Monday, 28 December 2009
Fritz Adam Hermann von Opel
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Fritz Adam Hermann Opel, since 1918 von Opel (May 4, 1899 - April 8, 1971), was the only child of Wilhelm von Opel, and a grandson of Adam Opel, founder of the Opel Company. He is remembered mostly for his spectacular demonstrations of rocket propulsion that earned him the nickname "Rocket Fritz".
Von Opel was born in Rüsselsheim and educated at the technical university of Darmstadt. After graduation, he was made director of testing for Opel and also put in charge of publicity. In the 1920s, he became interested in using rockets in publicity stunts for the company and sought advice from Max Valier of the newly-formed Verein für Raumschiffahrt (VfR - "Spaceflight Society") and Friedrich Sander, a pyrotechnics manufacturer from Bremerhaven.
On March 15, 1928, von Opel tested his first rocket-powered car, the RAK.1 and achieved a top speed of 75 km/h (47 mph) in it, proving the concept. Less than two months later, he reached a speed of 230 km/h (143 mph) in the RAK.2, driven by 24 solid-fuel rockets.
Later that same year, he purchased a sailplane named the "Ente" (duck in German) from Alexander Lippisch and attached rocket motors to it, creating the world's first rocket plane on June 11. The aircraft exploded on its second test flight, before von Opel had a chance to pilot it himself, so he commissioned a new aircraft, also called the RAK.1 from Julius Hatry, and flew it at Frankfurt-am-Main on September 30, 1929. In the meantime, another mishap had claimed the RAK.3, a rocket-powered railway car powered by 30 solid-fuel rockets and which reached a speed of 254 km/h (157 mph).
Von Opel left the Opel company and Germany after 1929 and died in Samedan, Switzerland.
Fritz von Opel is the father of Formula One driver Rikky von Opel.
Sunday, 27 December 2009
GREAT BRITAIN: Lords for Sale
[archive] One of Britain's most resounding titles, which for sheer euphony tops that of many a noble duke and earl, is held by the Lord of the Manor of Circum cum Wilcocks alias Fransham Parva in the parish of Little Fransham. Last week, along with 26 other manorial lordships, it was knocked down at auction for a paltry $924. At the same auction, London Bookseller William Alfred Foyle bought himself five lordships for $5,400.
Unlike the patents of nobility borne by Britain's peers, which no man can buy, the ancient feudal title, lord of the manor, has long been negotiable. In times past it carried with it many valuable perquisites, and it was not unusual for the old squire in the big house up on the hill to sell them off for a spot of ready cash. The 27 titles up for sale last week were part of a collection bought purely as investments in the 19th century by a shrewd old Essex solicitor named Joseph Beaumont.
Since Beaumont's day, however, Britain's Property Acts have wiped out most of the manorial lord's "perks" (or perquisites;. Today the best a lord of the manor can hope for is a few pounds a year from public utilities for putting telegraph poles on his property. But the deeds are still inscribed on heavy, ancient parchments that make magnificent souvenirs. Unfortunately, the deeds cannot be taken out of the country, which discouraged Americans last week from scooping up such handsome titles as Lord of the Manor of Overhall and Netherhall, or Callis Metholds and Wimbolds.
Souce: time.com
Monday, Nov. 15, 1954
Unlike the patents of nobility borne by Britain's peers, which no man can buy, the ancient feudal title, lord of the manor, has long been negotiable. In times past it carried with it many valuable perquisites, and it was not unusual for the old squire in the big house up on the hill to sell them off for a spot of ready cash. The 27 titles up for sale last week were part of a collection bought purely as investments in the 19th century by a shrewd old Essex solicitor named Joseph Beaumont.
Since Beaumont's day, however, Britain's Property Acts have wiped out most of the manorial lord's "perks" (or perquisites;. Today the best a lord of the manor can hope for is a few pounds a year from public utilities for putting telegraph poles on his property. But the deeds are still inscribed on heavy, ancient parchments that make magnificent souvenirs. Unfortunately, the deeds cannot be taken out of the country, which discouraged Americans last week from scooping up such handsome titles as Lord of the Manor of Overhall and Netherhall, or Callis Metholds and Wimbolds.
Souce: time.com
Monday, Nov. 15, 1954
Eubank's Lordship title for sale
Former world champion boxer Chris Eubank's Lordship of the Manor of Brighton is up for sale.
The title, which he bought for £45,000 in 1996, was among assets, including property, stripped from the fighter after he was made bankrupt in 2005.
Robert Smith, chairman of the Manorial Society of Great Britain, said the Lordship, now valued at £35,000, had not been a great investment. "But I guess you could say that about anything at the moment," he said.
Eubank, who lives in Brighton, was declared bankrupt owing £1.3m to the taxman, which he blamed on bad advice given to him during his career.
