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The Afternoon Tea Times welcomes correspondence. Contact Afternoon Tea online, or by mail to: Afternoon Tea Times, MPT, 11767 Owings Mills Blvd., Owings Mills, MD 21117-1499. You may also reach MPT Afternoon Tea by telephone at (443) 394-1634.
Tea Times is a co-production of Maryland Public Television and The Insider, a publication of the BBC Sales Company.
The Insider welcomes all correspondence, story ideas and requests for contributed articles. Send letters via e-mail to Editor N. Scott Jones at bbinsider@comcast.net or by snail mail to: The Insider, c/o Oliviu Savu, BBC Worldwide Americas, 747 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10017-2803. All letters are assumed to be for publication unless marked otherwise. The Insider reserves the right to edit letters for reason of space or clarity. Let us know what you think!
The Insider, copyright 1999-2007 by the BBC Sales Company. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission. All photos and graphics used are rights free or copyrighted by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Unless otherwise indicated, all material written by N. Scott Jones.
Editor's Note
We hope to see many of you at the Antiques Roadshow at the Baltimore Convention Center on June 16! Everyone here is eagerly anticipating all of the excitement that surrounds this event. When the Antiques Roadshow came to Baltimore about 10 years ago, we had great fun with all the folks who brought their treasures and with the staff of the Roadshow. We can hardly wait for the day to come again!
A special treat is in store for you in this issue. Our very own Heather had Tea with the Queen when she was here visiting in the States. Heather wrote an article telling us about it. No pictures were allowed but when you read what Heather has to tell us you will feel like were there!
The Afternoon Teaisms section this month is a little different. We show you the actual invitation to the Tea and the menu that was served. We thought you'd be interested in seeing this.
There are so many good programs on this month. In the Tea News Bits we tell you about some of them. Little Britain? We also tell you about what city is trying to have a section designated with this moniker.
An interview with Clive Swift is in this edition for your reading enjoyment. Otherwise known as Richard Bucket, Mr. Swift fills in some of the areas that we've been asked about - like what happened to the first Rose. He also discusses what it was like to have such a grueling schedule, and of, course, what it was like to work with Patricia Rutledge.
Two recipes are included this month - one seasonal and one totally British since the Queen served it at her Tea. Try one - or both!
Have a great summer!
The Tea Times Newsletter Staff
1
They Say It's Your Birthday!
Do you share a birthday with any of these people?
June 1, 1947 - Ron Wood, musician, the Rolling Stones
June 13, 1893 - Dorothy L. Sayers, mystery writer
June 18, 1886 - George Mallory, mountain climber, explorer
June 25, 1903 - George Orwell, novelist
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In the Presence of Royal-Tea: My Visit with The Queen
by Heather Sanderson
Queen Elizabeth II.
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There's nothing I enjoy more than popping on the kettle weekday afternoons and settling down with a nice cup of tea to watch my favorite British series on MPT. Many of the shows feature couples who feel just like family - Hyacinth and Richard, Jean and Lionel, James and Helen, Onslow and Daisy, Compo and Nora. Recently though, I had the privilege of attending a tea gathering in honor of a real life couple whose long standing marriage is renowned the world over - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her husband of over fifty years, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Royal Invitation.
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The excitement began three weeks before the Queen's visit, when I received an extremely large, hand addressed, envelope in the mail. Seeing the Royal seal, I was very careful in how I opened it. Sure enough, it was an invitation to attend a Garden Party at the residence of the British Ambassador and his wife, Lord and Lady Manning. After the initial excitement, panic set in - what to wear? What to say? And what if I spilled my tea! I imagined myself greeting the Queen, holding onto my china cup while it clattered against the saucer - now I know how Hyacinth's neighbor Elizabeth feels when she receives a command to come over for tea!
Heather and her husband.
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Finally, the day arrives and my husband and I arrive at the gates of the residence. We are ushered into the garden, where every face seems a familiar one. House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi; former House Speaker Tom Foley; Representatives Steny H. Hoyer and Dennis J. Kucinich; Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman and his wife Hadassah; Richard L. Armitage, formerly deputy secretary of state under the current President Bush; Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser under President Ford and the first President Bush; journalists Sam Donaldson and Brit Hume; PBS's Judy Woodruff; and so many other faces that we know we know from the world of politics, or news and television media, but can't put names to.
As we stand atop the patio at the rear entrance to the mansion, we see a British television crew desperately trying to track down Mickey Rooney. We guess they eventually find him, because we saw on the news that night footage of a chair bound Mr. Rooney kissing the Queen's hand!
