Activities
REPORT ON THE ANNUAL LUNCH 2007
On 27th January 80 members of the Society set out from Lisbon and Estoril for our Annual Lunch. This is always a popular event but on this occasion we exceeded ourselves with two buses and several people travelling by car.
In the year when we begin commemorations of the 200th anniversaries of the series of battles and military manoeuvres which marked the five-year fight against the presence of Napoleon’s forces in the Iberian Peninsula, it seemed particularly appropriate that our 2007 Annual Lunch should be held in a privileged location, the Quinta do Vale do Corvo, some 30 kms. north of Lisbon in the heart of the area covered by the Lines of Torres Vedras and in the shadow of the heights of Monte Socorro (Wellington’s “Eagle’s Nest). Indeed, this quinta and the neighbouring QUINTA DA PÓVOA have been in the hands of the same local farming family since before the French invasions.
Upon arrival at the Quinta do Vale do Corvo members were welcomed by a group of local people dressed in early 19th century style, many of their pieces of clothing actually dating back to the Peninsular War period. They were led by Miguel Gonçalo de Barros e Vasconcellos Guisado, who lives at the Quinta da Pôvoa, dressed as a gentleman farmer acting as interpreter to the allied forces, and by Henrique Silva who came into his own later in the day with a fine fencing display.
The day was cold but brilliant and after a brief introduction by our Vice President, Clive Gilbert, we climbed a short way up the hillside to be treated to a demonstration of the use of 19th century firearms dating back to the time of the Peninsular War, and this was followed by pre-lunch drinks in the patio. Lunch was served in the quinta’s beautifully restored adega and afterwards, when many members were more than ready to relax after a delicious meal, they were jerked wide awake by the appearance of two swordsmen, Henrique and one of the other “characters”, who gave us an energetic display of swordplay as practised at the start of the 19th century.
Later we walked down a country path to visit the Quinta da Pôvoa and see its priceless 18th century frescos. This house has been preserved very much as it was during the winter of 1810/1811 when it was the the H.Q. of Wellington’s second-in-command, General Sir Brent Spencer. It was easy to imagine the General and his staff in these cramped first floor rooms, probably reeking of tobacco and with messengers constantly rushing in and out.