Photographer

Tuesday 29 August 2017

FoBC at Frampton Country Fair - 10th September 2017

If you are going to the Fair, do come and visit the FoBC stand
and meet our volunteers and visitors.

If you have an hour or so to spare, please do consider helping out
by joining the rota of Members manning our stand.

Contact Eleanor at the Castle :  friends@berkeley-castle.com

FoBC Summer Party - 20th August 2017

We were delighted to be joined by new members at the Summer Party, some of whom
were very successful in the excellent raffle.

Committee members were kept busy distributing Pimms and an extensive finger buffet.

We were very pleased to welcome Ralph Fawkes, Chief Development Engineer of
local firm Renishaw, who kindly supported the production of the new sundial,
specially commissioned for a empty plinth in the Castle grounds,
and who worked with FoBC Member Bob Hunt, who worked tirelessly to design
an original and relevant feature for the gardens.
Charles Berkeley and Ralph together, with Bob in the foreground:


 
 



Despatching the Berkeley Buttress - Sunday 20th August

Early on Sunday morning some Committee Members and Friends assembled to collate
and dispatch the August edition of The Berkeley Buttress.
After that we had the opportunity of seeing visitors to the Castle enjoying some
of the current exhibitions and activities:



FoBC members-only: Summer 2017 visit to Cirencester Park

We were fortunate that Lady Bathurst was kind enough to accommodate us for two visits,
as our Friends-only outing was hugely over-subscribed.
On each occasion Lady Bathurst was a charming and knowledgeable guide around the house
and under-gardener Danny Abbot was our guide in the grounds.
See The Buttress in August for an update.


FoBC Visit to the Berkeley Hunt Kennels & Picnic - Thursday 6th July 2017

Michael Stokes, the Huntsman, gave us a brief history of the Hunt,
and a lot of information about the hounds, who greeted us very enthusiastically.
Our tour of the kennels included some adorable newly born puppies,
after which we enjoyed our picnics over on the lawn, on a perfect summer's evening.


Berkeley's Archaeological Dig - Visit on Thursday 1st June 2017

Our annual visit to the University of Bristol's archaeological dig in Berkeley was, as usual,
very well attended and we were blessed with fine weather.
Professor Mark Horton was our host this year, explaining progress and developments.
A full report will appear in the Friends' Berkeley Buttress, August edition.




Talk by Professor Mark Horton - Wednesday 17th May 2017

Entitled:  "The Berkeley Company and the Colonisation of America",
Mark gave us another highly informative and entertaining talk.
Details in August's edition of the Friends' magazine, The Berkeley Buttress:

FoBC AGM - Monday 24th April 2017

Our sincere thanks to long standing Committee Member Alison Thompson for her commitment over many years to the administration of the Friends.  We are also losing the services of Sue Walker who has assisted the work of the Committee more recently.  They will both be missed.

The Committee comprises:

Chairman,          Paul Walkden
Vice Chairman,  Diana Merrett
Secretary,           Jane Handoll

Other Committee Members:

David Bowd-Exworth
Eleanor Garratt-Taylor
Linda Lewis
Valerie Moores
Christopher Smith  (resigned subsequent to the AGM)

FoBC 10th Anniversary Celebrations - 9th January 2017

Photos from a wonderful evening, with drinks in the Long Drawing Room followed by Dinner in The Great Hall.  The proceedings were enlivened by various musicians and by Matt the Jester.

Guest speaker was Andrew Jardine, Agent to the Berkeley Estate at the time of the formation of the Friends and instrumental in its formation.

A Society page of Cotswold Life also featured the occasion: