Round & About’s digital editor Zoe Gater takes a trip to The Oxford Yurt for a relaxing rural escape, where you could also win a stay for yourself!
With busy schedules and packed calendars becoming the norm, finding time to unwind can feel like a luxury. A night at the Oxford Yurt, nestled in the Vale of the White Horse, promised exactly that – a chance to step away from everyday life and enjoy a slower pace surrounded by nature.
From the moment I arrived, it felt like I’d discovered one of Oxfordshire’s best-kept secrets. The site has a wonderfully relaxed feel, with cosy yurts dotted among wildflowers and greenery. Walking between them, I was struck by how peaceful everything felt. Daisies lined the pathways, rabbits hopped across the grass seemingly unbothered by visitors, and birdsong filled the air. After a deep breath of fresh air, it was easy to slow down and notice the little things – including a ladybird that landed on me, hopefully bringing a little luck.
The yurts themselves are warm, welcoming and surprisingly spacious. Rather than feeling designed purely for social media, they feel authentic and comfortable – a true home away from home. Thoughtful touches, including a hot water bottle waiting at bedtime, made the stay even more memorable.
A huge part of that atmosphere comes from owner Sarah. Inspired by her travels through India, Grenada and Portugal, she set out to create a community-focused space where people could connect, learn new skills and enjoy being present. That vision shines through across the site.
Whether you’re looking for a countryside escape, a unique hen-do venue or simply a chance to reconnect with your playful side, there’s plenty to do. Activities range from pottery workshops and painting sessions to wellness retreats and silent discos, all helping to create a sense of community.
Another thing that stood out was the site’s focus on sustainability. Sarah works with Smart Greens UK, founded by Ollie, whose aquaponics system grows fresh seasonal produce. The system produces leafy greens and vegetables in an innovative and environmentally conscious way, fitting perfectly with the site’s connection to the surrounding landscape – and creating delicious dishes!
What I loved most was how quickly the Oxford Yurt allowed me to switch off. In less than 24 hours, my mental to-do list felt quieter. There was no pressure to do anything beyond enjoying the moment, whether that meant sitting outside with a coffee, watching the wildlife or simply taking in the surroundings.
Although it was only an overnight stay, I left feeling refreshed and reluctant to leave. For anyone looking for a different kind of staycation, it’s well worth a visit.
Historic steam engines, family activities and a celebration of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust’s 75th anniversary make Crofton Beam Engines a fascinating August bank holiday day out.
One of Britain’s most remarkable industrial heritage sites will burst into life this August bank holiday as Crofton Beam Engines celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust.
Taking place on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August, the annual steaming weekend offers visitors the rare opportunity to see Crofton’s famous beam engines operating in their original home near Marlborough.
Built to pump water to the summit of the Kennet & Avon Canal, the engines worked continuously for 145 years before the pumping station closed in 1959. Their future was secured just a few years later when a dedicated group of steam enthusiasts, supported by the newly formed Kennet & Avon Canal Association – now the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust – launched an ambitious restoration project.
The trust purchased the pumping station in 1968 for just £75, beginning decades of work to restore both the building and its extraordinary machinery. Today, Crofton is believed to be home to the oldest working steam-powered pumping engines still operating in their original location anywhere in the world.
To mark the trust’s milestone anniversary, visitors can explore a special exhibition celebrating 75 years of restoring and protecting the Kennet & Avon Canal. The display looks back at the trust’s achievements while highlighting current conservation projects, future plans and opportunities for people to volunteer or become involved.
The exhibition also showcases the trust’s visitor experiences, including canal boat trips and specially adapted accessible boats designed for wheelchair users and visitors with additional needs.
Families will find plenty to keep younger visitors entertained too. Children can follow a themed trail, enjoy self-guided craft activities and discover the fascinating workings of canal locks through interactive demonstrations.
The Smithy Tea Room will be serving refreshments throughout the weekend, while visitors are also welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy the picturesque canal-side setting.
