Our St John Priory Group had a special way to Stir Up Christmas spirit with the first carol service of the year in aid of the St John Eye Hospitals in Jerusalem and, right at centre of the storm, Gaza. Ambulance, Cadets, Badgers and Fellowship - Pro Fide, Pro Utilitate Hominum.

Congratulations to Moira Darlington DL. For those who don’t avidly scour the Gazette(!), Moira has been nominated, with her name read out by the Lady Chief Justice in the Royal Courts of Justice, to be High Sheriff of Oxfordshire for the year 2027/28. A wonderful choice.

We were very much Together at Christmas at the Mayor of Burford’s civic carols when the lights went out and, led by a wonderful choir, the whole congregation sang O Come All Ye Faithful unaccompanied by the light of the first Advent candle - a magical moment to be treasured.

A wonderful way to begin the celebrations, with the Christ Church cathedral choir on top form, culminating in Taverner’s setting of the Orthodox Great Compline of Christmas Eve. A privilege to attend such a beautiful service. Happy Christmas!

A moving remembrance of the Holocaust led by Oxford’s Lord Mayor, where all faiths - Jewish, Christian, Muslim - united to pledge “never again” and to look to a better tomorrow.

The best of the best! Wonderful to hear citations of lives saved, victims supported and dangerous criminals painstakingly tracked by teams being commended by Thames Valley Police finest. The thin blue line protecting us all.

And where do the extrovert Archdeacons sit?

A wonderful celebration of the New Year of the Snake, when Oxfordshire’s Bicester Village welcomed ambassadors from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia as well as senior Chinese diplomats - a small county with a big welcome for a huge proportion of the world!

Amazing work by former High Sheriff Mark Beard raising so much money with a cylcathon and promoting partnership use of university and community sports facilities. The cycling was ultra competitive but every Oxford resident is the real winner.

Amy Crawfurd The High Sheriff of Northamptonshire must have broken records at her wonderful Legal Service for the most uniformed High Sheriffs in one court room. Glad to see the whole Thames Valley team out in support.

We're proud to share our recently published annual accounts for the financial year 2023-24. For the fourth consecutive year OCF has given around £2 million annually to charitable organisations across Oxfordshire who are tackling priority issues.💙 buff.ly/4jNzerU

Great to pop to Thames Valley Police this afternoon for the High Sheriff's Shrievalty Awards. Brilliant to see PS Shaw get an award for her work on the Menopause Action Group! Congrats to Inspector Hutch & the TVP Rural Crime Taskforce 🚜 🚔 & the Specialist Search Unit who were also worthy recipients

As well as a packed audience in the huge Examination Schools, it was wonderful to see the ripples of Sir Ernest Ryder’s fascinating lecture spreading into the national media, with Joshua Rozenberg reporting one of his (many!) stimulating ideas.