While the VIPs mingled, we wander the grounds and admire the Embassy gardener's work. Making a garden fit for a Queen and being responsible for all of the flower arrangements inside and out of the residence can't have been an easy task. I heard later, that Embassy Gardener Jim Adams had been rewarded for his stellar job, when he received notification the next day that the Queen wanted to personally thank him for his efforts. Within the space of an hour, maybe less, Adams and his staff were whisked over to Blair House where the Queen was staying and enjoyed a full seven minutes being privately acknowledged for their work. Given the Queen's immensely packed schedule during the one week stay and her age, you'd think she would long for some unscheduled extra time to relax? But not this 81 year old, whom obviously knows the importance of the words "thank you".
The flower arrangements at the Garden Party are immense; in size, in variety and most wonderful of all, in fragrance. They decorate the refreshment tables under the marquee where, competing for attention is a vast assortment of favorite British teatime delicacies. Sandwiches of all kinds; smoked salmon, cucumber, egg, cheese and tomato; deserts such as scones replete with the mandatory blackcurrant jam and Cornish cream; flapjacks; meringues, tarts, and huge bowls of strawberries and cream. None of which I dared to enjoy until after the Queen had left. (Images again of the other "Elizabeth" trying to talk to Hyacinth with her mouth full of custard tart!)
The marquee walls are lined with massive mounted photographs of the Queen with every President that has been in power, with the exception of Lyndon Johnson, during her reign. A total of 10, going all the way back to President Truman.
On the patio outside the doors through which the Queen will make her entrance is the Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards. Members of the British forces, smilingly and ever so politely, request that we please step back a little. Before we realize, we have formed two lines under the canopy, facing each other. This is the gangway down which the Queen and Prince Phillip will walk.
Opposite me is Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Next to me is House Minority Leader Roy Blunt. He talks politics with my husband, while I wait nervously. Suddenly, hat brims become dangerous weapons as all heads turn to witness the Entrance. Her Majesty though only small in stature, is huge in presence. She stands, as we all do, silently, while the Guards strike up...God Save Our Gracious Queen, Long Live Our Noble Queen, God Save The Queen, boom, boom, boom, ba, boom... I am suddenly transported back to the country where I was born -- England. And here is my Queen for whom the Anthem is being played. I cannot take my eyes off her, and wonder just how many times the Queen has gone through this procedure? And how many more times lay ahead? As the Queen, followed by Prince Phillip, and their hosts, wanders down towards the marquee, I am filled with a great sense of pride.
Prince Philip navigates our side of the line. I have to remind myself that he is 86 years old. He looks a good twenty years younger. I notice that he and Prince Charles share the exact same mannerisms. He stops and chats. The northern lady next to me mentions that she brought her students to welcome The Queen and the Prince as they arrived at Blair House that same morning. This gives Prince Phillip a perfect gaffe line... "I suppose you only brought the cleanest and the brightest, eh?!" he jokes. "Absolutely not! They all came", responds the feisty northerner. We all laugh and the Prince moves on.
The Queen walks along the other side. As she moves a step, her entourage lead by two Grenadier Guards, moves a step too. The choreography is perfect. I see the Queen stop and chat to a little old Russian lady, who I find out later, had reminded the Queen that they had first met before she was Queen. For 45 minutes, the Royal Party slowly traverses the line. When they reach the garden, they switch sides and come back. Eventually, the Queen is a few feet away. She looks radiant. She is wearing a two piece deep salmon colored suit, with her usual comfortable black shoes. The Queen walks by, then suddenly walks back towards where we are standing. She has noticed the OBE medal my new friend from Leeds is wearing. Something the Queen personally awarded to her at Buckingham Palace in 2000 for Services to Education. They talk about Jenny's new job as head of The British School in DC. I stand memorized by the Queen's face - her blue eyes twinkle and her complexion really is peaches and cream.
For 90 minutes everyone in attendance is spellbound and beaming. All have an equal shot at a short visit. To quote my husband, "think second grade, 'pick me, pick me'". As I look around at my fellow Garden Partiers, I can't help but think that an audience with royalty is a great equalizer.
Eventually the clock strikes four, and the Royal Party depart. They head back to Blair House to prepare for the State Dinner. While I head...to the tea table. Earl Grey and a raspberry and chocolate tart. The perfect ending to my Tea with the Queen.
Related links
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Tea News Bits
Born and Bred
Born and Bred starts Saturday, June 30 at 6:00 p.m. Thanks to all of you who took your time to write to us to express your enjoyment while watching this program and requesting its return!
Programs you don't want to miss
If you enjoy music programs, June is a great month for you! There are so many we can't mention them all. We only have space to tell you about some of them.
To start off the month, Bruce Springstein with the Sessions Band Live in Dublin airs on Friday, June 1 at 10:00 p.m. My Music: The British Beat airs on Sunday, June 3 at 9:00 p.m. i airs on Wednesday, June 6 at 10:30 p.m. Then there is the Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus on Friday, June 8 at 11:00 p.m. Saturday, June 16 at 6:30 brings you Van Morrison: Live at Montreux.
