Blog & Diary 2015-16

Blog and Diary 2014-15

Blog 2013-14

Blog 2012-13

Blog 2011-12

A new council year stated with Oxfordshire County Council Annual Meeting and Cherwell District Council Meeting on 19^th May 2015

I am now represent both Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Councils as councillor for Otmoor Division and Ward.

My other commitments include:

- Chairman of Oxfordshire & Berkshire branch of the English Speaking Union

- Director of Graven Hill Village Holdings plc

- Immediate Past Master of Churchill Lodge No 478

- Committee of Otmoor Archaeological and Historical Society

- Member of the Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board

- Trustee of Victoria County History for Oxfordshire

- Member of South East Reserve Forces and Cadets Association representing Oxfordshire

- Trustee of the Oxfordshire Buildings Trust.

19^th May – Oxfordshire County Council

John Sanders becomes Chairman of Oxfordshire County Council

21^st May – Charlton PC

24^th May – Rifles parade Oxford

26^th May – CDC Budget Planning Committee

27^th May – Appeals Panel

- SERFCA meeting RAF Brize Norton

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- Flying in the C130 simulator over Landon

1^st June – Churchill Lodge

2^nd June – CDC Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Arncott Parish Council

4^th June – Jan’s Birthday

- OCC Group Meeting

5^th June – to London Theatre

9^th June – Islip PC

10^th June – Oxford Civic Society President’s Reception

St Giles House, St Giles Oxford

11^th June – Graven Hill Village Directors meeting

- Horton cu Studley Parish Council

12^th June – Blue Plaque Arthur Preston unveiling

13^th June – Visitors staying

15^th June – High Sheriff’s Lecture Oxford Brookes

16^th June – CDC Group Meeting

17^th June – CDC Personnel Committee

18^th June – Patrons Club Reception at Little Haseley.

Lord Young explains the life in the House of Lords.

- Charlton Parish Council

19th June – ESU visit to Rousham Park

ESU members enjoying the 17^th Century Rousham House

20^th June – Private Party on Thames Boat

Back at The Head Of The River pub after the trip in Salter’s boat.

22 June – Armed Forces Day County Hall/Castle

County Music Service Concert to mark the end of a year’s singing project – Christ Church.

24^th June Accounts Audit & Risk Committee Bodicote House

27^th June – QOOH Freedom of Banbury parade

29^th June – Bicester Members meeting Bicester.

1^st July – Cherwell DC Group meeting

Oxford Preservation Trust AGM – Maison Francaise

2^nd July – Health Overview Scrutiny Committee

Family arrive from Seattle USA

3^rd July Henley Regatta

5^th July Charlotte Baptism Rousham Church

6^th July – Oxford Buildings Trust – Trustees Cogges Farm

Victoria County History Trustees – Kellogg College

7^th July Arncott PC

8^th July – Audit & Governance Committee County Hall

Bicester Locality Meeting

High Sheriff’s Garden Party

9^th July – Education Committee

Pensions Sub-committee

OCC Group Meeting

Horton cum Studley PC

10^th July – Veteran’s Forum

Graven Hill Village – public launch Tally Ho

11^th July – Blenheim Proms

14^th July – Islip PC

- CDC Overview & Scrutiny Committee

16th July – Charlton on Otmoor APM

21^st July – Piddington PC

23^rd July – Islip Traffic Plan meeting

25^th July – Supper at Swan at Swinbrook

26^th July Family depart for Seattle

28^th July – County Youth Orchestra Concert Sheldonian Theatre.

2 August – North Oxfordshire Conservative Association

4^th August – Piddington PC

5^th August fly to Helsinki on a 10 day holiday with two nights in the city and a week at the Haikki Manor Hotel, Porvoo. Finland

Helsinki Harbour

From our hotel room balcony overlooking the Baltic. A week of glorious weather

14^th August back at home

15^th August – Weston on the Green airfield to see friends gliding

19^th August – Horton cum Studley Parish Council

20^th August – Ambrosden PC

22^nd August – Visitors for weekend

24^th August – Graven Hill Village Board Meeting

26^th August – Visit new village hall and school at Bletchington

28^th August – Seven Wives for Seven Brothers at Regent’s Park open air theatre

29 – 30^th – staying with friends in London

1^st September – visit South Central Ambulance Service Bicester with Health Overview Scrutiny Committee (HOSC)

