Second Public Event, held at Saint Benedict’s House, St Leonards-on-Sea on 8th May 2016.
Following the success of the Society’s first event, at Eastwell Manor, it was decided to invite all those who had been unable to attend (usually because of Mothers Day!) to a similar, though smaller, occasion. This as held at the lovely St Benedict’s and began with a delicious Tea in the garden. The day occurred in “Bright Week” in the Orthodox calendar, the week after Easter Sunday, and delicious traditional Russian Easter food – Paskha and Kulich – was served. Proceedings began with the singing of the verse “Christ is Risen from the Dead”, which was rendered in both English and Slavonic.
Among the guests who joined us was Father Terence Wilson who brought with him some of his albums of rare photographs, including one of the Grand Duchess’s family at Eastbourne in the 1870s. We very much appreciated having sight of these.
An abridged showing of the film, covering part of the life of our Grand Duchess, followed. Owing perhaps to the smaller room in which we viewed it, this was a more vivid and moving experience than we had at Eastwell and was appreciated by all.
Once again we were entertained with a piano recital by Mr Alexei Knupffer, who played some of his own melodic compositions as well as pieces from Rachmaninov and Katchaturian.
John Harwood read two letters from the Grand Duchess to the Emperor Nicholas II and made the suggestion that the Society might like to consider publishing the remaining 100 letters as a special venture.
The event closed with the warmest of thanks given to the Society’s organisers and especially for the hospitality of Paul Oxborrow and Alexander Groves.