On Sunday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. Celtic Woman - A New Journey will be on for your viewing enjoyment.
On Monday, June 18 at 9:00 p.m. be sure to tune in for Anúna, an MPT production. Anúna is the heart and soul of the original Riverdance phenomenon. The use of costumes, crystalline voices, candles and ritualistic movement create a unique atmosphere making you will feel like you are part of the event. This is truly a don't miss program!
Non-musical programs of note begin on Saturday, June 2 at 4:30p.m., with the Remarkable Red Hat Society. There are probably quite a few of the Tea Goers who are members of this group who will enjoy watching this program.
On Sunday, June 3 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., you can see the entire Anne of Green Gables series. A family expecting to adopt a boy gets a chatty little girl instead.
Your weekday Britcoms will be preempted during the week of June 4 through Friday, June 8. However, on Thursday, June 7 at 2:30 p.m., you can again see the As Time Goes By Reunion Special. We know how much everyone loves this program!
The Saturday evening Brit Coms will be pre-empted on June 2, 9, 16 and 23, but will return on Saturday, June 30. However, Funny Turns: John Inman returns on Saturday, June 9 at 9:00 p.m. followed by The Funny Blokes of British Comedy at 10:00 p.m.
The British Players
The British Players present their biggest show of the year, and 43rd annual, Old Time Music Hall, during the last two weeks in June at Kensington Town Hall. For details on this and future events:
Visit » www.britishplayers.org
Skipjack Martha Lewis
The Skipjack Martha Lewis is back in business! Our friends there would be delighted if you could attend their first Afternoon Tea of the season on June 6. If you recall, you saw Heather onboard last year. We highly recommend this outing. Go to their web site to find out the details. Say hello to everyone in Havre de Grace for us!
Visit » www.skipjackmarthalewis.org
Brits in Their 'Hood
Move over Little Italy and Chinatown - you may have to make room in Manhattan for Little Britain. New York-based agency The Joneses, along with Virgin Atlantic, long-time West Village Shop Tea & Sympathy and a growing collection of U.K.-associated businesses and area residents, are heading up the "Campaign for Little Britain" to designate an area around Greenwich Avenue and West 12th Street as an official British enclave. "Tea & Sympathy has been there for 17 years, and in that time it's become known as the unofficial British embassy," says expat Brit Rupert Newton, co-founder of The Joneses. "About 15 other British businesses have also opened in that neck of the woods. When you look into the varied history of naming New York neighborhoods, a lot of them started with anything from one house to one block. So then it was just a matter of thinking, why not a Little Britain?"
Local opposition is minimal, thanks in large part to the light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek attitude behind the campaign. From wry posters to a spoofed political party broadcast, the group is using humour to win its way. Newton credits a collaborative effort as the key to success, lauding creatives Richard Dean and Pete Lewtas at Men On The Ground; director Matt Ryan; Deepend for web design; art directors Mat Kemp and Steve Rutterford; and logo designer Warren Elwin at Smoke, among others. In addition, Brit clothier Ben Sherman is creating a special-edition T-shirt to be sold at its Manhattan store. It's all aimed at driving people to sign an online petition, which the group will present to Mayor Michael Bloomberg on May 2. A mayoral thumbs-up is all that's needed for street signs and tourist maps to make Little Britain official.
Visit » www.campaignforlittlebritain.com
Creativity Magazine | April 2007
Lark Ascending tops UK classical favorites poll
Britain's favorite piece of classical music is an homage to the English countryside by home-grown composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, according to a listener's poll published this week.
The Lark Ascending, inspired by a George Meredith poem of the same name and intended to evoke the lyricism of English pastoral beauty, overcame stiff competition from Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto to top Classic FM's 11th "Hall of Fame."
www.news.yahoo.com | Reuters
4
The Memoirs of Richard Bucket
The Insider Interview with Clive Swift
Hyacinth Bucket tends to be domineering and never let her husband get a word in edgewise, but we let Clive Swift go on as long as he wanted in this exclusive interview with the star of Keeping Up Appearances.
I want to ask you about Keeping Up Appearances, of course, but would also like to find out something about your background. Do you come from a family with a show business tradition?
Clive Swift
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No, we're provincial, from Liverpool. Provincial and Jewish. My parents were fairly histrionic, but the thought of being a performer - they didn't approve of it at all. Funnily enough, my eldest sister wanted to be an actress and then I have an elder brother, David Swift, who is an actor. Do you know a show called Drop the Dead Donkey? He played that randy newsreader and I thought he was wonderful.