CDC Overview and Scrutiny Committee

2^nd September CDC Conservative Group meeting

Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society Islip

3^rd September – OCC Conservative Group meeting

Charlton on Otmoor PC

4^th September – Appeals Panel County Hall

Oxford Silver Dinner St John’s College

17^th Century silver gilt from St John’s College, Oxford

5^th September – private dinner party

7^th September ISIS Care Home visit with HOSC members

8^th September OCC Full Council

9^th September – Oxfordshire English Speaking Union AGM & Committee

10^th September – RSPB talk

Re-election of Police Commissioner

11^th September – ESU School Leavers Awards

12^th September – Open Doors in Oxford organised by Oxford Preservation Trust

Excavating Greyfriars that was under the Westgate car park

County Hall with army, police and Fire Service exhibits

13^th September – Soldiers of Oxfordshire reception Woodstock

OSJ Purcell concert Dorchester Abbey

15^th September – OCC CEO  leaving party

The Lord Lieutenant says farewell to Joanna Simons CEO of OCC

16^th September – Overview & Scrutiny Committee, OCC County Hall

Langford Village AGM

Langford Council

17^th September – Health Overview Scrutiny Committee

18^th September – Dr Colin Blogg Memorial Service

20^th September Cadet Challenge Bicester Garrison

21^st September – Safeguarding Children Board briefing

22^nd September DFAS reception

23^rd September Appeals Panel

30^th September CDC Group Meeting

Graven Hill Board

VCH Trustees

CDC Re-structuring briefing

1^st October – Education Committee County Hall

- Meeting at HQ Bicester Garrison with Chief of Staff

3^rd October – guests for weekend

7 October – Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society

- Blue Plaques Board

- Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust Dinner Blenheim Palace

8^th October - OCC Group Meeting

Horton cum Studley Parish Council

9 – 11^th October – Ramsgate staying with friends

`2th October – Oxford Buildings Trust

Build Programme CDC

13^th October – CDC Overview & Scrutiny Committee

14^th October – DFAS Magdalen College

Sparrowhawk in our garden trying to catch birds on the feeders

15^th October Earth Trust dinner

17^th October – National Theatre London “Three Days in the Country”

19^th October CDC Full Council

20^th October – English Speaking Union Rhodes Scholars reception Oriel College

21^st October – Bicester Locality Meeting

22^nd October – North Oxfordshire Conservative Association

23^rd October – Visit to Exeter College, Ashmolean and Centre for Classics, Oxford University

Centre for Classics

Radcliffe Square from Exeter College Walls and peaceful gardens

Exeter College Chapel ready for Harvest Festival

Private Dinner party

24^th October – English Speaking Union Annual Dinner Pembroke College. Speaker Lord Ian Blair

26^th October – Fitzroy Lodge Honourable Artillery Company London

First day of trains from Oxford Parkway (Water Eaton Kidlington) to London Marylebone

28^th October Graven Hill Directors

29^th October – OCC Pensions sub-committee

OCC Group Meeting

30^th October – London Theatre. The Moderate Soprano Hampstead

2^nd November – Churchill Lodge

3^rd November South East Reserve Forces & Cadets Association awards, Pembroke College

4^th November – Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society giving talk on antique furniture

5^th November – Graven Hill MD selection committee

ESU Committee Meeting

7^th November – Dinner on Queen Elizabeth at Southampton

8^th November – Remembrance Sunday attending Banbury parade AM & Arncott wreath laying PM

10^th November - Graven Hill Partnering Board

Islip Parish Council

11^th November – DFAS Magdalen College

Parish Liaison Meeting Bodicote house

Graven Hill MD Selection Board

12^th November – Oxfordshire CC Chairman’s Reception

13^th November – Overview & Scrutiny Committee CDC

14^th November – DFAS Magdalen College

13^th November – Bicester SE Ring Road consultation

Ambrosden PC

15^th November – Islip Parish Council

16^th November – Meeting at Cherwell DC – Building Listing in Charlton

17^th November – Budget Planning Meeting CDC

- Graven Hill Village – web site review

19^th November – Health Overview Scrutiny Committee

Army Benevolent Fund curry lunch

Ambrosden PC

21^st November – private dinner party

22^nd November – ESU Thanksgiving lunch Studley Wood Golf Club

ESU Member Ann Spokes Symonds (Centre) at the lunch celebrating her 90^th Birthday. Ann is a former Lord Mayor of Oxford and Chairman of Oxfordshire CC. She still plays tennis and golf. Here with Jo Hunt and Oxfordshire ESU Vice Chairman Roger Trafford.

23^rd November – Cardiologist for annual check up

- Graven Hill Village directors

24^th November – CDC Overview & Scrutiny committee

25^th November ESU Public Speaking Oxfordshire heat – Oxford Spires Academy

CDC Group meeting

26^th November – South Oxfordshire Conservatives Patrons Dinner Henley

28^th November – Cherwell DC Chairman’s Dinner Whatley Hall Banbury

29^th November – New College Advent Carol Service

1^st December CDC Budget Planning

- Victoria County History committee and Christmas reception

2^nd December - Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society Islip

3^rd December – ESU Public Speaking Branch Final Oxford Spires Academy

5^th December – Christmas party at home with invited friends staying

7^th December – Churchill Lodge

SERFCA meeting Banbury Army Reserve centre

8^th December – Oxfordshire CC Full Council

9^th December – DFAS

Service and resource Planning briefing County Hall

Cherwell DC meeting about devolution

10^th December – Health Overview Scrutiny Committee

10^th December Charlton on Otmoor PC

12^Th December – Institute of Directors Dinner Balliol College

13^th December – OSJ Concert Ashmolean Museum

18^th December – Leader of Oxfordshire CC Christmas drinks

19^th – 20^th December family visitors for weekend.

