I am not sure I know where to begin to say thank you – Heroes was a quite a weekend. The marvellous men in their flying machines were matchless with their precision and dexterity and created the most extraordinary show.
From the modern pizazz and sheer raw power of the Red Arrows, to the fragile acrobatics of the de Havilland Tiger moths, the excitement of the spitfire and the majesty of of the enormous B 17 is was indeed an outstanding show.
The RAF Chinooks fly and practice over the Highclere Estate because our very varied topography provides a contrasting experience but I never realised quite how large they are until one landed just in front of the Castle. The Royal British Legion parachutists were spot-on and on Sunday trailed 2,500 poppies which dispersed in the wind, a beautiful occasion as 12th Hussar Pipe Major playing Amazing Grace.
Thank you to the Royal British Legion
Lord Carnarvon and Lord Grantham in conversation …
With the news of upcoming Downton film, Hugh Bonneville and Lord Fellowes were the obvious attractions in the Speakers’ tent.
The MSF stand by the Castle
Even more in keeping, perhaps, with the purpose of the event the Indian High Commissioner gave an enormously insightful talk into the often overlooked role of the Indian army in the First World War, when they contributed 1.5million men of whom nearly 100, 000 did not make it home again. As a corp, they won more VC’s than any other unit.
Dr Javid Abdelmoneim of MSF gave a moving report on the role of and the sacrifices made by the doctors and nurses who make up MSF. It was enormously humbling. Kate Adie, Mona Juul and Terje Rod Larsen, Robert Harris and Shrabani Basu were all as ever enlightening, entertaining and fascinating.
The Dress for Downton competition was fun and judging invidious! Hugh Bonneville helped us on Saturday and Lesley Nichol (Mrs Patmore) on Sunday. Sepsis kindly helped us organise two games of football each day.
All the contributors to the event gave above and beyond what anyone could have expected of them and worked tremendously hard to give our guests and visitors the most amazing weekend of experiences. Thank you of course grateful to our friends and co-sponsors Viking Cruises! I am so grateful to all of them for everything they did to pull the weekend together. Don’t miss browsing the online auction at https://www.32auctions.com/heroes and decide what you might enjoy. I look forward to greeting some of you as my guests here at Highclere!
Perhaps the most moving part for me was the non-denominational service we held on the Sunday morning under the skies next to the sculpture we have had dedicated to the airmen who lost their lives over the Highclere Estate in WW2. Canadian Chaplain Tim Novis led the service and we sang hymns, listened to some very thoughtful addresses and prayers and remembered the futility of war. I and the families of those airmen found it hard to stay strong and movingly the USA charity TAPS was here to help those in such a position of grief now as well.
“The young dead soldiers do not speak…
They say: Whether our lives and our deaths were for
peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say,
it is you who must say this.
We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning.
We were young, they say. We have died; remember us.”
Now of course we are into the clearing up, nobody has much energy, everybody’s voices are a little scratchy and the coffee machine is on overdrive. The marquees are coming down faster than they seemed to go up and there is a slight feeling of flatness as there always is after an enormous and successful event. Now we look forward to the arrival of the film crew the start of the shooting season and turn of the season towards autumn.
Bye Bye – home for tea and biscuits
Instagram
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
What a wonderful and memorable event!! Everyone at Highclere did a spectacular job and you did a great job of celebrating our war heroes. Now you can rest and talk about this grand endeavor. You can also get ready for a little movie which is being filmed at Highclere!! Who really needs rest??
Regards,
Ann Catherine Flood
Sounds like a wonderful event. Thanks for sharing with us
Lady Carnarvan, Thank you so much for sharing your world with us. What an amazing time that must have been.
