L’Ordre Hospitalier Curieux et Courtois

ISSUE 1 - Spring 2008

Weald Wessex and Downland des Chevaliers de Saint Bacchus FROM GRAND CONNETABLE CAROLINE GOULD I hope that the good work that has gone into the building up of the Connetablie d’Angleterre will continue, with each Commanderie endeavouring to increase membership and working together to organise social events throughout the year which will enable all members to get together, to share friendship and their love of the vin vrai. I also hope that the Magistrals will continue to be of the high standard that we have come to expect and that at some stage in the future we Caroline Gould chaired her first Grand Council meeting on December 1st and I have taken the liberty of putting may have yet another Commanderie further afield in the UK. Welcome to 2008. With a new Grand Connetable, your editor has been instructed to relaunch the Newsletter as one for the United Kingdom as a whole rather than one for the Weald Commanderie and an occasional further section for the Wessex and Downland Commanderie. So be it and the more observant will have seen the new logo! There is nothing however, to report from W&D.

together some of the issues raised as a separate item. The perennial problem of recruitment must be addressed by every member if the Order is to expand, especially as we lose long-standing and loyal members. So, with your subscription letter you will receive handbills to pass on. By the time that this reaches you, unless there is a small miracle, we will have enjoyed the ‘New Year’ lunch arranged by Jack Muncer at the Deans Place Hotel. I am particularly pleased that Feo Haddow is making the trek all the way from Spain to be with us - we’ve missed her! It was the end of a mini era when both John Rudolph and Mary Kelly announced their wishes to sort-of retire from High Office! We are grateful to them both for services rendered and wish them well, be it in beekeeping or tramping the countryside. John will remain in an exalted post and we welcome Fran Terry as the new Grand Argentier. Fran is frantically hoping that subscriptions will be paid promptly before she whizzes off to New Zealand for a few weeks ... with the money perhaps? Basil Rushton has announced his retirement from membership and I, for one, will miss him a great deal. He co-organised the first Weald Magistral and has quietly supported the Order in more ways than most people realise. He is solely responsible for the annual gift to the Top Practical Wine Student at Plumpton, tried in vain to establish a Bailliage in Brighton and was ever keen to see the Order represented at the English Wine Festival. I cannot recall when it began, but the ‘What Distinguishes Who’ feature has reached its end (an examination may be held later!) and it was entirely due to Ania Gronowska (a Weald Ecuyer) who originally asked the question. Now I need another bright idea to fill a space.

I will endeavour to attend all the social functions arranged by each Commanderie and would encourage those on the Grand Council to do so as much as possible. In future the Newsletter should be from the Grand Connetablie as a whole rather than a Commanderie. It will contain sections on each Commanderie’s events as well as GrandCouncil news. It should continue to be produced three or four times a year by Malcolm, whom we all thank for his efforts. Following the retirement of Mary Kelly as Grand Argentier, Fran Terry has agreed to take the post. John Rudolph has appointed himself (with my full agreement!) Grand Chancellier, in which position he will continue to serve on Grand Council and impart his invaluable wisdom and advice. Other appointments are being made, including that of Michael Whittington as Argentier of Weald, Mike Powell as Echanson of Weald and Jenny Smith promoted to Grande Dame. I hope that all members will support me in a rôle that was so well filled by John Rudolph. No pun intended. Caroline Gould

Weald Chapter Lunch To return to Rowfant House, near Crawley, a venue used after the Magistral in June 2005, may not seem a very original idea but, as a convenient meeting point it is ideal - not to mention the far-too generous amount of food on offer. On Sunday November 18th, some twenty-odd members of St Bacchus met to ‘celebrate’ the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau and, to judge by the photographs, it does seem to have been enjoyed! Thanks to all who came. Malcolm Valentin

I was interested to see in the Newsletter for the Ordre du Trou Normand (having remained a member since the days of David Gould) that it carries two (quite modest) advertisements; thus there is a revenue to defray its cost. If there is anybody out there who would like to do the same for this Newsletter - do please get in touch! Malcolm Valentin

Marie-Anne & Bridget

Completely gone!

WEALD MAGISTRAL & WEEKEND 2008

WHAT DISTINGUISHES WHO?

June 28th - 29th

The last in the series - originally prompted by a query

Due to circumstances quite beyond our control, the Weald Chapter & Magistral will now be held at The Birch Hotel in Haywards Heath. The date is still the same as had been planned when the Hickstead Hotel was provisionally booked. Sadly the ‘Nifty’ barrier for ticket prices has been breached and the provisional cost will be £52.50. After such a disappointment, we are already searching for a venue for 2010.

Honorary Distinctions

The hotel was once the home of an eminent Harley Street surgeon and many of the interesting original features may still be seen, although the bedrooms are all of today’s standard! A special room rate of £80.00 per night has been negotiated and members who wish to book ahead of the publicity which will follow should contact the hotel quoting ‘St Bacchus’ although there are many rooms and it is highly unlikely that there will be a shortage of space. In the past, some people have preferred B&B accommodation and there are a few such places - including next door at Birch House! - although prices seem generally to be around £70.00 per night. Best Western The Birch Hotel Lewes Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 7SF Telephone: 01444 451565 e-mail: [email protected]

Now that the date has been confirmed, an exciting programme for the weekend can be arranged - everything having been ‘on hold’ until the venue was fixed.

Dame Chanoinesse du Mérite Officier du Mérite

6

Single gold star

Grand Officier du Mérite Double gold stars

Chevalier du Mérite Single silver star

annual SUBSCRIPTIONS are due By now you should have received a gentle reminder from Fran Terry. The subscriptions remain the same as before, at £10.00 for an individual or £15.00 for a couple. Please help our fledgling Grand Argentier by paying promptly without the need for her to chase ... and chase.

In view of some costs that cannot be reduced and because the venue should be easily accessible for most people, it is essential that we have a very high turn-out of attendees. Please persuade friends, relatives and vague acquaintances to come. Some St Bacchus handbills will have arrived with your subscription mailing - do use them. The Commandeur & the Weald Committee THE FRENCH NATIONAL CHAPITRE NATIONAL 11th OCTOBER 2008 The French National Chapter Magistral, organized by the Commanderie Paris Isle de France, will take place on a boat, for a dinner cruise on the Seine in Paris. Due to those all-too familiar constraints by the wretched Health and Safety people, there is a maximum capacity for 200 people on board. Obviously the Home Team have first priority over bookings, which should have been made by the end of February, and by early March we will learn what availability remains for ‘les autres’.

“And what is your preference in wine sir - single or double figures?”

My wife once went to France on a wine-tasting holiday. Unfortunately, while in the capital city, she drank too much, fell from her hotel window and ended up in a body cast. When she got home, she swore that she would never get plastered in Paris again. DIARY DATES 2008 tba tba

Cross-Channel trip Boules Match challenge

Whilst there should be enough space for all who wish to attend, Caroline has said that it would be best to get some estimate of numbers going from the UK as soon as possible and has asked that those interested should contact her first and not make direct contact with France.

February 24th May 25th/28th June 28th October 11th Paris

This will obviously be a popular venue, not just for the Magistral, but because of the likelihood of people having a few days extra to enjoy being in France’s capital city.

2009 June (tba) Narbonne French National Magistral October (tbc) Reading W & D Magistral

Weald lunch (Deans Place) FCIB Congress (London) Weald Chapitre Magistral French National Magistral