New Page 1

Blog and Diary 2013 - 14

2011 - 12 Blog as Chairman Cherwell District Council

2012 -13 Blog as Vice Chairman of Oxfordshire County Council

12th May visit to Waddeston Manor wine cellars

Wine labels with signatures from the famous!

14th May 2013 - elected unanimously by fellow councillors as Chairman Oxfordshire County Council

Chaired the Annual County Council meeting

Chaired the extraordinary meeting to appoint Alderman

Chaired the extraordinary meeting to appoint freedom of the County

15th May - Cherwell District Council Annual Meeting

16th May - Oxford Nature Conservation Forum Bothy Vineyard and sculptures for Arts Week

- Ambrosden Parish Council

18th May - Andrew (son) and family arrive from Australia

My son Andrew and grandson Finlay 11 months

20th May - OXCELL Dinner and awards Malmaison Hotel

General view of table Cllr Zöe Patrick: Dato' Seri Paduka Prof. Dr Steven Leow SKPA SPMM DIMP DMP PJK DMB; Dr Janet Stokes Carter; Cllr Tim Hallchurch

21st May - Shipton & Thrupp Annual Parish Meeting

22nd May - St John's College Barge reception on the Thames

23rd May - Conservative Reception at Kirtlington Park

24th May - 12 Logistic Support Regiment homecoming parade Abingdon with Princess Royal

26th May - Evensong at All Saints Church, Headington - Rev Jim Cocke 60th year in the church

28th May - Andrew Rattray Lecture Defence Academy

30th May - SERFCA County Committee RAF Brize Norton

1st June - Son Philip's wedding

2nd June depart for Montenegro

9th June return

11th June - Cardiac appointment

- Evening at Dorchester Abbey

12th June - Victoria County History reception at Rycote Park

Rycote Chapel and Yew Tree that may be over 1000 years old. The Chapel The Tower with Lord Hurd with his stick

13th June - Oxfordshire CC Conservative Group Meeting

South Oxfordshire Conservative Association Executive

14th June - SOCA Reception at Shotover Park

Speakers were Anthony Stansfield Police Commissioner and Dr John Howell OBE MP

15th June - English Speaking Union tea and tour of Woodleys by kind permission of Sir Charles and Lady Ponsonby

Lady Mary Ponsonby shows the Chairman's wife round the garden Cream tea in the dining room

16th June - Blue Plaque unveiling Cromwell's House Old Marston

18th June - Borien South Africa Exchange Reception

19th June - Oxford University Encaenia

Degree Ceremony - Sheldonian Theatre

Sir Tom Stoppard receives his degree

Lunch - Rhodes House

Garden Party - Trinity College

20th June - NAPE Festival of Voices

Fantastic evening of songs and solos from Oxfordshire Schools

21st June - Wittenham Rose ceremony

Presenting the rose (now still on the bush) to Robin Buxton, Chairman of the Earth Trust. Jayne Manly, Chief Executive explains the work of the trust. Wittenham Clumps and meadows restored by the Trust

22nd June - Summer Festival of Music Baynard's Hill School

25th June - Oxford Preservation Trust AGM

27th June - Armed Forces Day Flag Raising

- Cherwell DC Group meeting

27th June - 1 July with friends in Devon

1st July - Victoria County History Trustees meeting

2nd July - Bicester Locality Meeting

- Arncott & Piddington Parish Council

3rd July - RAF Croughton - USAF Independence Day celebrations

- JR Hospital Appointment

4th July - Bus Services meeting Kidlington

- OCC Group Meeting

5th July - County Youth Service Concert

8th July - Chairman's Briefing with Group Leaders County Hall

9th July - OCC Full Council

- Roman paths meeting Oxfordshire Museum

- Islip and Merton PCs

11th July - English Speaking Union Oxfordshire and Berkshire Branch AGM - I have been elected as Chairman

12th July - Blue Plaque Unveiling for William Logsdail - artist at Noke.

