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Blog and Diary 2012 - 13

2011 - 12 Blog as Chairman Cherwell District Council

15th May 2012 - Oxfordshire County Council - elected as Vice-Chairman

for 24hrs I am both Chairman Cherwell DC and Vice-Chairman Oxfordshire County Council!

16 May 2012 - Cherwell DC Full Council - hand over Chairman to Cllr Colin Clarke

17th May2012 - Astronomy course at Kellogg College

19th May 2012 - Oxford University Mark Lodge No 55 meeting

21st May 2012 Attend as outpatient at Churchill Hospital for investigation and treatment

22nd May 2012 Bicester Master Plan briefing

23rd May 2012 Primary Schools Tag Rugby finals at Horspath - present winner's cups on behalf of Oxfordshire CC

Attend making Oxford Lord Mayor at The Town Hall

Cllr Alan Armitage accepts the role of Lord Mayor

Churchill Lodge rehearsal

24th May 2012 Oxfordshire Health Overview Scrutiny Committee

Manor Hospital for consultation for heart operation in August

Bletchington Annual Parish Council

Astronomy lecture

25th May 2012 Blue Plaque unveiling Kenneth Graham

North Oxfordshire Annual Dinner

Until 26th weekend visitors

30th May 2012 Emergency Planning briefing

31st May 2012 Strategy and Partnership Scrutiny Committee

Kellogg College

Bletchington PC

1st June 2012 Beating the Retreat - Brooks Barracks Abingdon

Tim Stevenson OBE, Lord Lieutenant, takes the salute.

4th June 2012 Jan's 70th Birthday 50 guests came

With family and friends in the garden

Lighting beacon at Oxford Castle

6th June Lodge rehearsal

7th June Kellogg College

9th June Otmoor Challenge

Dr John Howell MP starts the race

11th June Churchill Lodge

12th June Reception in Dorchester Abbey with Lord Lieutenant and Bishop of Dorchester

14th June Kellogg College

Horton cum Studley PC

15th June Patron's Reception South Oxfordshire CA

New grandson born in Australia (actually 16th in Australia). To Andrew and Jacqui Hallchurch a son Finlay Thomas Hallchurch

16th June Tettenhall College Old Boys Dinner

My cousin's husband, Stephen Corns, installed as President

17th June Evensong Rousham Church - Susie's Bands of Marriage

18th June Jan's brother arrives from Canada meeting at LHR

19th June Oxford Preservation Trust meeting and visit to Painted Room

The building on Cornmarket, Oxford now Republic Shop and Betting Shop upstairs, hides a medieval ale house that was discovered when 18th panelling was removed. The outside has 19th century rendering that hides the building. The panelling has been restored on runners so that the walls can be exposed but protected.

20th June Degree ceremony Sheldonian Theatre

Lunch at St Hugh's College - with Aung San Suu Kyi and 200 others!

Pictures from BBC TV

Encaenia at Worcester College Oxford

21st June Kellogg College

22nd June English Speaking Union Broughton Castle

23rd June Oxfordshire CC Conservative Group Seminar

24th June Music Concert and reception Christ Church Cathedral and College

Fantastic performance by Oxfordshire Music Services youth groups.

25th June Queen's Diamond Jubilee Garden Party Henley

Fantastic day - I was one of 12 people from the county presented to HM The Queen and Prince Philip

26th June Bletchington School and Village Hall project meeting

Welcomed and hosted a delegation of nine teachers from the Eastern Cape, South Africa who are on an exchange visit to Oxford. OCC provides redundant school furniture and other items for the schools in South Africa.

The visit included a tour of Oxford Castle

27th June Armed Forces Day - raising flag at County Hall

After giving a speech to the assembled military personnel and visitors, I asked the Lord Lieutenant to command that the flag be raised.

The Rifles post Afghanistan presentation at Brooks Barracks Abingdon - interesting insight into the regiments experience in Helmand Province from the soldiers who has been there.

They were very positive about the future and in praise of the Afghanistan Army.

