In a calendar filled with meetings, briefings, ribbon cuttings, and responsibilities, the idea of a “free Saturday” is a rare and precious thing. When the stars aligned in February and I found myself with an unexpected day off, I faced a familiar question: What to do with it? Now, I’ve never been drawn to the…

When people outside Harlow hear the name, they tend to picture tower blocks, roundabouts, and the phrase “new town” thrown around with either derision or vague unfamiliarity. But there’s another Harlow—an older, deeper one—that deserves to be remembered and retold. I’ve spent much of the past year exploring that hidden history through a project tentatively…

Christmas is a time for tradition. For my family, part of that means a carefully prepared cheeseboard served after the main meal—warmed by good company, good wine, and a slight, inevitable debate about which cheese is best. But this year, as I was laying out the Baron Bigod and Black Bomber, I found myself thinking…

In early November, I had the honour of hosting Harlow’s annual Civic Service at St Paul’s. It was a moving and memorable occasion—not just because of the music, the readings, and the warm hospitality, but because it reminded me why these events still matter. We live in a time when the idea of citizenship can…

During half-term, I returned to Ireland – not as a tourist, but as a son and grandson, tracing the lives and legacies of those buried in Bray, Greystones, and Deans Grange. These places hold memories not just of people I loved, but of an Ireland that too often gets lost in the headlines. When people…