21^st December fly to Seattle to spend Christmas with Jan’s son Nicholas and family

Nick and Sara’s house in Seattle 2300 lights

Christmas Dinner with Annabelle from Canada, Abigail, Sara and Nick

3^rd January return to Oxford flying direct back to LHR with BA.

5^th January – fly to Dubai

6^th January – fly to Dar es Salam

Stay at Hotel Meditteraneo Dar

8^th January fly to Salous. This is our home for five days:

13^th January fly to Ruaha reserve

Crested Eagle

17^th January – fly to Mafia Island (90 miles south of Zanzibar)

All our flights were in 14 seater Cessna 208 flying mostly into dirt airstrips

Mafia Island snorkelling

27^th January – Zanzibar

Visit to the spice farm growing cloves….

……and pepper – red, white and black peppers are all on the same branch.

Stone Town where slaves were once kept

31^st January fly home via Dubai

1^st February – Churchill Lodge

2^ndFebruary – trade in car for newer model

4^th February Health Overview Scrutiny Committee

10^th February DFAS Magdalen College

11^th February – Education Committee County Hall

OBT Visit

ESU Committee

OCC Group Meeting

Graven Hill Village reception

12^th February – Directors meeting Bodicote House

16^th February – OCC Full Council budget setting

18^th February – Planning Meeting Bodicote House

- Ambrosden PC

22 February – Cherwell DCD Full Council

23^rd February – visit Ambrosden Children’s Centre

CDC Overview & Scrutiny Committee

24^th February – OCC Audit & Governance Committee

26^th February – Home to School Transport appeal panel

1^st March – Arncott PC

2^nd March – CDC Group Meeting

- Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society

3^rd March - OCC Group Meeting

6^th March – Army Benevolent Fund charity lunch Leander Club, Henley

Speaker Major Heather Stanning MBE – rowing Olympic gold medallist

Heather’s Gold Medal London 2012.

7^th March – Churchill Lodge

9^th March – DFAS

Bicester Review, Bicester

10^th March – Health Overview Scrutiny Committee

11^th March – dine with friends at SoJo Oxford

14^th March – Visit Endeavour Academy with Education Committee

Unitary Council Briefing and Discussions County Hall

15^th March – Piddington PC

16^th March – SERFCA Dinner London

17^th March – Ambrosden PC

19^th March –ESU Schools Public Speaking competition County Hall

20^th March – lunch at friends

21^st March – Bicester Town Council

24^th – 29^th March staying with friends at Winchelsea

30^th March – Cherwell DC Group Meting

31^st March – OCC Group Meeting

2^nd April – Dinner Party at Paddock Cottage

5^th April – County Council full council

NHS Briefing

CDC Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Arncott PC

6^th April – Locality Steering Group

Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society

7^th April – High Sheriffs Lecture

9^th April – Churchill Lodge ladies dinner Oxford Union

10^th April take friends to Widdison Manor

12^th April Visit UTC Academy Didcot – Education Committee

13^th April Blue Plaques Board

14^th April

Charlton on Otmoor PC

Horton cum Studley PC

15^th April – Wheatley Conservative Association Wine Tasting

17^th April – Son Philip and family visit

19^th April – ESU Lunch at Oxford Union

20^th April – Audit & Governance Committee

21^st April - Health Overview Scrutiny Committee

22^nd April – London to see Funny Girl – fantastic!

23^rd April – to East Sussex for dinner party

25^th April – Education Committee

26^th April – Escort Rhodes Scholars to Houses of Parliament

Receive Labour election leaflet: -

What rubbish – showing total ignorance of how local government works. Most of their “pledges” are County Council matters and have nothing to do with Cherwell District Council. Cherwell has not increased council tax for seven years while not cutting services but by better administration. Don’t trust ignorant Labour ruin it. The person who wrote this leaflet obviously knows nothing about local government.

Catherine Chester – it was the conservatives that fought against the M40 going over Otmoor especially Douglas Hurd. I fought against the “Eco Town” at Weston – it was my motion in Oxfordshire CC. I never saw you involved anywhere. If she has lived on Otmoor for ten years and the M40 was constructed in more than 20 years ago how can she have “participated” in the campaign.

Read my leaflet and get back to reality –

27^th 28^th April more leafletting for the local elections on 5^th May. I have already walked at least 15 miles putting leaflets though doors.

29^th April to London for daughter’s birthday on 30^th April

30^th April – birthday celebrations in London

30^th – 3^rd May – Ramsgate seeing friends before the emigrate to NZ

3^rd May ESU Committee meting

4^th May – Jan and my 10^th Anniversary

5^th May – Cherwell DC elections – re-elected to Cherwell District Council

5^th – 10^th May – break in Bavaria Germany with visits to Lichtenstein, Austria and Switzerland.

Villino Hotel Landau, Bavaria

12^th May ESU visit to Chalgrove manor

OCC Group AGM

14^th May Arncott – Beating the Retreat at Bicester Garrison

17^th May 2016 – end of Council Year

Blog 2016-17