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World Ready, Not World Finished
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…
Marking the Day’s End with Honour
Yesterday evening, I had the privilege of attending the Sundown Ceremony at RAF Benson—a moving and dignified event steeped in tradition, carried out with all the hallmark precision and pride one expects from the Royal Air Force. As the sun began its slow descent over the Oxfordshire countryside, every detail was in place. The ceremonial…
Everything Really Matters
Last night I had the great pleasure of attending the installation of the Revd Martin Little as Vicar of Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry. The church was packed to the rafters, a sure sign of the warmth of the welcome awaiting him and the depth of affection for the parish. The atmosphere was one of celebration…
International Youth Day – Safe spaces for youth…
This year’s theme for International Youth Day is “Safe Spaces for Youth”. It’s a timely reminder to us all in the education and youth sectors worldwide that we have a responsibility to work in partnership with young people to ensure that they can develop and thrive in environments that are free from discrimination, harassment, or…
An Evening of Emotion and Excellence
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…
Lunar New Year at Oxford Town Hall
This afternoon, Mark and I had the real pleasure of joining around a thousand people at Oxford Town Hall for the 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration, organised by Oxfordshire Chinese Community & Advice Centre. Lunar New Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar. It is about family, tradition, food, colour, music and…
