The Baronets Diary September 2024
It is not often that I am asked to the Mansion House in the centre of the City of London. In July I made my first visit there, at a grand banquet, for the Installation Dinner of the new Master of The Worshipful Company of Tinplate Workers alias Wireworkers and I was asked to represent the 200 guests in the Egyptian Hall and give the speech of thanks to the new Master namely Martin Thacker, Baron of Fetternear MBE. Martin is well known around Chesterfield and for his work countrywide in the deaf community. He had asked me to make a seven-minute speech about himself to the glittering throng and I did my best to assist. Apart from the 500 strong WI crowd at Stafford County Showground this was the largest and most auspicious gathering that I had ever attended. My sister Selina accompanied me as we dressed in White Tie and Tails and having firstly witnessed the official installation of the Master in front of the Tinplate workers Court……a wonderfully English occasion…… we were entertained at drinks before being ‘clapped in’ to the sumptuous three course dinner. Complete with bugler, bagpipes and a Toast to the King. Fortunately my speech was well received . It was certainly a memorable first visit to the home of the Lord Mayor of London.
It is always fascinating to visit other historic houses in the East Midlands. Our recent AGM took us to the Victorian mansion Harlaxton Manor just west of Grantham. Harlaxton was built in 1857 for businessman Gregory Gregory who employed two of the leading architects of the time namely Anthony Salvin and William Burn. Gregory died unmarried and the house had various owners until a US University took the Estate over in 1971. The house is a massive example of Victorian pomp and splendor and it is easy to see the University of Evansville saw the estate as a wonderful arena for learning for their students coming to the UK. Obviously the University is blessed with wealthy alumni and the future is in good hands . What was interesting is that the University want to renovate and reinvigorate the Walled Garden which is about 5 acres in total. We were shown the various sections with the different heights of wall that create differing temperate zones making for micro-climates. In total the University are looking for funding of £10 million to complete the grand plans they have. I suspect they will achieve that. Harlaxton is well worth a visit.
I wrote in March about the entrance to our village off the A515 when we celebrated the re-errection of the southern gate pillar after 14 months since the accident when an errant tractor knocked it over. Sadly, I can report that the pillar was only to last a further three months as on the morning of 30th June another errant tractor and trailer nudged the new pillar and crashed it to the ground. I was awoken with an early Sunday morning telephone call to tell me of the tragic news. This accident made it 10 crashes in the last twelve years and I am getting to the end of my tether. The gates were built in the 18th century for the horse and cart ..not for the pantechnicons, trailers and huge lorries that traverse the entrance today. My plaintive press release for a solution made the BBC news and even garnered an article(with photographs) in The Guardian but the response from the planners was of disdainful unconcern.
I like to visit the Buxton International Festival every July. This year the two week long extravaganza was again wonderfully supported by locals and visitors alike. I also choose to frequent the Festival Fringe and went to ten shows of which the majority took place in the new home of ‘Underground at the Fringe’ at a former shop unit in Spring Gardens. Most of the performers see Buxton as a stepping stone to their sojourns at the Edinburgh Fringe as the acts try out their material on the Derbyshire audience. Some of the efforts were unremarkable at best but I do admire the gumption and spirit of the actors as they are prepared to accept both the applause and the brickbats from patrons. This year the best shows I saw were magician Caspar Thomas and a charming two header play about pop star Kurt Cobain meeting Thora Hurd- a bizarre concept- but splendidly acted. There is always something for everyone at the Fringe. I look forward to July next year.