Domesday Book
He became the WBO middleweight champion in 1990 and successfully defended his title 14 times.
The Lordship of the Manor of Brighton dates back to the Domesday Book, which states that its holder was entitled to a tax on the number of herrings that were landed in the fishing village. At the time there were about 4,000 a year.
Mr Smith said the tax, then about £20, was still being collected in the 1860s when the title was owned by Lord Sackville.
Well into the 17th Century, the Lord of the Manor was also collecting a tax on the smoking of fish, which was used as a method of preserving the catch.
Mr Smith said that if no suitable offers were received for the title it would be auctioned.
Source: BBC
The title, which he bought for £45,000 in 1996, was among assets, including property, stripped from the fighter after he was made bankrupt in 2005.
Robert Smith, chairman of the Manorial Society of Great Britain, said the Lordship, now valued at £35,000, had not been a great investment. "But I guess you could say that about anything at the moment," he said.
Eubank, who lives in Brighton, was declared bankrupt owing £1.3m to the taxman, which he blamed on bad advice given to him during his career.
Domesday Book
He became the WBO middleweight champion in 1990 and successfully defended his title 14 times.
The Lordship of the Manor of Brighton dates back to the Domesday Book, which states that its holder was entitled to a tax on the number of herrings that were landed in the fishing village. At the time there were about 4,000 a year.
Mr Smith said the tax, then about £20, was still being collected in the 1860s when the title was owned by Lord Sackville.
Well into the 17th Century, the Lord of the Manor was also collecting a tax on the smoking of fish, which was used as a method of preserving the catch.
Mr Smith said that if no suitable offers were received for the title it would be auctioned.
Source: BBC
My lord! Four East Lancashire titles up for sale
[Archive] ANYONE with visions of grandeur is being given the perfect chance to bid their way into high society - by buying a lordship.
Decendants of the Towneley family have put up for sale 29 prestigious titles, including four in East Lancashire.
For around £7,000 any bidder can officially name themselves lord of the manor in either Accrington Newhold, Bowland, Rossendale or Habergham Eaves.
And the winning bidders, when the items come up for auction next month, will be able to use their new titles on their passports, credit cards and cheque books.
The titles, which are expected to reach between £4,000 to £7,000 each, have been put up for sale by Lord Charles O'Hagan, who is suffering ill health.
Lord O'Hagan, 65, whose real name is Charles Towneley, said that the cash raised by the sale would help pay for medical bills.
The former MEP for Devon lives in Somerset. He said: "It is the sensible option to sell the titles.
"They do not add to my life and I do not live in the area any more.
"If I still had a big estate in Burnley then they would have some point but that has long ceased to be the case."
The Towneley family sold Towneley Hall and the surrounding park to the local authority in 1901 for the then sizable sum of £9,000.
Lord O'Hagan added: "The titles have been in my family for many hundreds of years and I will be sad to see them go but I am sure that they will be popular at auction.
"It is a very unique sale and there is a lot of history behind these titles.
"I hope they are sold to people with a local connection.
"I think it is a very romantic thing and it would be nice if people in the area bought the titles and kept them going locally."
The titles will not allow a bearer a seat in the House of Lords but can be passed down from generation to generation.
The new lords or ladies will be eligible for membership to the Manorial Society of Great Britain, whose governing council includes the Earl of Shrewesbury and Talbot, Lord Sudeley and Sir Desmond de Silva QC.
Robert Smith, Manorial Auctioneers in London, is a leading expert on the sale of Lordships.
He said: "The lordships are like a status symbol and will be very appealing to people with a certain level of income.
"The rich have always displayed their wealth and it can manifest itself in many ways.
"Some people like jewellery or expensive cars.
"Others want a big house or a title like this.
"Lordships have been bought and sold by the rich since 1066 and there is no change now.
"People will be interested in the auction either for sentimental reasons or just for the prestige."
The lord of the manor can expect few privileges, Mr Smith said.
As lord you have rights of owning the land three-feet under the soil, but usually there is no value of owning the "mineral rights" if there are no "commercially exploitable materials".
The other 24 lordships for sale are located across the country and include East Hall in Essex, Ridings Court in Buckinghamshire and Alton in Staffordshire.
The auction takes place on May 20 at Stationers Hall, Ave Maria Lane, London.
Source: lancashiretelegraph.co.uk
Decendants of the Towneley family have put up for sale 29 prestigious titles, including four in East Lancashire.
For around £7,000 any bidder can officially name themselves lord of the manor in either Accrington Newhold, Bowland, Rossendale or Habergham Eaves.
And the winning bidders, when the items come up for auction next month, will be able to use their new titles on their passports, credit cards and cheque books.
The titles, which are expected to reach between £4,000 to £7,000 each, have been put up for sale by Lord Charles O'Hagan, who is suffering ill health.
