 |
| MBE 2010 |
| AA1 NVQ 2009 |
|
Geoffrey of Monmouth |
| The Irish Pig |
| Bumble Bees |
Wolfson College, Oxford (1987 ongoing):
Ben retired (31/12/09) after 22 years on the College's administrative staff where for the last couple of years he was responsible for Project Coordination. Previously he served as Development Officer and ICT Administrator. He was granted Membership of Common Room (honorary) on retirement.
Magistrate (1971 ongoing):
Oxford City Bench, formerly Coleford (Gloucestershire) Bench.
Ben 'celebrated' his forthieth year as a magistrate at a meeting of the Oxfordshire Bench 'Quorum Club' on 20/10/11.
Thames Valley Police Authority (1992 ongoing):
Independent Member (Magistrate Member March 1992 - 2008). Currently member of Complaints & Professional Standards Committee, Resources Committee, Strategic Property Forum, Stop & Search Project Board, Local Criminal Justice Board, representative on the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership and member responsible for oversight of Oxford City Local Policing Area. Formerly Lead Member (People and HR), Chair of Property Committee and Lead Member (Police Performance) with membership of numerous committees and panels including the Appointments & Remuneration Committee and the Selection Panel for Independent Members and members of the Standards Committee.
St Margaret's Institute Community Centre, Oxford:
Chair of Management Committee & website manager. The Community Centre has recently secured its future through the aquisition of a 999-year lease and a refurbishment programme, funded through a successful appeal.
Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust:
Council Member and website manager. Throughout its life, this Trust has distributed some £3M to Oxfordshire churches and chapels.
Oxfordshire Probation Trust:
Council Member of a small Trust which makes small grants to people from Oxfordshire who are on probation, to help them rehabilitate, get jobs or make a new start in their communities after periods in custody or whilst on probation. Typical grants are for clothing or essential household equipment, or other items to help them prepare for employment. The Trust meets monthly and all referrals are through the Thames Valley Probation Service.
Wandering in dementia - the NeighbOURhood ReTURN project:
Working with Dr Rupert McShane on the development of a response network, to recover those with early dementia who 'wander' or 'get lost'. The project uses Neighbourhood & Home Watch's national website http://www.ourwatch.org.uk/ and maintains links with the Alzheimer's Society, Thames Valley Partnership, AgeUK Oxfordshire, The Association of Lowland Search & Rescue, and supports initiatives like healthtalkonline.org.
St Margaret's Parish War Memorial Appeal
Member of a committee responsible for the restoration of this WW1 memorial, which was in danger of collapse. The memorial is at the junction of St Margaret's and Kingston Roads in North Oxford. Responsible for planning applications, fund-raising and the Appeal Website, which also links to its Companion Site at Headington.org where the history and background of the commemorated WW1 soldiers is documented.
Other interests:
Agriculture (my first career), building construction and estate maintenance (another career), community development and fund-raising, travel, music, dogs, creative writing, poetry.