I hope you didn’t spot that I’ve broken my New Year’s Resolution, but it wasn’t my fault, honest. I had this post all ready to go last month. I always like to sit on them for a short while before posting, just to make sure I’ve not said anything too stupid. I decided to clean up my contact list while I was thinking.

The laptop froze. OK, I know what to do, turn it off and start again. No, not speaking to me still. Took it to the IT doctor who admitted it to intensive care. We had three Bank Holidays in May so that slowed things down: one each for the Communists, Crown and Christians. After a few days they decided it needed a new heart (solid state drive). Inserted that, transferred all my data, started it up and… it wouldn’t charge. A couple of other smaller issues also were noted. I decided a new one might be sensible as it was obviously going into multi-organ failure. You won’t notice but I now have a shiny (silver) new laptop. No more mistakes? I bet you’ll find them. Here is the official Post.

A long time ago, in a town (as was then) far away, our hero JD attended a Technical College (as was then) to study Pharmacy. Now, it’s the University of Sunderland in the City of Sunderland (both formed 1992). They still teach Pharmacy, as well as lots of other medical specialities (as mentioned in Post 128 dated 30 October 2021). They invited us over in 2021 to see the changes that had been wrought since JD attended: he was so impressed he decided to leave some money to the university in his will. Then, (possibly while all at sea in big waves?) he thought it’s much better being involved personally in these things and decided to hand over some dosh before he popped his clogs (crossed the bar, became an ex-JD, turned his toes up, kicked the bucket, pushed up the daisies, joined the choir invisible). You get my drift. As an aside, watch this if you don’t know what I’m on about.

Back to the plot. In April this year we went up to the University to unveil the John Dawson Drug Discovery and Development Research Institute! Which I could not fit into the title, hence the eight-letter acronym (ELA, as opposed to a TLA we see so often).

We decided to break the journey and spend a night in a hotel on the way up. I did a quick bit of research and found a hotel that would fit well in our recent studies on the Country House. (See Post 147 dated 7th March 2023).

It’s Ettington Park Hotel, a Grade I house. The family who owns it apparently are one of the oldest families in England, able to trace their male ancestors back to before the Domesday Book of 1086. Before the planning laws we have now (that mean you can hardly sneeze in a Grade I house without prior permission) a great many alterations, additions etc have happened. The influences of all different architects and fashions can be seen if you know what you’re looking for. My studies haven’t progressed far enough so I’m relying on the history that we were given when we visited. It is a ‘spectacular neo-Gothic mansion’ close to Stratford-upon-Avon. (We enjoyed a weekend there in late 2020, see Blog Post 107 dated 19th October 2020).

In 1795 the estate moved the local village a couple of miles away, so that the owners could enjoy the place without having to look at the serfs (not sure what the official excuse was). In 1820 the entrance hall was ‘Gothicised’ and in 1858 a major restoration took place over four years, with John Prichard (a Welsh architect) in charge. The result is said to be ‘perhaps the best example of the French and Italian Gothic style of architecture promoted by John Ruskin’. We (almost) saw his ‘best view of the world’ in Blog Post 144 dated 15th November 2022. Total cost for four years’ work: just over £13,000. I’m sure that was very expensive in those days.

A private chapel was built but severely damaged by fire in 1979 and remains out of bounds. The house became a nursing home then an Italian prisoner-of-war camp in the Second World War. It became a nightclub and disco for a while, until the 1979 fire. In 1983 it was acquired by a hotel group and once renovated, it re-opened as it is today. I’ve only given you a few shots, you’ll need to go and stay there to fully appreciate it. It’s very popular for filming, especially horror and mystery stories. We didn’t notice any ghosts, maybe it was their night off.

After a relaxing night at Ettington, we continued up to Sunderland and met up with a number of people involved with the University for a dinner, at which JD spoke about his background and hopes for the Institute.

The next morning we had more speeches, with quite a few of JD’s family in the audience, then walked over to unveil the plaques in the newly renamed John Dawson Sciences Complex.

Those of the family who were able to stay were given a tour of the campus, with the youngsters deciding that they might become doctors or paramedics in the future.

JD and I were involved in a meeting on the plans for the Institute, but then joined the others to go round another part of the campus, involved in media. The youngsters decided that maybe a career in TV would be more fun. Finally we all went to the glass blowing centre and the others blew glass baubles for this year’s Christmas tree.

As we are now well in with the University, we were invited to a recent concert. Some singer we’d sort of heard about, but I couldn’t hum you any of her songs. The venue was the Sunderland football ground, otherwise known as The Stadium of Light. We managed to get a hotel room on site so didn’t have to walk far to get into the event (or back afterwards, much more important!). The staging was mind-blowing, I’ve never seen anything like it. The energy of all involved (as well as many of the audience) was incredible, they kept going for three hours. The singer was on stage all that time apart from her costume changes (six or seven? I lost count). On the downside, you’ll now have to SHOUT at us as the sound levels were enough to clear our arteries. Now, what was her name? Beyond? No. Bonny? No. Bouncy? Something like that. Ah, I’ve got it:

No cocktails today, but an inspirational quote from Ettington as the header. More soon (I’ve got to make up for missing May). Goodbye from all of us!