FOND MEMORIES OF THE MASTER'S GRANDS VACANCES REPORT FROM MASTER DOUG WILLS AND CONSORT ELISABETH REYES
4 MAY 2026
The recent Master's "Grands Vacances" weekend for Court Assistants was promised to be an experience that would surprise, delight and enlighten. I am thrilled to say that the 34 of us Court Assistants and partners came back with stories that supported these hopes.
The highlight of the trip for many was the guided tour to see the extraordinary art that had been drawn deep under ground in the Lascaux caves. One Court Assistant whose regular life is more normally with the challenges of current technologies said:
"Lascaux and Rouffignac were truly staggering. I literally have goosebumps right now, just thinking about those places. I learned so much and in such an enjoyable way. For me, they were the perfect Stationers' venues because what we saw were perhaps the oldest forerunners of the illustrated magazine or book! Yes, yes, yes! Even the guide en route was great, preparing us so well for the visit."
And another Court Assistant said: "The cave visits were the perfect sortie. I cannot imagine how even someone blessed with a huge ego could fail to be humbled by the cave art work from tens of thousands of years ago. they were absolutely astonishing.
"The inconceivably talented individuals must have laboured selflessly in dark and hostile conditions, for the benefit of others and future generations (including us in 2026). the fact that they must have been supported by their community, providing food and drink in the era of hunting and gathering, shows how civilised (more civilised) mankind was so many millennia ago."
Another visit was to the Chateau de Biron, where a guide showed how one of the Dordogne's most impressive castles evolved from a Medieval fortress to elegant residences. One of the Court Assistants said: "The castle was a superb choice, combining glorious architecture and views with fascinating history, a great guide and a perfect lunch in the chapel. That was very special."
Spending time in the Dordogne would not have been complete without a visit to a vineyard. It turned out that the organic grapes of Chauteau de la Jaubertie were from vines planted by the family of a past master of the Stationers and Newspaper Makers.
Hugh Ryman who is the owner and runs the vineyard is the nephew of Desmond Ryman who was Master Stationer in 1990.
The Master's Stationers' Abroad party bonded with Hugh and his family so well it was like a Stationers' Hall wine tasting afternoon had re-materialised in the Dordogne. My reply to Hugh's email that he sent to me after we left his beautiful vineyard hopefully shows the warmth we had for him and his family.
"Dear Hugh
It was such a pleasure for us as the Master's visiting party to meet you and your family. You were brilliantly welcoming, and also very proud of the way you continue to fine tune the organic cultivation of your vines, and have expanded and developed the processing of the grapes.
The pride was clearly evident in your talks to us, and infectious... the results were there for us all to see. And to taste. We loved your wines.
I am sure that the surprise connection may have helped us to bond but it was the quality of your produce that persuaded a number of us to buy boxes of Chauteau de la Jaubertie."
After the wine tasting on the final day of the "Grands Vacances", the Court Assistants were treated to an evening of traditional music and dancing. And Yes, taking part in the dancing twirls was compulsory.
There was though a break in the local cultural proceedings for a bit of Stationers' business. Past Master Helen Esmonde presented me and my Consort Elisabeth with wonderful French-style berets: each proudly bearing the new school badge from the Stationers' Academy uniform. And Helen led the singing of a Special Stationers' thank-you song to the tune of Frère Jacques led by members of the Stationers’ Choir! It was v touching.
Helen told me: "As I am not very good at sewing I asked Camilla Waterlow (Past Master John Waterlow’s widow) if she would consider doing them for me and she agreed. That is why they are so beautifully sewn!"
Like the wine from the vineyard with a Stationers' family connection, the Grand Vacances was a perfect blend of the best of France and Stationers.