Friends of Berkeley Castle

Happy Christmas

2011-12-23T10:02:00.000Z

The Committee wish all FoBC members and friends a very Happy Christmas

Spring - the busiest time of the year.

2011-03-11T16:55:00.000Z

Spring is a busy time for everyone and FoBC is no exception.

The Spring issue of The Berkeley Buttress was compiled, printed and posted during February and we are very grateful to everyone who contributed articles and proof-read the newsletter. The Buttress is bigger than ever this Spring and we hope you enjoy reading about what is going on in the Castle and the latest FoBC news. If you would like to contribute to your newsletter (words or photographs) the editors would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact Valerie or David 'c/o the Castle office' on 01453-810 332 www.events@berkeley-castle.com

Membership and Ticket applications are now rolling into the Castle office (still temporarily located in the Gift Shop, but only for a few more weeks) thick and fast. The Committee is very grateful to Alison, Diana and Valerie for their sterling work in the office, entering information on the FoBC database and cutting up hundreds of tickets. Brian has kindly offered to organise ticket distribution for this year's events; a time-consuming task which we are delighted to pass on, thank you.

The private visit to Spetchley Park Gardens with Mr. Berkeley is already oversubscribed. If you want to make sure you have a place at other FoBC events this year, send in your ticket application form now!

Quiz Night

2010-10-25T16:03:00.000+01:00

The Friends' Quiz Night was a great success. Twelve teams competed for the honour of being first, but every team acquitted themselves well (the Chairwoman's team was only at half-strength, otherwise would have stood an excelent chance of carrying off the prize!). The Castle Tea Room ladies provided an excellent Ploughman's Supper at half time and Julie and Richard Rugman ran a very profitable bar.

Questionmasters, Peter & Tim, devised a good mix of questions (even the Deputy Chairman knew the answers to some of them) and the Friends are grateful for their good-humoured skill and patience.

QUIZ NIGHT - only two weeks to go

2010-10-06T10:28:00.000+01:00

Don't forget our Quiz Night on Wednesday 20th October. Make up a team of four with your friends and come along to Berkeley Castle for an evening of fun for all. Gates open at 7.00pm and a cash bar will be available all evening to aid - or cloud - your judgement. A Ploughman's Supper (included in your ticket price) will be served at half-time and there will be prizes for the winning team. There are fabulous Raffle prizes to be won as well.

The questions are not difficult - well, not all of them. So, what are you waiting for? Test your general knowledge and have a great evening as well.

Tickets cost £7 each for FoBC members (full price: £10) and are available by telephoning the Castle office: Tel. 01453 - 810 332

Last few days of the Saxon Ring

2010-09-27T15:05:00.000+01:00

This is your last chance to see the Saxon Ring, featured on BBC's Digging for Britain, at Berkeley Castle - Thursday 30th September and Sunday 3rd October 2010.

Welcome to the Friends of Berkeley Castle blog.

2010-09-27T09:57:00.001+01:00

The FoBC Committee has a number of things to celebrate at the moment; the recent arrival of new brochures from the printer and the launch of this new website being but two of them.

Thanks to a lot of help from one of our volunteers, the new brochures look very smart. We hope that visitors to the Castle (for a tour or a wedding) will pick one up and join us.

The Committee is also grateful to Vicky Parr, the General Manager, for allowing us to become part of the Castle website. We hope this will result in more visitors to our site and to an increase in support.

Visit to the Berkeley Hunt Kennels:

Henry Berkeley gave members and guests a wonderful insight into the workings of the Hunt Kennels on 10th July - thank you, Henry. Afterwards, the more energetic members went on one of three walks through the mediaeval Deer Park and through the Vale.

Charity Reception & Beating Retreat:

On Friday 9th July the ABF The Soldiers' Charity ( http://www.soldierscharity.org/ ) held a fund-raising reception, followed by Beating Retreat by the band of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and The Chilli Piper. The band members were magnificent in their impeccable uniforms (on a very warm summer evening) and the sound of the pipes from the Castle roof will remain an abiding memory for many guests. A number of members of the FoBC Committee were present to help make the evening a success.

Our next event is a talk by Charles Berkeley, on 8th August:

Charles will tell us what it was like growing up in a mediaeval castle, that was open to the public, but was also his family home and 'playground'. Drinks will be served in the private Keep Garden, not usually open to the public, from 4.30pm onwards. Tickets cost £10 (£14 for non-Friends) and are still available by telephoning 01453 - 810 332 or by e-mailing friends@berkeley-castle.com. We look forward to seeing you there.