Category Archives: 2025

It was 20 years ago today… well, this month, that I started writing a monthly piece for the Parish News.  That’s 240 contributions, and this the 241st.  The past paragraphs are all on line on the Knebworth House website, and … Continue reading →

I was first bowled over by the beautiful voice of Oliver Darley when I saw the original West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Woman in White”, in which he played the role of the villain Sir Percival Glyde.  … Continue reading →

Classical trumpeter, Alison Balsom OBE, to John Wilson, “This Cultural Life”, 4th September 2025, BBC Radio 4: “Our whole family, we’re really big fans of Queen, and my love of Queen comes from the fact that my grandparents live in … Continue reading →

I love it that as your plane begins its descent to Luton airport your first sight of England is Knebworth Park.  Not a bad introduction to England’s green and pleasant land.   Around the world, those watching Netflix’s No1 film at … Continue reading →

Knebworth Festivals do have a history of world-class music, and this summer it was the turn of the Knebworth Village Festival to take that crown.  ‘Midsummer Mozart’ was billed as a ‘fringe’ event, but that can only mean ‘fringe’ as … Continue reading →

“It is indeed a dream to me that I should be writing to you on this delicious afternoon, under the oak-tree on the lawn of my grandmother’s garden – the bees humming, the birds hopping, the children capering around me … Continue reading →

One the great pleasure in June is that the dogwood tree in Knebworth House’s Wilderness Garden is fully in bloom.  How magnificent it is!  With its white flowers, even in a black and white photo, how spectacular it looks.  Martha’s … Continue reading →

What a beautiful day we had for our Parish Open Day!  We hosted almost 1000 parishioners; that’s about 20% of the village.  Our M.P. Kevin Bonavia joined us, attending also the Twinning AGM, on what I reminded him is meant … Continue reading →

As the former home of the novelist Edward Bulwer Lytton, Knebworth House is a member of LitHouses, a network of the Literary homes of Great Britain, that includes the homes of Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, the Bronte sisters and many … Continue reading →

This March edition of the magazine arrives in your letterbox just as the Oscars take place in Hollywood which, every year, makes me think of our late Great Dane Oscar (probably my best chance of getting an Oscar), and this … Continue reading →