An evening stroll around Cotehele

 A pleasantly sunny evening and an excellent time for an 'after closing' stroll around the top gardens of Cotehele House. With no-one else around, you can almost imagine that this is your own fiefdom. Well, that's a bit of a stretch but we live close enough to visit regularly and regard it as an extension of our own, much more modest, garden. A few photographs as a record.

The lawn to the left was a carpet of daffodils a couple of weeks ago.

One door leads to another..............

Wisteria flowering in the courtyard.

The fruit trees are just coming into blossom. Give it a couple of weeks and it's going to be spectacular.

Apple blossom.....

.....and more blossom.

This sculpture depicts honey bees filling their cells with pollen. And if you look closely enough, within the cells themselves, created from timber and bamboo, you might be lucky and see a variety of real-life bees.

I'd like one in our garden but we'll have to make do with real ones.

Some impressive white bark on a very large Eucalyptus tree.

The top pond in splendid isolation.

Upon reflection............

.........we'll go through this door to the next part of the garden.

The rather lovely and fragrant flower of Winter's Bark (Drymis winteri), a native of Argentina/Chile. It's named after a contemporary of  Sir Francis Drake, John Wynter. He discovered, or more accurately learnt from indigenous people in South America, that the bark was a preventative and curative for scurvy.

The back of the house with a rather limp flag on the tower.

The flower borders are just about getting into their stride. It's amazing what an army of gardeners can achieve.

My tulips never look like this.

Looking over the borders, down the Wooded Valley towards the viaduct at Calstock.

Putting lipstick on a pig?

No. I am not a royalist. Not at all. I am definitely a republican in the British sense of the word. I just don't see the use of the monarchy

The phrase to put "lipstick on a pig" means making superficial or cosmetic changes to a product in a futile effort to disguise its fundamental failings. 

The phrase to put "lipstick on a pig" means making superficial or cosmetic changes to a product in a futile effort to disguise its fundamental failings. 

Roles to be performed at the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey

Published 27 April 2023

Buckingham Palace is pleased to announce further details on the Ceremonial roles to be performed by individuals in the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey.

The Ceremonial roles include bearing the Regalia in the Procession and presenting the items to Their Majesties. Those undertaking these historic roles in the Service have been chosen to recognise, thank and represent the Nation due to their significant service, and include representatives from Orders of Chivalry, the military and wider public life.

The first processions into Westminster Abbey will be made up of Faith Leaders and Faith Representatives followed shortly afterwards by representatives from His Majesty’s Realms. Flags of each Realm will be carried by national representatives accompanied by the Governors General and Prime Ministers. Bearing the Flag of the United Kingdom ahead of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Mrs Akshata Murty will be Cadet Warrant Officer Elliott Tyson-Lee, who said: “It is a great and incredible honour to be a part of Their Majesties’ Coronation Service as a representative of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets."

This will be followed by The Procession of The King and The Queen which will be led by the Marquess of Anglesey, the Duke of Westminster, the Earl of Caledon and the Earl of Dundee who will carry the Standards of the Quarterings of the Royal Arms and Standard of the Principality of Wales. Francis Dymoke will carry The Royal Standard.

Mr Dymoke’s claim to undertake a historic role in the Coronation was upheld by the Coronation Claims Office. The title of King or Queen’s Champion has been held by the Dymoke family since the Middle Ages. The King’s Champion would previously ride on horseback into the Coronation Banquet and challenge any who doubted the right of The King or Queen to the throne. There has not been a Coronation Banquet since that held by King George IV in 1821 so the Champion has instead undertaken a different role since, usually bearing a flag or Standard.

Also taking part in the procession will be Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, acting as Lord High Constable of England, an office held for the day only. Traditionally the Lord High Constable is a Great Officer of State and has historically been connected to the military. He will take part alongside the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk.

The Earl of Erroll will act as Lord High Constable of Scotland. Similar to that of Lord High Constable of England, this role has historically been connected to the military and the Earldom of Erroll through a Coronation claim. The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres will act as Deputy to the Great Steward of Scotland, HRH The Prince of Wales.

The following will then process to the altar carrying Her Majesty’s Regalia:

Baroness (Helena) Kennedy of The Shaws – Carrying The Queen Consort's Rod

General Sir Patrick Sanders – Carrying The Queen Consort's Sceptre

The Duke of Wellington – Carrying Queen Mary’s Crown

The Rt. Reverend and Rt. Hon the Lord Chartres– Carrying The Queen Consort's Ring

Lord Chartres said: “The ceremonies of the Coronation are ancient but they have been freshly interpreted for our contemporary world.”

The following will then process to the altar carrying His Majesty’s Regalia:

General Sir Gordon Messenger, the Governor of HM Tower of London – Carrying St Edward’s Crown as Lord High Steward of England

Baroness (Elizabeth) Manningham-Buller LG – Carrying St Edward's Staff

The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KT – Carrying the Sceptre with Cross

Baroness (Floella) Benjamin OM – Carrying the Sceptre with the Dove

Dame Elizabeth Anionwu OM – Carrying the Orb

The Keeper of the Jewel House, Brigadier Andrew Jackson – Carrying The Sovereign’s Ring

Petty Officer Amy Taylor – Carrying the Sword of Offering

Lord Hastings and The Earl of Loudoun – Carrying the Spurs

Lord President of the Council, Penny Mordaunt – Carrying the Sword of State in The King’s Procession

Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach – Carrying the Sword of Mercy (The Curtana)

General the Lord Richards of Herstmonceux – Carrying the Sword of Spiritual Justice

General the Lord Houghton of Richmond – Carrying the Sword of Temporal Justice

General Sir Gordon Messenger, the Lord High Steward of England, (also an office held for the day only) is the most senior Great Officer of State for the Coronation, in order to bear the St Edward’s Crown into the Abbey, the most significant item of Regalia. On carrying St Edward’s Crown, General Sir Gordon Messenger said: “It is a huge and unique honour to be appointed Lord High Steward for His Majesty’s Coronation. To be playing a key role on such an important and historic occasion is a source of great pride to me, my family, the Royal Marines, and the Tower of London community.”