The site is open from 10am to 5pm, with access to the Engine House between 10.30am and 4.30pm. Visitors can arrive by road, bicycle, canal or on foot along the towpath, with free parking available during steaming days.
Discover where to see spectacular sunflower fields in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire this August, with Round & About’s guide to the region’s most beautiful golden blooms – perfect for family days out, pick-your-own flowers and late summer strolls.
Nothing captures the joy of late summer quite like a field of towering sunflowers. For a few glorious weeks each August, farms across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire burst into bloom, creating dazzling displays of golden flowers that are perfect for pick-your-own bouquets, countryside strolls and memorable summer days out.
This year’s hot, dry conditions have proved challenging for some growers, with a number of sunflower crops affected by the lack of rainfall. We’ve rounded up the sunflower fields and experiences that are opening their gates this summer – but it’s always worth checking ahead before setting off, as flowering times and opening dates can change quickly.
Sunflowers at Lillingstone Pick Your Own near Buckingham, Buckinghamshire
A family-run farm on the Buckinghamshire–Northamptonshire border, Lillingstone Pick Your Own is bursting with colour this August thanks to its vibrant sunflower fields. Visitors can wander through the blooms, tackle the winding sunflower maze and pick their own flowers to take home, making it a lovely way to celebrate the height of summer.
There’s plenty more to enjoy, too, from barrel train rides and friendly farm animals to the on-site café, where you can relax after exploring the fields. With special sunset sessions adding an extra touch of magic on selected evenings, it’s a wonderful choice for families, couples and anyone looking to make the most of sunflower season.
Sunflowers at Simms Farm near Bicester, Oxfordshire
A summer favourite for families, Simms Farm near Bicester combines two countryside classics: a sunflower field and a maize maze. Once the blooms are ready, visitors can wander through the golden flowers, explore the winding maze and enjoy a relaxed day on the farm.
The team is monitoring the crop closely, with opening dates announced once the flowers are ready, so check Simms Farm’s social media before travelling. Alongside the sunflower experience, visitors can enjoy homemade cakes and refreshments, making it a lovely late-summer outing for all ages.
Sunflowers at Rectory Farm near Stanton St John, Oxfordshire
Just a few miles from Oxford, Rectory Farm is one of the county’s best-loved pick-your-own destinations and a brilliant place to enjoy sunflower season. Its fields are filled with vibrant varieties, including the classic Sunrich orange and yellow blooms, alongside the striking Ring of Fire, with its distinctive red-centred petals.
Visitors can wander through the fields and hand-pick their own stems using secateurs supplied by the farm (or bring their own), while those who’d rather leave the picking to the experts can find freshly cut bunches in the farm shop. With pick-your-own fruit and vegetables also available throughout the summer, it’s easy to turn a sunflower visit into a wholesome countryside outing.
Sunflowers at The Flower Plot near Riseley, Berkshire
Set on the Wellington Estate between Reading and Basingstoke, The Flower Plot is one of Berkshire’s brightest late-summer destinations. Run by a family who have farmed the estate for more than 80 years, the sunflower field forms part of a wider environmental stewardship scheme, with the vibrant blooms providing an important food source for bees and birds with the farm’s wider sunflower growing helping to support pollinators and wildlife.
Open across selected dates during sunflower season, visitors can wander through thousands of golden blooms, snap photos with fun props and enjoy family-friendly attractions including a bale play area, barrel train rides and The Sunflower Shack, serving ice creams and cold drinks. It’s an easy way to spend a sunny August afternoon while supporting a working local farm.
Not sunflowers, but still worth a visit: Dahlia Beach at Millets Farm near Abingdon, Oxfordshire
While Millets Farm won’t be featuring its usual sunflower display this year, flower lovers can still look forward to a spectacular summer alternative with Dahlia Beach. Created in collaboration with Chelsea award-winning designer Andie McDowell, this colourful PYO dahlia experience features more than 8,000 dahlias planted around a bright pink double-decker bus.