Well, what happened was that I was very headstrong. I went to Cambridge University and was a contemporary of Ian McKellan, Derek Jacobi, Peter Cook and Eleanor Bron. We acted day and night and it was amazing. It was more like a drama academy, really, although I studied English literature.
I was spotted by (famed director) Peter Hall. He was just setting up the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1960. His idea was to have a group of players that stuck together for three years or longer and have a real ensemble. So he gave me one of these long contracts and I spent most of the 1960s with the Royal Shakespeare Company. It was a fantastic experience because they had people like Peter O'Toole, Peggy Ashcroft, and Paul Scofield. It was an amazing learning experience.
I have to ask you this because I was a big fan of The Beatles and all those "British invasion" groups. Is it true you did a movie with The Dave Clark Five called Having a Wild Weekend?
Yes! Yes! (laughs) Good God! That was my very first movie.
What do you consider your first big break and the moment you knew you could make a living as an actor?
Well, really, it was when I was employed by the Royal Shakespeare Company for eight years. This was a rare thing in the theater. My father, who'd warned me that I would starve and die an awful death in the rain and all the rest trying to put me off of acting, said once I had these long contracts, "Oh, it's a bit like the Civil Service, isn't it?"
Shallow (Ian McKellen) and
Falstaff (Clive Swift) Credit: Edward Leigh |
Neither one of us realized how fortunate I was to be seen at Cambridge doing quite a lot of stuff. I played Sir John Falstaff in Henry the Fourth, Parts 1 and 2 and I got a sensational notice in one of the major papers - The Sunday Times - and it was just amazing. I mean, I don't think I've ever had as good a notice again and I was only a student. So I felt from the start not only was this what I wanted to do, but quite honestly, there was nothing else I could do.
I got a very ordinary, mediocre degree in English Literature and I was very impractical, quite a dreamer, as a lot of actors are. So there was never any question of doing anything else and thank God it all worked out pretty good.
I started out in television back in the 60s, too - '62 or '63. I did single plays, a lot of stuff for the BBC. I think quite honestly that I've probably done more on television than Patricia Routledge because she's such a keen stage actress. She loves the stage.
With such a distinguished background, then, did you ever imagine yourself ending up in a sitcom?
No, no, but in the Shakespeare plays I did play a lot of the comic parts, a lot of the clowns in the Shrew, Measure for Measure, Cymbeline, and all the rest of them. I never really played a juvenile lead - I wasn't the young romantic lead, I was always a character actor.
The wonderful thing about Keeping Up Appearances is that - I'd done an occasional appearance in other sitcoms - about three or four - just one episode as a guest - but this is the first series I'd ever been in and I was so fortunate that the thing was so popular and so successful because I don't know what you think, but I think a lot of them don't work, really. Do you know what I mean?
In fact, our director, who's a man called Harold Snoad, peculiar name but he's a very experienced guy, and when we did the first series and it went out into the public, Harold said, "you mustn't expect wonderful ratings immediately because it takes people time to get to know the characters and to feel at home with everything. Anyway, we're going to do a second series, whatever happens to this first one."
The wonder was that by about episode four of the first series we had over 14,000,000 viewers in little England, which was as good as some of the soap operas. It was quite amazing.
In the first series, Shirley Stelfox played the role of Rose. Then with no explanation the actress playing her was different. Mary Millar was a wonderful addition to the cast, but why was there the change?
The cast of
Keeping Up Appearances |
Well, it was simply that she was in a drama series about women working in a factory and that had happened before we started Keeping Up Appearances. So when we started our second series, she was contracted to do another series of the other thing. She tried every which way to wangle both, but it was impossible because of the filming dates clashed and all the rest. So she was simply contracted to another show.
That makes sense. Had you worked with Patricia Routledge before Keeping Up Appearances?
No, we'd never worked with one another. I'm from Liverpool and she's from just across the Mersey. She was brought up in a place called Birkenhead, in the same area. I think we had admired one another from the stage work and not only did we come from the same part of the UK, but we're both very musical. I mean, as you know, you know that she sings off key. In fact, Leonard Bernstein singled her out to play the old lady in Candide. She always said she worked with two geniuses - Lenny Bernstein and Alistair Sim, a very eccentric screen actor with a cadaverous face.
Can you tell me something about Patricia that fans may not know? Is she similar to the character of Hyacinth?
Patricia Routledge as Hyacinth
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Well, Hyacinth is really kind of foolish and Patricia is certainly not foolish. She went to Liverpool University and got a degree. In fact, they made her an honorary fellow a couple of years ago - a Doctor of Letters. She said I don't know why they've done this. Perhaps it is because I like the English language to be spoken properly, properly punctuated.
She is a very strong personality, that's for sure, and she's always had to make her own way in the commercial theater. So you've got to learn to survive.
Were the roles of Richard and Hyacinth written specifically for both of you?
