Another important anniversary this month – but a more recent one than the stay of Grand Duke Michael of Russia. This August marks the 10th anniversary of the visit to Knebworth of Grand Duke Robbie of Stoke-on-Trent. Ten years?! It seems like last summer! And if you don’t have the DVD (“What We Did Last Summer”), do remind yourself of how spectacular it was by watching one of the many YouTube clips. I recommend “Robbie Williams Angels live at Knebworth”, which has a staggering 5 million views – okay, 4,701,685 when I last looked, but we make a habit of bragging about this show!
At 375,000 people, we still believe it is the largest music event in British history. The album “Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth” hit the Top Ten from Argentina to Saudi Arabia and, according to Wikipedia (it must be true!), has sold over 2 million copies. The DVD was the biggest selling music DVD of all time when it was released – a No.1 in Norway, Germany… even Australia, where it sold 165,000 copies. Just to consider all the pleasure that this one weekend in our village has spread across the globe makes me very proud. I echo Robbie’s parting words as he left the stage on 3rd August 2003, “Knebworth – I – love – you!”
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com