Expected to run from August through to October, visitors can pick their own blooms, take part in flower-arranging workshops and enjoy a vibrant day surrounded by summer colour. Check Dahlia Beach’s Instagram for the latest opening information before visiting.
Round & About magazine’s resident wine columnist, Giles Luckett, recommends the best white wines for the summer.
Summer’s here and you know what that means: a hosepipe ban and an England cricket defeat. To wet your whistle and take away the taste of disappointment, here are five wines to make your summer sizzle.
First up, the Lusco Albariño (Oxford Wine Company £19.25). Made in Albariño’s spiritual home of Rías Baixas in northwest Spain, this wonderful wine offers refreshing complexity. On the nose, there are zingy notes of grapefruit, lemon, lime and dusty minerals. In the mouth, it begins with a burst of freshness before weightier tones of dried pears, peach stones and honey; it’s the perfect alfresco aperitif.
I’ll stay in Spain for my next recommendation, the Juan Gil Vino Ecologico (NY Wines £14.25). Made from organic Moscatel (Muscat) grapes, this is big on fragrance and fruit. Aromas of honeysuckle, rose petals, dried apricots, and oranges leap from the glass. Exotically flamboyant, this fruit cocktail of a wine gushes with grape, mandarin, lychee and lemon, which are lifted by the intoxicating Moscatel fragrance.
The French know a thing or two about wine, or so they’d have me believe. The Le Capitaine Vouvray Les Perrieres(Perfect Cellar £22.46) certainly suggests they do. Made from Chenin Blanc, this is an unusual, stylish wine that would pair well with everything from fish to spiced poultry. The nose offers stone fruits, baked lemons and wet wool. Generous and rounded, the melon, peach, pear and white currant flavours are hedged by floral and chalk notes. Lovely now, this has time on its side.
If you’re looking for something invigorating, dry and food-friendly, then try the Terra Organica Picpoul de Pinet (Ocado £14). Terra Organica is one of the most sustainable producers on the planet, something they’ve achieved without compromising on quality. Produced in the heat of the Languedoc, it’s fresh as a daisy and about as cheerful. Lemongrass and green apple with a subtle, salty hint open proceedings. The palate is crisp, light, immediate and loaded with lemon, lime, and grapefruit. This could be tart, but herbs, floral, and peach stones round things off and keep it balanced.
The Loire Valley is home to some of the world’s greatest whites. Wines like Sancerre, Vouvray, and Pouilly-Fumé are sublime wines that are rightly prized. Look a little farther afield, and you’ll come across other exciting whites such as the Joseph Mellot Touraine Chenonceaux Les Eclats de Silex (Roberts & Speight £19.99). Mellot is my favourite Sancerre producer. Their wines combine the complexity and intensity of cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc with the unique clay/limestone/flint soils of the region. This Touraine is produced on flinty soils and is a marriage of fruit and minerals. The bouquet offers green grapes, citrus, leafy blackcurrant and flint smoke. The palate is lean, dry, refined and polished. Mouthwatering green berries overlay a textured, dusty structure, making for a pure, fresh-tasting wine that’s crying out for roasted goats’ cheese, crab, monkfish or roast pork.
The Rhône Valley is best known for its red wines; its whites, except for things like Hermitage Blanc and Condrieu, tend to be overlooked. This is a shame as they can be fantastic. Take the Château de Gourdon Fontaine du Sud Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2024(Perfect Cellar £21.56). This blend of Viognier, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, and Roussanne (they do so love a mad mix in the Rhône) is a joy. Big-hearted and bold, stone fruits, honey, almonds, herbs, mint, and pepper tones swirl around this generous offering. The gorgeous, rounded texture adds greater emphasis, but there’s enough acidity to keep it clean and focused. Enjoy this on its own or with roasted white meats.