I have to thank you for organising such a magnificent event and inviting me and my fellow Ashley Holt Singers along to the outdoor service. As you said, a very moving experience. I stood in your grounds listening to the contributors to the service, quietly thanking you for giving me the opportunity to spend the time in reflection and not my usual Sunday activity of running around after my family. It was an absolute joy to be able to sing along to the hymns and be part of your special day. A time to realise that collectively we can achieve great things and hopefully peace. I hope you get a chance to put your feet up!! Thank you again, Debbie
A marvelous weekend tribute to the fallen and a weekend of remembrance for those left who mourn. You always seem to bring out the best in people – you’re a blessing to those who know you and all of us who now have a window into the events of Highclere. I loved my visit there in 2014 and I’m planning a second visit in 2019.
Thank you
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
What a wonderful weekend everyone had at Highclere. My father would have enjoyed it very much. He worked for Boeing right out of High School in Seattle, starting in 1940, until retirement. During WWII it was his job to introduce new pilots to the intricacies of the Boeing planes in Moses Lake, WA.
Congratulations on such a successful event!
Thank you very much
Thank you for hosting such an expansive, fun and meaningful remembrance event. We forget important things so easily. The facilitators are all exhausted, but what you and they do for all of the attendees (and even for those who view it from afar) is permanent and heart-changing.
You are certainly blessed to be able to share and to enjoy the Heroes event. Thank you!
I asked everyone to leave early today!!
Very super!
Lovely, wish I could have been there!
Mission accomplished! You have done a duty of memory for all of us. I could not be here this year, but I followed the festivities of Quebec and I can assure you that everyone seemed to have fun and enjoy this great charity event. I commend you for all your efforts in giving back to your community. Bravo! Visiting Highclere Castle is on my wish list and I hope to visit one of these days. With pleasure!
Look forward to seeing you!
Congratulations on hosting such a glorious event! I took my 93 year old Dad, a WWII USAF veteran to an “air show” in late June here in the States. His eyes gleamed at every twist and turn and roll of the planes as they performed, and he recalled many stories of his years as a pilot during the War. I would suspect many in your audience experienced similar memories. Once again, I am grateful that I have been able to visit Highclere and to have met you, Lady Carnarvon. Although my first glimpse of Highclere was on the television via Downton Abbey, I have learned to appreciate this magnificent structure as a place of family, community, culture, history, and above all, a place of good works, of giving back, of honoring Heroes. Kudos to you and your amazing staff for a job exceedingly well done – once again!
Thank you
I wish I could have been there for this wonderful tribute but I live in the States. However, I did visit in early August when the scaffolding and bleachers were being set up so I did see some of the preparations taking place. I only wished I could have stayed longer to experience this as I am always fascinated by all things WWII. It looks like it was a lovely event with so many dedicated people, many educational exhibits, and lots of heartfelt memories, both happy and sad. Thank you for all you do. You have a beautiful estate and so many of the people who help run it are truly kind and wonderful people. We met many of them on the day of our visit and were in awe of how everyone spoke so affectionately of you and your family. They spoke as true extended family members of Highclere Castle. You have something truly special going on there and for that, I’m sure you’re immensely proud. Cheers ~
I did feel so proud of all the hard work from everyone here and of how an idea became real
What an amazing gathering at Highclere! The atmosphere from the air to the ground must have given everyone a wonderful sense of purpose, showcasing so many components.
Kudos to all who were involved and to the Highclere community and sponsors who made it possible. I’m sure it made a wonderful weekend for guests and visitors. Well done!
The atmosphere was so positive – it was a weekend about friendship and about other people, I think those two things can create moments of happiness
p.s. – I just finished watching all 6 seasons of Downton Abbey with my 80 year old father. We absolutely loved it and it was great seeing all the wonderful rooms and beautiful property of the castle again 🙂
Dear Lady Carnarvan, I enjoy your postings here in the States so very much that I cannot express it. I always feel as if I am standing next to you and strolling the grounds of Highclere with you. Thank you for everything you do. I hope some day to meet you on the grounds of Highclere. Looking forward to the movie!
