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Why Sport Matters – For Young People and for Oxfordshire
It was a real pleasure to spend time this week exploring the importance of sport in equipping young people for life, at the launch of Oxfordshire Cricket’s new and ambitious strategy. Held at St Edward’s School – an important and much-valued partner – the event brought together people who care deeply about cricket not simply…
A cold night, a warm welcome
A cold February evening is not the night for boating on the Thames. But it was very much the right night to be at TS Euryalus, home of the Oxford unit of the Sea Cadets. With the weather keeping everyone firmly ashore, cadets, volunteers, families and supporters gathered for the Unit’s annual awards evening –…
Walking for Justice: The Oxford Legal Walk 2025
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…
An Evening with the Falcons at RAF Brize Norton
Tonight, Mark and I had the enormous pleasure of being guests of RAF Brize Norton – and what an evening it was. The highlight? A breathtaking display of precision parachuting from the RAF Falcons, Britain’s only military parachute display team. Watching them descend from the skies in perfect formation, trailing smoke and landing bang on…
A first proper encounter with the Bodleian
I confess something slightly shameful. As an alumnus of the other university in Oxford, I had never properly set foot in the Bodleian. No studying there, no late-night essays under watchful portraits, no quietly reverential wandering between shelves. Until today. What a joy to finally put that right. This afternoon’s visit to the was a…
The Elixir of Love – Inside HMP Huntercombe
I have written recently about a carol service at HMP Huntercombe that will stay with me for a very long time. Today’s visit belongs in the same category. Over the past year I have been inside Huntercombe on a number of occasions – for worship, for conversation, for meetings with staff and prisoners. Each time…