Argentina is best known for its mighty Malbecs, but its whites can be world-class too. Take the Zuccardi Q Chardonnay(Tesco £16.50). Golden, with mesmerising aromas of peaches, apples, honey, citrus and vanilla, it’s a bold introduction to a bold wine. Succulent and mouthfilling, there’s plenty of spicy oak here, but the opulent fruit can take it, so the baked apple, melon, and kiwi fruits are enhanced rather than overcome. Throw in Zuccardi’s signature energy and intense minerality, and you have a wine that’s gentle enough to enjoy on its own while pairing well with poultry, white fish and seafood.
England’s still wines have become the toast of the tasting table. Wines once thought of as impossible, such as varietal Chardonnay, are now delighting critics. The Simpsons ‘The Roman Road’ (Simpsons Wine Estate, £32) is the best I’ve tasted. Mid-gold, with glorious aromas of autumnal fruits, baked bread, and honeysuckle, the palate is equally arresting. An elegant, high-toned mix of lemon-drizzled pineapple, juicy white peach and a creamy hazelnut paste undercurrent. The texture is luxurious and adds to the classy impression. Bravo.
Australia offers an embarrassment of white wine riches, many of which offer exceptional value for money. Two that have grabbed my attention recently are the Folklore Sauvignon/Semillon (Tesco £10) and the Bélena Pinot Grigio (ASDA £15).
These wines couldn’t be more different. Well, obviously, they could, one could be red, sparkling and come with a free copy of the Sydney Morning Herald, but they do highlight the diversity in Australian winemaking.
The Folklore is so pale it looks like it’s been given a fright. The nose is alive with clean, crisp, green and yellow citrus, grapes, peaches, grass and nettles. Surprisingly elegant and precise, the fruit is controlled and taut with zingy grapefruit, rhubarb, and gooseberry, setting the scene. Nicely textured, with crunchy minerals interwoven into the medium body, it’s quite intense, firm and classy. This is a great buy and would be the perfect partner to peppery salads, pâte, grilled fish, or shellfish.
The Bélena is much more open and forward. Exotic fruits, lychees, sharon fruit, kiwi, gently rise from the glass, attended by red pear, lemon and white pepper. These are all present on the juicy palate in a sedate, graceful fashion. Easy going, there’s sufficient concentration and depth to make this interesting but not overwhelming. I tasted this on its own, and it was lovely, but with smoked salmon, salty canapés, or barbecued stuffed peppers, it would be even better.
I’ll finish with something completely different, the Tenuta Stella Collio Friulano(The Wine Factor £19.99). This is an extraordinary wine. I was expecting a pale, floral, light wine that would be pleasingly simple, but hardly profound. How wrong I was. Amber coloured with emerald highlights, aromas of honey, chamomile, banana and grapefruit rose from the glass. Full-bodied, multi-layered and dazzlingly complex, it took me three or four sips to get the measure of this. Stone fruits, mint, barley, and white chocolate, with a dry, firm, herb-tinted finish, this is a serious wine that I found paired wonderfully with mushroom tortellini. This is a winery I shall be revisiting later in the year.
From hands-on archaeology activities and family-friendly Summer of Play adventures to open-air theatre and a stunning sculpture exhibition, Avebury is offering visitors plenty of reasons to explore the historic National Trust site this season.
Families can enjoy six weeks of outdoor fun as Summer of Play returns to Avebury from 23 July to 31 August 2026, transforming the gardens into a playground of creative activities, traditional games and nature-inspired experiences.
Designed to encourage children to get active and use their imagination, the programme includes an obstacle course in the farmyard, puppet play in the Dovecote, wildlife mask-making, chalkboard activities and a cosy reading corner tucked away in the Racquets Court.
Classic village fete favourites including skittles, a coconut shy and tin can alley will also be available in the Church Garden, alongside giant lawn games such as croquet, Jenga and noughts and crosses on the South Lawn.