29th June OCC Teachers Joint Committee

Cherwell DC Group Meeting

Bletchington Parish Council

29th June Cherwell DC Local Plan presentation Banbury

Oxford Preservation Trust AGM Maison Francaise

30th June Jan's family from Seattle arrive at LHR

2nd July Oxford Association of Local Councils

Victoria County History Trustees

5th July English Speaking Union AGM

South East Reserve Forces and Cadets meeting

6th July Susie and James wedding rehearsal Dinner - Bear Woodstock

7th July Susie and James's wedding Rousham church and house.

weddings woodstock rousham Oxford Just one from Saturday

8th July Brunch for 50 at home

9th July Olympic Torch relay Blenheim Palace

Ian Hudspeth Leader of Oxford CC with Duchess and Duke of Marlborough and torch bearer. Welcome by mayor of Woodstock I am standing with Duchess. Holding the torch!

10th July Depart for Greece with families until 21st July

Our fantastic Villa (Alexander The Great!) and with Jan's son Nick with Sara Oliver and Abigail my son Philip with Sadie and baby Sam and Jan at the back.

23rd July - Family depart back to Seattle

26th July - Strategy & Partnership scrutiny committee

31st July - Code of Conduct briefing County Hall

1st August - Manor Hospital for tests

2nd August - Cherwell DC Conservative Group Meeting

3rd August - Churchill Hospital Tests

4th August - Dinner with friends to Manoir aux Quat' Saisons

7th August - Angiogram Manor Hospital

8th August - RMA Sandhurst 200th anniversary parade and lunch - did no attend due to operation!

9th August - Horton CS Parish Council - not attended.

10th August - Admitted to Manor Hospital

11th August - Heart surgery. After 6 1/2 hr operation awake about 5pm - Jan came to see me and I phoned son Philip. Skyped Andrew in Australia at 4am to say all was well.

12th August - Out of bed with two nurses carrying drip (attached to neck), catheter bottle, blood drain, Oxygen, pacemaker and monitoring device that transmitted data to the desk. Being the only patient in Intensive Care Unit, I have 2 nurses to myself!

13th August - First visitors other than Jan, Philip stays for supper (visitors can order meals in the Manor)

18th August - Home! No pacemaker and better still no warfarin needed.

19th August - Walk down to Thrupp Café for cream tea.

4th September - To Oxford for St Giles fair and theatre to see "Murder on the Nile"

6th September - Warborough for tea with friend

8th & 9th September - Fiends stay for weekend travel to Dorchester for OSJ concert in the abbey featuring Sir James Galway.

10th September - Back to work with County Council pre-meeting in County Hall

11th September - Co-chair County Council meeting but call it a day after lunch.

12th September - Bletchington working group, Otmoor Group at Charlton on Otmoor.

13th September - Back to Manor Hospital to see surgeon and have chest X-ray.

16th September - Battle of Britain memorial parade and service in Banbury

17th September - Cherwell DC Appeals Panel, interviews for candidates for 2013 local elections.

18th September - Back again to the Manor to have 24hr heart monitor fitted.

19th September - Manor again to have monitor removed.

20th September - Oxfordshire Veterans Forum Edward Brooks Barracks.

21st September - Victoria County History book launch Kelmscott Manor.

22nd September - Visit to Bothy Vineyard Frilford Heath

24th September - Victoria County History Trustees meeting

26th September - Cherwell Dc Conservative Group meeting.

27th September - Manor Hospital Cardiologist appointment

28th September - English Speaking Union Dinner, St Edmund Hall

29th September - Wedding in Bath held in the Roman Baths at 0830 in the morning.

3rd October - Kidlington Locality Meeting, Blue Plaques Board, Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society.

4th October - OCC Strategy and Partnership Committee.

Manor Hospital for Cardioversion (electric shock treatment) to get my heart running correctly - success but drugs giving me a headache, back ache and stomach ache!

7th October - Harvest Festival Rousham

8th October - Meeting Dr South's School, Islip;

The only painting of Dr South

Lord Lieutenant's Awards

9th October - Law Lecture - University Exam Rooms then Law Sermon Christ Church

10th October - Cherwell DC Standards Committee

11th October - Cherwell DC Planning Committee

12 - 14th October - Kingston on Thames with friends on house boat

Long exposure night view from the boat

15th October - Cherwell District Council

16th October - Business Awards with Lord Lieutenant at Cowley.

