A Very British Evening
A Very British Evening
Dame Maggie Smith famously commented that audiences loved Downton Abbey because it "almost never rains," thus creating a magical, nostalgic, sunlit vision of an England past. Lowering clouds or downpours arrived only to match an occasional challenging twist in the plot. Amazingly, we have just had such a sun drenched nostalgic evening here at Highclere for real.
Each year, on the first Saturday of August, the Castle hosts a concert which begins with the Red Devils parachuting in before continuing with live music, a spitfire soaring and curving through the skies above our heads, fireworks and cannons. It is known as the Battle Proms.
Each year, like clockwork and weeks in advance, John G the Castle Manager will start worrying about the weather. Over the last 25 years it has only actually rained once but it has of course been overcast or a little damp although on the whole we have been very lucky with the weather. This year of course the weather has been beautifully warm and sunny so much so that John G instead had to worry about fire risks instead.
Before all the preparations begin, the first thing we have to ensure is that the horses and sheep are removed to some distance away as the fireworks are not their idea of entertainment. Otherwise, for towards 8,000 people, I hope it is a most entertaining evening which begins in good English style with a queue that snakes down the driveway before the gate opens at 4pm to the large grass area in front of the Castle.
There are so many things I enjoy about this event but perhaps one of the best things is the sense of community and togetherness it engenders, from everyone trying to sing when no one quite know the words, to the intake of breath when the noise of the spitfire engine begins to grow. It is an iconic plane, and the noise of the engine and its silhouette against the sunset still evoke a pride in Britain’s fortitude and courage during the Second World War.
Somehow various historical episodes over several centuries are celebrated together on this evening: there is a marvellous display of old cavalry charges from the Napoleonic wars in the early 19th century and a lot of music and costumes from the 1940’s
It is an evening for every one of every age, from five to ninety-five. London friends of mine were taken back to their childhoods with the thrill of watching the huge firework display silhouetted against the cedar tree, arguing about who took the best photos on their phones. Children came and went looking for hot chocolate or chips or more flags to to wave and my sister Penny competed to see if she could sing louder than her daughters.
The evening builds towards the musical fireworks - spectacular circles of lights and multi- coloured shooting stars lighting up the darkness to the accompaniment of music. All 8000 of us are looking up and sharing the same few minutes together in almost eerie synchronicity.
Fireworks may be just a chemical reaction with a bit of flair, but they never grow stale whatever your age. They were first invented by the Chinese and only really made their way to Europe in the Tudor times. The wedding of Henry VII in 1486 was marked by fireworks and Elizabeth I much enjoyed them, so much so that she created a “Fire Master of England”. William Shakespeare mentions fireworks, for example in “Love’s Labour’s Lost” and the misuse of pyrotechnics - gunpowder - was the cause of the fire which destroyed the original Globe Theatre. Two hundred years later in 1749, Handel wrote the Music for the Royal Fireworks to celebrate a peace treaty.
I am not sure many of us think very deeply about what we are all enjoying as we are there for the fun and friendship and the sheer spectacle of the evening, but there is no doubt that music allows us to connect to both our emotions and a feeling of togetherness. If we did need another reason to feel good, the event raises money for the charity SSAFA, the UK’s leading charity to help those who serve and save.
32 Comments
What a fantastic Saturday afternoon & evening was, the spitfire fly past display was particularly magnificent and as always, stirred the emotions. Our friends (newbies to Battleproms) are eager to return next year, already in our diaries 😃 🇬🇧
You are so lucky to have been there to see everything ‘live’!
It truly is a remarkable day!
I visited Highclere Castle three times so far and had the most beautiful weather every single time! One day I will make it to battle proms!Kind regards from Austria!egards
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
You paint a lovely image of what sounded like a glorious evening. I hope to be in attendance in the next couple of years as it is right up my alley. I am happy the rain held off. Thank you for the virtual visit.
Thank you for your kind words. I do hope you can join us one day.
I was a guest at the Battle of the Proms in 2014 as the winner of the PBS sweepstakes. I’m originally from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, now living in Phoenix, Arizona. It was the thrill of a lifetime to be there.
I met my English friends there, the music and singing was amazing . It was also the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WW1 and a special service was held in the grounds of Highclere Castle on Sunday morning,, Lord Carnarvon read the Flanders Field poem , Morning has broken was sung, we used to sing that in school when I was little. It was a weekend I’ve never forgotten.
Thank you for sharing your experience with me. I'm delighted you enjoyed your time and that my article brought back fond memories.
Thank you for this article. It brings back memories of my visit in 2014. That year was all about World War I, if my memory serves me. I attended the battle proms by myself and made friends. I sat at their table and ate my picnic purchased at Aldi. I had so much fun waiving the Union Jack and singing along. I was a Brit on that night, even though I’m an American.
Also touring Highclere was a highlight in the height of the Downton Abbey era.
Thank you so much for sparking my memory of a wonderful visit.
Thank you for visiting and celebrating such a remarkable time with us - I'm so glad my article brought back wonderful memories for you.
How wonderful to experience such a wonderful and worthy event. I’ve visited the UK only once but I loved every minute of our time spent there. I felt I belonged.
Thank you so much for describing your wonderful experiences.
Much love from Melbourne, Australia
Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for another interesting story about dear Highclere. I laughed out loud at “… everyone trying to sing when no one quite knows the words.” We in America feel the same way when we try to sing the “Star-Spangeld Banner”!
This event honoring those who endured WW II is very special. Thank you for logging it in the Highclere Castle archives!
Martha
All those dishy chaps! What a line up:)
Exactly !!!
I lovely picture of a very British evening did you and lord Carnarvon have a wonderful weekend and lam fan of Downton abbey and highcelerecastle
Must have been a fantastic evening I did so enjoy reading all about it
Thank you for sharing it with us x
5th time attending.
First time at Highclere, normally Hatfield House
It is a brilliant evening. Love it, thank you
Thank you for sharing the evening with us at Highclere, I'm so glad you enjoyed yourself.
Lovely pictures of a British evening did you and lord Carnarvon wonderful and lam fan of Downton abbey and highcelere castle
How wonderful! 💖💖💖
What a handsome group of men around you, so young and so vital.....who obviously enjoy the thrill of what they do! And you are
the rose in the midst of them.....
That's very kind of you Jody. The red devils are a wonderful bunch.
Lovely picture a very British evening and did you and lord Carnarvon have a nice weekend and lam a fan Downton abbey and highcelere castle
We did, thank you Karen!
Spectacular on all levels!
I must try to get there next year.
What a wonderful celebration! Thank you for sharing this event!
We have been watching reruns of Downton Abbey lately and it so
great to see Highclere still in its glory!! Thank you, to you and your
Family!!!
Thank you for your kind words - it's truly an honour to share this wonderful place with you all.
so cool....
Oh what a wonderful British Evening. There's something magical in your program and it must have been amazing to have been there. The Ted Arrows and Spitfires: what a combination. My heart always stirs at the sound of both of them. Our father was a Spitfire Pilot in the RAF and we rarely see or hear one now. Thank you so much for sharing your musical celebration night - such a wonderful occasion to gather familles and friends together . And musical fireworks would have been a so Dracula's end to a very special evening. Your photographs paint the picture beautifully.
Thank you so much for your kind words Althea
The evening sounds absolutely wonderful, and the photos are super, especially the one of you and The Red Devils!
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I wish I could have been there, what a wonderful sight.