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The Public Support The Queen Mother’s Legacy
The Launch of the Friends of the Castle of
Mey at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Monday 22 May 2006
For the very first time in
the history of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a Scottish garden is
on show, “The Kinnaird Garden – A Highland Retreat.” The garden was
inspired by the late Queen Mother’s home, the Castle of Mey, and was used to launch the Friends of the Castle of Mey by Honorary
Patron, Alan Titchmarsh, on Monday 22 May 2006, in her memory.
The Kinnaird Garden At Chelsea Flower Show
where the Friends of the Castle Of Mey was launched
The Kinnaird Garden – A Highland Retreat is the
work of Sue Bradbury and Catherine Jago. This unique garden
contains the Queen Mother’s own rose as well as stone from the
Caithness region. Sue Bradbury's inspiration for the Garden came when
she was whisked away to Caithness for her wedding anniversary and
visited the Castle and Gardens of Mey. The romance of the Castle left
a real impact on her and inspired, with Catherine, the development of
the garden to celebrate all that is Scottish and is a fitting tribute
to HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
The garden invites you to step into a fragment of
the Scottish Highlands where your true heart lies, the stone bothy and
keystones provide a resting place from which to contemplate the blues,
purples and pinks of the native planting and take in the scent of the
roses, a trickle of water tumbles amongst the blackberries and
tayberries reminding you of Scottish moors. Created with a love of
highland Scotland and of Little Sparta, the garden sits harmoniously
within its surrounding landscape. Sponsored by the Kinnaird Estate,
Atholl Estates, George Goldsmith and Caithness Stone Industries, the
garden has been constructed by Daniel Aird of Breathing Space.
Alan Titchmarsh
Honorary Patron of The Friends of the Castle of Mey
“The Castle of Mey is, without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite
Royal Garden. It thrives, thanks to the great love and attention it is
given, in spite of the elements in its most northerly position on the
British mainland. Visiting the Castle of Mey the first thing that
strikes you is that this is a much-loved home, vibrant with happy
memories. It is everyone's idea of a magical fairytale castle. As
Honorary Patron of the Friends of the Castle of Mey I take great pride
in being part of the Friends who ensure that the Castle of Mey retains
its unique and special atmosphere – as if the Queen Mother has just
stepped out.....”
John Thurso, Earl Of Caithness,
Ashe Windham, Susan Hampshire, Sue Bradbury & Catherine Jago
The Friends of the Castle of Mey was launched by
Alan Titchmarsh on Monday 22 May 2006, in the Kinnaird Garden – A
Highland Retreat, in the company of Ashe Windham, an Extra Equerry
to HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, the Chairman of the
Trust; supported by fellow Trustees, Viscount John Thurso and The Earl
of Caithness with Celebrity Ambassador, Susan Hampshire.
Ashe Windham, Susan Hampshire, Sue Bradbury & Catherine
Jago
The Friends of the Castle of Mey has been
set up to help preserve royal history and secure the future of this
historical royal heart just as The Queen Mother wished. Her Majesty
loved her highland home, the Castle of Mey. She adored spending time
in her walled garden which contained roses and many other flowers and
vegetables grown within. Kinnaird Hotel Restaurant and Sporting Estate
in Perthshire, with its own spectacular scenery in the 9,000 acre
estate, is an active supporters, and Patron of the Friends of Castle
of Mey, and is delighted to host the launch in association with Alan
Titchmarsh and Celebrity Ambassador Susan Hampshire.
HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, is
the President of the Charity, The Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust,
set up by his grandmother in June 1996. He continues the tradition of
visiting the Castle of Mey each summer and is totally committed to the
Trust’s aim of maintaining and developing the Castle and Gardens of
Mey just as The Queen Mother would have wished.
HRH The Prince Charles,
Duke of Rothesay, President of the Trust
“The Trustees have pledged to do everything in
their power to ensure that the Castle of Mey prospers well into the
future and the re-launch of the Friends will help to keep my
Grandmother’s vision alive… ...I am very grateful to you for
supporting such a worthy cause and I hope that your valued association
with it will give you as much pleasure as it has to me over the
years….”
Through the launch of the Friends awareness will be
spread to people all over the world to ensure that the Castle of Mey
is recognised as a jewel in the historic landscape of Caithness. By
becoming a Friend or Patron of the Castle of Mey, members of the
public will be able to share in the gift that
The Queen Mother made to the community in Caithness in 1996, and
ensure that her legacy, and this key part of British heritage, is
secured for the enjoyment of future generations.
Celebrity Ambassador, Susan Hampshire (of
“Monarch of the Glen” fame) will be joining us to support the launch
and it is expected that HM The Queen will visit The Kinnaird Garden –
A Highland Retreat during a private visit in the afternoon.