Hosting schoolchildren at County Hall

St Frideswide Service Christ Church and dinner in college

Children being "tried" in the County Hall Courthouse

18th October - OCC Conservative Group meeting

19th October - London Equator Lodge from East Africa

20th October - Lunch in House of Lords

On House of Lords terrace

22 October - London Armoury, House Honourable Artillery Company Lodge meeting

23rd October - English Speaking Union welcoming Rhodes Scholars Oriel College followed by dinner

24th October - Oxford Strategic Ltd company AGM

Meeting St Hilda's College;

Lord Lieutenant's and OCC briefing for Deputy Lieutenants

25th October - Bletchington Parish Council

Trees at Thrupp

26th October - Dinner in Oxford

27th October - Conservative Group Seminar County Hall..

then to London to see "Tosca"

30th October Emergency Planning briefing

31st October - Healthwatch briefing

1st November - Churchill Lodge rehearsal

2 - 4 November - Llandudno after selling flat, bringing contents back to Oxford.

Storm approaching the Great Orme Llandudno Dinner at The Osborne Hotel & Restaurant - must be one of the best restaurants in Wales!

5th November - Churchill Lodge now held temporally at the Oxford Hotel as 333 Banbury Road has closed.

7th November - Silver Society Dinner at New College Oxford

8th November - Cherwell DC Licensing Committee

Horton cum Studley Parish Council

9th November - County Hall Children's Fires Poster Competition - giving the prizes

Presenting the awards to the winners

OCC Remembrance Ceremony, County Hall - laying wreath on behalf of Members of the Council

10th November - Oxfordshire Yeomanry remembrance Christ Church Cathedral

11th November - Laying wreath in St Giles Oxford on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council.

(Picture Oxford Times)

I am behind mace-bearer next to Lord Mayor also Lord Lieutenant, Sherriff of Oxford, Vice Chancellor of Oxford Brooks and Oxford University

13th November - Islip, Merton, Kirtlington and Shipton Parish Councils.

14th November - ABF Soldiers Charity Curry Lunch

15th November - Police Commissioner Election

Chairman OCC's reception County Hall

19th November - CDC Licensing Committee Bicester

20th November - Hospital Appointment following heart surgery in August.

21st November - Cherwell DC Conservative Group

22nd November - King Solomon's Quarries Lodge, London

24th November - Speaker at Old Tettenhallians Dinner Victory Services Club

25th November - English Speaking Union Thanksgiving Luncheon St Hilda's College Oxford

Colonel Charles Hamilton USAF speaking to the ESU members, Kate Parsloe, Wendy Hamilton (Col Charles's wife) and Jan (Dr Jan Carter). View from the dining room showing Magdalen College School playing fields

27th November - Cherwell Disability Forum,

Cherwell Conservative Group meeting

28th November - visit flooded are of Otmoor

Lower Street Islip Islip to Merton - Oddington Turn - Fencott

Churchill Lodge rehearsal

29th November -Strategy & Partnership Committee

Broadband briefing for OCC Councillors

Conservative Patron's Dinner Leander Club, Henley.

30th November - Kids Lit Quiz

The Winners

Mayor of Woodstock's reception

1st - 2nd November - Philip Hallchurch and family staying

3rd November - Victoria County History lecture and reception

Churchill Lodge

4th November Oxford Preservation Trust Trustees meeting

5th November - Fun Run Christchurch Meadow with Lord Mayor presented prizes.

Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society Dr Tony Hadland “Catholic Recusancy in Oxfordshire”

6th November - OCC Pre Council meetings

Opening of new wing Churchill Hospital by Duke of York.

OCC Conservative Group meeting

7th - 9th December - Susie and James for weekend

8th December - Carol Service New College Oxford - fantastic music!

10th December - OCC Pre Council Briefing

11th December - OCC Full Council

Oxford University Vice-chancellors reception

12th December - Care Homes briefing

13th December - Christmas service Dorchester Abbey

14th December - Oxford University visit to Teddy Hall, Ashmolean and St Anne's College

15th -16th December - family visitors for weekend

17th December - CDC Licensing Committee.

Cherwell DC Full Council

20th December - embarked on a round the world trip to se families in Seattle and NSW Australia and to fully recover from my heart surgery in August 2012.

Flew to Seattle and met by Nick and Sarah and the children to spend Christmas and New Year.

