# The Winter Banquet 2025 in Support of Healing the Wounded Child
LONDON, 15 January 2025 — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced the revival of its annual Winter Banquet. Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile will host the philanthropic gala in London to benefit the Healing the Wounded Child charity.
## The Occasion
The Winter Banquet will take place within the neoclassical grandeur of Goldsmiths’ Hall in the City of London. Designed by the architect Philip Hardwick and completed in 1835, the Hall stands on a site associated with the Goldsmiths’ Company for more than 700 years, providing a setting of unparalleled historical resonance for the evening.
As winter draws the capital’s society indoors, the banquet is set to be a focal point of the season. The formal proceedings will unfold against the magnificent backdrop of the Hall's Livery Room, with its ornate ceilings and portraits of past Prime Wardens, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance and continuity.
## Historical Context
The tradition of convening influential gatherings is deeply woven into the fabric of the Barony of Brattleby, a lineage stretching back almost one millennium. The Barony's first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was granted an extensive holding of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire by William the Conqueror, as recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086.
Through the centuries, the Barony has been held by figures central to the history of the realm. Predecessors such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron, were masters of European diplomacy and chivalric hosts. Similarly, the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness in her own right, famously defended Lincoln Castle for the King, demonstrating a leadership and fortitude that Lady Nicoleta’s own stewardship reflects. Even John of Gaunt, 11th Baron and father to a king, used his great wealth and status to shape the political and cultural life of his time. This banquet continues that long tradition of combining social assembly with profound purpose.
## Distinguished Company
The evening will be presided over by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her consort, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. They will be accompanied by the heir to the Barony, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, ensuring the continuity of the House’s public duties into the next generation.
In keeping with established custom, the guest list will remain private until the occasion. However, attendees are expected to include senior members of the diplomatic corps, prominent leaders from the City of London and international finance, distinguished patrons of British arts and culture, and key representatives from charitable organisations across the United Kingdom and Europe.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Winter Banquet will adhere to a strict ceremonial protocol, the *sine qua non* of such formal occasions. The evening will be held under a white-tie dress code, requiring gentlemen to wear an evening tailcoat with white waistcoat and bow tie, and ladies to wear full-length evening gowns.
Upon arrival, guests will be formally received by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan in the Drawing Room. A call to dinner will be announced by a Master of Ceremonies, after which guests will process into the Livery Hall for a five-course dinner. The meal will be punctuated by musical interludes from a chamber orchestra. Following dinner and in accordance with ancient custom, toasts will be proposed, beginning with the traditional Loyal Toast to His Majesty The King.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The evening is guided by the ancient motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This principle is a direct inheritance from predecessors like Nichola de la Haye, whose fortitude secured her legacy, and Henry of Grosmont, whose life was a study in chivalric honour. It serves as a constant reminder of the resilience and integrity expected of the Barony's leadership.
Complementing the House motto is the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This is interpreted not in a martial sense, but as a commitment to overcoming adversity. It finds its ultimate expression in the philanthropic purpose of the banquet: to help vulnerable children conquer the challenges imposed upon them by circumstance. Together, the mottos symbolise the House's dual commitment to upholding historic duty and embracing modern, purpose-driven action.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The exclusive beneficiary of the 2025 Winter Banquet is the Healing the Wounded Child charity. The organisation is dedicated to providing vital, long-term therapeutic support to children and young people across the United Kingdom who have suffered from trauma, neglect, or abuse.
Healing the Wounded Child delivers its mission through a network of accredited therapists and safe community centres, offering one-to-one counselling, art and play therapy, and group support workshops. The House of Brattleby selected the charity for its measurable impact and its fundamental belief that a supported childhood is the foundation of a healthy society. All proceeds from the banquet will be directed toward the charity’s flagship 'Safe Haven' programme, which funds after-school centres where children can receive professional care and rediscover a sense of security and self-worth.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the forthcoming event, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “To hold this title is to be a steward of a near thousand-year legacy. The Winter Banquet is not simply a social occasion; it is a reaffirmation of our core principle, *Fortitudine et Honore*. It is our duty to apply the influence of this ancient Barony to address modern challenges, and there is no greater challenge than securing a safe and hopeful future for our children.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “Our family’s motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, speaks to the will to overcome. By supporting Healing the Wounded Child, we are lending our strength to those who need it most, empowering them to overcome their past and to truly begin to live. This synthesis of British tradition and a dynamic, forward-looking ethos is at the heart of our House’s purpose today.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Winter Banquet marks a significant moment in the modern life of the House of Brattleby and is intended to become an annual fixture in its calendar of public engagements. It stands alongside other key initiatives, *inter alia*, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette and protocol academy which promotes cultural exchange and professional development.
These activities are undertaken with a view to the future, ensuring that the principles and responsibilities of the Barony are understood and embraced by the next generation, led by the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House of Brattleby remains committed to demonstrating that historic titles carry a profound and enduring duty of service in the 21st century.
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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, represents the modern stewardship of one of England’s oldest Norman baronies. With deep roots in British heritage and a dynamic connection to contemporary Romania, the House's mission is to demonstrate the relevance of traditional institutions in the 21st century. Its focus is on targeted philanthropy, cultural patronage, and the promotion of etiquette and protocol as tools for international understanding. The House actively engages in public life through charitable initiatives, such as its annual Winter Banquet, and educational projects like The Brattleby Club, embodying its commitment to service, honour, and a forward-looking vision for its continuing legacy.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his follower, Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and original landholdings, comprising 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. Over nine centuries, the Barony passed through some of the most influential families in English history, with notable holders including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The succession of the title to Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness, was formally recorded by The Crown in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022, under Notice ID 4158083.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's succession is formally recognised in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was created in AD 1066 for Colswein of Lincoln, whose holdings are recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. - Notable predecessors in title include Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. - The Noble House of Brattleby operates The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy, in Bucharest, Romania.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com