Susan Hampshire
Celebrity Ambassador
“This is a project very dear to my heart, as I
love Scotland and have had so many happy years living and working
there. I am very proud to become a Celebrity Ambassador of The Friends
of the Castle of Mey. When the late Queen Mother saw the castle for
the very first time it was a ruin and she felt passionately that it
should be saved, as it was a part of Scotland’s heritage. It would be
wonderful, for her memory and for Scotland, if you too would become a
Friend of the Castle of Mey, to help maintain this stunning castle and
gardens, so dear to her heart.”
Founder Corporate Sponsors Sunseeker
International, Landrover, Jaguar, Kinnaird Estate and the Founder
Friends have contributed significantly in the preservation of the
Castle. The growth of the Friends will continue to preserve this very
unique part of royal history and the treasured home of the much loved
Queen Mother.
Castle Of Mey Web Site
Friends Of The Castle Of Mey Web Page
An Historic Castle, a
Royal Home, a Lost Garden lovingly Restored; the Castle of Mey is the
most northerly castle on the UK mainland.
Steeped in history, a castle has stood on the site
since the late 16th century but the Castle was in great decline by
1952 when it became the much loved home of the late Queen Mother.
Over the next 50 years, The Queen Mother lovingly
restored the Castle and gardens to much of their former glory and
returned every summer for the rest of her life to The Castle of Mey –
the only house she ever actually owned.
Friends, Patrons &
Sponsors of the Castle of Mey
As a Friend, for £25 per year
you can enjoy a number of benefits:
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Free entry into the Castle and gardens of Mey.
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Unlimited visits to the Castle of Mey in season
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Privileged access to Friends’ area on the website
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Supporting the Castle of Mey’s Gardening
Apprenticeship Scheme
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Complimentary Castle of Mey Guidebook
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The Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust annual
newsletter
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Invitation to the Friends Hospitality Marquee
hosted by a Trustee at the annual Mey Games in August attended The
Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay
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Invitation to the annual Friends’ Drinks Party at
the Castle of Mey
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Special Rates at Glamis Castle and Balmoral
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Advanced notice of limited availability tickets
to Clarence House
As a Patron, from £225 per
year you will receive all the benefits of being a Friend plus:
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A limited edition print of the Castle of Mey
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Complimentary access to Glamis Castle and
Balmoral
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Exclusive access to the Queen Mother’s Private
Sitting Room at the Castle of Mey and a tour of the gardens
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An invitation to a Private Reception hosted by
the Officers of the Trust in London or Scotland
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Special rate to rent Seaview House
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An annual invitation to afternoon tea and a tour
of Highgrove gardens.
Corporate Sponsorship
A limited number of Corporate Sponsorships have been created for
appropriate companies to be crucial players in widening the interest
in securing the development of culture, royal heritage and future of
the North of Scotland, working with The Prince Charles, Duke of
Rothesay.
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Unique opportunity to entertain selected guests
at Highgrove gardens with the kind permission of The Prince Charles,
Duke of Rothesay
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Supporting the Gardening Apprenticeship Scheme
for young people at the Castle of Mey
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Commitment to a charity deeply concerned in the
future of the North of Scotland
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Exclusive opportunity to rent the Castle of Mey
for one private residential event for up to eight people for four
days out of season
Trustees of the Castle and
Gardens of Mey
Ashe Windham Esq., CVO (Chairman)
The Right Honourable Earl of Caithness, PC, FRICS
The Viscount Thurso MP, FHCIMA
James Stobo Esq., CBE DL
Honorary Patrons of the
Friends of the Castle of Mey
Alan Titchmarsh MBE VMH
Lady Elizabeth Anson
Mrs Constance Cluett Ward, Kinnaird Hotel Restaurant and Sporting
Estate
Celebrity Ambassadors
Susan Hampshire – Actress
Ken Bruce – BBC Radio 2
Tom Conti – Actor
Kirsty King – BBC Ground Force
Stewart Parvin – HM The Queen’ R Couture
Founder Corporate Sponsors
Sunseeker International
Land Rover
Jaguar
Notable Dates
Monday 22 May 2006
The Launch of the Friends and Patrons at the Chelsea Flower Show
by Alan Titchmarsh in the presence of the Trustees of the Castle and
Gardens of Mey.
Monday 26 June 2006
Sponsors, Friends and Patrons of the Castle of Mey Day at Highgrove
gardens. By invitation only.
Tuesday 4 July 2006
Patrons Launch Party at The Goring Hotel, London. By invitation only.
October – Date to be confirmed
End of Season Sponsors Reception with HRH The Prince of Wales, Duke of
Rothesay.
Castle Of Mey Web Site
Friends Of The Castle Of Mey Web Page |