- Dinner with Friends at Cherwell Boathouse - fantastic night outdoors on "The Deck"

13th July - Battle Proms at Blenheim Palace

Fantastic evening!

14th July - Lunch with friends near Banbury

15th July - Bicester County Councillors meeting Bicester.

16th July - Adult Services briefing County Hall

17th July - County Scout AGM Exeter Hall

18th July - Service Veterans conference Edward Brooks Barracks

19th July - Dinner with friends at The Cherwell Boathouse - excellent food yet again!

20th July - Dinner at Paddock Cottage for six friends.

22nd July - Cherwell DC Full Council plus briefing by Thames Valley Police and Boundaries Commission.

24th July - Doctors appointment

25th July - Medical appointment

- lunch with friends in Abingdon

- Oxford Preservation Trust event visiting locations

26th July - Hampton Court to see fiends

27th July - Susie's and James for lunch Putney

28th July -Music Service concert Town Hall

29th July - Meet Chairman of Merton Parish Council to see highway matters at first hand

30th July - Visit Merton College Oxford to discuss Chairman's Charity Dinner 2014

3rd August - Theatre London

8th August - Cherwell DC Planning Meeting

Horton cum Studley Parish Council

10th August fly to Seattle until 28th August including visits to Orcas and Whidbey Islands.

31st August - 1 September friends staying

3rd September - Arncott & Piddington Parish Council meetings

4th September - Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society meeting Islip

5th September - OCC Group Meeting

7th September - Concert Dorchester Abbey

8th September - Bicester Civic Service & Parade

9th September - Chairman's Briefing County Hall

10th September - Oxfordshire County Council

- AGM of Cherwell Community Lands Trust

- Islip & Merton Parish Council

11th September - Silver Dinner and reception - Ashmolean & Brasenose College

12th September - Meet with Arncott PC to tour village

- High Sheriffs reception Oxford Brooks University

- Horton cum Studley PC (above finished too late to get to HCS)

13th September - Private lunch party

- RAF Croughton 40s dance USAF

Colonel & Mrs Hamilton USAF

14th September - Open Doors Oxford Preservation Trust

15th September Battle of Britain parade Banbury

I am standing next to the Mace Bearer

18th September - Oxfordshire ESU Committee

- Langford Village Community Association meeting

19th September - Ambrosden Parish Council

19th September to 22 visit to Germany

The statue of Roland in Bremen. In the old town of Bremen. Bird watching on the Baltic coast.

23rd September - Victoria County History Trustees Kellogg College

24th September - ESU Presentation to School Leavers in Town Hall

27th September - Cogges Farm rent payment to Oxfordshire CC - basket of apples.

- Earth Trust Dinner Whittenham Clumps

30th September - OUH Trust AGM Town Hall

1st October - Arncott & Piddington Parish Councils

2nd October - Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society Islip

- Cherwell DC Conservative Group Meeting

- Provincial Grand Lodge Kassam Stadium

3rd October - Opening of Andrew Wiles Building Radcliffe Observatory Quarter

4th October - Medal Parade Didcot HRH Princess Anne presents Afghan medals to soldiers of XI EOD Regiment.

- English Speaking Union Dinner Balliol College

With Lady Vivien Bone Prof. Sir Drummond Bone addresses the members

- Visitors for weekend

7th October - Oxford Buildings Trust meeting

- Blue Plaque unveiling Sam Saunders

- Cherwell DC Group Meeting

8th October - Merton and Islip Parish Councils

9th October - English Speaking Union reception for Jamaican High Commissioner Dartmouth House London

