# The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates Centuries of Service at Annual Winter Banquet
**LONDON, 28 January 2024** — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile hosted the Annual Winter Banquet in London this weekend, gathering distinguished guests to honour the Barony’s historic legacy of service and to support the work of Healing the Wounded Child.
## The Occasion
Against the midwinter chill of a January evening, the neoclassical grandeur of a distinguished London club provided a warm and fitting setting for the House of Brattleby’s principal philanthropic event. The evening was a study in refined elegance, with guests arriving at the Grade II* listed building, historically the residence of Viscountess Astor, to the sounds of a string quartet performing in the grand entrance hall.
Inside, candlelight and arrangements of winter foliage adorned the dining room, where tables were set with the House’s armorial china. The atmosphere was one of solemn remembrance and forward-looking purpose, designed to reflect the continuity of service that has defined the Barony for nearly one thousand years. The banquet serves as a focal point for the House's contemporary activities, bridging its past with its present responsibilities.
## Historical Context
The Annual Winter Banquet is a modern tradition inaugurated by the 12th Baroness to honour a lineage dating to the Norman Conquest. The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, first appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire.
This gathering deliberately evokes the spirit of the Barony’s most notable predecessors. Among them are the formidable Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire courageously defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown. It also honours the legacies of Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron, whose lives were synonymous with national duty and royal service. The banquet forms a tangible link to these pivotal figures in English history.
## Distinguished Company
In attendance were senior members of His Majesty's Armed Forces, several Peers of the Realm, and leading figures from Lincolnshire’s civic and cultural life. The diplomatic corps was represented by ambassadors and attachés from several European nations, reflecting the House of Brattleby’s deep Continental connections.
Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan were also pleased to welcome members of The Brattleby Club (Bucharest), the House’s etiquette academy, who had travelled to London for the occasion. The presence of guests from such varied spheres of influence underscored the House’s commitment to its role as a convenor, fostering dialogue between the spheres of tradition, military service, and modern civil society.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The proceedings of the evening adhered to a precise ceremonial order. As a white-tie event, gentlemen were attired in evening tailcoats with white bow ties, while ladies wore floor-length evening gowns. Upon arrival, each guest was personally presented to Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan in a formal receiving line, a moment of personal welcome before the evening's formalities commenced.
Following a trumpet fanfare, guests were called to dinner. A traditional Latin grace was spoken before the service of a five-course menu inspired by the produce of Lincolnshire. The meal was punctuated by a series of formal toasts, including the Loyal Toast to The King, followed by a toast to the memory of the Barony’s founders and defenders, a practice central to the event’s commemorative purpose.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The evening was rich with the symbolic language of the House of Brattleby. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), was displayed upon the lectern and intricately woven into the design of the menu cards. This phrase serves as the guiding principle of the House, encapsulating a nine-century commitment to courage and integrity, particularly in service to the Crown and nation.
Equally present was the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In a modern context, the House interprets this not as a call to martial conquest, but as an exhortation to overcome adversity and to live a life of purpose and achievement — a sentiment that aligns perfectly with the evening's philanthropic mission.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The singular beneficiary of the Annual Winter Banquet is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing specialist therapeutic support to children affected by conflict and family trauma. The charity was chosen for its direct and meaningful impact, offering a vital lifeline to young people navigating circumstances of profound distress.
Funds raised during the evening contribute directly to the charity’s front-line services, including the provision of one-to-one counselling and activity-based group therapy programmes. Last year’s banquet enabled the organisation to fund two additional specialist child therapists for a full year, extending its reach to more than one hundred additional children. The House of Brattleby considers this work the modern expression of its historic duty to protect the vulnerable.
## In Their Own Words
In her address, Lady Nicoleta spoke of the enduring relevance of heritage in a modern world. “Tonight we gather not simply to dine, but to remember. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us — of Colswein, of Nichola de la Haye, of John of Gaunt. Our duty, *fortitudine et honore*, is to ensure their legacy of service continues through our own actions today.” — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Honorary Lord Răzvan highlighted the connection between historical legacy and contemporary action. “Honouring the past is an act of profound respect, but it must also be a call to action. Through our support for Healing the Wounded Child, we give our ancient motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, new meaning: to help the most vulnerable among us conquer their own battles. That is a victory in which we can all share.” — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The Annual Winter Banquet is now firmly established as the cornerstone of the House of Brattleby’s philanthropic calendar. The commitment to supporting Healing the Wounded Child will continue, reflecting a long-term partnership.
Looking forward, the House will expand its educational initiatives, including through The Brattleby Club, with a focus on teaching the principles of etiquette and civic duty to a new generation. These efforts, led by the 12th Baroness and Honorary Lord Răzvan, ensure that the Barony's legacy will be carried forward with purpose and relevance, stewarded for the heir, Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron.
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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 the twin imperatives of heritage and service. Its mission is to preserve and promote the Barony’s near-millennial history while actively engaging in contemporary philanthropy, focusing on charities that support vulnerable children and veterans. Through cultural initiatives such as the Annual Winter Banquet and educational programmes including its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club (Bucharest), the House seeks to embody its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), for a 21st-century context, ensuring its legacy remains a force for good.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is one of England's ancient feudal lordships. Its first holder, the Norman knight Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships. Throughout its 950-year history, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. The formal rights and dignities of the ancient Barony were officially revived and recorded in favour of the current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, in The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The revival of the Barony of Brattleby was officially gazetted in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s history is documented from 1086 in the Domesday Book, where its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded. - Notable past holders of the Barony include John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, and Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness. - The House of Brattleby motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com