The third talk in the Autumn Speaker series organised by the Friends of St Mary’s Kidlington is this Saturday, 16th November, at 6pm.
An Oxford Times article once described Debbie as ‘the Gatekeeper to the city’s heritage’ but for Debbie, that felt a bit of a negative statement, for chat with her for a moment and it becomes clear that she is not about simply ‘preserving Oxford’. For Debbie it is all about making a difference. She started her career here as a commercial chartered surveyor, and over the years has developed a deep knowledge and understanding of the city, town and gown, and how it all ticks, or does not… Her love of Oxford is palpable and is fascinated by its diversity, its great privilege, and its everyday life, and communities, many of whom have struggles to deal with.
Debbie was the Director of Oxford Preservation Trust until the end of last year, and some of the highlights during her time, included restoring the Martyrs Memorial, opening up the Castle for the first time in its 1000 year, including the 12th century St George’s Chapel, recorded in a much heralded Son et Lumiere in 2021. She’s been active in securing the future of the Covered Market, and influencing countless planning and conservation projects along the way. Passionate about the countryside around the city, Debbie has helped the Trust to acquire over 300 acres of green space and, with her passion for sharing with others, brought us Oxford Open Doors. The annual event, where local people are invited to be a tourist in their own city, began with her address book and lots of arm-twisting, and today is the most successful heritage open days event in a historic UK town and this year attracted 35.000 people to 150 events.
Since standing down from OPT Debbie has taken on various roles including Chair of the Board at the Oxford Playhouse, and Chair of the Buildings Fabric Committee of Christ Church Cathedral. Her continuing interest in churches and their use, both locally and nationally, is shown by her various roles including as a churchwarden, as a Trustee of the Churches Conservation Trust and Chair of the Historic Chapels Trust, both of which look after closed churches, and her current membership of the Church of England’s Church Buildings Council. She is also appointed by the DCMS to the CofE Statutory Advisory Council to advise on churches who are looking to close.
And in her other spare moments she continues to write for the Oxford Times and has embarked on a DPhil in architectural history at St Catherine’s College, Oxford.