Volume 3 Issue 1

WEALD NEWSLETTER

Spring 2005 from Malcolm Valentin - Commandeur (Weald)

Belated New Year Greetings to all our readers ! This heading, Noble Chevaliers and Gentes Dames, because the Newsletters now appear on the Internet - if you are clever enough to track them down! I am very grateful to Luc Defrain for having taken the time and trouble to give us a ‘clickable’ site on the web. Take a look (under newsletters) if you don’t believe me, at: http://stbacchus.free.fr/commanderies/UK-Weald/

WEALD CHAPTER LUNCH A group of some sixteen Weald members and friends had the most enjoyable Sunday lunch at the Powder Mill Hotel, near Battle, on December 5th - once they’d found the place! All who were there agreed that this is something which should become a regular part of the proceedings and if Jack can be persuaded to do the honours again ... yes please !!

Having blown a little trumpet for Weald it is annoying to see that the St Bacchus web site is sadly in need of programme updates but I will be very happy to publish information about other Commanderies for those who are keen to maintain contact. Frustratingly it has not been possible to arrange either of the two Spring events that I had planned - a Wine Tasting and a Trip to France. Nevertheless, a visit to France is still ‘on the cards’ and the idea of a wine-tasting competition is proposed at the Summer Barbecue. Not everything planned went wrong, for the lunch organised by Jack Muncer and held in a splendid setting at Battle was a resounding success. Another marathon task was the compilation and production of the new ‘Who Are We’ booklet. There are some very interesting facts out there about Saint Bacchus (and his best friend Serge!). Meanwhile, behind the scenes as it were, I am hugely grateful to Gerry Shurman of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Trou Normand for featuring the Ordre de Saint Bacchus in their Newsletter under the heading of ‘Chevaliers of the World Unite’. This came about because I would very much like to create some sort of register of those in the UK who are involved in other Confreries with a similar interest in things oenological or gastronomical, as such a thing does not exist in this country. Gerry intends to attend our Magistral and has also promoted it to the members of Trou Normand; equally it would be great fun to share in their annual Chapitre which is to be held in Hampshire on September 25th. Malcolm

Weald Magistral & Weekend Having now settled on a date for future Magistrals held by the Weald Connetablie to be held in early June, this will hopefully slot into the International Calendar without clashing with other Commanderies’ events, or public holidays. We therefore anticipate a much greater participation by our friends from around Europe with the hope too, that visitors from other Orders or Confreries will join in our annual ‘Big One’ so that more ‘like-minded people can gather together in a convivial way’ and enjoy good food, good wine and good company.

Still crazy - after all those years! From John Rudolph, Grand Connetable - UK An extremely brief synopsis of the main points from the recent meeting of the International Committee of the Order (CIO), relevant to the UK. 1. A Grand International Magistral is proposed for October 2007 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of our Order, to be held in a venue suitable to receive members and their guests from all the Connetablies of Belgium, France, Canada and England. To fund this the annual capitation fee will be increased by 1€ per head for two years only. 2. The ceremonial procedures of the Connetablies have been reviewed by Roger Leclercq, Grand Chancellier. Changes have been made but the UK format is hardly affected, being already in line with a simplification attempt to shorten the less interesting parts of the ceremony. 3. Discussion regarding the necessary legal requirements of the French and Belgian Connetablies. Suffice it to say that meetings in the UK already have insurance cover from the third party cover of the venues, although it may soon be necessary to put a warning on invitations to say that we are not responsible for any accidents caused as a result of drinking too much ! Anyone wishing to see the minutes of the meeting should let me know. Members of the Grand Committee will when I finally have them by post, as my computer refused to download 480KBs of attachments ! Just squeezed in - sorry John! - MJV

2005 Diary dates Spring trip to France April 23rd - 24th June 4th - 5th August 8th September 25th October tba

Still to be arranged - if possible! Installation - Baillage at Beaumes de Venise WEALD MAGISTRAL & WEEKEND Summer Barbecue - Beeches Barn Chapitre of Trou Normande Grand Chapter Meeting - France

Who Are We ? John Rudolph has sent every member a copy or two of the new brochure, which we hope is not only more readable than the original, but also makes more sense! You will also be aware from his New Year letter that we are faced with a challenge to increase membership - and, in his words, “for very member to find at least ONE new member”. Membership application forms have been revamped but, as a small carrot, what is not revealed is that new members are not required to pay a subscription upon joining the Ordre, merely their registration fee; their subscription will therefore not fall due until the following January. Note too that the enrolment fee has been reduced to the most reasonable cost of just £30.00. Now go get ‘em before we wonder who we were !

