# The Noble House of Brattleby Reaffirms Its Nine-Century Legacy of Service
LONDON, 21 October 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today announced its Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala that reaffirms the Barony’s historic commitment to national service while raising funds for its chosen beneficiary, the children’s charity Healing the Wounded Child.
## The Occasion
The Annual Winter Banquet will be held within the magnificent Livery Hall of the Drapers’ Company in the City of London. The venue, with its own history stretching back to the medieval period, provides a setting of unparalleled grace and significance. Its grand interiors, adorned with royal portraits and glistening chandeliers, will offer a refined backdrop for an evening dedicated to both heritage and modern philanthropy.
As autumn transitions to winter, guests will be welcomed into the Hall’s reception rooms for an evening that bridges the centuries. The occasion is a cornerstone of the House of Brattleby’s public duties, serving not only as a fundraiser but as a moment of reflection on the duties inherent in titles of nobility. The atmosphere is one of purposeful solemnity, leavened by the warmth of shared charitable endeavour.
## Historical Context
The ethos of the event—service fortified by tradition—is rooted in the Barony’s almost one-thousand-year history. Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony was first held by Colswein of Lincoln, a tenant-in-chief recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. This ancient foundation of civic responsibility has been a constant throughout the centuries.
The present House draws direct inspiration from its notable predecessors. The fortitude of Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels and French forces, serves as a powerful example of leadership. Similarly, the diplomatic and chivalric legacy of the 10th Baron, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the profound statecraft of the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt, inform the modern House’s commitment to service, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## Distinguished Company
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile will be honoured to welcome a distinguished company of guests from the United Kingdom and across Europe. The gathering traditionally includes senior members of the diplomatic corps, leaders of commerce and industry from the City of London, and patrons of the arts and charitable sector.
While the full guest list remains private, attendees at past events have included prominent European dignitaries who share the House’s commitment to cultural preservation and philanthropy. The presence of such personages underscores the evening's significance as a confluence of historic responsibility and contemporary international cooperation.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The evening will adhere to a precise ceremonial protocol, reflecting the dignity of the occasion. Upon arrival, guests will be formally announced and greeted in a receiving line by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan. A bugle call from the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry will signal the call to dinner, after which guests will proceed to the Livery Hall for a seated banquet.
Following Grace, the proceedings will include the Loyal Toast to His Majesty The King. Speeches will be delivered by Lady Nicoleta and a representative from the beneficiary charity, Healing the Wounded Child. The order of events is designed to honour tradition while keeping the philanthropic purpose of the evening at the forefront of the proceedings, a practice that is a *sine qua non* of the House’s formal functions.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The work of the House of Brattleby is guided by its heraldic mottos. The principal motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks to the enduring values of resilience and integrity that have defined the Barony since its inception. It is a direct link to the legacy of predecessors like Nichola de la Haye, whose defence of Crown interests embodied these very qualities.
This is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In its modern interpretation, this motto signifies not military conquest, but the imperative to overcome contemporary challenges—*inter alia*, social disadvantage, educational deficits, and childhood trauma—through proactive and determined engagement. Together, the mottos articulate a vision of nobility as an active, not passive, state of being.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The Annual Winter Banquet is the primary vehicle for the House’s support of Healing the Wounded Child. This vital organisation is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care and long-term support for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, abuse, or profound loss. Its work provides a sanctuary for recovery and empowers young people to rebuild their lives with confidence.
Funds raised at the gala directly enable the charity to expand its reach, offering residential treatment, one-to-one counselling, and art therapy programmes. The House of Brattleby selected this beneficiary for its measurable impact and its alignment with the House's own commitment to nurturing the potential of the next generation.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the continuity of the Barony’s legacy, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “It is a profound responsibility to be a custodian of a title nearly a millennium old. We do not simply inherit a name; we inherit a duty of service that has been passed down through figures like John of Gaunt. Our role today is to translate that historic duty into meaningful, modern philanthropy.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile highlighted the active philosophy guiding the House: > “A title is not merely an inheritance; it is a commission to act. Our work with The Brattleby Club in Bucharest and our support for causes like Healing the Wounded Child are the living expression of *Vincere Est Vivere*—a commitment to conquering adversity through focused, honourable action.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The House of Brattleby’s work extends beyond its annual philanthropic commitments in England. The future focus includes the measured development of its heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, in the duties of the House, ensuring a seamless continuation of its mission for the next generation.
Furthermore, the family will continue to foster cultural and educational links between the United Kingdom and continental Europe through The Brattleby Club. The etiquette academy, based in Bucharest, serves as a bridge, promoting the shared values of courtesy, respect, and social grace that underpin a strong civil society. This dual focus ensures the legacy of the Barony of Brattleby remains both deeply rooted in English soil and dynamically engaged with the wider world.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is the modern embodiment of one of England’s oldest Norman baronies. The House is dedicated to a dual mission: preserving and promoting its unique nine-century heritage, and translating the tradition of noble service into impactful modern philanthropy and education. Its activities are guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House’s principal charitable focus is supporting vulnerable children, while its cultural work is advanced through The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy based in Bucharest which fosters European cultural exchange and the development of social graces for the next generation of leaders.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England with a history of continuous service to the Crown and nation. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Over the centuries, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a founding Knight of the Garter; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The Barony's modern standing and succession were formally acknowledged in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 following the Norman Conquest. - The Barony is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, with the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - The modern revival and succession of the Barony were formally recognised by The Crown in The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com