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you is not grand enough to express what the event meant to me. I carried a photo of my Dad with me to feel he was still a part of the event. As you may remember from our conversation, he served in WWii on a B 17 as a top turret gunner. He is greatly missed by us. And my Husband’s service in Vietnam was recognised by many of the visitors which brought him close to tears. Gratitude can heal many wounds. I was so thrilled to meet you and your kind husband. I wish we could have stayed for Sunday as well, but I will be thankful for what I was able to do. It was above and beyond what I expected. God Bless you and Lord Carnarvon for being so generous. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity. What an experience. I am in tears…again.
Linda Sue… My dad was a lower ball turret gunner on a B17 in WW2. We are in the States and he lives in the Niagara Falls area and is almost 93. Would have loved to see that plane. I enjoyed your comment.
That is what matters – to say thank you, to you father and husband
What a most wonderful event! Thank you for sharing all the highlights on this blog, it is almost like being there. ‘Had invitation and entrance tickets, but was unable to travel, however I was there in spirit! How amazing the air show must have ben, and a most touching memorial, and even “Downton” was well represented! Congratulations!
Well done to you all on a fabulous event, which I had the pleasure of attending on Saturday.
Thank you
I was not able to be there but I could feel the success of the event by your words — I was thrilled to see pictures included with your post —- the enormous B17 flying over Highclere took my breath away —such an awesome picture. Thank you for sharing.
An awesome plane and a great pilot in Roger Mills.
Thank you, Lady Carnarvan, for that vivid and touching account of last weekend’s event. I had a tear in my eye and a smile on my lips and most importantly, you made me feel as if I had been at Highclere.
Thank you for opening up your beautiful home and hosting such a spectacular event.
It was a truly amazing day and a wonderful event.
Being able to visit the Egyptian Museum and see the artifacts that Lord Carnarvon & Howard Carter had brought back was a pure delight. The team that you had hosting in the house who could share their knowledge and insights were superb!
For Skye who is 10 the carousel was the number one highlight along with being photographed with the stormtroopers! Plus of course a quick hello to you too with her Dad after the chinook helicopter took off.
I ended my weekend on the carousel!
My father was in the Navy, a 20 year old gangly youth from a farming community in Texas. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked in 1941. He was on a ship damaged from debris from the explosions on the other battleships. He and others were actively involved with pulling their comrades from water that was on fire. He rarely spoke of the horror, and stressed to us the importance of awareness of the sacrifices the military makes to defend the country and that freedom comes with a high cost. We must never forget that cost. Today is my birthday, and even now in my semi-advanced age, my father’s stories are still fresh in my heart and my eyes blur with tears and I can hear his voice quaver and crack with grief. He felt that he did not do enough. I salute you all with head held high.
They did so much … this by contrast is easy
Wow! It sounds like it was a fabulous weekend!
And I can only imagine how much work went into planning, building, organizing and the actual event. It’s nice to see that you were supported by some membres of the cast of Downton Abbey!
Bravo! I wish I could have been with you.
Salutations from Canada!
Chantal Leblanc
What a wonderful day we spentat Highclere on Saturday.
A truly spectacular event of vision sound .
Thanks to all who made it possible
A very special event.
Thank you – at the core of the weekend for me, were two great girls Charlotte and Stephanie. Chapeau
We leave you our deaths give them their meaning.
Well done in doing so, least we forget.
What a wonderful event to put together and pull off so successfully. Congratulations. My father and uncle were engineers on the Lancasters and Spitfires; I would love to have seen it and so would they. Happy recovery to you and all your staff now the adrenalin has probably disappeared.
Am still utterly out of reserves!!!
Thankyou so much for an amazing event. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We were there on Saturday.
Thank you so much for joining us
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for sharing the array of photos and narration from such a special and important weekend of remembrance.
And what a wide range of emotions those photos convey. From the action and derring-do of the planes and their pilots to the solemnity of the service and the sculpture with poppy.