- Earth Trust reception in House of Commons with Ed Vaisey MP

10th October - Bicester P&R meeting

- Lord Nuffield service University Church attended by HRH The Duke of Kent

- Horton cum Studley Parish Council

11th October - 12th October - London with friends

14th October - Bicester Early Intervention meeting

- OCVA Volunteer Awards Town Hall

15th October - Law Lecture

- High Sheriff Sermon

17th October- Bicester and Kidlington Locality Meeting

- Ambrosden PC

18th - 19th October - ESU Conference Stratford on Avon

Discussing ESU matters with HRH The Princess Royal

20th October - Oxford Yeomanry Lunch

Rod Walker DL, Colonel Chris Lawrence TD, Cllr Lt Col Tim Hallchurch MBE

21st October - Cherwell DC Full Council

22nd October - Hosting tea at County Hall for VIPs Frideswide Day

- Frideswide Service

- Frideswide Dinner Christ Church

23rd October - Meeting with Warden of Rhodes House

- Middlesex Knot Dinner, Guards & Cavalry Club, London

24^th October – OAYP AGM Blenheim Palace

-Dinner at Woodleys

25^th October – Meeting at St George’s Bks Bicester

26^th October – Family gathering

27^th October – Lunch Danesfield

29^th October – Dinner with friends

30^th October – Cherwell DC Conservative Group Meeting

31^st October – Abingdon homecoming parade

- OCC Conservative Group Meeting

- Churchill Lodge Rehearsal

1st November – Staying with friends at Hampton Court

3^rd November – Reception for Seychelles High Commissioner at Cotswold Wildlife Park

Cotswold Wildlife Park – Dr Jan Carter, Seychelles High Commissioner (in orange), Alain St Ange – Minister of Tourism & Culture, Mayor of Burford, Chairman Oxfordshire CC, animal curator.

Miss Seychelles feeding “Darwin” the giant Seychelles Tortoise.

4^th November – Pre Council Chairman’s Briefing

5^th November – County Council

- Arncott and Piddington Parish Councils

- Visit of Mayor and Chairman of Perm City Council, Russia, Mr Igor Sapko

Igor Sapko, Chairman, Igor’s daughter (interpreter), Cllr Lady Liz Brighouse OBE

6^th November – Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society

7^th November – Oxfordshire Minerals Group seminar

8^th November – Institute of Directors visit to Eurocopter, Kidlington Airport

EADS built helicopters being fitted including for police, ambulance, army and private clients.

9^th November – OCC Group Seminar County Hall

10^th November – Remembrance Sunday laying wreath in St Giles Oxford. I laid the wreath on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council.

The multi-faith contributors included: Penny Faust – Jewish; Monawar Hussain – Muslim; Chinta Kallie – Hindu; Davinder Singh – Sikh

John White – Humanist; The Right Rev John Pritchard - Bishop of Oxford.

11^th November – Remembrance ceremony at County Hall

– English Speaking Union (ESU) committee meeting

12^th November – ESU reception for Rhodes Scholars at Oriel College

Sandie Borrowdale, Lord Lieutenant Tim Stevenson OBE, Rhodes Scholar Geoff Pascoe from Australia, myself

- Islip & Merton Parish Council (I did not make it!)

13^th November – Banbury Rotary Club Children’s Concert

14^th November – Horton cum Studley Parish Council

15^th November – RAF Croughton Leaders Day

- Mayor of Witney’s Charity Dinner

16^th – 17^th November Friends staying from London

18^th November – New Mini launch at the BMW factory, Cowley.

Patrick MacLauchlin, Transport Minister

19^th November – Canal & River Trust Strategic Plan briefing Bodicote House

20^th November – Military Champions Meeting

- My Chairman of Oxfordshire CC Reception, County Hall

21^st November – South Oxfordshire Conservative Dinner, Leander Club Henley

- Ambrosden PC (won’t be able to go)

22^nd November – County Music Service Concert – Sheldonian Theatre.