No, no, but it's funny you say that. Patricia, I think, would like to think it was, but it was not, in fact, although she is absolutely perfect.
What happened with me is that Harold Snoad called me in and he was making the pilot and he had to do it all in a great rush to show to the people at the BBC to see if they liked it and wanted to continue. I'd worked for him about ten years before in a small part and he said "Look, I don't know if you'll be interested in this" because I only had about four or five lines in this episode, which went out actually as the very first episode. I think I said, "Hello, dear, you're wanted on the phone," or something. There was almost nothing there.
The other thing was that I was waiting to hear whether I was going to play Sir Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal, which is an absolutely wonderful part, up in Manchester. I was really torn. I had to choose.
Anyway, I said yes to Harold, and I'll tell you why. Not because of the part, which looked nothing at all. He looked like a little mouse, but I thought well, the writer, Roy Clarke, has written something else called The Last of the Summer Wine, which had run for over twenty years. I thought this could be a long-runner, Routledge is a big draw, and Snoad knows what he's doing, so I thought I might have a job for twenty years and that's why I said yes. The good news from my point of view is that I think from about the third series - we did five series overall - the writer gave me much more to do. Do you remember that in an episode I take early retirement?
Yes, I do.
That meant I had to spend much more time with Hyacinth driving her around and being around the place, so that was very good news for me as an actor and I was very lucky.
Keeping Up Appearances contains a lot of physical comedy. Did you do your own stunts? I mean, is that actually you dangling from a ladder at the end of Angel Gabriel Blue?
The truth is they know how to cheat it. I was suspended by one leg, but they erected some kind of scaffolding under me. I'm not sure how they shot it and it looks as if I'm just dangling, but it was sort of a cheat. Patricia is outstanding - I think her physical comedy is extraordinary.
That's certainly true. Anything revolving around Hyacinth and boats seems to work especially well for her.
Yes, yes. Do you remember the episode when the two of us have taken a little boat out on the river and we both end up in the river at the end?
The one with the Contessa II?
Yes. It was glorious weather (when that episode was filmed) - we had a week up near Oxford. It was just bliss. I love that episode.
Is there an episode you remember less fondly?
You see, we finished six years ago, but I personally haven't seen them in several years, so can't think of one.
Did the cast become very close while you were working together? Did friendships develop?
Judy Cornwell as Daisy, and
Geoffrey Hughes as Onslow |
Yes. Lovely Geoffrey Hughes, who plays Onslow, is the warmest guy. Again, he is a very intelligent guy. He's kind of self-educated, but like a lot of self-educated people, he actually knows more than the so-called "educated" people. Everybody adores him. He's very warm, very generous, generous-spirited.
And lovely Mary Millar, who took over as Rose, died.
She had cancer, didn't she?
Yes, I went to see her during her last few days and it was terrible, terrible. She was a wonderful girl. She was a wonderful singer, too.
Many series have released tapes of bloopers or takes that just didn't go right. Is there anything like this for Keeping Up Appearances?
Yes. I think they play the odd clip of those on Auntie's Bloopers.
Is there enough to release a video perhaps?
No, not really.
I know it would be almost impossible without Mary Millar, but has there been any talk of reuniting the cast for another series or even a one-off special?
No. I think Harold would've loved it because he'd reached retirement age at the BBC and when our project folded, he had to retire. If we'd have gone on, he could've kept going a bit, so he was very disappointed. But Patricia had simply had enough. She wanted to do more theater and they'd already put her into a series about a lady detective, and also she didn't want to be remembered only as Hyacinth Bucket. She was adamant. I think they tried every which way, but she wouldn't give in.
To be honest, I can't say I blame her. It must have been exhausting.
Yes it was. She carried every show, didn't she? I know it doesn't sound like much to you in the States, but we did ten episodes week after week. First we'd do the pre-filming with all the outside locations for the whole series. But then it was week after week doing the interior scenes in the studio and she was actually slightly older than I am - I just turned 65 the other day - so you're right. It was tremendous pressure on her.
Well, that will certainly be bad news for fans. However, if you could've written a final episode, how would you have concluded the saga of Hyacinth and Richard?
Well, from time to time we used to suggest story lines to the writer and editor, but Roy Clarke doesn't want to know about anyone else's ideas.
Patricia and I were very keen to do an episode where we went to London to visit Sheridan, but, of course, he wasn't there because we must never see Sheridan. The episode would end up with Patricia dragging me through all the shops in Oxford Street, Bond Street, and all the rest of it, and maybe she finally, absolutely bankrupts me. That's a possibility. We had quite a few ideas for episodes, but the writer didn't want to hear it.
Keeping Up Appearances has struck a real chord with American audiences. Why do you think that is?
