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Disaster relief for Nepal…
I’m running the London Marathon tomorrow. And, until today, Saturday 25th April, I’d decided that I was just doing it for fun. To prove to myself that I could still run 42.2km. But earlier today, Nepal was hit by a devastating earthquake. I was there, just seven days ago, with an amazing bunch of young…
Leaving the Hall a Little Taller
The Cambrian Learning Trust’s Platinum Primary Character and Citizenship Awards Presentation Evening11 June 2026The Beacon, Wantage This evening I had the immense pleasure of attending The Cambrian Learning Trust’s Platinum Primary Character and Citizenship Awards Presentation Evening at The Beacon in Wantage. I was there in my role as a Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, which…
A right Royal afternoon
It’s not often that you get visited by a member of the British Royal family. Today, however, we were visited by three. HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Earl of Wessex came to reopen Award House, home of The Duke Of Edinburgh’s International Award. And, apparently for the first time,…
“The real way to gain happiness is to give it to others.” Baden-Powell
Tonight I was chuffed to bits to have been able to welcome the latest intake of young international Scout volunteers to their staff induction training, being held in beautiful, but very chilly, Oxfordshire. They’ve funded their own travel and expensive visa applications; they’re putting their normal lives on hold for between nine months and a…
Some very sad news.
Many people contacted me after I wrote about the extraordinary Masixole Mkrakra, the young man from a rural township in South Africa, who discovered a passion for cricket and the Award. I’m sorry to have to report that earlier this week a tragic accident took place and Masixole drowned. As his friend Ross has…
Walking the wall. Day 1
33 years ago, five teenage Scouts did their DofE Gold expedition following Hadrian’s Wall and then heading into the Cheviots. I’ve just been rereading the log book I wrote at the time. This week, walking alone, I will be retracing our steps along the wall (though I’ll be sleeping in comfortable B&Bs rather than in…