The joy and delight of the occasion certainly were captured in the two photos featuring:
– Firstly, the “two Lords” of Highclere and it’s alter-ego Downton. (I particularly like the look of the “duelling microphones” in what I am sure must have been a most amusing interview.)
– Secondly, your good-self and Lord Fellows in which he appears to be conveying a ripping yarn with much gusto.
Congratulations to you, your husband and all involved in arranging and conducting such an impressive and important weekend of both tribute and remembrance.
Sincerely,
Jeffery Sewell
At the end of Sunday Paul Mac took the families to the B17 crash site – – many tears but perhaps that helps a sense of understanding
This was a most exciting -and memorable week-end forus ! Oue exoectations were surpased! From the big band dancing outside our Inn to theflyovers and display tents – the old army surgery tent ! Asa midern day surgical assistant – it was impressive ! Thank you Lord & Lady Canarvan for a great way to support charities, Dee Stephens , Memphis Tennessee
Thank you ..
My wife, Dawn and I greatly enjoyed Heroes at Highclere on Sunday – we were there to support The Sepsis Trust in particular. The event had so many strands to it, from the open air multi-faith service to the flying displays, musical entertainment, (the band and dancers were brilliant as were the Military Wives’ Choir) static displays and footie matches.
Congratulations to you and everyone involved in making the whole event such a success.
Thank you for joining us – it was an event to bring out some good charities and share their story – of course the 5th Earl died of sepsis…
Wonderful simply wonderful. I continue to relish my memories of Highclere and chatting with you at the Castle in 2016.
My father was a pilot of the B17 in WWII and flew several missions from England over Germany.
Watching the B 17 was extraordinary..
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Absolutely beautiful in every regard. I had tickets but was not able to be there. Your description is so full that I can picture it all! Well done and congratulations.
Now onto the next major task. I look forward to highlights of the filming and your incredible descriptions. And I hope to plan another visit to Hughclere. It is a gem.
Best regards,
Charlotte Cole
My husband and I were at the Heroes Day in 2014. It was a wonderful day and we will never forget it. This years event looked incredible, wish we could have been there.
Thank you for another heartfelt blog, all your hard work paid off.
I hope so please encourage all your friends to bid for something on the auction!
I arrived at 9am on Saturday morning and left at 5.30pm. I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of the day’s events. The Speakers were excellent, the Red Arrows gave me goose bumps, the classic cars were a sight to behold, some of the ladies outfits were beautiful reflecting WW1, the hog roast was delicious, the Gatsby Girls were great fun and the tent telling the story of treating infection with carbolic soap was amazing. Thank you for all your hard work in putting together such an interesting event. I loved the Carousal and ran out of time as I wanted to try the Red Arrows Simulator so will have to come back next year!!!!! Thank all your staff who worked so hard to put together a fabulous day out.
How very kind – it is great team here.
We came from Oklahoma just for this event…. And it was worth! Every aspect of the day was very well planned and we enjoyed every minute. Thank you! Looking forward to our 3rd visit! 🙂
Thank you very much
Aloha Lady Carnarvon,
This event was like no other I have heard of! Congratulations on such a tremendous undertaking! I am sure the boys from WWII probably were celebrating in heaven. Lord Carnarvon and you have opened your home to such a worthy cause. I am so thankful to have had the privilege of visiting Highclere, as it has played an important role in history.
Thank you
aaaasaahhhhhhhhhh- my dream of seeing Highclere continues to seek high clear air.
Shirley
Lady Carnarvon:
I so looked forward to your update on this very special event weekend–I really did think about it all weekend–wondering how you all fared. I had no doubt it would have been a success.
Last weekend, it was pushed to the forefront of my thoughts when I witnessed a fly over of two F18 fighter jets (it was Armed Forces day)!!! I turned to my husband and remarked, I can’t imagine being in a war with that overhead–the roar of the engines ever so suddenly and then gone in a blink of the eyes.
I must agree being reminded of the weight of the sacrifice and the suffering of our soldiers it is enough to make us all feel so humbled and at times helpless and very, very fortunate. Thank you for all you do.
May God continue to Bless You and your family.
Bev
PS: Please, may we see a photo of the finished sculpture.
I will take one and add it in ! I found it very moving when the service ended and we looked at him. Forgot about anything like a photo
Thank you and Lord Carnarvon for your care and attention in honoring the fallen War heros.
I gave a prayer at the crash site and opened my eyes to find a dove feather at my feet. Perhaps this was a thank you token from those hero’s who have taken flight.
I am glad Paul took you up there
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Wow, how lovely. What a truly bright and marvellous day, and one to be remembered and treasured for many years to come.
One, who lives in Melbourne, Australia, would so love to have been a part of this very beautiful and special day.
There really are no words to describe the magnificence of the day. Congratulations, Lord and Lady Carnarvon for presenting and hosting this truly beautiful occasion. Thank you so very much for the beautiful photos. How wonderful!
With kind regards,
Michael Haggar
Thank you very much
It is so wonderful that you remember all those who served and lost their lives in Wars I and II. It seems like our young people do not realize how the world would be different if these people had not fought for our freedom. Would we all be speaking German?
God bless All those very young men who lost their lives.
Thank you – I speak some German, and very much like the language and learnt Anglo Saxon which I love!
Wow just Wow!!
Amazing photos and wonderful to see from Australia, thank you for sharing Lady Carnavon
Thank you – Morgan Pearse (Australian) brought tears to all our eyes when he sang Going Home – videos follow
Dear Lady Carnarvon, thank you so much for sharing pictures and your thoughts about this worthwhile event. Your world is so colorful and exciting and makes us all long to know you a little better.
Blessings to all of you at Highclere for sharing your history with those of us across the pond
Thank you
This all brought tears to my eyes – such a wonderful event packed with so many memories! Thanks to you and Lord Carnarvon and your team for all the work that went into it. And thank you for sharing with all of us that couldn’t be there!
Thank you Lynn – please do share our on line auction through your friends!
MY DEAR LADY CARNARVON,
“AND WE SANG HYMNS, LISTENED TO SOME VERY THOUGTFUL ADDRESS AND PRAYERS and remembered the futility of war. ” BEAUTIFUL WORDS.
CONGRATULATIONS MYLADY FOR YOUR WELFARE WORKS.
MYLADY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HEART, IS A GREAT LADY.
HONOR YOUR HOMELAND THE BEAUTIFUL ENGLAND .
MARIA AUGUSTA PINHEIRO RIO CLARO SP BRAZIL.
HONOR YOUR HOMELAND THE BEAUTIFUL ENGLAND.
I thought the words of Sophie – Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s grand daughter were very moving and the Belgian Ambassador’s address was very reflective..
Mais uma vez ,aí estive propositadamente de Sintra ,Portugal.
Adorei todas as actividades.
Obrigada pela experiência e bem hajam.
Thank you!
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Yesterday I shared your poignant blog “Heroes-Laughter and Tears” with Cheryl Whitfield, founder of the Fallen Warriors Memorial and Art Gallery (www.fallenwarriorstexas.org). The Memorial and Gallery honors young men and women from across Texas who have lost their lives in Middle East conflicts over the last 15 plus years. Cheryl took particular note of the poem you enclosed. In the U.S. The Fallen Warriors Memorial uniquely honors in stone and portraits the call for those lives lost in to be remembered. During WW2, Cheryl’s father, Captain Charlie Wilson flew 28 missions with the famed 100th Bomb Group, 350th squadron, out of Thorpe Abbotts, England. When he passed away in 2013, the museum flew the flag at half mast. Perhaps at one time or another Captain Charlie flew over the grounds of Highclere Castle! Still a good possibility for a premiere of the stage play “Churchill and Roosevelt: The Big Sleepover At The White House” in England next year.
Thank you for your commments – it has been a weekend Highclere has been honoured to share and I am sure different legacies – and laughter and tears- will take us forward
Lady Carnarvon,
My husband Alex Hammond along with the rest of our Hammond family would like to thank you and Lord Carnarvon and your wonderful staff (Paul was amazing!) for such an out pouring amount of hospitality and welcome to Highclere. We are so thankful and greatful for your honoring of the airmen – especially our Uncle/Great-Uncle Reginald Hammond in such a special way. We are humbled. Thank you doesn’t even seem to start to express our gratitude, but please known it is meant and given with much care.
All the best to you and yours,
Kelly & Alex Hammond
I was so honoured that you came and hope we will see you again
Kelly & Alex the day I met you both & the other family members of the Aircrew of Fort Worth Jail House still brings me to tears, you are all brave people to come from your homes in USA & join us at Highclere Castle for our very special occasion was just wondeful. I never in all my dreams thought this would ever happen, I have spent many hours alone on that hillside metal detecting & looking for bits to tell the story of Jail House always with the thought of the boys in my mine that one day it would happen. When Steve asked me to find a B-17 four years ago we never thought it would end in such a wonderful way, Many thanks goes to Lord & Lady Carnarvon my employers for giving us this chance to find research & tell the story to you all about Fort Worth Jail House at Heroes at Highclere Event with all my other finds from other aircraft that sadly went the same way as Jail House in their own display tent , I hope one day soon I will make that trip we have arranged to your reunion in the USA..
Best Wishes to you all my new friends
Paul Mac
Highclere Aircraft Team
We were so pleased to have the chance to visit on Sunday and witness all the celebrations and recollections of the Armed Services to whom we owe so much. Especially interesting for me was to meet and chat with the various exhibition holders who were representing medical services from WW1 and to share with them the role my Grandfather Pvt Moses Johnson 3850 63rd Royal Naval Division {later to become the Royal Marines}played first in Gallipoli, the later period of the Battle of the Somme and latterly the 3rd Battle of Passcendale. It was there that he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field rescuing a French Officer under fire from no mans land having earlier that day having been blown up by a shell but joined another stretcher unit to carry on his duty. Sadly I never knew him as he died in 1949 but I’m proud to claim the family history and resemblance apparently!
Thank you to all concerned especially to Lord and Lady Carnarvon for hosting this event.
David & Jocelyn Cornwell
Thank you – so many volunteers took part in the weekend – they are passionate about what they know
Heroes at Highclere was magnificent last Saturday. Cheryl and I came over from Florida expecting little more than a tour of the Castle. But, lo and behold, we were also treated to an eclectic tapestry of events in the air, on the fields and in the tents. With Randy Sprout we learned of the tragedy of his dad’s B17 crash on Siddown Hill and we spent twenty minutes quizzing your archivist, David Rymill, on matters Carnarvon.
Cheryl posed with the Gatsby Girls and Randy and I tapped our feet to Alex Mendham and his Orchestra. We met Shrabani Basu and talked about Indian writers we knew in common.
To top it off you both took the time to meet with us in the middle of your busy dinner at the Yew Tree Inn. Many thanks.
Thank you – thank you for joining us!
Dear Lady Carnarvon, Lord Carnarvon
On this Sept. 11th in our United States, we are remembering the downing of our World Trade Center, damage of Pentagon, and plane crash ment for the White House, and loss of 3,000 lives.
Britain and Poland were the first countries to offer help to U.S. on Sept 11th. My eternal gratitude to England, your Ladyship and your Lordship, and all citizens.
God Speed,
Catherine Splane
Chattanooga, Tennessee
U.S.A.
Thank you – Coincidentally it was the day my father in law died – if here at Highclere. It was a horrendous day.
Truly!
Thank you so much for organizing a truly lovely event! I thought you and your team did a fantastic job sharing and honoring the story of what life was like at Highclere during World War I. My husband and I attended on Sunday and really appreciated the service, and of course, touring the Castle. I’m afraid we were the ones who interrupted your well-deserved glass of champagne on Sunday afternoon…so sorry! We really do appreciate you taking the time to chat with us for a few minutes. Thank you!
