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,…
On Friday morning I joined my fellow High Sheriffs of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire at Worton Park for the Thames Valley Police Shrievalty Merit Awards. These annual awards recognise individuals and teams whose work has brought particular credit to Thames Valley Police over the past year. It was a pleasure to spend time with officers, staff,…
On Thursday evening I had the great pleasure of attending the High Sheriff of Berkshire’s Awards, hosted by Sean Taylor at the beautiful Vicars’ Hall within the precincts of Windsor Castle. The setting itself is extraordinary. Vicars’ Hall is one of those places where history seems almost to settle into the walls, and gathering there…
This evening, Mark and I had the pleasure of attending a dinner with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, celebrating long service and a series of well-deserved commendations. It was a relaxed but purposeful evening – the sort of occasion that reminds one just how much quiet professionalism underpins our national security. Much of the pleasure came…
On Monday evening we gathered in the beautiful surroundings of Pembroke College, Oxford for the High Sheriff’s Awards 2026 – a chance to celebrate individuals and organisations whose courage, compassion and commitment strengthen communities across our county. My sincere thanks to The Rt Hon Sir Ernest Ryder PC DL, Master of Pembroke College, for his…
One of the pleasures of serving as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire is the opportunity to see the extraordinary range of people and organisations quietly enriching life across our county. This morning I travelled to Farmer Gow’s, near Longcot, to open the new Janet Gow Farmyard – a project that has been years in the making….