Sudeley Castle embarks upon a new season

On 31st March, Lady Ashcombe hosted a party for the launch of the 2006 Season, at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe. Fifty invited guests attended the event that featured the new exhibition ‘Letters to Khartoum’ and the new ‘Connoisseur Tours’ of some of the most splendid rooms in the private apartments, including the Billiard Room and Chandos Bedroom. David Gordon, General Gordon’s great grand nephew attended the event, which included viewings of an audio-visual presentation, portraying General Gordon’s Siege of Khartoum and Relief Expedition in the 1880’s.

The General and Captain John Brocklehurst, later Lord Ranksborough, an ancestor of the current family, the Dent-Brocklehurst’s, were great friends and corresponded with each other, often at great personal risk. The local artist, Katie Morgan, described to fellow guests how she created a backdrop for the artefacts and paintings, the result being a truly atmospheric setting for the varied and interesting pieces. Having viewed the new exhibition, guests moved downstairs to enjoy a sumptuous buffet in the Banqueting Hall and were addressed by Lady Ashcombe and Fergus Nicoll, who provided a voiceover for the new audio visual and wrote the book ‘The Mahdi of the Sudan’, relating to the Siege of Khartoum.

After lunch, the gardens and other exhibitions were open for guests to explore at their own leisure.

They were also invited to attend the new tours led by our Senior Guides, which are taking place on Wednesdays for the remainder of the season. Sudeley Castle Gardens & Exhibitions is closed for the winter but will re open on 31st March 2007

Visit www.sudeleycastle.co.uk for opening times. Special Events programme throughout the season, Please call 01242 602308 for further details.