March Letter from the Curator
Hoorah!
Daffodils are just starting to promise a really fantastic display for the end of March and into April. There are an exceptional number of shoots this year and their arrival on the green slopes of the castle is always heart-lifting.
This is the final burst of busy office activity in the last weeks before we open on Easter Sunday for the main season. Last minute printing of event sheets (see our events list) and making sure the furniture has a final polish and our wonderful team of guides all prepared to greet visitors.
There is a real sense of urgency we all enjoy.
Enactors are a strange but talented bunch of people – I am allowed to say this as I am one myself. They don’t hesitate to turn up for meetings with me in full costume and often do. I have had a meeting with Henry VIII, a Torturer in a black leather mask and a seamstress in full medieval garb – all a bit eccentric but great fun.
For our Grand Bank Holiday opening in Easter this year we are expecting The Levy from Herefordshire who haven’t been to us before and I must say we are all staggered by the number of fantastic tents in brilliant colours they are bringing and living history experts from Barber Surgeons to archers to cooks. Interest in historical food is really at a height at the moment and I know whole families will be crowded round that stall smelling the spices and watching the food being prepared. We are all so glad to get some sunshine with our families after long winters too often indoors. Fresh air days – we do those best here at Tutbury Castle.
Come and find out why
Best wishes to you all
Lesley Smith
Curator
Castle Quips
- To me in a supermarket over Christmas from a lady “Goodness me, I never thought you would go shopping in supermarkets!”??
- From a small boy about to see Elizabeth 1st. “Has she got out of her grave to see us?” and he was delighted – not slightly scared…
- A group of American tourists on a coach turned up unexpectedly and of course we made them very welcome and I gave them a talk dressed as Elizabeth 1st from my throne. One of my team room girls came up to me afterwards and said “them Americans are singers and they want to sing to you – what do you think?” I said I was delighted and they started to sing. It was rather a shock as the whole castle and grounds came to a halt and listened and then started to run towards the great hall. They could certainly sing – they were the Salt Lake City Mormon Choir, world famous and recognised as one of the finest choirs on the face of the earth. “Them Americans” could certainly sing as they lifted what is left of the roof singing to Elizabeth 1st. and making everyone cheer and clap when they finished like thunder…Fantastic for the goose bumps.