Tonight Mark and I had the pleasure of stepping into The Randolph Hotel – not, I should add, one of our usual haunts, but certainly one we’ve long aspired to enjoy. And what a fitting occasion to find ourselves there: the 30th birthday celebration of Oxfordshire Community Foundation, held, quite perfectly, on Giving Tuesday. The…
This afternoon brought one of those delightful moments in the Shrieval year when you’re reminded, very simply, of the power of joy. I was invited by Oxfordshire Freemasons to join them at the Oxford Playhouse for their annual pantomime matinee for children and families who face additional challenges – a tradition that’s now firmly established…
Last night I had the enormous pleasure of giving a lecture to students and staff at Oxford Brookes University’s Law School — a brilliant way to round off their semester, and a genuine highlight of my shrieval year so far. I was truly delighted to have been invited by Charlotte Houghteling and Marc Howe, whose…
This afternoon I had the pleasure of joining around fifty Oxfordshire St John Ambulance volunteers, along with the county leadership team, for their annual carol service at the beautiful Church of St Mary Magdalen in Woodstock — a twelfth-century parish church that has welcomed its community for generations. Revd Andrew led the service with warmth…
Tonight it was Bingo – and what a night it was. Upton and Blewbury GirlGuiding hosted a brilliantly organised fundraising evening at Chilton Village Hall, partly to help HS Cadet Isabella raise funds for her international expedition to the World Guiding Centre in Mexico next year, where she’ll join other young women from across the…
It was an absolute pleasure this evening to watch High Sheriff’s Cadet Emily run a cracking Scout meeting at the 43rd Oxford Group in Old Marston. The place was buzzing from the moment we walked in — loud, busy, full of energy, and enormous fun. Emily had set up three activity bases and kindly roped…
It was a real delight earlier this evening to pull back the curtain on a brand-new commemorative plaque at The Leys College – a moment that marks not just a change of name, but a renewed sense of purpose for this important place of learning in the heart of the Oxfordshire community. Until recently, the…
This morning brought one of those quietly special moments that remind me just how extraordinary our county can be. I had the pleasure of joining fellow civic leaders at RAW – a remarkable Oxfordshire social enterprise that uses creativity, upcycling and purposeful work to support people facing significant barriers in their lives. The Duchess of…
This morning I had the real pleasure of attending the Oxford Independent Book Fair at the University of Oxford’s Examination Schools. It is hard to imagine a better setting for a celebration of stories: the high ceilings, long corridors and historic staircases of that remarkable building – normally the preserve of students sitting Finals –…
On Friday, I had the pleasure of attending the Thames Valley Police and Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Fund ceremony at Reading Town Hall – a celebration of local initiative, civic spirit, and the extraordinary power of communities to keep one another safe. The Community Fund is, in itself, a remarkable idea. Money recovered from…