Throughout the summer holidays, Craft Fridays will offer a different hands-on activity each week, from badge making and stained-glass flower creations to a paint-along workshop led by artist-in-residence Georgie Weedon.
History lovers can delve into Avebury’s remarkable past during the Festival of Archaeology Day on 28 July, where visitors can become archaeologists for the day through interactive family activities.
Children can uncover hidden artefacts in sandpit excavations, decorate their own clay tablets, explore Avebury’s history through an interactive timeline and take on the Heritage Explorer Challenge.
As the evenings draw in, the gardens provide a spectacular backdrop for The Three Inch Fools, who return with their brand-new production, King Arthur and the Holy Fail, on 21 and 22 August.
Blending fast-paced comedy, live music and medieval adventure, the outdoor performance follows the legendary king on an unlikely quest after an unexpected disaster rocks Camelot. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic and blankets or camping chairs for an evening of open-air entertainment.
Art takes centre stage later in the season as the much-loved Avebury Manor Garden Sculpture Exhibition celebrates its 10th anniversary from 5 September to 18 October.
More than 20 artists will showcase their work throughout the Manor Garden’s 11 outdoor ‘rooms’, creating a tranquil sculpture trail where contemporary artworks sit among beautifully landscaped borders and historic surroundings. Every sculpture on display will be available to purchase.
Normal admission charges apply to Avebury Manor Garden, with free entry for National Trust members.
Advance booking is recommended for the outdoor theatre performances.
Maggie’s Oxford is marking its 30th anniversary with an exclusive prosecco garden party in the historic grounds of Merton College, giving guests the chance to enjoy afternoon tea, explore rarely accessible gardens and support people living with cancer.
Marking three decades of supporting people living with cancer, Maggie’s Oxford is inviting supporters to an exclusive prosecco garden party in the beautiful grounds of Merton College this summer.
Founded in 1996, Maggie’s provides free practical, emotional and psychological support to anyone living with cancer, as well as their family and friends. From expert advice on treatment and financial concerns to one-to-one counselling, group sessions and family support, the charity is there for people for as long as they need it.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, guests are invited to enjoy an afternoon in one of Oxford’s most historic settings. The event includes a glass of chilled prosecco, afternoon tea and the rare opportunity to explore the private gardens of Merton College, which are not usually open to the public.
Visitors can relax among the College’s ancient trees and colourful herbaceous borders, overlooking Christ Church Meadow, with the gardens home to a historic mulberry tree believed to have links to King James I.
As part of the experience, guests can also take guided tours of Merton College’s historic chapel and Upper Library. Dating back to the 13th century, the chapel sits at the heart of the college, while the Upper Library, built between 1373 and 1378, is the oldest surviving library in Oxford and one of the oldest continuously functioning academic libraries in Europe.
Maggie’s Oxford relies entirely on charitable donations to fund its services, receiving no government or NHS funding. Every ticket sold will help the charity continue providing free support for people living with cancer across Oxfordshire for years to come.
A Thatcham teenager is raising money for a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands by organising a series of affordable summer holiday activities for local families, including a town trail, craft sessions and a fundraising raffle.
A Thatcham teenager is inviting local families to enjoy a range of affordable summer holiday activities while helping raise money for a life-changing expedition to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.
Charlie is aiming to raise £8,000 to take part in a four-week expedition with Kennet School and Camps International in July 2028. During the trip, participants will help build sanitation facilities, plant trees in the Amazon Rainforest, support conservation projects and take part in beach clean-ups in the Galápagos Islands, contributing to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
To help reach the fundraising target, Charlie has organised several family-friendly events throughout the summer holidays.
Throughout August, families can take part in the Thatcham Summer Trail, an interactive adventure around the town where children hunt for QR codes, unlock the next location, collect secret letters and solve a mystery word. Everyone who completes the trail will be entered into a prize draw to win a family ticket to 4 Kingdoms. The trail costs £2, with all proceeds going towards Charlie’s expedition.
