part in the National Youth Music Festival. Under the baton…
This afternoon, I had the privilege of standing alongside the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire as she invested four exceptional individuals with the British Empire Medal—an honour recognising truly outstanding contributions to community life. It was a proud and humbling moment to be invited to read the citations aloud and share the stories of four people…
This evening, I had the immense pleasure of presenting the Platinum Character and Citizenship Awards to Year 6 pupils from primary schools across the Cambrian Learning Trust. Held in Wantage, the ceremony was a joyful and heartening celebration of something our world needs more than ever – young people with strong character and a sense…
This morning, I found myself standing once again on the grounds of the Mulberry Bush School in Standlake — a place I had last visited over 40 years ago. Back then, I was a student teacher at Standlake Primary, and two of the children in my class were gradually transitioning back into mainstream education after…
This afternoon, I had the great pleasure of visiting Witney Youth Council as they welcomed their opposite numbers from Le Touquet, over in northern France, for the start of a four-day exchange. It was a joyful, energetic gathering – full of laughter, thoughtful conversation, and moments of genuine connection between young people from both sides…
Last night, under a beautifully warm Oxfordshire sky, around a hundred of us gathered for the Oxford Legal Walk – a fundraising event in support of free legal advice services across the county. It was a lovely reminder of how many people care deeply about access to justice, and the walk itself was a real…
What do you get when you mix sunshine, music, sizzling street food and a park full of joy? The Leys Festival 2025, of course – and I was thrilled to be there, right in the heart of it. Blackbird Leys Park came alive yesterday with the colour, rhythm and spirit of a community that knows…
This evening, some time before the sun dipped behind Wittenham Clumps, I had the quiet privilege of attending one of Oxfordshire’s more unusual and charming civic traditions: the annual rose ceremony hosted by Oxfordshire County Council. Held amidst the ancient hills and nature reserve managed so beautifully by the Earth Trust, the event marks the…
Dear Friends, As I come to the end of my third month in office, June has offered a powerful reminder of what civic life can look like when it’s rooted in visibility, listening, and meaningful collaboration. From Pride flags and pedal cars to peace walks and pizza-fuelled politics, the common thread throughout the month has…
If you’d told me that one of the most entertaining moments of my Shrieval year so far would involve standing on a sun-scorched airfield near Banbury, chequered flag in hand, as sleep-deprived teams of pedal-powered racers whirred past me after 24 hours on the circuit — I might have raised an eyebrow. And yet, that’s…
