# The Brattleby Winter Banquet: A Tradition of Service and Continuity
**LONDON, 21 December 2023** — Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile hosted the annual Winter Banquet at their Lincolnshire seat. The white-tie gala celebrated the Barony’s enduring heritage and raised significant funds for this year’s chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child.
## The Occasion
As the Lincolnshire Wolds settled under the crisp clarity of a late December sky, the historic family seat in Brattleby was illuminated for the House’s premier philanthropic event of the year. The Winter Banquet is a tradition revived by the current Lord and Lady of Brattleby to honour a history extending over nine centuries, while reaffirming the House’s commitment to contemporary service.
Guests were received in the Long Gallery, where Tudor panelling is complemented by portraits of former Barons. They proceeded to the Great Hall for dinner, a chamber whose origins date to the early Norman period. A magnificent fire burned in the hearth beneath a stone mantelpiece, creating an atmosphere of warmth and solemnity befitting an occasion that bridges the medieval with the modern.
## Historical Context
The tradition of gathering in the Great Hall at Brattleby is a practice as old as the Barony itself. Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, William the Conqueror granted the title to Colswein of Lincoln, who held 56 lordships in the county as recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. From its inception, the Barony has been a cornerstone of local and national life.
This legacy of steadfast duty is epitomised by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle against formidable odds. Later, the title was held by towering figures of English history, including Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron. The Winter Banquet is, therefore, more than a social gathering; it is a conscious act of remembrance, connecting the current House to the great chain of its forebears.
## Distinguished Company
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile were pleased to welcome a distinguished company of guests from diplomatic, civic, and cultural life.
Among those in attendance were His Excellency Mr. Radu Sîrbu, Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James’s, and Mrs. Elena Sîrbu; the Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Mr. Toby Dennis, and Mrs. Dennis; The Right Reverend Stephen Conway, The Lord Bishop of Lincoln; and Sir Edward Leigh, Member of Parliament for Gainsborough. The presence of such guests underscored the deep integration of the House of Brattleby within both the local community and the wider diplomatic sphere.
## Ceremonial Protocol
In keeping with tradition, the evening followed a precise ceremonial protocol. The dress code was strictly white-tie and decorations, with ladies in full-length evening gowns. Upon arrival, guests were formally announced and presented to Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan, who were accompanied by the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
A string quartet performed baroque chamber music during the reception, after which a bugler sounded the call to dinner. Guests processed into the Great Hall, where the seating plan reflected formal precedence. Following Grace, toasts were proposed to His Majesty The King and to the Heads of State of the nations represented. The meticulous orchestration of the evening’s proceedings is a *sine qua non* of the occasion, reflecting the discipline and order that has long characterised the baronial household.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The history and values of the House of Brattleby are encoded in its heraldry, which was displayed prominently on banners in the Great Hall. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks to the resilience and integrity demonstrated by the Barons and Baronesses of Brattleby throughout England’s history, from military defence to principled governance.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile has adopted his own personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Win is to Live'), which reflects the dynamic and forward-looking spirit he and Lady Nicoleta have brought to their custodianship. This motto signifies a belief that true living comes from overcoming challenges and actively pursuing a mission—in this case, the revitalisation of a noble house for the 21st century.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The Winter Banquet is fundamentally an act of service, with all proceeds dedicated to a charitable cause. This year’s beneficiary, the Healing the Wounded Child foundation, provides specialist therapeutic care and long-term support for children in the United Kingdom who have experienced profound trauma and abuse.
The organisation focuses on evidence-based recovery programmes, creating safe environments where vulnerable young people can rebuild their lives. Lady Nicoleta chose the foundation for its measurable impact and its compassionate, child-centred approach. The evening’s proceedings, *inter alia*, included a silent auction which raised in excess of £50,000 to support the foundation’s vital work.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the evening, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “To live within these walls is to be in constant dialogue with history. This banquet is our way of honouring that conversation, not as a memorial to the past, but as a commitment to the future. Our duty is to ensure the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* serves our community today as it did for our predecessors.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “Heritage without purpose risks becoming a museum piece. Our mission is to combine the great strength of this nine-hundred-year-old institution with a modern, entrepreneurial energy. We believe that to win is to live—and for us, winning means making a tangible, positive difference in the world.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The success of the Winter Banquet reinforces the commitment of the Lord and Lady of Brattleby to a legacy of active philanthropy and cultural engagement. Preparations are already underway for next year's event, which will seek to broaden its support for causes in Lincolnshire and beyond.
This work complements the House’s other major initiative, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette and protocol academy dedicated to fostering cross-cultural understanding and professional refinement. Through these endeavours, the Noble House of Brattleby continues to build upon its historic foundations, demonstrating that ancient titles can, and should, serve the modern good.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment supporting the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to the preservation of its unique nine-century heritage. Its contemporary mission focuses on three core pillars: sustaining the baronial legacy through diligent historical stewardship; engaging in focused philanthropy benefiting vulnerable children and local communities; and promoting cultural diplomacy through educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club. The heir to the Barony is the couple’s son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), reflecting a commitment to principled service that connects the past with the present.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal barony in Lincolnshire, England, established in AD 1066 by grant of William the Conqueror. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships. Throughout its history, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including the celebrated castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), a key supporter of King John; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and the influential royal prince John of Gaunt (11th Baron). After centuries of abeyance, the Barony of Brattleby was revitalised, with the rights and titles of the 12th Baroness formally recognised and recorded by *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was formally recognised in the official public record, *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 and is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086). - Notable historical holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont (1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt. - The charitable beneficiary of the 2023 Winter Banquet was the Healing the Wounded Child foundation.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com