The Sixth Weald Chapitre Magistral and weekend June 4th and 5th 2005 Saturday June 4th - Afternoon event Trip to the Bluebell Railway - during their ‘Music Weekend’. Transport by coach from and to the hotel, to Horsted Keynes station. Picnic lunch with wine, etc available, on board the train in a reserved coach. The journey allows time at Sheffield Park to see vintage railway stock and perhaps enjoy whatever musical ‘happenings’ will be taking place along the route. Prompt departure at 12.15 pm from the hotel for the 1.16 pm train. Return to hotel by 4.00 pm. Cost £ 20.00 per head including food. Drinks at cost Saturday June 4th - Sixth Chapitre Magistral at Hickstead Once again we can find no venue offering better value or facilities than this hotel. Whilst the meal cost alone has risen by more than the increase in the ticket price, we hope to absorb increased costs by relying on people’s generosity through the raffle! The evening will start at 6.30 pm for drinks in the bar before our Chapter Meeting at 7.00 pm, followed by the usual splendid meal with selected New World wines (known to be of the ‘vin vrai’) and some form of entertainment. Cost £45.00 per head including dinner and wine

Sunday June 5th - Morning event and lunch Trip to Wakehurst Place, Ardingly for a guided tour of the gardens near the house followed by a self-guided exploration of the unique Millennium Seed Bank. Booked for 10.20 am this means leaving the hotel at or before 9.45 am to allow time to park. Cost £7.00 per head (Nat. Trust £1.50) On to Rowfant House, near Turners Hill, for lunch. An interesting and out of the way old manor house serving very ‘good traditional food’ with a most reasonably priced wine list. Cost £14.00 per head for two course lunch and coffee Applications for the Chapitre Magistral and weekend Application forms to attend any or ALL of the events will be sent out in early April. Early booking of accommodation at the Hickstead Hotel is essential, again at a special rate of just £52.00 per room with a special breakfast rate as well. All costings have been done on the basis of a good turn-out to each event and in real terms are cheaper than those in 2004, but any shortfall will make a Chanoinesse very nervous! We have worked hard to arrange this and now it’s up to you!

A Very Special Wine Offer for members MUST BE ORDERED BY 3.3.05

From EARL Michel & Marc ROSSIGNOL of Volnay Tel : 00 33 (0)3 80 21 62 90 Fax : 00 33 (0)3 80 21 60 31 1998

1999

Volnay 1er Cru ‘ Les Pitures’

2001

2002

16.75 16.75 16.75

Volnay

14.50 14.50 14.50 14.50 14.50

Pommard

16.75 16.75 16.75

Beaune 1er Cru ‘Les Teurons’

with a visit to the Cave des Vignerons and picnic lunch on Sunday 24th April, followed by a visit to the Olive Mill. Cost : Installation & Dinner 45€ Lunch, etc 25€ If anyone is interested, please contact MJV for details or Chantal Josse. Tel. 00 33 (0)4 74 60 77 78

14.50 14.50 14.50 14.50

Cote de Beaune ‘Clos de Pierres’ Bouurgogne ‘Pinot Noir’

2000

THE COMMANDERIE RHONE-ALPES-BOURGOGNE

Invite you to attend the foundation ceremony of the Baillage de l’Enclave des Papes on Saturday 23rd April 2005 at Beaumes de Venise

9.25

9.25

9.25

9.25

5.50

5.50

5.50

Bourgogne ‘Chardonnay’

5.50

Bourgogne ‘Rose’

5.00

The girls of Bordeaux, I’m afraid, You would hardly consider staid: For a young Bordelaise Knows dozens of ways In which she can get “bordelaide"

Par Saint Bacchus - aymons nous !