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As many of you will know, Harewood has strong connections with the Himalayan region, and in particular Nepal and Bhutan. These links run through our Himalayan Garden, our Buddhist Stupa, rare species in the Bird Garden and most importantly our Nepali staff, who work for Harewood House Trust and the Harewood Estate. We have received many messages from those of you who are concerned about our team. Below is a letter from our Chief Executive, himself a former Gurkha, on the current situation in Nepal.

Dear All,

We have received so many messages expressing sadness about the terrible tragedy unfolding in Nepal. First and foremost, the families of our Gurkha team here at Harewood are all safe and well, thank goodness.

In Kathmandu, you will have seen the terrible devastation in the old parts of the city which is where most of the casualties have occurred. Many of the ancient monuments, temples and structures in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur have been very badly damaged and some, totally destroyed.

There is still little news from the outlying regions, as communications have been very severely disrupted and physical access by all but foot and helicopter, is impossible. It will become clearer over the next few days as rescue teams reach these areas.

One blessing was the fact that the quake struck on a Saturday at midday, a public holiday, and all schools were shut, all public buildings were closed and a large number of people were out working in the fields.

How to donate:

Many of you have asked what to do and to whom you can/should donate. There are two very reliable and responsible options which will deliver a well-coordinated response, where it is most needed. These are below:

Disaster Emergency Committee: www.dec.org.uk

And also through the Gurkha Welfare Trust: www.gwt.org.uk

The Gurkha Welfare Trust was set up many years ago to look after the welfare of our ex-servicemen and has a terrific network in the hills of Nepal. As a result of this disaster, they have opened their doors to everyone and their good medical facilities are available to many locals, not just our ex-servicemen.

Thank you all once again for your offers of support and prayers for our staff and their families.

Best wishes and thank you again.

Christopher.

C A USSHER
Chief Executive, Harewood House Trust
Resident Agent, Harewood Estate

A brand new gundog competition – The Mitsubishi Motors Estate Challenge – is being launched at this year’s CLA Game Fair, which is being held at Harewood House near Leeds in Yorkshire from Friday 31 July until Sunday 2 August.

Sponsored by Mitsubishi Motors UK, competition will be held on the Friday of the three-day show and is open to any estate to showcase their team of gamekeepers and picker-uppers with gundogs of any variety – pedigree or not.

Organised by Nick Clitheroe, each team will consist of two gamekeepers and two picker-uppers. The gamekeepers will shoot clays on the Shooting Line and their score will determine how much time and how many dummies are to be picked by the picker-uppers.

The CLA Game Fair’s Gundog Vice Chairman Amy Bates explained: “Many people pick-up with all sorts of dogs so this is a chance to see great team work by estate gamekeepers and picker-uppers with their favourite dogs which might be anything from terriers to lurchers as well as the more familiar spaniels and Labradors. Along with the fabulous prize of a Mitsubishi L200 Challenger for one year, the winning estate will be presented with the Levenghyl Cup.”

Angela Osman, Events & Sponsorship Manager at Mitsubishi Motors UK added: “We are delighted to be involved with this new award and continue our support of the CLA Game Fair this year. We would like to wish the very best of luck to all teams competing for this exciting accolade and prize vehicle.”

For an application form, email amy.bates@cla.org.uk. Deadline for entry is Wednesday 1 July.

STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® is offering CLA Game Fair visitors the chance to win two luxury glamping weekends worth over £1,100 at this year’s event, to be held at Harewood House near Leeds in Yorkshire from Friday 31 July until Sunday 2 August.

The prize includes up to five night’s accommodation for four people in a luxury bell tent, four entry tickets to all three days of the CLA Game Fair, plus a luxury picnic hamper.

The prize winners will experience glamping at its very best in a stylish five-metre premium bell tent provided by Honeybells, the Dorset based tent and event company. The tents are furnished with real double mattresses, bed linen, towels, carpets, tables and chairs, complimentary toiletries, lanterns and fairy lights.