It's not only the USA. It used to sell a few years ago to over 40 countries. Not only English speaking countries - Canada, New Zealand, Australia - but it also played in countries like Greece, Israel, Spain, and Poland.
I think the answer is in two things. He (Roy Clarke) was very clever in combining a family that was partly middle class and partly working class because you've got a large audience already interested. The other thing is that obviously Hyacinth is a kind of prototype. Everyone knows a Hyacinth or that type of marriage. In a way it's an old cliché, but Roy Clarke did it with such wit and she was so colorful.
What are you most proud of other than Keeping Up Appearances?
It's rather difficult, that. I've been at it for over forty years. There was a series I did called The Barchester Chronicles that was shown on Masterpiece Theater. It was written by Anthony Trollope about a 19th century clerical community. I played the Bishop in that one with Geraldine McEwan. That was a great success for me as well.
A couple of years ago I did Aristocrats, in the role of the King. I liked that, but I was annoyed because they wouldn't let me do a German accent. Everybody knows that George the 1st actually couldn't speak any English and that George the 2nd had a heavy German accent. As ever, they say, "No, no, no, it's too complicated. Everybody starts doing their accents - the German, the Irish - it'll start to sound like the monkey house at the zoo." So I was a bit put out by that.
What's coming up for you?
I'm going to do a part - I think it's just a small part - in a movie that starts at the end of April. The movie's called Vacuums and it's written and going to be produced by the people who created the theater show Stomp. In fact, I'm going to New York Monday and see the show because apparently it's been running a few years.
The Insider | June 2001
5
Queen Elizabeth II Visits The College of William & Mary
by Bob Wilson
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As part of Queen Elizabeth II's recent visit to the United States, the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA was very fortunate to be included as part of the Queen's itinerary. The Queen first visited William & Mary in 1957 as part of the celebration of the 350th anniversary of nearby Jamestown, the first English settlement in America. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement, so fifty years on, the Queen joined the festivities again!
Why the Queen's particular interest in William & Mary? The college was founded by Royal Charter in 1693 by her ancestors King William III and Queen Mary II, back when this country was a colony of the crown. Fortunately, despite the change in political fortunes since that time, the Queen remains a gracious supporter of the school.
The Christopher Wren Building, view from the rear
courtyard. |
Alumni, students and supporters of William & Mary were given the opportunity to partake in the Queen's visit by attending a ceremony held in the courtyard of the college's Christopher Wren building, the oldest academic building in continuous use in America, and designed by the renowned English architect after whom the building is named. In an interesting contrast between such tradition and modern ways, all those present for the ceremony were required to arrive several hours prior to the event and were screened with various security measures, including walk-through magnetometers.
Before arriving at the college, a luncheon was given for the Queen at the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg. From there she was driven by horse-drawn carriage to the Wren Courtyard.
The Queen's arrival. From left: Powell; O'Connor;
Vance; Nichol (obscured); The Queen; Kaine. |
On arrival at William & Mary, the Queen was welcomed–once again–to the school, this time by current college president Gene Nichol. Also in attendance were the chancellor of the college, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor; W&M student body president Jessica Vance; the rector of the college's board of visitors, former chairman of the FCC Michael Powell; and the governor of Virginia, Tim Kaine. After welcoming remarks by President Nichol, the Queen was serenaded by the college choir and several a capella singing groups.
The Queen waves to the crowd.
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The president of the student body, Jessica Vance, next announced that the Queen had been made an honorary member of the Class of 2007. By tradition, when students finish their last class before graduating, they proceed to the Wren Building to ring the old school bell, held high aloft in the building's cupola. After a brief walk around the courtyard and chatting with students and other attendees standing along her path, the Queen, as a newly-minted "senior," was taken upstairs to ring the bell herself. Following that, she appeared on the balcony and waved to the friendly crowd.
The College of William & Mary has long-enjoyed its association with British royalty; the Queen's son, Prince Charles, has also visited several times in recent years. One wonders who will come for the celebrations when Jamestown turns 450 in the year 2057–perhaps it will be the next King William who visits his namesake college!
Bob Wilson is an alumnus of the College of William & Mary and was fortunate to be present for the Queen's visit.
Related links
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Tea With Jane Austen
by Kim Wilson
Tea in the Evening
"Every thing is so good!"
Tea was free of charge at private balls. At the Weston's ball in Emma, guests are offered tea and coffee as they arrive, which delights Miss Bates: "No coffee, I thank you, for me - never take coffee. - A little tea if you please, sir, by and bye, - no hurry - Oh! Here it comes. Every thing is so good!" The Weston's choose to serve tea at the beginning of their ball, but hosts more typically offered tea during an intermission in the entertainment or dancing. Tea was generally set out in a separate room, to which everyone eagerly trooped at the break. Each gentleman escorted the lady with whom he had been dancing when tea was announced.
