Dear friends,
As I look back on my first month as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, I am struck by the privilege and variety of experiences this role affords. From the solemnity of my Declaration to the inspiration of conversations with young people and the communities who support them, April has been filled with ceremony, service, listening, and learning.
This newsletter offers a thematic summary of that first month — a chance to reflect, give thanks, and look ahead.
1. Ceremonial Beginnings: Three Declarations, One Purpose
In the space of four days, I attended three High Sheriff Declarations – mine in Oxfordshire, Pippa’s in Buckinghamshire, and Julie’s in Gloucestershire. Each was entirely distinct in tone and setting – from the historic Oxford Assizes Court to a modern Scout HQ and Gloucester Cathedral’s soaring arches. Yet all shared a solemn commitment to community and justice. The same words, the same purpose, spoken with unique grace in each place.
My own Declaration on 3 April was deeply moving. I was honoured to address a gathering that included civic leaders, former High Sheriffs, and, significantly, young people from Oxfordshire schools. I pledged to serve with humility and to focus my year around the theme: Hearing the Young Unheard.
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2. Community in Conversation: The Big Conversations Begin
In Thame and Didcot, we held the first two of eight planned Breakfast Conversations, bringing together youth workers, educators, civic leaders, and local employers to explore the challenges young people face.
Mental health, social media pressure, strained services, and the transition to employment were recurring themes. But so too were hope, partnership, and action. Each gathering ended not just with reflection, but with real pledges: to run digital safety workshops, redesign youth spaces, deepen trauma-informed support, and reconnect businesses with schools.
These are local solutions born of listening — and a reminder that change begins around the table.
3. Standing Together: Community Resilience and Remembrance
In Weston on the Green, I witnessed remarkable neighbourliness at a fundraising coffee morning for the Hessian family, who lost their home in a devastating fire. It was a moving reminder of Oxfordshire’s strength in adversity — and of the quiet heroism of our fire and rescue services.
Later in the month, I attended the ANZAC Day memorial at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. As someone with Australian roots, the service was especially poignant. We gathered to remember not only past sacrifice, but our shared responsibility for peace.
4. The Quiet Strength of Justice
My visit to Oxford Magistrates’ Court was humbling. These volunteer magistrates, and the professionals who support them, exemplify the quiet strength of our justice system. Their work is often unseen, yet it upholds the very fabric of our society.
At Thames Valley Police HQ, I toured several specialist units with my fellow High Sheriffs from Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. From cybercrime to forensic science, contact management to roads policing, the dedication and innovation I saw left me full of admiration — and resolve to support their work however I can.
5. Young People Leading with Pride
At City of Oxford College, I was welcomed by students and staff who turned my post-Declaration celebration into something truly special. From music to culinary excellence, it was a showcase of learning, inclusion, and aspiration.
Later in the month, I had the joy of presenting awards to Daisy, an Explorer Scout whose achievements in Scouting and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award were genuinely inspiring. As a former World Scout leader, it was particularly moving to see these organisations continuing to shape confident, capable young leaders.
6. In Shakespeare’s Footsteps: History and Hope
On Shakespeare’s birthday, I joined the Oxford Preservation Trust at the Painted Room — an Elizabethan treasure hidden above a Cornmarket shop. There, with a touch of theatre and reflection, we honoured both the Bard and Oxford’s heritage.
I also attended the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge — my first in person since 1982. Though Cambridge took the honours, it was a day to celebrate discipline, teamwork, and the enduring spirit of our universities.
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