Credit: Sophie Sitwell
Since 2019, Digby has partnered with The Sussex Snowdrop Trust, a charity based close to our Arundel home with a cause even closer to the team’s hearts.
The trust was founded in 1993 by Kate Shaw, Diana Levantine and Frank Snell to help the families of sick children with nursing care, counselling support and financial aid post-hospital, and once the children are home. It is a unique and highly cherished foundation that has supported hundreds of families. We hope to play a small part by promoting Snowdrop’s campaigns and events, and selling their merchandise in our Tasting Room (we always look forward to the Christmas cards!) but this year, we’ve relished the chance to become more involved.
This past summer, the Snowdrop team has been run of its feet with events and so we were delighted to help, by adding a few English sparkles. And would you believe it, despite such an unlucky season of weather, we were afforded wonderful sunshine for all three of our special Snowdrop evenings.
We joined Snowdrop at Arundel Castle with Hugh Bonneville onstage, at an arty countryside gallery opening, and at Arundel Lido for some spinning, swimming and meditation. A proper Sussex summer. Read all about it, below.
We started at the beautiful South Stoke Barn, just outside Arundel, to celebrate the opening of the Zimmer Stewart Gallery’s exhibition ‘South Stoke Idyll – A View from the Barn.’ Guests enjoyed a glass of Digby’s Non Vintage Brut as they gathered at this picturesque nineteenth century venue, surrounded only by fields, for a talk and panel discussion on art and agriculture: artists Matt and Nick Bodimeade, and Emma Hurst were questioned by farmer Ryan Haydon and artist, researcher and agriculturalist Adam Stead.
Read more about the discussion here.
Next, we set up our floral bar on the lower lawns of Arundel Castle. A fizz and canapé reception greeted 200 guests excitedly gathering to hear a Q&A discussion between actor Hugh Bonneville and Sussex World’s Editor-in-Chief Gary Shipton.
We heard some teasers about the forthcoming Downton Abbey and Paddington films (not to be shared, of course!) plus many stories from Hugh’s experiences living in Sussex and his long acting career. Anecdotes featured Julia Roberts standing up for her fellow actors during the Notting Hill premieres, and the inimitable wit of Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.
The event was attended by Their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk and supported by the Arundel Festival of the Arts.
Finally, we introduced our rowing-centric Leander Pink to a different kind of water sport at Arundel Lido with the fabulous team from POWER Fitness Events.
As the sun set behind the castle in the background, guests hopped onto their waterside bikes for an empowering spinning class led by Chief Banana Officer Elaine, before moving on to a guided meditation featuring adapted tai chi with Becky. There was some swimming too (thank goodness Arundel Lido is heated) and then a glass of pink fizz to reward everyone’s efforts.
Learn more about The Sussex Snowdrop Trust.