Seattle - sunset from Nick and Sarahs house - mountains across lake Washington

1st January 2013 - flew in Fiji via Los Angeles and arrived on 3rd January having crossed the dateline.

Resort in Fiji and guarding the palace

9th January 2-13 - Flew to Sydney met by Andrew, Jacqui and new baby Finlay

Sydney harbour and bush fires following 45.8 degree heat

20th January flew to Bangkok and after 36 hrs flew to Ranong and boat to Koh Pyhan island for a week with fiends from Hungary.

Koh Pyhan island the beach and "Happy" bar made of driftwood

27th January - back to Bangkok for 4 nights seeing the city.

Bangkok - silk worker and dancer at Jim Thompson house and museum - dining at Banyan Tree Vertigo Restaurant on topof a sky-scraper above the city

31 January - flew back to Heathrow

4 February - Churchill Lodge

6 February - Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society

12 February - Merton Parish Council

Islip PC

Kirtlington PC

14th February - Oxfordshire County Council meeting

OCC Conservative Group

17th February - Chinese New Year celebrations Town Hall

18th February - Council pre-meeting

19 February - Oxfordshire County Council

21st February - Health Overview Scrutiny Committee

Cherwell DC Group meeting

Churchill rehearsal

22nd February - Oxford University Familiarisation Visits

Dinner Merton College with Lord Patten

23rd February - Theatre Oxford

25th February - Strategy & Partnership Committee

26th February - English Speaking Union Committee

27th February - Knowing our Communities seminar

28th February - Lodge Rehearsal

1st - 2nd March - Conservative Councillors Association Conference - Belfry Milton Common

The Prime Minister, Matthew Barber, Vale of White Horse DC, The DGLG Team - Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Brandon Lewis MP, Bob Neill MP, Mark Frisk MP

Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP

4 March - Churchill Lodge

5 March - Oxford Preservation Trust Trustees meeting

- South Oxford Conservative Association executive

6 March - Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society - talk by Dr Allan Chapman

7 March - ICT meeting at County Hall

8th March - Chairman of Northants County Council charity dinner Rushton Hall Northants - 2 hrs drive on a Friday night!!

Jan talking to Colonel Charles Hamilton USAF

9th March - London to Adelphi Theatre

11th March - ESU visit to Rhodes House for talk by Rhodes Scholar

12th March - Merton - Islip - Kirtlington Parish Council meetings

13th March - Banbury Youth Arts Festival

14th March - Oxfordshire CC Group meeting and farewell party for standing down councillors

16th March - South Oxfordshire Conservative AGM Thame

18th March - Planning site meeting

- Election coordinating meeting

19th March - Locality Meeting County Hall

- Alfred Chapter meeting

21st - 25th March - Weekend in Rome

26th March - Funeral London

27th March - OCC Council pre-meeting County Hall

Conservative Group meeting

28th March - OCC Council Chairman and leaders briefing

- Bletchington Parish Council

- Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society Committee

29th March - OSJ St John Passion Dorchester Abbey

2nd April - Oxfordshire County Council

Play about sexual exploitation - "Chelsea's Choice" County Hall

3rd April - Election leaflet distribution starts every spare minute!

3rd April - Cherwell Group Meeting

- Cherwell DC Licensing Committee

- Otmoor Archaeological & Historical Society AGM

8th April - Welfare Reform briefing Cherwell DC

9 -10th April - moratorium on electioneering due to Baroness Thatcher's death.

10th April - Blue Plaques Board

10th - 17th April - Election canvassing

18th April - Headway Charity Dinner - Bodleian and Exeter College

Nicola Blackwood MP supporting Headway charity - Eric Knowles (Antiques Road Show) charity auction

19th April - Cherwell DC Chairman Charity event at Broughton Castle

The great dining hall of Broughton Castle

"Dinner for One" absolutely hilarious sketch

20th April - Churchill Lodge Dinner Ashmolean Museum

23rd April - Shakespeare's Birthday celebration Painted Rooms, Cornmarket plus drama in Queen's Street with a small fire in the Westgate Library. Children from Pegasus School, Blackbird Leas read their poems about the Pained Rooms. Prof Laurie Maguire, University Professor of Literature gives a short address.