THIS coming Friday will herald the centenary of a grand party thrown by Lord and Lady Windsor, at Hewell Grange, for the estate's workpeople and their families.

The event was held to celebrate the coming of age of their son, Other Robert Windsor-Clive, whose birthday had fallen just a few days previously - on October 23, 1905.

Other Robert was set to one day become Lord of the Manor of Bromsgrove and would inherit estates totalling 35,000 acres in Glamorganshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.

With somewhat bad timing, he was in fact at the family's seat at St Fagan's Castle on the day of the grand party!

Nonetheless, the families - especially the children - seem to have had a field day with lunch in a huge marquee where the chair was taken by Lord Windsor's Agent Mr LF Lambert.

He was supported by Mr W Neasom, the oldest tenant, and in the centre of the marquee was an illuminated address and silver guilt ink stand which staff and workpeople were to present to the Honourable Other Robert in the New Year.

The address was framed in oak and was hand-made by Mr FT Treadgold with wood carving by Mr H Spires. Both were employees.

After speeches and a toast to the absent Other Robert, musical honours were provided by the Redditch Artillery Band. A congratulatory message was then telegraphed to St Fagan's following which a sports day was held in the grounds of the estate.

The band provided further entertainment and tea was served to around 600 mums, dads and children at 4.30pm. It must have been a day of much excitement for the children in particular and one can only picture the scene in those long gone Edwardian days.

December 1905 saw Other Robert's father advance to his Earldom, which ensured his title changed from Lord Windsor to Lord Plymouth and his wife became Lady Plymouth. The process also meant their 21-year-old son became Viscount Windsor.

Today Hewell Park is home to a sprawling prison complex and the present generation of the Plymouth family live at their home in Oakly Park, Shropshire.

The Bromsgrove Society is publishing a feature on the centenary of the coming-of-age celebrations, which stretched into the New Year of 1906 in their 2005 edition of the Rousler magazine, which will be published in December.