St. George’s Day & Weekend at The Kings Arms Hotel raises funds for Shooting Star

By Community Correspondent Richard Sharp

In a unique Fund Raising Event for The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, Sarah Murdock and Simon Bailey, owners of the 17th Century The Kings Arms Hotel Hampton Court, organised a weekend of celebrations to mark Saint George’s Day and the birthday of William Shakespeare last week.

At the heart of the weekend was Beef! Lou Andrews of Ellis Fine Foods of Whitton generously donated two whole ribs of Chobham bred Aberdeen Angus Roast Beef. A donation to The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice was made on this and other main courses served over the weekend.

Volunteers from Hampton Court Palace team were on hand, dressed up in period costumes to help lend lots of period atmosphere to the activities. Richard Evans, better known for his portrayal of Henry VIII, together with David Packer and colleagues from the Palace re-enacted scenes from William Hogarth’s 1748 painting ‘O, The Roast beef of England’ on Friday afternoon.

Friday evening's fancy dress party and pub quiz was a huge success. Simon Baxter, The Kings Arms’ General Manager dressed up as an 18th Century wench and then went on to perform the Can Can, raising £150 for Shooting Star. Lots of children took joined in the Kid’s Day fancy dress, face painting and party games on Saturday. The draw a dragon competition was particularly popular. Sunday's highlight was a live jazz performance by Articulate Music who performed outside the pub and entertained diners, drinkers and passersby.

Simon Bailey said, “We had enormous fun last year when we ran a similar event to mark the 300th anniversary of the hotel and raised £967 for Shooting Star and wanted to improve on that this year. We also ran a super Shooting Star raffle. Prizes including tickets for the Michael Bolton Concert at the Hampton Court Palace Music Festival, tickets for The Canterbury Tales at The Rose Theatre, a meal for two at The Bell, our new Gastro Pub in Hampton, a rare framed engraving of William Hogarth’s ‘O, The Roast beef of England, an overnight stay for two at The Kings Arms, plus lots more super prizes for the kids.”

Sarah Murdock continued, “We made Hogarth’s incredible 1748 painting ‘O, the Roast Beef of England’ the theme for the weekend as it seemed so appropriate. The Kings Arms had been open for nearly forty years by then. We know that William Hogarth visited Hampton Court around 1720 to make one of his first sketches, ‘Heads from the Raphael cartoons at Hampton Court’. We don’t know whether he stayed here though! “

“The original ‘O, the Roast Beef of England’ now hangs in Tate Britain and the gallery has been so helpful in licensing its use to us for the publicity for our weekend’s celebrations. The painting, also known as ‘The Gate of Calais’, vividly captures the chef of the Lion d’Argent carrying a side of beef back to the English tavern in the port under the watchful eye of the friar, while William Hogarth paints the scene. He depicts himself in the picture just before being arrested as a suspected spy!” said Sarah.