On Wednesday 17th August 2011, well over 100 people gathered at Herstmonceux Castle to celebrate twenty years of Elac Study Vacations.

The party had started the previous evening when our guests from overseas had arrived at the castle.  That night we all enjoyed an excellent BBQ in the Castle Courtyard before retiring to the castle pub to enjoy a convivial drink together and catch up on news.  It was also an opportunity for our overseas partners to get to know each other as most would have no reason to meet under normal circumstances.  Everyone got on famously and enjoyed a very friendly evening together.

We all awoke the following morning to a beautiful day.  The sky was blue and the castle resplendent in the morning sunshine.  Many of our guests got up early to wander around the extensive estate, taking in the walled gardens, the wildlife on the moat and the peacocks strutting around the grounds.

The day’s programme was to include excursions, lunch, and time for shopping in Eastbourne in the afternoon.  Two excursions were on offer. The first was a boat trip from Sovereign Harbour up to Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters.  The second was a coach trip over the Downs with morning coffee in Alfriston.

We were extremely fortunate to have smooth glassy seas as we powered our way around Beach Head.  Visibility was crystal clear and the horizon sharp.  The famous cliffs were as white as ever and everyone was excited at the prospect of seeing this amazing sight from the sea as opposed to looking down from the cliff top.  The coach party, in the meantime, had passed the Long Man of Wilmington, stopped at Alfriston for a wander around the village and then had made its way to Beach Head. Unfortunately the times did not coincide – the boat was on its way back to the marina by the time they had arrived.  The views were still magnificent, however.

Everyone then met on the boat for lunch.  Sara had prepared a cold buffet and we all sat around in the midday sun eating sandwiches and sausage rolls, amongst other tasty morsels.  Shopping in Eastbourne followed and by four o’clock everyone was back at the castle to prepare for the evening’s festivities.

The evening started at 6.30 as guests from Eastbourne began to arrive in cars and coaches.  Everyone made their way across the bridge that straddled the moat at the main castle entrance, to be greeted with Pimms and canapés.  A blend of live British/Brazilian folk music entertained while people chatted in the Elizabethan room or made their way into the castle courtyard.

The banquet started promptly at 7.30 and shortly before, guests made their way across the courtyard and up the grand staircase to the banqueting hall. Once everyone was seated, Andrew gave a warm welcome address before dinner was served.

The castle staff did us proud with excellent service and the informal, highly convivial atmosphere with animated conversation throughout was a good indication that the evening was going well. Then, shortly after the main course, there was a flurry of activity as the Elac staff made their way to the top tables. Quite out of the blue, Elena Sporysheva of Moscow School 1306, gave a wonderful speech praising Elac, our vision and our courses and presenting us with a certificate to mark the placing of an engraved bench, in our name, within the rose garden of Gildredge park in Eastbourne. It was a wonderful gesture and thoroughly appreciated by all concerned in our organisation

At the end of the meal John gave an after dinner speech in which he spoke about the early days of Elac paying tribute to all the people who had given us such loyal and valuable support over the years.  He then brought everything right up to date by recognising the considerable development of the organisation over the last decade and thanking our staff especially for their dedication, professionalism and hard work.  The toast was to “International Friendship”, the underlying principle of Elac’s raison d’etre and perfectly exemplified by the gathering here this night.

The banquet was finally over so the entertainment could begin.  The Ceilidh band were quite splendid and almost immediately the dance floor was full with people, laughing as they tried to follow the steps of the caller.  Everyone succeeded admirably, and despite a few wrong turns and crushed toes, the dances were a magnificent success.  After an hour or so the disco took over and played us out until midnight.

The whole event had been a wonderful success and a night to remember.  John & Andrew presented everyone with souvenir gifts as they slowly departed, either to their rooms in the castle or to waiting transport returning to Eastbourne.

We would like to thank everyone for coming, especially our visitors from overseas.  We would also like to thank the staff at Herstmonceux Castle for such a superb occasion.  The setting was perfect and the company unforgettable.

John Dunster – 25th August 2011

PS: Click here for more pictures of the celebrations.

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