At public assemblies, each attending group of people seems to have had its own teapot, meaning assembly rooms needed to own a large stock of tea equipment. Indeed, for the New, or Upper, Assembly Rooms at Bath, records from the time show the purchase of hundreds of teapots and teacups. Gentlemen were in charge of procuring tea for the ladies in their party. In Northanger Abbey, when Catherine Morland attends her first assembly at the Upper Rooms, she has no dancing partner to escort her to tea. She and Mrs. Allen squeeze themselves in at a table that is already occupied, only to find themselves tea-less. "Had not we better go away as it is?" asks Catherine. "Here are no tea things for us, you see." Eventually a gentleman at the table takes pity on them and helps them to tea.
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Tea Advisor
Essential Components of Tea
[This month and the next few upcoming months] you'll [continue to] find some of today's most popular herbs, with a brief description of their effects plus instruction on how to brew each one into a tea. (Caution: When brewing herbs that you've gathered, do not use roadside herbs, which may be coated with noxious car exhaust, or herbs that may have been sprayed with pesticide.) You'll also find recipes for herbal tea blends and beverages as well as herbal recipes to transform your home and bath. Soothing, stimulating aromatic herbs - they are all here.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis varieties) grows like a weed in many gardens. Infused into a hot beverage, it is valued for its restorative effects. Its lemony and invigorating infusion helps ease the stuffiness of a cold or the flu, as well as soothing nerves and aiding in digestion. Use ¼ cup of the fresh leaves or 2 teaspoons dried in 6 to 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes or to taste.
Mint (Mentha species), the ice cream of herbal beverages, comes in a plethora of pleasing flavor variations. Ancient Greeks and Romans spiked their dinner - and bath - water with mint sprigs. In medieval times, the herb was tossed on floors and trampled to sweeten stale rooms. Mint flavors range from peppermint to spearmint to apple, pineapple, and orange mint. The tea is a frequent home remedy for upset stomachs, headaches, and tension. Use 1 tablespoon of the fresh leaves or 2 teaspoons dried in 6 to 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes or to taste.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) may be your splash of color on an otherwise dull dinner plate, but the hot beverage made from its fresh leaves is a tasty way to keep your breath clean, your joints limber, and your kidneys working. Parsley tea tastes the way it smells and is a great source of vitamin C. Use 1 tablespoon of the fresh leaves or 2 teaspoons dried in 6 to 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes or to taste.
Rose (Rosa species) petals make a lovely, aromatic brew if they are fragrant. It's the red-orange fruit, or hips, that people seek when they have a cold. The fruit of the dog rose (Rosa canina) is especially high in vitamin C - a single cup more than equals an armload of oranges. Rose hip tea has a pleasant, mildly tart, and fruity taste. Use 1 tablespoon of the fresh petals or 2 teaspoons dried in 6 to 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes or to taste. Grind rose hips in a clean coffee grinder and infuse, using 1 teaspoon to each cup of hot, not boiling water to retain the vitamin C. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
The New Tea Book | By Sara Perry
Aspects of Tea Production
Many of the operations needed to produce black tea are similar to those used in green-tea manufacture, though the natural fermentation of the bruised leaf is not halted, but encouraged. When the leaves are brought in from the field they are left to lie in the bamboo trays for several hours, often overnight. They are then tossed and beaten by hand until soft and flaccid, which releases the enzymes and browns the leaves, before being roasted and rolled. The final roasting is much more severe than with green tea. Instead of being put in a pan, the leaf is placed on a sieve, and hot air from the charcoal fire funneled up through it. Finally, the sieve is covered to increase the heat, and this totally blackens the tea.
A few teas are produced by a process somewhere between those for green and black teas. These semi-fermented teas, such as oolong, are only allowed to half ferment before being fired. They have an appearance and flavour somewhere between black and green teas.
Tea | By Roy Moxham
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Mystery of the Month
What Is Your Guess?
Case One
A woman is accused of a crime, tried in an American court of law, and found guilty. The woman has not killed anyone or committed treason, yet the judge orders the death penalty. Her execution is swift and there is no appeal or public protest.
The Mystery
What crime was the woman convicted of and in what town was she executed?
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Clues
- The town is part of a British colony.
- 18 other people died for the same crime.
- The town is on the East Coast of the U.S.
- The crime is no longer tried in U.S. courts.
- Frank Sinatra crooned about the crime the woman allegedly committed.
- The conviction was in Massachusetts in 1692.
Case Two
Julio is an American citizen born in 1956. He has never been out of the country, nor has he entered a single U.S. state.
The Mystery
Where does Julio live and what two states are closest to his home?
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Clues
- Julio is often surrounded by foreigners.
