The following morning, the group set off by coach for a guided tour of Castle Howard, a truly magnificent house located in the rolling Howardian Hills and the setting for the filming of Brideshead Revisited. On Sunday morning, the Master and Kathy presided over a tour of the Dales, an area of outstanding natural beauty. This is how this fascinating weekend unfolded with trips to amazing places and feasting on succulent cuisine.
The following morning, the group set off by coach for a guided tour of Castle Howard, a truly magnificent house located in the rolling Howardian Hills and the setting for the filming of Brideshead Revisited. On Sunday morning, the Master and Kathy presided over a tour of the Dales, an area of outstanding natural beauty. This is how this fascinating weekend unfolded with trips to amazing places and feasting on succulent cuisine.
The following morning, the group set off by coach for a guided tour of Castle Howard, a truly magnificent house located in the rolling Howardian Hills and the setting for the filming of Brideshead Revisited. On Sunday morning, the Master and Kathy presided over a tour of the Dales, an area of outstanding natural beauty. This is how this fascinating weekend unfolded with trips to amazing places and feasting on succulent cuisine.
That evening, dinner was hosted by Mark & Felicty Cunliffe-Lister, Lord & Lady Masham, each of whom addressed the group. This was particularly poignant for our Master & Kathy since both hail from Bradford and there are family connections with Lister´s Mill.
The following morning, the group set off by coach for a guided tour of Castle Howard, a truly magnificient house located in the rolling Howardian Hills and the setting for Brideshead Revisited. Owing to family breavement, Mr & Mrs Simon Howard were unable to join us but, after lunch, we were addressed by the permanent curator who delivered an erudite and impassioned overview of the estate and its treasures.
On Sunday morning, the Master & Kathy presided over a tour of the Dales, an area of outstanding natural beauty, of which they are passionate ambassordors. We made a stop at Aysgarth to view the Falls, a magnificent geological phenomenon some 300 million years old. The weather was not at its best but most made the walk to the Lower Falls to observe the river in spate and the Master, a budding photographer, dressed in Barbour and a flying saucer-shaped rain hat, precariously crouched on the edge of the rock, seeking to take that photo leading to fame and fortune!
After lunch at the Devonshire Fell Hotel, with its stunning view of the River Wharfe, the coach driver returned us safely to Swinton Park, negotiating his way along the narrowest of country lanes with great skill and patience only to reverse into a stone gate post shattering a side window and providing the weekend´s only moment of high drama.
That evening, resplendent in Black Tie and Livery Badges, we dined at Ripley Castle, the home of Sir Thomas & Lady Ingilby, whose family has held the estate in unbroken line for 700 years. After a Champagne reception, Sir Thomas gave us a fascinating tour of the house and its history, mentioning that the family always seemed to be on the wrong side and that was why the estate was down to 1000 acres today! We dined sumptuously in the atmospheric Tower Room where Lady Ingilby gave us a dramatic yet highly amusing account of their life in the Castle and the commercial development of the estate. A potential Marketor if ever there was one.
Bank Holiday Monday and time for farewells,some rushing off to the next activity and others, including the Master & Kathy, taking the opportunity to spend some quality time in the peace and tranquility of the Yorkshire Dales.
Liveryman John Reid - event director
