2021 Lockdown Update

2021 began in the same way as my term as High Sheriff began – in the midst of a nationwide Lockdown! Thankfully skills have been learned along the way,  and so despite the restrictions, there have been some great opportunities to ‘see’ and highlight more of all Hampshire has to offer to enable law and order to be valued and upheld, so that as many communities and individuals as possible are able to flourish safely.  Law Sunday Virtual Fringe Event In early January, in partnership with Winchester Cathedral, a new, Virtual Experience, held within the beauty and splendour of the […]

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December 2020 update

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance   https://www.hiowaa.org/  December got off to an exciting start, with a virtual tour of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance station along with ‘visits’ to training facilities and on board a helicopter! The skill, dedication, wisdom, and courage of the staff was more impactful and poignant for seeing all that was displayed from the warm comfort of my own home, which made for a sharp contrast. I commend the tour to you – link here https://youtu.be/liq-NuQt-jQ  – It was impressive, professional, and engaging. From the descriptions of the training, the views […]

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November 2020 Update

Despite the 2nd lockdown, November was a full month with both virtual and Covid safe actual visits to charities and other organisations.  I was honoured to attend our local Remembrance Sunday Service in Oakley and lay a wreath in honour of the police who served in the Wars.  I also recorded a short reflection for the Mayor of Basingstoke’s Remembrance Day service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rRNhFlGYzM&list=UUp34LAXFMyIl7dANEo3v3jQ&index=15&t=10s  It was a month of Annual General Meetings for Winchester charities which gave good insight into the way they have responded with creativity and compassion as they have worked out how to provide ongoing excellent care even […]

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October 2020 update

Hampshire Healthy Families – Barnardo’s I met on Zoom with Suzanne Shields, the Basingstoke lead for Barnardo’s Hampshire Healthy Families partnership with Southern Health Foundation. Suzanne opened the door on the vast range of initiatives which sit under this banner:                                                                                Five To Thrive (a Parenting Approach) for parents/carers of babies aged between 6 weeks to 6 months; Baby Talk for parents/carers of […]

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11th Oct – Law Sunday Choral Mattins – Winchester Cathedral

With deep gratitude to Winchester Cathedral for all their hard work in ensuring a Covid safe service of worship, Law Sunday Choral Mattins went ahead on 11th October, albeit in a very different form to any Law Sunday in living memory – and I suspect any Law Sunday Choral Mattins Winchester has ever seen!  Despite a very small congregation, a very distanced and relatively sparse procession, and no congregational singing, it was an especially appropriate gathering – to be together giving thanks for and praying for all who contribute to the safety and security of Hampshire in these very unusual […]

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September 2020 update

Early in September I met with two Hampshire city wide initiatives where it was heartening to hear about charities connecting together for the greater wellbeing of their cities. Both these groups have responded and risen to the great challenges that Covid has placed on all their various resources. It is fantastic to see how working together increases the common good!  The first of these was Love Southampton https://www.lovesouthampton.org.uk/partners  I spoke with Paul Goodman, one of the founders of this church based movement, which began long before Covid was part of our experience, and has a history of working really well […]

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Releasing Potential; Transforming Lives for Good; YMCA Fairthorne.

Releasing Potential www.releasingpotential.com In 2001 Mike and Jo King established this organistion from their spare bedroom in Havant. I spoke with Mike on the phone to hear that they now have 50+  staff and indeed find ways to ‘release potential’ in some of the most marginalised and ‘hard to reach’ 11-18 year olds in Hampshire and surrounding Local Authorities.  They run 2 specialist schools, a farm site, allotments, an adventure centre, and small social enterprises. Through each of these resources they offer extraordinarily rich and diverse, holistic and compassionate education, care, experiences, relationships  – in short somewhere where hurt and […]

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A Service to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day, Aldershot.