Petty Officer Amy Taylor will be the first woman to bear the Jewelled Sword of Offering into the Abbey. She has been selected to represent Service men and women, as a Royal Navy Petty Officer, a tribute to His Majesty’s military career. She said: "Having served most of my senior career as an Aircraft Engineer on 845 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton where His Majesty originally trained and served as a pilot, I am deeply honoured and humbled to play my part in this historic event. Coming from a farming family His Majesty has always been such a great advocate for our community and someone I have admired growing up."

Baroness Benjamin and Dame Elizabeth Anionwu are amongst recent appointees to the Order of Merit, the final members to be chosen for the Order by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Baroness Benjamin said: “I feel honoured and privileged to be part of the historic Coronation ceremony. To be selected to carry the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Dove, which represents spirituality, equity and mercy, is for me very symbolic as it’s everything I stand for and sends out a clear message that diversity and inclusion is being embraced."

Participating in the act of Recognition of His Majesty whereby His Majesty will be presented to the Congregation at the start of the Service will be:

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Baroness (Valerie) Amos LG, Lady Elish Angiolini LT, and Christopher Finney GC, Chair of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.

During the Coronation Service the Regalia will be presented to Their Majesties. Those presenting have been chosen on the advice of Government. Those presenting Regalia to His Majesty will be:

The Lord Carrington, Lord Great Chamberlain – Presenting the Spurs

The Lord (Syed) Kamall – Presenting the Armills

Baroness (Gillian) Merron – Presenting the Robe Royal

The Most Reverend John McDowell, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh – Presenting the Orb

Lord (Narendra) Patel KT – Presenting the Ring

Lord (Indarjit) Singh of Wimbledon – Presenting the Coronation Glove

The Most Reverend Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, and Episcopal Primus of Scotland – Presenting the Sceptre with Cross

The Most Reverend Andrew John, the Archbishop of Wales – Presenting the Sceptre with Dove

The Archbishop of Canterbury – Performing the crowning with St Edward’s Crown

Those presenting Regalia to Her Majesty will be:

The Rt. Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin CD, The Bishop of Dover – Presenting The Queen Consort's Rod

The Rt. Reverend and Rt Hon. Lord Chartres – Presenting The Queen Consort's Sceptre with Cross

Brigadier Andrew Jackson, The Keeper of the Jewel House at HM Tower of London – Presenting The Queen Consort's Ring

The Archbishop of Canterbury – Performing the crowning with Queen Mary’s Crown

On presenting Regalia to Her Majesty, The Bishop of Dover said: “I am surprised, excited and honoured to have been asked to play a part in this historic once in a lifetime occasion. As I make my presentation, both Their Majesties will remain in my prayers as they seek to serve the nation and the Commonwealth.”

 

A bleak walk from Bagga Tor

It's been ages since I last described on of our walks. I simply got out of the habit of regular posting and I'll have to see what I can do to recover my blogging mojo. So, let's start off with one we did last week into a less-visited part of Dartmoor. Some would say it's less-visited because there's nothing there but moor. And that's its attraction.

We started in what passes for a car park in the shadow of Bagga Tor.and then headed up and around Lynch Tor. It came in at just over 5 miles but, with the cross-country tussock-hopping component taken into account, it was quite strenuous. To describe the walk in three words: bleak, blowy and beautiful.

The view from the car park, looking eastwards, with Sharp Tor and Hare Tor looming over Tavy Cleave. Blue sky!

For part of the way we were following in the footsteps of medieval church goers on the Lych Way. The path was used by people travelling from their farms on the moor to the church in Lydford. It's also known as the 'Way of the Dead' as people would carry their dead to the graveyard for burials as well. The path runs for nearly 12 miles and is quite challenging, even without a coffin to carry.

And here is Bagga Tor, with lots of clitter on its sides. Note to self: return with grandchildren so that they can clamber on the rocks.

The track heading towards Lynch Tor. We went to the slight depression on the far left, cutting across bleak, open country. And against a rather irritatingly strong head wind.

Looking across Standon Down to Standon Hill. An isolated vista but a keen eye will make out the signs of the military presence - it is an active firing range. In fact where we were walking was part of another range but no red warning flags today. And the signs to look out for? The hut on the top of Standon Hill and a few red and white range boundary markers.

Probably my best ever photograph of a Skylark, with the crest clearly visible. And the only good one on this walk. Lots of out-of-focus shots of the bird in flight and nothing worth showing.

An oddity near Walkham Head that had us puzzled until we could access Mr Google. One large standing stone, with two others, recumbent, nearby, with evidence of an unnaturally flat rectangular area. It turns out that this is known at the Turf House. Not a house, as such, but a store for the peat which was cut locally. The stones held up the roof. The peat was dried and was then transported, more or less along our route, to the lead mines at Horndon and Mary Tavy. It was used as fuel for the metal smelters there.

Standon Hill with standing sheep and me standing to take the photograph and the others standing, waiting for me.