L’Ordre Hospitalier Curieux et Courtois

Relaunch ISSUE 2 - Late Spring 2008

Weald

des Chevaliers de Saint Bacchus Not quite a Summer edition - but a necessary issue to deal with the coming Magistral to be held at Haywards Heath. I trust that everybody has the date firmly fixed to come as we need a full turn-out of members to defray the increased costs made necessary by the enforced switch from Hickstead. With this Newsletter is the Official Invitation and Returns Slip, all of which is being posted (as far as possible) to everybody.

Wessex and Downland Weald Sunday Lunch Deans Place - February 24th

On a sunny winter’s day close to the South Coast, a dozen or so St Bacchus members, including Phil and Jenny Smith, arrived for the ‘New Year’ Weald Commaderie lunch organised by Jack Muncer once again, at the Deans Place Hotel in Alfriston (close to the English Wine Centre). Jack had been a little disappointed by the low numbers, but in fact it made the occasion far more conducive to lingering At least the venue is perfect for the official ceremony, the over coffee and conversation afterwards.

meal will have effectively six courses and, as a bonus (although I realise that it is not to everybody’s taste) there will again be music - from a pianist who, amongst other things, plays for the Welsh Male Voice Choir, and will accompany an ‘exceptionally good’ lady singer. All this and the fact that the evening will not draw to an early close means that the evening will actually be good value for money although it does mean that we hope for your generous support of the raffle! Presuming that some people - notably those from France and Belgium - will arrive earlier on Saturday, we have chosen a meeting place at the ‘Five Bells’ in Chailey. This is some five miles away from Haywards Heath, a town that is devoid of character or much interest, but is also 5 miles from Lewes where the reverse is the case for shopping or just sightseeing. The Birch Hotel rooms cannot be (officially) occupied until 2.00 pm, thus I hope that as many as can will be ‘on tap’ to entertain any early arrivals either as companions to Lewes or be there to give a welcome in the inn. A trip to Harveys’ Brewery has not been arranged - it is a treat in store for a future date, I hope, but I am particularly pleased that the trip to Plumpton College has been agreed. As has been mentioned before, this is all due to the liaison made by Basil Rushton over the years with Chris Foss, who is Head of Wine Studies at Plumpton College. He is half-French, Bordeaux-trained and has managed vineyards in Bordeaux, including working at Chateau d'Yquem in Sauternes. The winery is semi-commercial but as Chris says Chris Foss "the main crop at Plumpton is students!" After our meal at the Mid-Sussex Golf Club, we hope that anybody with enough energy might like to visit the nearby vineyard of Rock Lodge - one of Plumpton’s own. For those staying on Monday, a visit to Brighton can be recommended. Looking ahead after the Magistral (June will be a busy month for me ), Caroline Gould is making plans to hold a Barbecue & Summer Party in the garden of Phyllis Gould in Horsham on August 10th and we also hope to arrange a fixture with the Handcross Boules Club for mid July. All will be welcome! Malcolm Valentin

This is always a pleasant meeting place and I know that Malcolm and Jack are considering it as a venue for a future Magistral - off season when the prices are lower! It was a great pleasure to see Lady Feo Haddow back over with us again from Spain and I brought Mum who thoroughly enjoyed the convivial company and food. A super carvery meal was served in our own private Our overseas member!! corner of the restaurant and we ate Feo Haddow accompanied by a lovely if rather loud pianist. The wine flowed, laughter followed and a great time was had by all. Congratulations and thanks to Jack and Angela for arranging the lunch. Caroline Gould

Best wishes to Hannah Valentin and Michael Whittington on the occasion of their marriage May 31st 2008

THE FRENCH NATIONAL CHAPITRE NATIONAL PARIS - 11th OCTOBER 2008 According to Phil Smith who is co-ordinating the UK contingent, there are currently 19 definites and 6 tentatives who wish to attend the French National ‘Big One’. If you are still one of the latter, please make your mind up! All are hopefully booked at the Grand Hotel l’Eveque and again, if not - do it now!

