Reflections on volunteering, volunteers and building a stronger volunteer movement.
The alarm went off painfully early this morning, but it was for the best of reasons. By 7am I was on Banbury Road, heading into the BBC studios in Oxford to join Sophie Law on her breakfast show and talk about something very close to my heart – the High Sheriff’s Awards. There’s a particular…
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…
Tuesday evening took me to Abingdon, where I joined the 11th Abingdon Squirrels to celebrate their very first birthday. For those who haven’t yet met a Squirrel, they’re the youngest members of the Scout family – four- to six-year-olds taking their first steps in early years Scouting. Introduced nationally in 2021, Squirrels are all about…
This evening, I had the enormous pleasure of joining Oxfordshire Scouts for their annual Adult Awards Dinner, held at the beautifully appointed Bicester Hotel and Spa. Nestled just outside Chesterton, it’s a rather lovely setting – part country retreat, part hive of activity – and it proved the perfect venue for a night of celebration,…
This evening, I was delighted to join the six-monthly meeting of Oxfordshire’s magistrates, held in the Council Chamber at County Hall. My thanks to Carole Payne, Chair of the Bench, for the kind invitation and warm welcome. The meeting began with the presentation of long-service decorations by James Macnamara, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and himself…
This evening I had the great pleasure of joining the Parasol Project for their Annual General Meeting — a truly inclusive gathering that brought together children, young people, and adults alike. It was wonderful to see the mix of generations in the room: young people proudly sharing their experiences, parents and carers reflecting on the…
What a joyful law service it was today, just over the border in Buckinghamshire, supporting their High Sheriff, Pippa Kirkbride. It was a true celebration of community, song, and reflection – and all the more special for being shared with fellow High Sheriffs from neighbouring counties: Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, and Hertfordshire. The music was simply…
I try not to use the word inspirational too often in this blog, but to be honest it’s quite difficult not to. The people I am meeting around the county this year – and the causes they champion – are genuinely inspirational. It is not hubris that makes me write this, rather genuine awe at…
Last night, my Chamberlain, Mark Johnson, represented the Oxfordshire Shrievalty at the BBC Make a Difference Awards at Oxford Town Hall. It was an evening that reminded us of the extraordinary good that happens quietly in our communities every day. A young writer, a fitness instructor and even a much-loved therapy dog were among those…
This afternoon, with rain threatening outside but spirits high within, I had the immense pleasure of joining the summer gathering of ARCh (Assisted Reading for Children in Oxfordshire) volunteers at Kidlington’s Baptist Church – and what a joyful, affirming occasion it was. We were there to celebrate something remarkable: the quiet, consistent difference that ARCh…
