From John West (SH 61-64), following a recent trip out: “Julie and I went out for lunch today at a rather nice shop and cafe near Ingleton called Country Harvest. We meandered back to the M6 via Melling and Hornby. I have to tell you that as we went through Hornby, Julie said 'It's not very big is it?' My reply was 'That's because it's twinned with Hornby Dublo!' She wasn't amused. I had a similar reaction at our daughter Penny's wedding, when I ended the Father of the Bride speech with 'Well it's been an emotional day, even the cake's in tiers!'  To be fair, even Penny covered her face with her hands and she has a similar sense of humour to me. Anyway, back to Melling. As we drove through, I had to stop and take a photo of a house named Swallows Nest, which presumably was once a school or vicarage (the church is opposite), but there was no-one about to ask. The words ‘Benedictus Benedicat’ were carved above the doorway.
These words took me back to mealtimes on School House, where the Head of House (Dacre Watson in my first year) would say grace before we all sat down. Talking to Dacre on one Old Boys' Day, he told me that those mealtimes were exquisite agony for him, as Jame Wykes (he was School housemaster for a while as well as being Headmaster) used to sit next to Dacre and loved to talk about cricket, which was not one of Dacre's sports and Dacre used to squirm trying to keep his end of the conversation alive. AI tells me: ‘Benedictus benedicat’ is a Latin phrase commonly used as a short, pre-meal grace, translating as ‘May the Blessed One (God) give a blessing’. It is often used in informal academic or religious settings to bless the food and the diners before eating. Key Aspects of ‘Benedictus benedicat’: Meaning: It literally means ‘Let the Blessed One bless’. It is a request for a blessing upon the meal and those present. Usage: It is famously used at Cambridge University and Oxford colleges as a concise, two-word grace before dinner, particularly at less formal meals. Full Phrase: It is sometimes extended to ‘Benedictus benedicat, per Jesum Christum Dominum Nostrum’ (‘May the Blessed One bless, through Jesus Christ our Lord’). Post-Meal Counterpart: After the meal, the corresponding phrase is often ‘Benedicto benedicatur,’ meaning ‘Let praise be given to the Blessed One’ or ‘Let a blessing be given by the Blessed One’. The phrase emphasizes gratitude and a request for divine blessing on the food being consumed.”

 

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

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