24^th November - ESU Thanksgiving Lunch at Thames Four Pillars

Prof Richard Carwardine, President of Corpus Christi College, Anne Spokes Symonds, former Lord Mayor and Chairman of Oxfordshire CC, Linda Kirk wife of Prof, and Geoffrey Goodall, ESU former Oxon ESU Chairman

25^th November – South Oxford Conservative Association Executive Council

26^th November – Kid Lit Quiz Gregory the Great School

Presenting certificates to Cherwell School team

- SERFCA Meeting Pembroke College

27^th November – Oxford Strategic Ltd Company AGM (Company I founded but retired from but still a shareholder)

- ESU Public Speaking Competition County Finals – St Edward’s School

28^th November – London event

30^th November – Mayor of Bicester Charity Ball

2^nd December – Victoria County History Lecture and Trustees meeting

- Christmas Lights at County Hall – Vice Chairman switching on.

- Churchill Lodge

3^rd December – Arncott & Piddington PC

- Big Christmas Sing – Town Hall

4th December – Otmoor Archaeological Society Islip

9^th December – Chairman’s Briefing for County Council

10^th December – County Council Meeting

- Oxford Preservation Trust Christmas Drinks

- Islip & Merton Parish Councils

11^th December – County & City Fun Run – Christ Church Meadows

- Oxybaroxy Music Service Concert – St Andrew’s Church, Headington

12^th December – The Coming of Christmas Service - Dorchester Abbey

- Horton cum Studley PC

13^th December – Christmas function Cavalry & Guards Club London

14^th December – Saddlers Wells Ballet

15^th December – fly to West Indies to meet up with Jan’s brother for his 70^th Birthday and to see him off on the ARC Round The World Rally starting from Rodney Harbour in St Lucia

Roger on Free & BrEasy with his crew Mike from Canada and Michael from Nottingham. Roger (with beard) lives in Canada and the yacht is registered in Victoria BC.

The progress can be followed by an App called Yellow Brick that uses a yellow tracking device tied to the rigging.

The St Lucia “Pitons” from La Haute infinity pool.

13^th January return to UK

14^th January – Merton and Islip Parish Council meetings.

16^th January – Oxfordshire CC Group Meeting

17^th January – OCC Staff Induction briefing Bicester

21^st January – Long Service Awards, County Hall.

22^nd January – Budget meeting County Hall

23^rd January – Long Service Awards, County Hall

24^th – 26^th –January – London with friends plus “From Here to Eternity” at Shaftesbury Theatre and visit to Kenwood House

Kenwood House – picture of The Countess of Banbury

28^th January – Visit Charlton on Otmoor School

29^th January – Cherwell DC Group meeting

30^th January – Oxford Strategic Ltd Company Meeting

- Tea with Rhodes Scholars at The Quod

- Bicester & Kidlington Locality Meeting

- Churchill Rehearsal

31st January – County Music Service concert Sheldonian Theatre

1^st – 2^nd February – Guests for weekend

3^rd February – Churchill Lodge

4^th February – Arncott & Piddington Parish Councils

7^th February – Reception with USAF at RAF Croughton

8^th – 9^th February – guests for weekend

10^th February – Corporate Choice Awards

With some of the award winners

12^th February – ESU Committee Oxford

13^th February – Royal Visit – Countess of Wessex visits PACT at Dorchester Abbey

Horton cum Studley Parish Council

17^th February – Chairman’s briefing County Hall

18^th February – Oxford County Council

19^th February – Gang Show, Radley College

21^st February – English Speaking Union Ploughman’s Lunch, Christchurch College – Anne Spokes Symonds, speaker.

