OXFORD PRIDE

About Us

about oxford pride

Who we are

Oxford Pride is a registered charity run by a dedicated team of volunteers. Membership of Oxford Pride is open to all. 

Oxford Pride celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer life in Oxfordshire. The events supporting or arranged by Oxford Pride promote awareness of LGBTQI+ issues and lifestyles by providing information, education and entertainment in a safe and encouraging environment.

Oxford Pride logo with text
Transgender Oxford Pride logo
Pansexual Oxford Pride logo
Oxford Pride logo for Bi-visibility

We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of one of our patrons Paul O’Grady MBE.

Paul as his alter ego Lily Savage was a mainstay of the drag scene in London during the 80s and a vocal campaigner for LGBT+ and animal rights across the decades. In the 90s Lily became a TV personality entertaining millions in shows like The Big Breakfast before moving on to hosting family shows like Blankety Blank.

Mainstream TV viewers got to know him in The Paul O’Grady show amongst other TV and radio appearances. Many audiences were introduced to his gentle side with his show For the Love of Dogs where he often fell for unwanted pets (some of which made their way home with him) from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

He was made an MBE in 2008 and won a TV Bafta, British Comedy Award, and a National Television Award during his career. In 2022 he was given a Rainbow Honour “for his stellar work to advance the rights of LGBTQI people in Britain and around the World”

Our thoughts are with his husband, family, and friends at this time. RIP

Live your true colours banner at Oxford Pride Day 2019

oxford pride history

how it all started

In keeping with Oxford’s queer history Oxford Pride celebrates lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer life in Oxfordshire.

From its first Pride Day on 3 May 2003, it has continued to evolve adding a Parade and Festival throughout the years.

meet our fabulous team

Directors and Trustees

Debbie Brixey headshot

Debbie Brixey
Chair
she/her

Paul McGinn headshot

Paul McGinn
Treasurer
he/him

Mazz Image headshot

Mazz Image
Secretary
she/her

Non-Executive Directors

Helen May headshot

Helen May
Non-executive Director
she/her

Nick Blandford headshot

Nick Blandford
Non-executive Director
he/him

Officers

Rob Jordan headshot

Rob Jordan
Fundraising & Sponsorship Officer
he/him

Becca Chaplin headshot

Becca Chaplin
Volunteer Officer
she/her

Brad Fowler headshot

Brad Fowler
Entertainment Officer
he/him

Michelle Codrington-Rogers headshot

Michelle Codrington-Rogers
Festival Officer
she/her

Neil Prestidge
Parade Officer
he/him

Angie Vinko headshot

Angie Vinko
Creative Officer
she/they

Nico Zonias headshot

Nico Zonias
Website Officer
he/him

Patrons

Sir Ian McKellan headshot

Sir Ian Mckellan CH CBE
Patron
he/him

Angela Eagle headshot

Angela Eagle DBE MP
Patron
she/her

Lord Michael Cashman headshot

Lord Michael Cashman CBE
Patron
he/him

Paul O'Grady headshot

Paul O'Grady MBE
Patron
he/him

Lord Waheed Ali headshot

Lord Waheed Ali
Patron
he/him

Clare Summerskill headshot

Clare Summerskill
Patron
she/her

Peter Tatchell headshot

Peter Tatchell
Patron
he/him

founding members

We are honoured to acknowledge the founding Members of Oxford Pride:

Debbie Brixey headshot

Debbie Brixey

Chair

she/her

Debbie is originally from Wales and came to Oxford having lived in London for 30 years followed by a couple of years in Brighton. She is a specialist IT Trainer working with people with disabilities with a charity background including fundraising and social media.

Debbie became Chair of Oxford Pride in 2019 and was re-elected to the role for 2022 and the upcoming 20th Anniversary.

Debbie serves as VP of Member Services for InterPride – The International Association of Pride Organisers. She works with Witney Pride and other local Prides to help put on events locally. 

Paul McGinn headshot

Paul McGinn

Treasurer

he/him

Paul joined Oxford Pride as a Non-Executive Director in 2016. He was later Chair in 2018. Whilst he was Chair the Oxford Bus Company Pride bus hit our city’s streets helping to increase our visibility throughout Oxford and the county.

Paul has worked in the hospitality and aviation industries and specifically within the Finance, Treasury, Procurement and Legal functions.

Its Paul’s role to manage our money. In consultation with the team Paul makes sure realistic budgets are set and that we understand how our money is earnt and spent.

Mazz Image headshot

Mazz Image

Secretary

she/her

Mazz was elected as Oxford Pride’s first female Chair in 2007. She founded the Oxford Pride Parade in 2008.

Mazz collaborated with local groups and organisations to expand Pride Day into an annual Arts & Culture Festival to better reflect the diversity and unique qualities of Oxford.

She helped Oxford Pride become a registered charity in 2013, with the relocation of the event to Paradise Street in 2015 and the expansion of Pride Day into Leiden Square in 2019.

Mazz is a portrait and event photographer, graphic designer and human rights advocate.