Fifteen runners up prizes of STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® merchandise, including a watch, backpacks, water bottles and caps. Competition winners will also be able to enjoy high-octane lumberjack sporting action at this year’s CLA Game Fair, including the British Championship of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Series, which will be held on the Saturday of the show and attracts top lumberjack athletes from around the world.

Simon Hewitt, Head of Marketing at STIHL TIMBERSPORTS®, commented: “We’re delighted to be running this exciting competition to win two luxury glamping weekends at the famous CLA Game Fair. Not only is it easy to enter but the prize really is superb and will add a touch of unique luxury to the winners’ experience of this celebration of the British countryside.”

Tony Wall, CLA Game Fair Director, added: “STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® is one of the CLA Game Fair’s most popular exhibitors and I’d like to thank them for running this superb competition which I am sure will be enormously popular amongst our visitors.”

Enter via the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® website at www.stihl.co.uk/glamping. The competition runs from Monday 9 March until Sunday 31 May.

For more details, visit www.gamefair.co.uk.

Unleash your inner Winston Churchill at the Robusto House Cigar Lounge, during this year’s CLA Game Fair, to be held at Harewood House near Leeds in Yorkshire from Friday 31 July until Sunday 2 August.

Founded in 2007 by Simon Selkin, Robusto House sells a wide range of authentic, hand rolled Cuban cigars at prestige events, as well as at private and corporate parties. All of its cigars are supplied via Hunter & Frankau, the UK’s exclusive importer of Cuban cigars since 1790.

The Robusto House stand, situated on Gunmakers’ Row, will showcase a range of 80 cigar brands, the majority of which are sourced from Cuba, in climate-controlled humidors. It will also offer cigars from lesser-known ‘new world’ cigar producers such as the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua, many of which are made using tobacco from the United States.

The new, open-air Robusto House Cigar Lounge, situated behind the stand, will enable CLA Game Fair visitors over the age of 18 to sample the cigar of their choice in comfortable surroundings away from the buzz of the show. To enter the lounge all visitors need to do is sign up for the free-to-join Robusto Club and they can then relax, learn about the history of cigars, discover how Cuban cigars are made using just five tobacco leaves, and find out more about different brands.

Robusto House’s famous Cigar Sommeliers will also be on hand to advise visitors on the best cigar for their taste, whether it be a world-famous Montecristo, a strong Partegas loved by experienced cigar smokers, or a light and gentle Hoyo de Monterey. Also on show will be the company’s renowned 1950s Cigar Pram, which displays a range of cigars in its illuminated interior and adds an element of theatre to any event.

Simon Selkin, owner of Robusto House, commented: “We have seen an upsurge in interest in cigars, hence the idea of the Cigar Lounge which will appeal to cigar aficionados who know what they like, to those who have tried one or two before and want to find out more, and to visitors who are completely new to cigar smoking. Our motto of ‘the right time, the right cigar’ means we can find the perfect brand for anyone wanting to sample the pleasure of smoking natural, hand rolled cigars so do stop to try one for yourself!”

For more details, visit www.gamefair.co.uk

The Terrace Gallery is a dedicated art gallery at Harewood

As an educational charitable trust, our role is to preserve and protect Harewood, it’s collections and grounds for the public benefit. Quite often, people are unaware of how much work goes into keeping a House like Harewood to ensure that this remit is possible.

2015, sees the launch of a new series of displays which will provide you with more detail about the major projects we undertake. The Art of Conservation which is located in the Servants’ Hall, Below Stairs, shows how we care for our collection of Chippendale furniture. From helping to slow down the decay of time to major restoration projects, this is a great behind-the-scenes display suitable for people of all ages.

Mr Turner and Mr Girtin, The Early Years, is a display of Harewood’s collection of 18th century watercolours. This is the first time these world famous artists have been so directly compared. Housed in the Terrace Gallery, the paintings have been hung against clean, white walls so that you can really focus on the differences between these great artists who both painted the same views of Harewood.

Finally, for the start of the season, you can uncover the secrets of the oldest and most expensive rum in the world which was discovered in the cellars of Harewood. See the original 18th century handwritten cellar books and see the rum bottles themselves! The display is available to view on the State Floor, in the Watercolour Rooms.