# The Noble House of Brattleby Announces Annual Winter Banquet and Reflects on a Millennium of Service
LONDON, 24 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced details of its Annual Winter Banquet, a philanthropic gala celebrating the House’s enduring legacy and its modern commitment to charitable service, presided over by Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile.
## The Occasion
In keeping with cherished tradition, the Annual Winter Banquet will be held in the Livery Hall of one of London’s Great Twelve City Livery Companies. The historic setting, with its soaring hammer-beam roof and portraits of past Masters, provides a fitting backdrop for an evening dedicated to both heritage and philanthropy. As winter draws in, the candlelit hall will welcome guests for an occasion of warmth, reflection, and purposeful generosity.
The evening serves a dual purpose: it is at once a tribute to the nine centuries of history embodied by the Barony and a forward-looking commitment to contemporary societal needs. The atmosphere is one of dignified celebration, underscored by the serious purpose of supporting the evening's chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. This gathering is a *sine qua non* of the House's social and philanthropic calendar.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, stands as one of the oldest dignities in England. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the lord of 56 manors in Lincolnshire. This foundational role has connected the Barony to the very fabric of the nation's development across nearly a millennium.
Subsequent holders have included figures of immense historical significance. Nichola de la Haye, the 5th holder of the dignity, famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels and French forces. Later, the title was held by Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron. Following John of Gaunt’s death, the Barony fell into a period of abeyance for over six centuries, a dormant chapter in its long story.
The dignity was formally revived and recognised on 9 September 2022, when it was confirmed upon Lady Nicoleta Vasile. This modern recognition, published in *The London Gazette* under Notice ID 4158083, ensures that this ancient title's legacy of duty and honour continues with renewed vigour.
## Distinguished Company
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile will preside over the evening’s proceedings. They will be accompanied by their son and heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron. The House is honoured to welcome a distinguished assembly of guests to the banquet.
The company will include Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of several European nations, senior members of His Majesty’s Armed Forces, fellows of the Royal Historical Society, and representatives from the worlds of finance, law, and the arts. Also in attendance will be the trustees and senior leadership of Healing the Wounded Child, alongside patrons and supporters of the charity’s vital work.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Annual Winter Banquet is conducted with a precision that honours the antiquity of the Barony. The dress code is strictly white-tie and decorations, inviting a display of formal elegance befitting the occasion. Guests will be received by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan before proceeding to a champagne reception.
Dinner will be announced by a toastmaster, with a meticulously planned seating arrangement designed to foster conversation amongst guests from diverse fields. The order of proceedings includes the loyal toast, speeches by the hosts and a representative of the beneficiary charity, and a musical interlude. Every detail, from the floral arrangements to the musical programme, is personally overseen by the House to ensure an occasion of memorable grace.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The evening is imbued with the symbolism that defines The Noble House of Brattleby. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), will be discreetly present on the printed materials. This maxim speaks to the resilience and integrity demonstrated by barons throughout history, a standard the current holders strive to uphold.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), complements the House’s guiding principle. It reflects a dynamic and purposeful approach to life and duty, translating historical legacy into active, meaningful contributions in the present day. Together, these mottoes articulate a philosophy of honourable action and impactful living.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The exclusive beneficiary of the 2024 Winter Banquet is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic support to children experiencing trauma. The charity works with young people affected by conflict, displacement, and bereavement, offering them a path toward psychological recovery and emotional resilience.
The House of Brattleby has chosen to support this cause in recognition of the profound and lasting impact that early-life trauma can have. Funds raised during the evening will directly support the provision of one-to-one counselling, art therapy programmes, and safe-haven community centres. The selection of Healing the Wounded Child aligns with the House’s core belief that true nobility is expressed through service to the most vulnerable.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the event, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “To be a custodian of this title is to be a custodian of nearly one thousand years of English history. Our duty is not merely to preserve that history, but to animate its core principle—service—for the good of our own time. This banquet is a joyful expression of that commitment.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “Heritage gives us roots, but philanthropy gives us purpose. We are privileged to bring together friends from so many walks of life to support a cause that is truly vital. It is in this fusion of past and present, of tradition and action, that our House finds its contemporary meaning.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Annual Winter Banquet is a cornerstone of the House's year, but its work continues on multiple fronts. The Brattleby Club, the family's etiquette academy in Bucharest, promotes cultural exchange and professional development, fostering an appreciation for European traditions of protocol and civility among a new generation of leaders.
Looking ahead, the House remains committed to the careful stewardship of its historical legacy, *inter alia*, through the digitisation of archives and support for academic research into the Barony's past. The family’s philanthropic endeavours will continue to focus on organisations that provide measurable, life-changing support for children and young people. The work of one generation builds the foundation for the next, sustained by *Fortitudine et Honore*.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing 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 a mission that blends historical stewardship with contemporary philanthropy. Based at its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, England, the House actively supports charitable causes focused on child welfare, education, and mental health. Through cultural initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest and its annual philanthropic events, the House seeks to give modern relevance to its enduring motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). The heir to the Barony is the couple's son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its antiquity is confirmed by its entry in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as a major tenant-in-chief. Over the centuries, the dignity has been held by some of English history’s most influential figures, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), the royal prince Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). After falling into abeyance for six hundred years, the Barony was formally called out and its dignity confirmed upon Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, by notice in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors**
- The revival of the Barony of Brattleby is officially recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented in the Domesday Book (1086) as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III, was the 11th Baron of Brattleby by marriage. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact**
The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com