- Julio works and pays taxes to the IRS.
- Both states are south of the Mason-Dixon line.
- Julio can take public transportation to the two states closest to his home.
- Both states are smaller because of the place where Julio lives.
- Julio lives in a capital city on the U.S. mainland.
Be sure to check the July 2007 edition of the Tea Times for the answers
Answers to May Mysteries:
Case One: The woman died in the San Francisco earthquake; her body was covered by rubble for five days.
Case Two: The men are Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt; they can be seen together at Mount Rushmore.
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England's Calendar of Events | June
Trooping the Colour
June 16, 2007
Trooping the Colour is a quintessentially English experience of pomp and ceremony. A parade of the Massed Bands and Troops of the Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry) takes over Horse Guards Parade, in Whitehall, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday.
Crowds line the flag-filled royal road of The Mall to watch the gleaming cavalry divisions on their perfectly-groomed steeds parade up and down the roads around St James' Park. The Massed Bands pipe out jaunty, military tunes and the Queen herself can be glimpsed at the head of her troops giving her Royal wave to all and sundry.
The tradition of the "trooping of the colours" to show off the flags of the different military orders dates back to 1748 and since Edward VII's reign the Sovereign has taken the salute in person. After arriving back at Buckingham Palace she appears on the balcony to watch the RAF flypast as the guns salute her from the Tower of London.
www.whatsonwhen.com
World Nettle Eating Championships
June 16, 2007
Nettle soup and nettle tea can be very pleasant drinks (apparently), but raw nettles? Can you imagine munching your way through nettle after nettle without even a dock leaf to wash it down? The Bottle Inn at Marshwood presents the World Nettle Eating Championships.
If you think you've got what it takes, or would like to see others put themselves through the mill, the World Nettle Eating Championships are for you. The competition began in the 1980s to resolve a dispute between two farmers, and has since become a traditional local day out.
Supporting attractions over the weekend include an all-day Hog Roast and B-B-Q, live music, children`s entertainment and a Beer Festival offering at least 15 real ales.
www.whatsonwhen.com
Glastonbury Festival
June 22-24, 2007
Glastonbury, the UK's biggest, best and most famous music festival, is back with what is sure to be another great programme for 2007. Organised by Michael Eavis, it has been held on his property, Worthy Farm in Somerset, since its inception over 30 years ago.
Glastonbury Festival was first held in September 1970 with 1500 people in attendance. It now attracts up to 150,000 people each year around the time of the Summer Solstice.
A huge music programme is presented on three main stages as well as a plethora of smaller and more intimate venues scattered around the site. There is also a dance tent for beat fanatics, an entire field devoted to circus acts, theatre and cabaret and one dedicated entirely to kids. Healing fields offer meditation, sauna, massage and even if you don't go looking for the action, it's sure to find you courtesy of wandering street performers, jugglers, singers and a variety of freak shows, all adding to the cornucopia of attractions that make up this unique event.
Another major component of the festival is the market. Over 600 stalls offer everything from West Indian curried goat to fashionable streetwear.
www.whatsonwhen.com
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Two recipes this month? Yes, there are! It's strawberry season so we couldn't leave out a seasonal recipe but we also couldn't leave out English Flapjacks since they were served at the Tea Heather attended with the Queen. Try both! Your family will be happy, we're sure.
Strawberry Shortcake
An old fashioned, tender shortcake with two layers of strawberries topped with whipped cream.
Ingredients
- 3 pints fresh strawberries
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup shortening
- 1 egg
- 2/3 cup milk
- 2 cups whipped heavy cream
Directions
- Slice the strawberries and toss them with 1/2 cup of white sugar. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease and flour one 8 inch round cake pan.
- In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons white sugar and the salt. With a pastry blender cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add the beaten egg and milk. Stir until just combined.
- Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool partially in pan on wire rack.
- Slice partially cooled cake in half, making two layers. Place half of the strawberries on one layer and top with the other layer. Top with remaining strawberries and cover with the whipped cream.
www.allrecipes.com
English Flapjacks
An English recipe. Very easy to make, and very delicious. Good for lunch-boxes too.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 oz. butter
- 3 1/2 oz light brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons golden syrup or honey
- 10 oz. rolled oats
Directions
- Melt the butter, sugar and syrup (or honey) in a saucepan over low heat.
- Stir in the oats until completely coated.
- Spoon into a greased 8 inch round or square pan.
- Spread until ½ inch thick.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cut into wedges or squares but leave in pan until completely cooled before removing.
www.allrecipes.com
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Afternoon Teaisms
Rhymes and Wits
A Tea Fit for a Queen! As you read earlier in this newsletter, Heather attended a Tea with the Queen. We thought you'd enjoy seeing the actual program and the menu which was listed inside it!
