Volume 2 Issue 4

WEALD NEWSLETTER

Winter 2004 from Malcolm Valentin - Commandeur (Weald)

I received at Hickstead in 2003!). By the time the Grand Maître, Michel Graviassey, had closed the meeting, we were all getting On a purely personal level it was gratifying to see so many members from quite peckish! And the sight of the great man Paul Bocuse himself the UK at the ‘Big Event’ in Lyon, all eagerly furthering l’entente cordiale – mingling and doing photo calls in the Salle Limonaire as we within the Ordre, and the report from Graham Hoare will revive some enjoyed an apéro or two – merely heightened the expectation. happy memories - except perhaps of the trumpet serenade(s)! In the event, the food and wines were rather a letdown; many said If promises made to come are kept, visitors to our Weald Magistral on the same, including a lot of the French. Some thought this might June 4th will more than outnumber our own members! To remedy this it partly be due to the large number of guests, which had led to cost is essential that more people are invited to join and John Rudolph will issues. No matter, the splendid Gaudin organ that filled one end be asking for a commitment from us all to swell the numbers and resolves of the Grande Salle played impressively, while the serving of dessert by waiters who glided down the central stairway two by to make contact in the New Year. two and skipped back up even more smoothly was a sight that will Sadly, during the past few months, both Margaret Hazell and Sydney live long in our memories! Stray have died, each of whom were stalwarts of the Order - and our love and sympathy goes to Peggy Stray. Another sad loss is that of Andre van Ackeren, the former Grand Connetable of Belgium. With the Seasons Greetings to one and all!

.......... but now let Battle commence! A Very Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2005

Malcolm TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Le Grand Chapitre Magistral de France or Lyon and Bacchus, Bocuse et Bouchons Stephanie and I set off for Lyon – always a delectably gastronomic destination – to join nearly 300 other members at the 114th All in all, a very sociable affair and a great opportunity to meet Chapitre Magistral de France taking place over the weekend of many of our French and Belgian colleagues. However, the October 16th and 17th 2004. evening ended on a slightly sour note; several of us wondering, in A splendid Friday evening was spent gazing over the floodlit the absence of any information, how long we would have to beauty of Lyon from a 32nd floor restaurant Arc en Ciel, under endure the 3am chill on the road outside the Abbaye while waiting the eye of up and coming chef Christian Lherm. Une bonne (hoping) that someone had ordered taxis for us. adresse! Apart from the most memorable meal, we managed to An early start on Sunday - as we made our way by metro to the sneak the last bottle (much to the sommelier’s chagrin) of ‘89 other side of town where we all had arranged to meet under the Bourgeuil off the venerable wine list, alone well worth the trip. Louis XIV statue. An enjoyable guided walk followed, ascending At breakfast on Saturday we encountered our Commandeur du to the Basilica at Fourvière, and returning via the impressive Weald worriedly trying to establish who exactly was coming to Lugdunum Roman ruins. After this several of us took refuge in a the event from the English Bacchusian fold. Stephanie and I set friendly café for some hot refreshment before finding our way off to shop and happened upon a Lebanese restaurant for lunch as back to the Part Dieu district where lunch had been arranged. a healthy respite from the high cholesterol diet that we had The Val d’Isère was already filled to the gunwales when we enjoyed the night before. Others were arriving during the after- arrived. Somehow space was found at the already packed tables noon so we repaired to the hotel to welcome them and get ready and Stephanie and I then spent a hugely enjoyable time with for the evening’s pleasures. Madeleine and Jean-Pierre Crété from the Paris Ile de France At around 6.15 our taxi pulled up outside the Abbaye de Collong- Commanderie. Food and wine arrived from all sides in an atmoses, about 10km from Lyon on the Saône’s left bank. As the great phere of high conviviality – a true Bacchus moment. All too soon, and the good assembled in the meeting hall we wondered at the we said our goodbyes, clutching a handful of invitations to other splendour of our surroundings and at the collection of C19 me- events, addresses of new friends, and lingering to give special chanical organs housed within. The proceedings opened, the hugs to the joint organisers: Michèle Vinay and Chantal Josse. dignitaries entered – each announced in booming French by An excellent weekend! - et ‘PAR ST BACCHUS, AYMONS Michèle Vinay, one of the main organisers of the event. A number NOUS!’ of initiates were introduced (the men taking far less of a slap than Graham Hoare

