Annual Events
The Lord-Lieutenant is always pleased to be invited to visit organisations in Oxfordshire – voluntary, statutory, or business. Invitations should be sent to her via her EA.
The Lord-Lieutenant is not able to accept all invitations because of volume and time constraints, but if you receive a refusal, you may wish to ask if it is possible to arrange for the Vice Lord-Lieutenant or a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) to attend on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant or DL should then be accorded the precedence due to the Lord-Lieutenant.
The Lord-Lieutenant and her deputies attend events on behalf of The King and promote charitable and voluntary work within Oxfordshire. They also attend military events supporting not only the army, navy and air force but also the Royal British Legion, the TA, Reserve Forces and cadets.
They attend civic and religious events such as civic dinners, mayor makings, church installations and faith celebrations, and support many other aspects of life in Oxfordshire by attending rural events and AGMs of the voluntary, charitable and military sector, universities and schools.
By attending the events, the Lieutenancy is able to understand more fully what each organisation entails and how best it may support and add value.
Oxfordshire is host to several annual events celebrating the history, culture and community of the county, some of which are listed below. These events are usually by invitation but are adapted each year to make them as inclusive as possible across Oxfordshire by focusing on a theme or celebrating an aspect of life within the county.
St Frideswide Service
This is usually held on the third Tuesday of October and is a service of thanksgiving held in the cathedral at Christ Church.
St Frideswide is the Patron Saint of Oxford. The service has a different focus each year involving charities relating to the theme, school children of all ages perform at the service and a retiring collection is donated to the charity/charities of choice for that year.
Armed Forces Day
As The King’s representative for Oxfordshire, the Lord-Lieutenant has close ties with the military. Each year, the Lord-Lieutenant takes the salute on Armed Forces Day.
OCVA Awards (Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Awards)
Each year the Lord-Lieutenant presents certificates to winners at the Oxfordshire Charity and Volunteer Awards organised by the OCVA and generously supported by private sector sponsorship. Individuals and voluntary organisations across Oxfordshire are nominated for awards. There are different categories for local organisations to demonstrate excellence in their work including the Charity of the Year award.