Well, the daffodils were out, but the sun was still on its winter break for our Parish Open Day. Despite a bitter north wind and water-logged roads, about 200 parishioners joined us to celebrate the first Sunday of our Season. We lit a fire in the Banqueting Hall and were treated to a spirited performance by an a cappella vocal group from Yale University called “Out of the Blue”.
Thrilled to hear they were performing where Charles Dickens once performed, eighteen 18-year-olds from all over the United States sang lively versions of contemporary pop songs. Especially impressive was the vocal percussion, which got the audience moving – and thawing out!
For our younger visitors, after a wind-swept tour of the dinosaurs, there was story-telling in the Picture Gallery as part of the North Hertfordshire Book Festival. It was a fun day – and, as every year, very pleasing to hear that for many of our neighbours it was their first visit inside Knebworth House, and that they now plan to come more often… but maybe next time on a less dark and stormy day!
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com