Delighted to meet you!
You all did an amazing job and so well organised. I cannot believe how much there was to see and do. The Highclere team, the speakers, sponsors and the charities should feel very proud.
Too many highlights to mention. That said, I can’t believe the amazing Colin Bell is 97 years young!
I spent much of the two days with my head stuck in wheelie bins clearing up and it was still the best weekend I’ve had in a long time.
Next stop, the Christmas fair
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
We so enjoyed meeting you and our time at Highclere at this spectacular event. Thank you for celebrating all of the WW heroes in such a memorable way.
I am especially grateful to you for honoring the Fort Worth Jail House B-17 crew and inviting us, the families. This was truly life changing. The service was incredibly moving. The sculpture magnificent. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to chat with Simon O’Rourke (& his mom).
Everyone of your staff involved with the Highclere Aircraft Hunt Team were so knowledgeable, sincere and helpful. Paul, Steve, Adrien, David and others, also Robert (who I’m sorry we did not meet, but was so helpful prior). Going to the crash site was extraordinary.
The memory of these men will now live on more than we ever could have imagined and we are forever grateful to you.
Sincerely, Paula Taylor
T/Sgt Jacob Buikema’s niece
Thank you Paula, I found it very moving and think in some ways it helps bring out the life not just the death by remembering …
Your father in law’s death Sept. 11, 2001…..was he fairly young? This was 17 years ago. I would also guess that you and Lord Carnarvon were also fairly young ?
Sincerely,
Catherine Splane
Chattanooga, Tennessee
U.S.A.
He was 77!
I so enjoy every post in your blog!
Lynn Faircloth
Farmville, Nortth Carolina
USA
Dear Lady Carnarvon
My sister and I were there on Sunday and had an absolutely marvelous time. We spent the whole day there. It was one of the highlights of our trip to England. We want to thank you and Lord Carnarvon for opening up your home. You are wonderful hosts. We are huge fans of Downton and can’t wait for the movie!
Sincerely
Tizzy White
Fairfield, Connecticut USA
MY DEAR LADY CARNARVON,
LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY VÍDEO YES I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS. PLACE IN ENGLAND
MÁRIA AUGUSTA PINHEIRO VILA ALEMÃ RIO CLARO SP BRAZIL
What does one say to begin to thank You for this amazing weekend in September in a Memorial for the father-in-law I never met. My husband Randy Sprout & I were thrilled to spend 2 days at Highclere. His Dad, 1st Lt. Robert Sprout was in the B17 that crashed. Watching the B-17 fly over the castle this month brought us to tears & we watch our video of it over & over! Thank you to Paul for his painstaking research! Words cannot express how great Gil we are to you & Lord Carnarvon! Many Thanks & I hope to return! Respectfully, Dawn Sprout
Res
Thank you for coming. This morning, walked down to the statue with a group of friends – they found it very moving. It will long outlast us.
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I was so very impressed with “Heroes at Highclere”! Your personal efforts to honor my Dad’s crew and all the Airman was so very apparent. I showed my 93-year-old Mom the high definition video of the event and she also was very thrilled. I wanted also to tell you what a prince you have in Paul McTaggart! He took all the family members to the wreck site and that was stunning for all of us. I showed my 3 children the video of us hunting for flack of the plane and that really brought this personal history home to them. Paul’s research into this event is so sensitive and so thorough. Thank you and your staff for a truly memorable event. It really means a lot to people you haven’t even met!
Respectfully,
Randy Sprout
Thank you for coming here – it has been the most extraordinary journey for me since I first heard from Eddie who works for us here that a B-17 had crashed into Siddown Hill. Just a few words that have led me on a journey and brought others along too. You father and his band of brothers gave everything so it is just for us to say thank you and remember them. I hope that this will be the beginning of a legacy..