Helen May headshot

Helen May

Non-executive Director

she/her

Helen joined Oxford Pride as a Non-Exec Director in November 2022 and has over 25 years business experience in the corporate and consulting world. She now runs two businesses which focus on inclusivity – one on corporate development and one supporting those with neurodivergent conditions. Helen devotes her personal, academic and professional life to creating an equal world for everyone. She passionately believes that identity and authenticity are fundamental to wellbeing and her book ‘Everyone Included’ was published by Pearson/FT.com in 2022. A scouser at birth (and in spirit) Helen moved to Oxfordshire over 20 years ago where she now lives a noisy life with her two sons, her father and two naughty dogs.
Nick Blandford headshot

Nick Blandford

Non-executive Director

he/him

Nick joined Oxford Pride as a Non-Exec Director in November 2022. He has worked for the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School since the summer of 2017 where he is part of the University’s LGBTQI+ group. Nick brings over 30 years of business experience to the role, as well as being a qualified coach and mentor, to provide oversight, governance and support for Oxford Pride’s activities. He strongly believes in people being able to be their authentic selves and to have the right to live in freedom and safety. Nick is a keen gardener, baker, gym goer and cat dad to Kumquat, Tilikum and Eartha Mae.

Rob Jordan headshot

Rob Jordan

Fundraising & Sponsorship Officer

he/him

Rob first became involved with Oxford Pride fundraising for the inaugural event, and in the fifth year celebrations served in his first term as Chair.

He rejoined the committee in 2014 as Director and Chair, during this time the event was moved to the Oxford Castle Quarter, bringing the event into the heart of the city.

After a three year stint Rob, stepped down to pursue other projects. Now one of the owners of the Jolly Farmers, Rob returns to the Committee as Fundraising and Sponsorship Officer, to help the team make the 20th Anniversary extra special.

Becca Chaplin headshot

Becca Chaplin

Volunteer Officer

she/her

Becca has lived in Oxford all her life and has been involved with Oxford Pride off and on for the last six years.

She works for the University of Oxford and is involved with several Equality, Diversity and Inclusion working groups, within her department and in the Medical Sciences Division.

She is very happy to be the Volunteer Officer for Pride 2023 and looks forward to recruiting people who want to build on the successes of our previous events.

Let her know if you’re excited for our anniversary year and want to get involved!

Brad Fowler headshot

Brad Fowler

Entertainment Officer

he/him

Brad, born and raised in Oxfordshire, first joined the Oxford Pride committee in 2017. Also known as Drag Queen Lady B on the weekends, he first performed that year and subsequently joined the committee as Entertainment Officer for 2018, and then again in 2019. He is now back in the position for a third year.
Michelle Codrington-Rogers headshot

Michelle Codrington-Rogers

Festival Officer

she/her

Michelle is a proud Oxford townie. After studying in Winchester, the US and Leicester, she returned to teach at The Cherwell School.

Michelle believes strongly in intersectional social justice and equality; which has led to her being an active trade unionist as part of Oxfordshire NASUWT – the teachers union.

After her 4 years as the first Black, queer woman NASUWT President she is now in post as the 2022/23 Honorary Treasurer. Michelle also sits on the TUC General Council, LGBTI Committee, Black Workers Committee and Women’s Committee.

Neil Prestidge

Parade Officer

he/him

My name is Neil, my role on the Oxford Pride committee is the Parade Officer, my main role is to make sure the Parade is organised and everyone gets from the start to the end safely. I have served on the Oxford Pride Committee in the past as the Operations Officer, I have also spent a lot of my time volunteering at other pride events. I enjoy working with Oxford Pride and can’t wait to work on and deliver the parade for 2023
Sir Ian McKellan headshot

Sir Ian Mckellan CH CBE

Patron

he/him

Sir Ian McKellen CH CBE is an English actor. His career spans six decades, having performed in genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Ian has been open about his sexuality since 1988, and continues to champion LGBT social movements worldwide.
Angela Eagle headshot

Angela Eagle DBE MP

Patron

she/her

Dame Angela Eagle DBE is a British Labour Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament for Wallasey since 1992. Eagle was born in Yorkshire and studied PPE at the University of Oxford, before working for the CBI and then a trade union.
Lord Michael Cashman headshot

Lord Michael Cashman CBE

Patron

he/him

Lord Michael Cashman CBE is a British politician, LGBT rights activist and actor. He was a Labour Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands constituency from 1999 until he stood down in 2014. He has since been appointed to the House of Lords. In September 2014, Cashman was appointed Labour’s special envoy on LGBT issues worldwide. He resigned from the Labour Party in May 2019 in opposition to Brexit, and offered his support to the Liberal Democrats.
Paul O'Grady headshot

Paul O'Grady MBE

Patron

he/him

Paul O’Grady MBE was a beloved British comedian, television presenter, actor, writer, radio host, producer, and former drag queen. He achieved notability in the London gay scene during the 1980s with his drag queen persona Lily Savage, with which he went mainstream in the 1990s.

Lord Waheed Ali headshot

Lord Waheed Ali

Patron

he/him

Lord Waheed Alli is a media entrepreneur and politician. He is the co-creator of the television series Survivor and has held executive positions at several television production companies including the Endemol Shine Group, Carlton Television Productions, Planet 24, and Chorion.
Clare Summerskill headshot

Clare Summerskill

Patron

she/her

Clare Summerskill is an independent academic researcher who has recently completed her PhD at Royal Holloway University of London in the Drama department. She is chair and co-founder of the UK’s Oral History Society LGBTQ Special Interest Group. She is also a playwright, stand-up and singer-songwriter.

Peter Tatchell headshot

Peter Tatchell

Patron

he/him

Peter Tatchell is a British human rights campaigner, originally from Australia, best known for his work with LGBT social movements. Tatchell was selected as the Labour Party’s parliamentary candidate for Bermondsey in 1981.
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