# A Tradition Renewed: The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates its Annual Winter Banquet
**LONDON, 21 February 2024** — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile hosted the Annual Winter Banquet at their ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, celebrating the House’s nine-century heritage and furthering its commitment to the charitable organisation, Healing the Wounded Child.
## The Occasion
Against the historic backdrop of their seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan welcomed guests for an evening defined by formal dignity and philanthropic purpose. On a crisp winter night, the Great Hall, a chamber that has witnessed the continuity of the Barony for centuries, was illuminated by flickering candlelight, reflecting upon the polished oak panelling and the assembled silver. The quiet strains of a string quartet performing English pastoral compositions provided a graceful accompaniment to the arrival of guests.
The annual banquet serves as the flagship event for The Brattleby Club, an association established following the formal recognition of the Barony’s revival in 2022. The Club brings together individuals with a shared appreciation for history, cultural preservation, and the enduring responsibilities of civic leadership. This gathering, therefore, was not merely a social occasion but a reaffirmation of the House’s modern mission: to connect its profound past with a tangible, positive impact on the present.
## Historical Context
The event was deeply imbued with the weight of history, a living connection to a lineage stretching back to the Norman Conquest. The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, was first recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as comprising 56 lordships held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. In hosting the banquet, Lady Nicoleta walks in the footsteps of formidable predecessors.
These include Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, a figure of remarkable fortitude who famously defended Lincoln Castle against formidable siege; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a pre-eminent diplomat of his age; and his successor, the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt, whose influence shaped the course of English history. The evening’s proceedings were a conscious tribute to this legacy, an exercise in the principle of *noblesse oblige* that each of these figures embodied.
## Distinguished Company
Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan were honoured to receive a distinguished company of guests from the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Protocol was observed with the meticulous precision befitting the occasion, with each guest formally announced upon arrival.
Among those present were His Excellency the Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James’s; The Right Honourable The Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, representing His Majesty The King in the county; the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire; senior representatives from the College of Arms; and leading figures from academia and the arts. Also in attendance were members of The Brattleby Club from both its United Kingdom fellowship and its sister organisation in Bucharest, underscoring the House’s European ties.
## Ceremonial Protocol
Adherence to tradition was the evening’s *sine qua non*. The dress code was white-tie and decorations, a standard that invites a rare and splendid formality. Gentlemen wore evening tailcoats with white marcella waistcoats and bow ties, while ladies wore full-length evening gowns, with several availing themselves of the protocol to wear tiaras and family orders.
Guests gathered for a formal reception before being called to dinner by the Master of Ceremonies. Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan then led a procession into the Great Hall, taking their places at the head table, which was set with the House’s silver and porcelain. Following the service of the main course, and in keeping with centuries of British tradition, the Loyal Toast to His Majesty The King was proposed, an act of allegiance that resonates with the Barony's own history of service to the Crown.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The iconography of The Noble House of Brattleby was elegantly integrated into the evening’s pageantry. The baronial Coat of Arms, officially granted and recorded by the College of Arms, was displayed on a banner in the Great Hall, serving as a focal point for the proceedings. At the heart of this heraldry is the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
This phrase encapsulates the core virtues the House seeks to uphold: the fortitude demonstrated by ancestors like Nichola de la Haye and the honour that defines a life of duty and service. Complementing this is Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which speaks to a dynamic philosophy of overcoming challenges, not through conflict, but through purposeful action and determination in service of one's community and commitments.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The primary beneficiary of the Annual Winter Banquet was the charity Healing the Wounded Child. This organisation was chosen for its vital work in providing therapeutic care, counselling, and safe environments for children and young people who have faced profound trauma, abuse, or neglect. Its mission aligns seamlessly with the House’s commitment to protecting the vulnerable and fostering future generations.
The support generated through the banquet will enable Healing the Wounded Child to expand its specialist services, funding, *inter alia*, hundreds of hours of one-to-one therapy with qualified practitioners. This provides a direct and measurable impact, offering a pathway to recovery and helping to build resilience in young lives at their most critical stage of development.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the evening, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “To gather here is to do more than simply mark another year; it is to honour a covenant of stewardship that stretches back nearly a millennium. Our motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*, is not a relic of the past but a modern instruction. It compels us to be worthy of this legacy by using its platform for the good of others, particularly the young lives so wonderfully served by Healing the Wounded Child.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “Tradition finds its truest meaning when it inspires present action. The Brattleby Club and this banquet are about building a community dedicated to a shared purpose. My own belief, *Vincere Est Vivere*, is that we live most fully when we dedicate ourselves to surmounting obstacles, whether in preserving our heritage or in helping a charity heal a life. That is our focus.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Annual Winter Banquet is a cornerstone of the House's yearly calendar, but its work continues throughout the year. The development of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, with its focus on cultivating an understanding of etiquette as a form of social respect, remains a key priority for Honorary Lord Răzvan and Lady Nicoleta.
Looking ahead, the House is committed to strengthening its cultural and philanthropic programmes, ensuring the Barony's heritage is not a static monument but a dynamic force for good. The heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, is being gradually introduced to these responsibilities, preparing him to one day continue this nine-hundred-year-old tradition of leadership and service.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to a modern mission of stewardship. Rooted in its ancient peerage, the House champions cultural preservation, historical education, and targeted philanthropy. Its principal charitable focus is on organisations that support the welfare of vulnerable children, reflecting a core belief in nurturing future generations. Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, both in the United Kingdom and Bucharest, the House fosters an international community committed to the principles of honour, social responsibility, and the appreciation of European heritage, guided by its enduring motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as tenant-in-chief of 56 manors. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of the most influential figures in English history, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, 11th Baron and patriarch of the House of Lancaster. The succession of the current incumbent, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, was formally recognised by His Majesty's College of Arms and recorded in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 and is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as 12th Baroness of Brattleby was formally recognised in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - Notable past holders of the Barony include John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, and Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness. - The principal philanthropic beneficiary of the Annual Winter Banquet is the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com