“Rebus Angustis Fortis” is the motto on the Cobbold coat-of-arms. “Courage Through Adversity”. It comes to mind at the end of this unsettling year. I have seen so many instances of it in 2020. How extraordinary our NHS and Care workers have been. How brilliantly so many have persevered through lockdowns and restrictions, family drama and tragedies. Our health, livelihoods, businesses, friends, relations and neighbours have all been put at risk. And with what fortitude and imagination so many have fought back,
A sad and happy year ends with sad and happy news. Very sad, is the passing of Bryan Poole who I had the privilege of getting to know as a Governor of Knebworth Primary School. I served with Bryan on the Premises Committee of the School Governors from the beginning of 2009 to the beginning of 2013. He was a lovely man and a brilliant supporter of the school. His good company and good humour made it a pleasure to take on the not-so-thrilling tasks of health & safety audits and boiler repairs and security fencing and playground resurfacing… the list goes on… and on… I am sure Bryan is now pointing out to St Peter that the gates need their hinges checked and probably could do with a lick of paint. I am in awe of the amount of time Bryan volunteered for the school. I managed only four years. Bryan started in 1989. That’s over thirty years of giving up his personal time in the interests of our local school. He will be much missed and I send sympathies and best thoughts to his wife Lynda, a similarly dedicated volunteer and previous editor of this magazine
Happier news is that last month Martha was unanimously voted President of Historic Houses, a national association representing over 1600 independently-owned historic houses and gardens. She will hold the position for four years, and is the first female president in the association’s fifty year history. It is a great tribute to all her hard work and dynamic management of Knebworth House, and her commitment to heritage issues, locally, regionally, and across the country.
She and I and all our family wish all our neighbours in Knebworth a very Happy Christmas,
Henry Lytton Cobbold
@HenryCobboldKH