Visited #PopeFrancis Lying in State this morning 🙏🏻 & just completed rehearsals for tomorrow’s funeral, with @SkyNews
Tonight, with @annabotting to cover the Closing of the Coffin liturgy
Heading to Windsor Castle, with my family, to be invested as a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military Division).
What a wonderful day! 😊
(2/2) Being made Companion of the Bath reminds me of this clip, from the film ‘Battle of the River Plate’
It was a scene that, ironically, caught my imagination as a young boy.
Happy New Year
Delighted to be named, in The King’s #NewYearHonours list, as Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division).
I owe this honour to all the soldiers I served with, over nearly 46yrs, whose service got me here.
From my training at Pirbright & Sandhurst; through 13 Platoon, Left Flank 2nd Bn @scots_guards; the Reserves; London District; @3rdUKDivision & up to my final role, as Governor of @edinburghcastle. (1/2)
This is why I would like to serve as Chancellor of Oxford University - to raise its profile and utility.
The Chancellorship could be completely different and better connect with the whole university community.
I have the time, commitment and ability to do this, in support of the executive leadership of the university. I would want to meet, get to know and affirm everyone, from Vice Chancellor to the hard working group I met moving mattresses and beds around in one of the Colleges this week - and be the Chancellor for them all.
The office of #Chancellor could engage with both the great events of the university but also its people, by getting to invest time in the community and represent its heart and soul.
I may be the ‘outsider’ but I came to all the appointments I have held, as such. In each case, I have invested everything of myself in embodying the place, its people and their traditions. I serve to live out a balance of deep respect for worthy customs with a lightness of touch, which makes everything unstuffy and accessible. As an outsider, I bring no vested certainty of past practice, only an open mind to embrace all, especially the new.
My representation and advocacy for the university, its mission, excellence, intent and history will be ‘evangelical’, in commitment, and unconfined.
Conventional in appearance but utterly unconventional in style, I would love to serve @UniofOxford in the years ahead.
As Pro-Chancellor of Winchester University, I look forward to presiding over Graduation Ceremonies this week.
Thrilling for Graduates to be affirmed in their success & for staff to see result of all their energy, investment and encouragement. 👏👏👏
#Graduation#Celebrations
@AlastairBruce_@UniofOxford They would be so lucky to have you. Your leadership from being a Governor at Milton Abbey right through to your recent role at Edinburgh Castle show your knowledgeable, gentle, and incredibly wise ways. You have the ability to speak to all walks of life and all ages with empathy.
My candidacy to be Chancellor of Oxford University is published today
This great global university needs to be represented by a proven leader with no obvious political or partisan bias, who can reach beyond the narrow confines of any political establishment. @UniofOxford#Chancellor
Maggie Smith has died.
What a great privilege it was to work with her & play a small part in her creation of Violet Countess of Grantham
A titan of the filmocracy, Maggie embodied the aristocracy with absolute ease: she made us gasp, shudder and laugh. She was #TheBestOfThem