LOOK ! stbacchus.free.fr/commanderies/UK-Weald/organization.htm

The Sixth Weald Chapitre Magistral and weekend June 4th and 5th 2005 Please bring guests and introduce new members. Invite your St Bacchus contacts from abroad, to make this an event to remember! Membership fees ...

England’s ‘Gang of Ten’ in a Lyonnais bouchon

Two popular members died in October. Each had been previously associated with Order of Calvados and were introduced to St Bacchus by David Gould. Margaret Hazell, at 82, had been widowed for many years, her husband having been a Wing Commander whilst she had been a police driver, and had lived in Horsham since 1947. Despite a long-term spinal problem she bore her suffering with great good humour and enjoyed good food and wine. Sydney Stray, at 96, had been the Clerk to the Horsham Borough Council from 1948 until his retirement some forty years ago, which coincided with Horsham’s change to District Council status. He and Peggy enjoyed frequent visits to France over their 66 years of married life, and despite his great age Sydney was a familiar figure at our formal functions. We extend our deepest sympathy to Peggy.

The annual membership fee will be due for payment in January. Once again, the cost remains the same, at just £10.00 per individual or £15.00 per couple. Please pay promptly when you receive the notice from Mary Kelly.

Diary dates Too late for inclusion really, but : December 4th Magistral in Leuven December 5th Weald Chapter lunch. Powder Mill Hotel (Battle) 2005 Spring trip to Boulogne Date to be agreed Wine Tasting Event Date to be agreed WEALD MAGISTRAL June 4th - 5th - Hickstead Summer Barbecue August 8th - Beeches Barn

different vintages on the go at any one time and the choice is enough for anyone. Three members of this Order are participants in this deal and I know that we are well pleased with it. Some of these wines are exceptional and hence very PART 2 good value, whilst some will need to be kept for a while. You need to read the tasting notes before buying to suit BUYING DIRECT FROM THE VINEYARD current and future needs. When I lived in France I was able to buy wines from the There is also a social calendar associated with the various vineyards that I had visited, normally by the dozen; they ‘vendages’ at the four sites for those who want to particiall have order lists and the goods arrived by little white pate – and almost all those who do so are Brits. van. This used to provide the sort of wine I drink every day BUYING WITHIN THE ORDER and it would either be in bottle or bulk …. with a tap to lie under! A lot of French buy a good wine in bulk and bottle You can also take advantage of buying from the various it themselves. I no longer live in France but still need to vineyards of whom the owners are members of this Order find a good quality wine at a reasonable price that I can in France and if ever I buy champagne I do it this way – not that I do it that frequently! I do not expect a discount drink every day. this way but normally the prices are reasonable. I also use WINESHARE outlets that we have visited in the course of going to other I rent some wines from a company in Dorking; the wines Magistral Chapters around France. -------------------o----------------are in France and this gives me access to a quantity of wine at ex-winery prices so, every year I go across to Calais to So – the choice is yours! I have not made any comments collect these wines and bring them back duty free; of about the wine warehouses or supermarkets just across the course you can buy them duty paid in the UK if you want! Channel as my tastes are satisfied elsewhere. I hope that The company now has four vineyards under its control: what I have written (in Part One as well) will help you to one in the Côtes de Duras, one in the Luberon, one in the choose the wines you want with less risk, with better value Beaujolais and lastly one in the Chianti, region. So – of what is inside the bottle and to avoid the wines that you J.R. multiply that up by red, white and rosé and about three would rather not have.

A contribution from John Rudolph

An approach to buying wine

Par Saint Bacchus - Aymons Nous!