Happy birthday to us … celebrating 20 years at The Prebendal Manor
Forum members at The Prebendal Manor
The Forum was ‘born’ in 2002 to celebrate and promote (then) mainly smaller museums and the history of our county. As we grew, it included historic houses and other heritage organisations, changing its name from Northamptonshire Museums Forum to Northamptonshire Museums and Historic Houses Forum, to the current title which reflects the diversity of its members. Today, we have 110 organisational members, from the smallest museums to the grandest of historic houses, and all sizes and subjects in between, as well as a plethora of individual members. Organisations range from boots and shoes (as you would expect) to transport, art galleries, historic sites, churches and religious buildings, museums and local history societies.
In 2016, we were honoured when the Rt Hon. Earl Spencer, MA (Oxon), FRSA became our patron. As he states on our website, he feels that the Forum is “an essential body that celebrates the gratifying range of arts, culture and heritage in this beautiful and ancient county. I have a humble aspiration: to make the past accessible to a broad audience, without ‘dumbing down’ or condescension - and that is why I’m proud to be patron of this forum, that shares this simple aim.”
Host Jane Baile and Stuart Richmond Watson DL presiding over the birthday cakes
2022 is therefore our anniversary year and on the afternoon of Thursday 22 June, members came together at the wonderful Prebendal Manor to celebrate that fact. Jane Baile, the owner, was the tireless Chairman for many years so it was very fitting that we held our party there. Following a welcome drink of Pimms or a soft drink, Martin Lawrence, the Forum Chairman, thanked everyone for their hard work in supporting each other and working together to promote the heritage of our county. Stuart Richmond Watson DL also gave a few words of address, highlighting what the county has to offer. Kate Dent, Marketing Director at Northamptonshire: Britain’s Best Surprise fondly remembered her long association with the Forum from our earliest days.
Members enjoyed a fascinating tour of the house with Jane Baile and of the mediaeval gardens with historic gardener, Mike Brown. Prebendal Manor has an amazing history, being Grade 1 listed and the earliest surviving dwelling in Northamptonshire and yet brought right up to date by being on the Airbnb circuit!
After digesting all the historical information of house and garden, members sat down to the delicious sweet and savoury items that everyone had brought to share. Of course, we all enthusiastically sang ‘Happy Birthday to Us’ (a little mangled when it came to the third line!) before the birthday cake was cut – and, in consideration of recent events, the candles were wafted out using a copy of the Forum booklet rather than blowing.
A raffle was held - thank you to everyone who brought a prize - making £110.
Martin paid tribute to Jane afterwards saying: “Thank you for hosting a wonderful birthday party. The weather was kind; the tours were excellent; the food and drink were marvellous; and the cakes were beautifully designed for the occasion.” What more can we say? Thank you, Jane and happy birthday to us! Here’s to the next 20 years…
Angela Scheidegger