- North Oxford Conservative Association AGM

22^nd February – Oxford Council 105

24^th February – Cherwell DC Full Council

1^st March - Mock Trial Magistrates Court

- Flood Forum

- Mayor of Thame Charity Dinner

3^rd March – Churchill Lodge

4^th March – High Sheriff’s Awards

Arncott & Piddington Parish Council

5^th March – Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society Islip

6^th March – Escort Rhodes Scholars to House of Lords and House of Commons

- Burmese Experience High Sheriff Said Business School

8^th March – Schools Public Speaking final, Birmingham

- Tettenhall College Presidents Reception

9^th March lunch with brother’s family Cannock

10^th March Fly the Flag for the Commonwealth – flag raising

```Oxfordshire Youth Press Launch

11^th March Merton and Islip PC

15^th March – Music Service Concert Birmingham

17^th March – Annual Youth Awards

18^th March - Alfred Chapter

19^th March – Choice Awards County Hall

20^th March – SERFCA AGM and Dinner Army Navy Club

21 – 23rd March Weekend visitors

24^th March – Dalesford visit

25^th March – Huw Jones farewell from OCC

26^th March – Choice Awards County Hall

- Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society Committee

27^th March ESU Antiques event Swan Tetsworth

28^th March – Lord Mayor’s charity dinner Oxford Brooks University

31^st March Boundary Commissions briefing Cherwell DC

1^st April – OCC Full Council

The OCC Full Council was held at Bodicote House, Banbury to trial webcasting.

The full meeting can be viewed using the link: http://www.cherwell.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/132859

2^nd April – Cherwell DC Group meeting

3^rd April – OCC Chairman’s Charity Dinner, Merton College that is celebrating the Colleges 750^th birthday. It was attended by the Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, and Vice Chairman of Surrey County Council and district councils and mayors from around the County.

6^th April – Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars handover parade R Signals to RLC

7^th April – EP Barrus new building opening

9^th April – Bicester & Kidlington locality meeting

Blue Plaques Board – Town Hall

10^th April – Cherwell DC special council meeting

15 – 16 April – Devon with friends. Dinner with Lord & Lady Arran at Castle Hill House.

Our bedroom, Castle Hill House,

Lady Nell Arran and Ron Marks consort of Chairman of Surrey CC. Sitting Room

17^th April - Change of Command ceremony USAF at RAF Croughton

– Ambrosden PC

18 – 22 April – Easter with friends at Ramsgate

Visit to Canterbury Cathedral on way home

23^rd April – Noke Annual Parish Meeting

Churchill Rehearsal

24^th April – Royal visit rehearsal

25^th April – Oxfordshire Forces Reserves visit of Earl & Countess of Wessex

I receive the SABRE award on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council to show the forces gratitude to the Council for the support to the forces.

Churchill Lodge Dinner Mansfield College

26^th April –Victoria County History Day Chalgrove

Brownies Trip to London to celebrate their 100 years on special train to Paddington.

30^th April Churchill Rehearsal

1^st May – OCC Group Meeting

2^nd May – friends arrive for weekend and Dinner Party

3^rd May – Blue Plaques Board plaque unveiling Charlbury, Larcum Kendall – clockmaker.

- -Chipping Norton Charity Dinner

5^th May – Lunch party

7th May Churchill Lodge – I was invested as Master of Churchill Lodge No 478

Two old friends join me for the Churchill Meeting. I was at prep-school with Peter (L) in 1950

8^th May –New Archdeaconry of Dorchester. Invitation from Bishops of Oxford, Dorchester & Reading to a service to mark the creation of the New Archdeaconry of Dorchester

10^th May – Scouting awards

Scouts at Youlbury awards – Chairmen and Mayors were conducted by Scouter Laura Daisy Pearson

12^th May – Bicester Mayor Making

13^th May – Citizenship ceremony and presentation of BEM medals with HRH The Duke of Gloucester

- Flood Reception to thanks those who worked so hard during the floods.

- Islip Annual Parish Meeting

15^th May – Earth Trust reception to celebrate the completion of phase 1 of the River of Life Project, the Earth Trust and the Environment Agency will be hosting a drinks reception at the Shillingford Bridge Hotel, followed by a 3km guided walk of the River of Life.

Presenting Jayne Manley with the cheque from my Charity Dinner

- OCC Group Meting

- Ambrosden Parish Council

20^th May - Oxfordshire County Council Annual Meeting when I hand over to my successor as Chairman of the Council and cease to be the senior citizen of the County.

I wish Cllr Anne Purse best wishes for her year as Chairman Oxfordshire County Council and Senior Citizen of the County.