Time For Tea: Tea the Thirty-First

You remember Cleopatra

Had a date to meet Mark Anthony at three

When he came an hour late she said "You'll have to wait"

For everything stops for tea.

Featured in Jack Buchanan's 1935 film, "Come Out Of The Pantry"

(Goodhart / Hoffman / Sigler)

Hazlewood Castle Hotel, Hazlewood, North Yorkshire - Sunday 29th December 2013

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Tea Takers

Sarah Ryan

Paul Ryan

Olivia Ryan

Angela Rothbury

Olivia Rothbury

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A beautiful clear winter day and, as the sun began to set, we drove the very familiar road towards Leeds, turning off half-way to follow the winding drive through the woods to Hazlewood Castle. It is a gorgeous setting and somewhere I have hoped might feature in the odyssey, and provided an excellent location for another important reunion tea. This time we came to meet Angela, my Latin teacher, and a huge influence from my school days, and her daughter Olivia, who was briefly my colleague at Leweston.

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The earliest records of buildings on the site are found in Domesday Book, which relates that Sir Mauger the Vavasour resided in the Hall of a Thane at Hazelwood (which is just a lovely phrase to type - these opportunites don't come often enough). The Vavasour family, in a feat of impressive continuity, then lived here until the early Twentieth century, with a Thirteenth century scion applying to the king to be allowed to crennellate and fortify his manor, which made it officially a castle. Parts of the original castle remain, augmented over the centuries to form a mixture of styles and adjoining buildings that are a very attractive conglomeration. It is an idyllic setting.

The family remained Catholic following the Reformation and the Castle remained in Catholic hands even when sold in 1908. In 1971, having been sold to Carmelite Friars, it became a retreat house. This was its use when I first knew of the place as a teenager. We were told at school that they had amongst their relics the skull of St Luke Kirby, the martyr after whom our form was named, and there was talk that we might visit it, although sadly that was never achieved.

The Castle was sold again in 1996 and was renovated to become a country house hotel.

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We took tea in the library, book-lined with Jacobean dark wood shelving, and a fire burning in the stove at the base of the baronial fireplace.

Tea was very pleasant, sandwiches, scones and clotted cream and a nice selection of cakes, including a fine tarte au citron. Paul felt it was a little ungenerous - only one type of sandwich per person, one scone and small cakes, however, in their defence, I think the standard of the goods was high and it was very reasonably priced - I certainly had eaten very well and thought that all aspects rated highly on the Ryan tea assessment scale.

Paul rolls up his sleeves for serious work:

Olivia (the younger) opted for toast for which she gave an entirely positive review.

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As mentioned above, Angela was my Latin teacher at Notre Dame High School in Leeds from when I was thirteen. She taught me both Latin and Classical Studies for A-level and inspired in me a great love for both subjects - I am very aware as a teacher myself, how much she influenced the way I teach, and how I understand learning. She was also always enormous fun, and it was really lovely to spend time with her again today and to enjoy her excellent company.

I say she taught me throughout my time at school, but there were a notable few terms when she was away on maternity leave - I remember, when we were told the news that she had a new daughter called Olivia, thinking 'what a lovely name' - then stored that thought away for future consideration.

Somw twenty years later, a couple of years into the Graduate Assistant scheme at Leweston, I was really excited to see that one Olivia Rothbury had applied - it was immediately clear from her application that she had to be the person I suspected. Having professionally handed over the decision-making to other colleages, I was delighted that she turned out to be obviously an outstanding candidate and came to join our team. Inevitably, perhaps, a chip off the old block, she is a natural teacher and we were very lucky to have her.

I remember it was particularly entertaining, and a unique experience, to be able to unnerve an interview candidate by saying "actually, we have met before - I babysat for you when you were two..."

Angela has only recently retired from Notre Dame and so it was good to catch up on news and to hear how much things have changed there now. Both Rothbury ladies were exemplary tea companions and I am so pleased they were able to join us.

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