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You might have thought there was no drought this summer in the Rutland villages of Preston Wing & Ridlington! Their Annual Show was full of stunning vegetables, flowers, cakes, breads, jams & gins. Children provided some great entries too in their sections! I particularly enjoyed the owl (below).  The men’s fruit cake competition was ‘hotly’ contested;  the exhibit which (no doubt by intent???) was the colour of a lump of charcoal generated much comment.  Everyone seemed happy, no-one taking it too seriously.  It was a pleasure to give the prizes.

We were celebrating the success of women in all professions on 30th July with the Leicestershire Law Society.  Bushra Ali, the president, was joined by legal and business women from Leicester and beyond. Judge Nancy Hillier gave an inspirational speech – she pointed out that it’s only 98 years since women allowed to be jurors and solicitors. Encouraging women was the theme of day!

It was exciting to see the expansion of this facility since I visited as High Sheriff 2 years ago! A new building for day care should be finished in October; the new education centre is already in use. How valuable it is to make this precious last part of life as good as possible. The new training centre spreads best practice.

Gardens make everyone feel better!  This one was designed by Rutlanders Rose Dejardin & Pauline Pitts for the Hampton Court Flower Show, where it won a Silver Medal. Now transported back to LOROS, it goes on giving pleasure to the seriously ill patients, friends & family & staff.

I attended one of Leicester University’s degree shows yesterday. Congratulations to all graduating! All good wishes for your future lives.

Rutland donors  helped found Leicester University in 1918;  as a result it was originally known as the Leicester & Rutland College.   Which is why the Rutland horseshoe (the right way up and complete with the correct seven nail-holes!)  is visible in the University’s crest.

Leicester is one of only two universities in world to be founded as a tribute to the sacrifices of WW1.  It was founded as positive commemoration of young lives lost and 100 years later it is still contributing to our society.

Rutland was well represented at De Montfort University’s graduation ceremony yesterday. The photo shows Rutland’s High Sheriff, Sue Jarron & yours truly.  We very much enjoyed joining students for their degree ceremony.  Witnessing so many get their degrees makes for a powerful feel-good buzz. Congratulations to all!

Guides gain skills, confidence & have fun! It was such a pleasure to meet so many from all over the Eastern Region the other night for the Guiding Awards. Congratulations to all! The picture is of Alexandra & Sophia helping me to cut the magnificent cake.

Isn’t having fun the best way to learn? 6,000 kids visited the East of England Showground and learnt about the countryside & farming. It was a surprise to some to learn where milk comes from. Farming is essential but is not understood by city children. Thanks to Deputy Lieutenant Kathy Robinson who attended on my behalf.

The annual Whissendine 6 race attracts runners from all over the Midlands and beyond. It has hills, great scenery and it starts & finishes in our lovely village of Whissendine. Add in a bottle of good beer (from The Grainstore in Oakham) and a glass for all the competitors who finish,  a lively village and a good pub (the White Lion did a roaring trade!) and the event was a guaranteed success.  It was a pleasure to hand out prizes to the winners.

Shires School Oakham goes from strength to strength. Assisted by Sue Jarrom, High Sheriff of Rutland,  I was honoured to cut the ribbon to open their spectacular new purpose built classrooms. These will help in the mission to achieve as much independence possible for students who have severe autism.  The students are community minded and enjoy living in Oakham.

The statue is of Major General Sir Robert Jones, an orthopaedic surgeon.  He developed early prosthetics and has this place of honour at the new Defence & National Clinical Rehabilitation Centre. Built at Stanford Hall (between Nottingham and Loughborough) to provide outstanding facilities for clinical specialist rehabilitation, principally for those injured in the course of military service. It is nearly complete, though as the image shows it’s still ‘hard hats’ for now.  And aren’t those safety boots fetching???