Charlie is also hosting Summer Craft Sessions at Thatcham United Reformed Church Hall on 31 July and 28 August, from 10am to 12pm.
Children can enjoy crafts, biscuit decorating, LEGO, Play-Doh, an animal trail, refreshments and a craft stall. Entry is by a minimum donation of £2 per child.
There is also a fundraising raffle, which will be drawn on 1 August. Local businesses have donated a range of prizes, including a £100 Amazon voucher from Premier Home Improvements, Vue Cinema tickets, a Bucklebury Farm Park family pass, two hours of table time at Rocket Propelled Games Board Game Café and several other prizes. Tickets cost £5 for five entries.
Charlie said: “I’m really excited about the opportunity to visit Ecuador and the Galápagos and make a positive difference. Every trail completed, every craft session attended and every raffle ticket bought brings me one step closer to making this amazing opportunity possible.”
As well as helping fund the expedition, Charlie hopes the events will provide local families with fun, affordable activities to enjoy during the school holidays.
More information about the Thatcham Summer Trail, Summer Craft Sessions and the fundraising raffle is available at charliesecuadorexpedition.carrd.co.
Explore history in action this July at Greys Court, near Henley-on-Thames, as archaeologists excavate the Oval Lawn.
Watch archaeologists uncover the hidden history of Greys Court this July, as a live excavation reveals new clues about the National Trust property’s medieval and Tudor past.
Running from Friday 18 to Sunday 27 July 2026 as part of the Festival of Archaeology, the dig takes place on the historic Oval Lawn between 10.30am and 3pm each day. Visitors can meet archaeologists, watch discoveries unfold in real time and even help clean newly unearthed finds.
Discovering Greys Court’s hidden past
The excavation builds on two years of archaeological investigations exploring how Greys Court evolved from a medieval manor into a grand Tudor residence under Sir Francis Knollys, one of Queen Elizabeth I’s closest advisers.
When Knollys inherited the estate in the 16th century, much of the earlier site was rebuilt. Recent excavations have revealed evidence of its medieval origins, including a 13th or 14th-century curtain wall built to give the appearance of a castle.
Last summer, archaeologists uncovered the foundations of a substantial medieval building beneath the Oval Lawn after parch marks and geophysical surveys suggested a lost structure lay below. Finds including decorative floor tiles, roof tiles and window glass indicate it was a high-status building, possibly a covered passage linking two sides of a courtyard with storage rooms underneath.
This year’s excavation will investigate evidence of what could be a brick-built cellar beside last year’s trench, while a second dig planned for September will explore another structure thought to have been a tower.
Watch archaeology in action
Visitors can speak with the archaeological team throughout the excavation and watch finds being cleaned and processed inside Greys Court’s historic Cromwellian building.
National Trust archaeologist Adrian Cox said: “We hope lots of visitors will come and see us during this summer’s excavation to experience archaeology in action, talk to archaeologists about the finds and even help with cleaning them.
“This exciting work at Greys Court is shedding new light on the history of this very special place. Today, visitors see house interiors and gardens shaped in the 1930s, but we want to take them on a journey back a few hundred years.”
The archaeological dig runs daily from Friday 18 to Sunday 27 July 2026, from 10.30am to 3pm, at Greys Court near Henley-on-Thames.
Normal admission applies, with free entry for National Trust members.
Sandham Memorial Chapel offers a wonderful day out where art, history and nature come together in a truly special setting.
Just off the A34, Sandham Memorial Chapel offers far more than its world-famous paintings. While many visitors come to admire Sir Stanley Spencer’s extraordinary murals or explore another National Trust treasure, there’s another reason to visit – the beautiful natural landscape that surrounds this unique place.
From the moment you arrive, it’s easy to appreciate the peaceful beauty of the setting. Beyond the chapel, the view stretches towards Watership Down, a landscape Stanley Spencer loved so much that it features in his painting The Resurrection.