On Saturday 15th August, echoing events across the country,  I attended a service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VJ day at the Cenotaph in the Municipal Gardens in Aldershot, with representatives from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, Rushmoor Borough Council, Aldershot Garrison, The Shots Foundation/Aldershot Town FC and the Royal British Legion, and the Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire. The Padre, Major Albert Jackson of 1st battalion, Irish Guards gave a moving reflection on John’s Gospel 15:9-14, focussing on those who lay down their lives for others and caused us to reflect deeply on those who suffered appalling as prisoners […]

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High Sheriff visit to Portsmouth charities

The Roberts Centre http://www.robertscentre.org.uk/about/ In 1990 Princess Diana laid the foundation stone for The Roberts Centre building. I can’t claim to provide quite such a glamorous photo opportunity but I am delighted to be standing with Carole Damper, the CEO of the Roberts Centre, in  front of that same building which for 30 years has had a pivotal role in supporting local vulnerable families to break the cycle of deprivation in which they are caught. From the child centred Contact Centre, where children can meet with family members with whom they do not currently live, to supported lodging for .l […]

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High Sheriff News from June and July

As restrictions have been slowly lifting I have been able to enjoy a blend of virtual and face to face encounters.  I had the great privilege of joining with members of the Hampshire Constabulary at their Netley headquarters to celebrate the distinguished career of ACC Dave Hardcastle with a surprise party for his retirement. ACC Hardcastle was awarded the Royal Victorian Order in 2019 for his work  overseeing police operations for two royal weddings which gives just a glimpse of the high level of service he has given over the course of his long career. He poignantly spoke of being […]

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Being High Sheriff During Restrictions

I am writing this to post on the website during the week when I had planned to welcome a lovely gathering of Hampshire people to a summer garden party. Of course, given Covid 19 restrictions, even with the expansion of contact allowed after 4th July, this event cannot take place. Please do look at the short film I have made for my guests so I can introduce myself visually and give you a small taste of the beautiful garden my talented mother in law has created which would have been the setting for the party.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV6XgC5kkrw    For […]

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High Sheriff Awards Ceremony – 20 March 2019

21 recipients have been announced each receiving commendations for their great work in the community. The High Sheriff Awards are a mark of distinction and recognition given to individual volunteers, groups and public servants based in Hampshire who are making a significant contribution to society, focusing on law and order related projects, particularly those that enhance safety and cohesion in our communities. Many of these individuals and groups go beyond the ‘call of duty’ in their everyday work and deserve special recognition for their commitment. The awards were presented at a ceremony held in the Great Hall in Winchester, one […]

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Commonwealth Day, Flyaflag For The Commonwealth – 11 March 2019

The historic Great Hall was the setting for the event, where the County Council Chairman, Councillor Elaine Still, raised the Commonwealth flag, while the Hampshire Fanfare, composed by Jock McKenzie from the Hampshire Music Service, was played by trumpeter, Peter Symonds student Thomas Toledo-Brown.  Commonwealth Day celebrates how friendship, goodwill and collaboration among the culturally diverse 53 member nations can be harnessed to promote peace and prosperity to improve the lives of the 2.4 billion people who live there.

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The Opening Of The OT Practice By Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal – 8 March 2019

An excellent morning with some super enthusiastic, interesting and motivated individuals all happy that they are pulling together for a very worthwhile project.  New state-of-the-art premises provide great atmosphere and the ability to work directly with individual clients and families, with a wealth of experience working with a variety of charitable and public sector organisations, NHS Trusts, local authorities and many more.

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Y Services For Young People – 21 February 2019

Great to spend time with Andy Kennedy and colleagues from Y Services For Young People, together with those benefiting from the services provided.  It was interesting to learn so much about the fantastic work being undertaken.  Happy, interested and motivated people of all ages were very clearly getting much from both volunteering or working with Y Services and benefiting from the offerings.  This positive attitude helps in so many ways.

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Cachalots Sea Pie Supper – 8 February 2019

I had great pleasure in attending a Cachalots Sea Pie Supper on the 8th February and was very impressed not only to see so many of those involved in maritime operations locally were present, but also to note how far many of those had come to attend too.  The new club captain has a great platform from which to combine the traditions of the ages with the relevance in the modern world.  

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Chief Constable Awards Ceremony – 8 February 2019

The Chief Constable Awards Ceremony recognises long service of both Police Officers, Police Staff, Support Workers and Volunteers.  The Chief Constable presented her commendations,  congratulations and awards to Officers, staff and members of the public who go above and beyond the line of duty and service to the community of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.  

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