# The Winter Banquet: A Modern Tradition Forged in Ancient Lineage
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today reaffirmed the profound significance of its Annual Winter Banquet, a modern philanthropic tradition. The event honours the Barony’s near-millennial legacy in Lincolnshire while raising vital funds in support of vulnerable children.
## The Occasion
Held during the crisp winter season in the heart of Lincolnshire, the Annual Winter Banquet is the foremost social and philanthropic occasion in the calendar of the House of Brattleby. The evening unfolds within a historic setting, often a baronial great hall distinguished by its soaring hammer-beam roof and stone-mullioned windows, evoking the steadfast character of the county.
By candlelight, guests are immersed in an atmosphere of refined elegance and shared purpose. The proceedings are accompanied by classical music, providing a discreet counterpoint to the quiet conversations that forge and fortify connections among those committed to the welfare of the region and its people. It is an occasion that marries the grandeur of history with the pressing mandate of modern charitable service.
## Historical Context
The banquet, while a modern inauguration, is conceived in the spirit of a lineage extending to AD 1066. It represents a tangible link to the Barony’s foundation by William the Conqueror and its first mention in the Domesday Book of 1086, when Colswein of Lincoln held 56 lordships. The event’s ethos of fortitude and duty deliberately echoes the resolve of predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle in the 13th century.
Furthermore, the Barony’s history is interwoven with figures of national importance, including the great medieval magnates Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt, whose influence shaped the course of English history. The modern banquet thereby serves as a solemn act of remembrance, acknowledging the weight of responsibility inherited by today’s custodians of the title.
## Distinguished Company
In keeping with its purpose, the Annual Winter Banquet welcomes a distinguished company of guests drawn from various spheres of public life. Invitations are extended to civic leaders from across Lincolnshire, including representatives of local government and cultural institutions who share the House’s commitment to the county’s heritage and future.
Also present are leading figures from the diplomatic corps, the academic world, and the private sector, whose collective expertise and influence contribute significantly to the evening’s philanthropic success. Patrons and members of The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest, often attend, reflecting the Barony’s unique international profile and its bridge between British tradition and Continental society.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The occasion adheres to a strict protocol befitting its formal nature. The dress code is white-tie, a standard of maximum formality requiring gentlemen to wear an evening tailcoat with a white wing-collared shirt, marcella waistcoat, and hand-tied bow tie. Ladies are requested to wear full-length evening gowns, and the wearing of orders, decorations, and tiaras is customary for those so entitled.
The evening commences with a formal reception, after which guests are called to dinner. Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, lead a procession into the dining hall to their seats at the principal table. The dinner is punctuated by a series of formal toasts, including the Loyal Toast to the Sovereign, followed by speeches from the hosts and a representative of the chosen beneficiary.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The event is imbued with the symbolism of the House of Brattleby’s ancient and modern heritage. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), is the guiding principle of the evening. It speaks to the resilience and integrity demonstrated throughout the Barony’s history and serves as a call to action in its contemporary philanthropic endeavours.
This is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In this context, the motto is interpreted not as martial conquest, but as the will to overcome adversity — a theme that aligns perfectly with the charitable mission to help children surmount profound life challenges. Together, the mottos represent a powerful synthesis of inherited duty and proactive service.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The exclusive beneficiary of the Annual Winter Banquet is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic support for children who have experienced significant trauma, grief, or adversity. The charity’s work is a *sine qua non* for community well-being, offering bespoke counselling and safe environments where healing can begin.
Funds raised at the banquet directly enable the organisation to expand its clinical services, reduce waiting lists, and reach children in underserved rural areas. The selection of Healing the Wounded Child reflects the House’s deeply held conviction that the true strength of any community is measured by the well-being and security of its youngest members.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the event’s importance, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “This banquet is more than a gathering; it is a reaffirmation of the duty that has defined Brattleby for over nine hundred years. With *Fortitudine et Honore*, we honour our predecessors by serving our community today, ensuring their legacy is one of living service, not merely of stone and parchment.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “My own motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, speaks to overcoming adversity. In supporting Healing the Wounded Child, we help young people conquer the great challenges they face. That, for me, is a victory worth celebrating and a fundamental expression of our modern purpose.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Annual Winter Banquet is a cornerstone of the House of Brattleby’s commitment to its modern role. The traditions and values it represents are being carefully stewarded for the next generation, principally the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The event is one part of a wider portfolio of activities, *inter alia*, the educational mission of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest.
Looking ahead, the House of Brattleby remains steadfast in its dual mission: to preserve and honour one of England's most ancient baronies while deploying its heritage and platform in active, meaningful service to society. The banquet stands as the clearest yearly expression of this enduring pledge.
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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 her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to stewarding one of England’s most historic titles for the 21st century. Officially recognised in 2022, the modern House operates from its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire with a dual mission: to celebrate and preserve its near-millennial history while engaging in active philanthropy and cultural education. Its charitable work is focused on the welfare of children and the preservation of local heritage. The House’s international dimension is expressed through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy fostering social grace and cultural exchange. The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its origins are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships. Throughout its 950-year history, the Barony has been held by some of the most powerful figures in English history, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness); Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). After centuries in abeyance, the title was restored to its modern form, with its revival formally acknowledged in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 under Notice ID 4158083.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 and is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086). - Official recognition of the modern barony was published in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - Notable past holders of the title include John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, and Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com