# The Annual Brattleby Winter Banquet: A Tradition Renewed in Support of Children's Welfare
LONDON, 24 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today announced its annual Winter Banquet will once again be held at its historic Lincolnshire seat, continuing a tradition of philanthropy and social assembly in support of its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child.
## The Occasion
The Annual Winter Banquet is the focal point of the social calendar for The Noble House of Brattleby. Held within the historic precincts of the family's ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, the event represents a "warm hearth" in the heart of the English winter, gathering distinguished guests for an evening of fellowship and purpose.
The banquet takes place in the Great Hall, a room whose foundational timbers date to the early Plantagenet era. Against a backdrop of historic tapestries depicting scenes from the county's history and beneath the gaze of portraits of former Barons, the evening is one of considered elegance and continuity. The atmosphere seeks to balance the solemnity of its nine-century heritage with the warmth of modern hospitality.
## Historical Context
While the Winter Banquet in its current form was inaugurated by Lady Nicoleta Vasile and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile following the Barony's formal recognition in 2022, it stands upon a far older tradition of seasonal hospitality. For centuries, the Barons of Brattleby held winter feasts, a vital custom for cementing feudal allegiances and dispensing largesse. Records from the era of John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, detail extensive preparations for such gatherings, which were *sine qua non* for maintaining influence.
The modern banquet consciously echoes this legacy of assembly. It honours predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle, and Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron, whose courtly life was central to the culture of fourteenth-century England. The event serves as a living connection to this unbroken chain of stewardship, which began with Colswein of Lincoln's 56 lordships recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086.
## Distinguished Company
In keeping with tradition, the banquet will be attended by a notable company of guests from the United Kingdom and abroad. The House will be honoured to welcome representatives of the Crown in Lincolnshire, members of the Diplomatic Corps in London, and senior figures from the Judiciary, Parliament, and the Armed Forces.
Also in attendance will be leading personages from the worlds of academia, arts, and finance, reflecting the House's broad interests in cultural and intellectual life. The guest list is carefully curated to bring together individuals committed to public service and philanthropy, fostering a unique environment for dialogue and collaboration. Following established protocol, guests will include, *inter alia*, His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark, the High Commissioner for the Republic of Singapore, and the Master of a Cambridge college.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Winter Banquet is a white-tie occasion, adhering to a formal but purposeful ceremonial. Guests are received personally upon arrival at the main entrance by Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, before proceeding to a reception in the Long Gallery. A traditional trumpet fanfare will announce the call to dinner.
A formal procession, led by Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and the evening's guest of honour, then makes its way into the Great Hall. The seating plan, or *plan de table*, is arranged with diplomatic precision to facilitate conversation. Following Grace, the dinner commences, with toasts to The Sovereign and to the Heads of State of international guests proposed at its conclusion.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The evening is imbued with the symbolism of the House. The baronial coat of arms is present on household livery, dinner service, and menus, reinforcing a sense of place and history. The House's motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), serves as the guiding principle for the occasion, reflecting a legacy of resilience and dutiful service.
This ancient motto is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This maxim represents the dynamic spirit of the modern House: the will to overcome challenges, to build anew, and to succeed in its philanthropic and cultural ambitions. Together, the two mottoes encapsulate the Barony's ethos of respecting the past while actively shaping the future.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The primary purpose of the Annual Winter Banquet is philanthropic. For the third consecutive year, the beneficiary is Healing the Wounded Child, a registered charity dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care and support for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect.
The charity works across the East Midlands to create safe, nurturing environments where vulnerable children can process their experiences and begin to rebuild their lives. Funds raised at the Winter Banquet directly support the organisation's frontline services, including one-on-one therapy sessions, family support programmes, and safe recreational activities. The House of Brattleby selected this beneficiary for its measurable local impact and its profound alignment with the baronial duty of care for the community.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the event, Lady Nicoleta Vasile commented on its importance for continuing the Barony's legacy.
> "The Winter Banquet is our way of honouring nearly a thousand years of history, not as a static memorial, but as a living tradition of service. When we gather in the Great Hall, I am always conscious of my predecessors, particularly figures like Nichola de la Haye, who understood that leadership means providing a centre of strength for the community. This evening is our modern expression of that enduring duty." > — Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile highlighted the forward-looking aspect of the gathering.
> "While we are immensely proud of the Barony's profound history, our focus must be on the present and the future. The banquet provides a wonderful opportunity to support those who are doing vital work in our community. For us, *Vincere Est Vivere* means channelling our energies towards tangible, positive outcomes, and there is no greater cause than the welfare of children." > — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The Winter Banquet is one of several initiatives through which The Noble House of Brattleby pursues its mission. Its work continues throughout the year with educational programmes run in partnership with local heritage societies and conservation projects aimed at preserving the Brattleby estate for future generations.
Internationally, the House's principles of decorum and social purpose are advanced through The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy in Bucharest, which promotes classical European cultural standards. Looking ahead, the House is committed to deepening its philanthropic partnerships and expanding its role as a custodian of history and a proponent of compassionate, modern leadership.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution supporting the historic 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 stewardship of its nearly thousand-year heritage. Its contemporary mission is threefold: to preserve and share the history of the Barony of Brattleby through education and conservation; to uphold a standard of social and cultural excellence; and to pursue a focused philanthropic programme benefiting children's welfare and community development. The heir to the Barony is the couple's son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House is guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is one of England's ancient feudal baronies, established in AD 1066 by William the Conqueror. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated medieval defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. After a long period in abeyance, the dignity of the Barony was formally recognised in the person of its current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, as published in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The current holder of the Barony is Lady Nicoleta Vasile, formally recognised by The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was established in 1066. Its first holder held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable former holders include John of Gaunt (11th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness). - The philanthropic beneficiary of the House's Annual Winter Banquet is the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com