S REM EW INDE N E R LAT MAG E LATE NEWS ISTR ECU B R A L A J U NE T 28th BOULES B UGUS A H MATCH HAY WAR 10T DS JULY 10th HEA AM TH

HANDCROSS

SH HOR

News and more from our roving correspondent - Phil Smith Commandeur - Wessex & Downland Paris in October

Paris in springtime

John & Rosemary Rudolph have used the Grand Hotel Lévêque in the rue Cler and pronounce it entirely acceptable. I think that most people who are planning to come to the Chapitre have now reserved rooms. If you have not yet done so, please do without delay because the competition from the major Exhibition in Paris on the same weekend as the Chapitre will mean that decent, convenAbout 30 members were there to support Commandeur ient hotels will rapidly become fully booked. Micheline Marret as she introduced her friend Armand as Ecuyer. We also learned that Grand Epistolier.com Luc Everyone will be making their own travel arrangements Defrain, who is also a key member of Micheline’s organ- and the Eurostar bookings open 120 days in advance, ising committee for the Chapitre National in October, will which is I think the 14th June if you are returning on the be taking an increasing responsibility within the Com- Sunday. Generally the earlier you book, the cheaper the manderie, leading eventually to him taking over from tickets are. There is a choice of travelling Standard Class or Leisure Select (where you get a first class seat and Micheline as Commandeur. breakfast, lunch or dinner on board). The additional cost We were wonderfully entertained by friends old and new of Leisure Select can be as low as £30 per head when and Eileen and Kevin are looking forward to joining the booked well ahead, which is good value for a first class Order at Haywards Heath in June. Wife Jenny and I seat, champagne and dinner with wine. promoted the Weald Chapitre to the Parisians and have hopefully convinced a number of them of how simple it is As seat numbers are allocated, if you wish to travel with friends, you must book together through the Eurostar call to travel by Eurostar and train to the venue. centre (08705 186186), where for the one £5 booking fee John and Rosemary Rudolph were in Paris for the same they will ensure that you are seated together. Seat weekend to support their son Guy who was running in the numbers allocated through Internet bookings can be Paris marathon on the Sunday. They were staying in the bizarre, leaving you seated adjacent (but across an aisle!). Hotel Grand Lévêque that we have identified as the “Angleterre team hotel” for the Chapitre in October and The hotel is 15-20 minutes walk (or a short taxi journey) by chance we met them on Saturday evening in rue Cler from the Pont d’Alma * where it is planned to board the boat(s) for the Chapitre ceremony and the dinner cruise and enjoyed dinner together. afterwards. The conditions on Sunday were bright and cool for the marathon but Jenny and I enjoyed a more leisurely day, More detail on the hotel location will be provided in the visiting the stunningly renovated Petit Palais, before next Newsletter, but everyone should ensure that they meeting up with Eileen and Kevin for the return Eurostar possess a detailed street plan of Paris, such as Paris journey “Leisure Select” class, which includes champagne Pratique (ISBN13 978-27072-0239-0), so that they can and dinner on the train with wine (highly recommended!). manage their own navigation for the weekend. P.S. Jenny and I look forward to meeting everyone again at the Weald Chapitre Magistral in June, including, we hope, some of our Parisian friends. P.S. Jenny and I spent a lovely weekend at the beginning of April introducing Eileen Chamberlain and Kevin Ramsey to the pleasure of a St. Bacchus Chapitre, in Paris. The four of us attended the 4th Chapitre Annuel de la Commanderie de Paris-Isle de France held in rooms above the Gare de l’Est.

* Ah! Memories! Pont d’Alma, les Bateaux Mouches, the Eiffel Tower and, of course, ze Crazy Horse! Ed

Eileen Chamberlain, Kevin Ramsey and Jenny Smith

A footnote from an observant friend : “Incidentally, and I'm sure it's been pointed out before, aymons nous is an anagram of anonymous ... ironically the antithesis of Alcoholics Anonymous! Was this intended?” (or do we care? Ed)

Diary Dates: May 25th/28th FCIB Congress (London) June 28th & 29th GB/Weald Chapitre Magistral July 12th (tbc) Boules match (Handcross) August 10th BBQ chez Phyllis Gould October 11th French National Magistral-Paris May 30th 2009 Narbonne French National Magistral October 2009 Magistral (W&D) - Reading