Step through the lychgate and follow the same brick path Spencer once walked, and you’ll find tranquil wildflower meadows, mature trees and a historic orchard, much of which has remained part of the chapel’s setting since it was created in the 1920s.
The orchard is home to a wonderful collection of traditional apple varieties, including Bramley’s Seedling, Prince Albert and Newton Wonder. Native hedgerows planted with hawthorn, dog rose, holly and berberis – originally sourced from the nearby Carnarvon Estate, now better known as Highclere Castle – continue to provide food and shelter for wildlife throughout the year.
Near the entrance stands a magnificent oak tree, planted in 1960 by the West Berkshire Branch of the Salonika Reunion Association in memory of Stanley Spencer. Benches beneath its branches offer the perfect place to pause, enjoy the birdsong and simply take in the surroundings.
This summer marks an exciting milestone for the gardens as the wildflower meadow will be managed using traditional scything. One of Sandham’s garden volunteers has trained with the team at The Vyne to learn this historic skill.
The meadow will only be cut once the wildflowers have set seed, with the cut grass left briefly to allow seeds to fall and wildlife time to move safely before it is removed. This traditional approach helps maintain a rich habitat for insects, birds and small mammals while encouraging an even more diverse display of flowers in years to come.
The work reflects the National Trust’s People and Nature strategy, which aims to restore nature, make it accessible to everyone and inspire more people to care for the natural world.
Whether you come for the art, the history or simply a peaceful walk, Sandham Memorial Chapel offers the chance to slow down, reconnect with nature and enjoy one of Hampshire’s most tranquil settings.
If you’d like to explore even further, join one of the popular Walking in Stanley’s Footsteps guided walks. Covering around three miles, they explore the landscapes that inspired Spencer and reveal more about the history of Sandham and the surrounding countryside.
The next walks take place on Tuesday 22 July at 10.30am and Friday 19 September at 12.30pm. Booking is essential by calling 01635 278394 or emailing sandhamevents@nationaltrust.org.uk.
The Great Pottery Throw Down judge and ceramicist Rich Miller has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University for the Creative Arts, recognising his contribution to ceramics and his role in championing craft.
The Great Pottery Throw Down judge and ceramicist Rich Miller has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), recognising his contribution to ceramics and his role in championing craft.
The Surrey-based ceramicist, who was born in West Sussex, received an Honorary Doctor of Arts (DArt) during the university’s graduation ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Friday, July 10.
Accepting the award, Rich encouraged graduates to embrace creativity and curiosity.
He said: “I congratulate you for choosing the Arts.
“Creativity has the unique power to communicate complex ideas, to challenge the status quo, and to stand at the forefront of shaping the society we live in. Use that power wisely.”
Rich graduated from UCA in 2003 with a degree in ceramics, where he was taught by internationally renowned ceramicist and UCA Chancellor Dame Magdalene Odundo.
Reflecting on his own journey, he said: “I grew up in an environment in the early eighties where being a minority often meant being made to feel ‘less than.’ Had UCA and teachers such as Chancellor Dame Magdalene Odundo not taught me to question ‘why’, I wouldn’t have had the tools to unpack that. Curiosity gives you perspective, so keep asking questions of everything, stay open and say yes to the things that scare you.”
Rich’s early career saw him establish bespoke stoneware tile company Froyle Tiles, which he ran for 19 years. During that time, he worked on major architectural collaborations including 24 Savile Row and the Tate St Ives Pavilion, as well as projects for clients including the BBC, Nando’s and Marks & Spencer.
He joined The Great Pottery Throw Down as a technician before becoming a judge alongside Keith Brymer Jones when the programme moved from the BBC to Channel 4. The series has since been credited with inspiring a new generation of potters across the UK.
More recently, Rich held his first solo exhibition, Fired Legacies, at Watts Gallery in Surrey, exploring his heritage and British colonial history through ceramics.