Lord O'Hagan, 65, whose real name is Charles Towneley, said that the cash raised by the sale would help pay for medical bills.
The former MEP for Devon lives in Somerset. He said: "It is the sensible option to sell the titles.
"They do not add to my life and I do not live in the area any more.
"If I still had a big estate in Burnley then they would have some point but that has long ceased to be the case."
The Towneley family sold Towneley Hall and the surrounding park to the local authority in 1901 for the then sizable sum of £9,000.
Lord O'Hagan added: "The titles have been in my family for many hundreds of years and I will be sad to see them go but I am sure that they will be popular at auction.
"It is a very unique sale and there is a lot of history behind these titles.
"I hope they are sold to people with a local connection.
"I think it is a very romantic thing and it would be nice if people in the area bought the titles and kept them going locally."
The titles will not allow a bearer a seat in the House of Lords but can be passed down from generation to generation.
The new lords or ladies will be eligible for membership to the Manorial Society of Great Britain, whose governing council includes the Earl of Shrewesbury and Talbot, Lord Sudeley and Sir Desmond de Silva QC.
Robert Smith, Manorial Auctioneers in London, is a leading expert on the sale of Lordships.
He said: "The lordships are like a status symbol and will be very appealing to people with a certain level of income.
"The rich have always displayed their wealth and it can manifest itself in many ways.
"Some people like jewellery or expensive cars.
"Others want a big house or a title like this.
"Lordships have been bought and sold by the rich since 1066 and there is no change now.
"People will be interested in the auction either for sentimental reasons or just for the prestige."
The lord of the manor can expect few privileges, Mr Smith said.
As lord you have rights of owning the land three-feet under the soil, but usually there is no value of owning the "mineral rights" if there are no "commercially exploitable materials".
The other 24 lordships for sale are located across the country and include East Hall in Essex, Ridings Court in Buckinghamshire and Alton in Staffordshire.
The auction takes place on May 20 at Stationers Hall, Ave Maria Lane, London.
Source: lancashiretelegraph.co.uk
Stanley homeowner buys Lord of the Manor title
[Archive] PROUD homeowner Kenneth Osborne Grant was not to the manor born, but from his modest 19th-century terraced house he is Lord of all he surveys.
Retired civil servant Kenneth, 79, can officially call himself the Lord of Stanley Manor, after buying the title from Ireland’s Baron O’Hagan,.
Kenneth, who lives with his “Heinz 57” dog Max in a terraced house in Dunn Street, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, County Durham in the heart of his Stanley Manor, will not divulge how much he paid for the title.
But the insignia which goes along with the title made council planners sit up and take notice at a recent public meeting.
Kenneth, wearing another of his hats as founder/director of The Osborne Trust, a conservation group which aims to preserve Victorian and Edwardian buildings in Stanley town centre, spoke at a recent meeting over plans for the town centre.
He said: “When I walked into the meeting in my full regalia it did cause some heads to turn. It was the first time I had worn it in public.”
Kenneth, the youngest of four children and a former pupil of Heaton Grammar School, Newcastle, bought the title through the Manorial Society.
He explained: “I read last year how the Northumberland Lordship of Softley was to be auctioned in London for between £4000 and £5000.
“I put in a bid but I was unsuccessful. I am quite pleased now, because with hindsight I would not have wanted to be known as Lord Softley . . . not living in Annfield Plain!
“But a few months later the auctioneer Robert Smith of Manorial Auctioneers got in touch to tell me that the Lordship of Stanley Manor was coming up for sale.
“He told me the asking price, and I managed to get it down by a few hundred pounds.”
A previous Lord of Stanley Manor was a member of the Lumley family, who had their own castle, Lumley Castle, now a hotel in Chester-le-Street.
Kenneth added: “The manor covers the whole of Stanley and Tanfield, as well as parts of Annfield Plain and Burnopfield. It includes the Causey Arch viaduct which was built in 1725 and which is the oldest railway bridge in the world.
“The title does not give me any proprietorial rights and I cannot sit in the House of Lords, but who would want to?
“I don’t smoke, I drink very little and I am a good saver so I spent my money on this title which gives me a great deal of pleasure and which amuses my friends.”
As Lord of Stanley Manor, Kenneth can use his title on his passport, chequebook and credit card and is a member of the Manorial Society of Great Britain.
Members of the society include the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot, the Earl of Shannon, Lord Sudeley and Sir Desmond de Silva QC. It holds functions throughout the year, including an annual reception at the House of Lords.
May 17 2009 by Neil McKay, Sunday Sun
Deutscher Orden - Errichtung der Selbständigen Komturei auf Sizilien
Bischof von Piazza Armerina legte Familiarenversprechen ab
Mit Dekret vom 08. Dezember 2009, dem Hochfest der ohne Erbsünde empfangenen Jungfrau und Gottesmutter Maria, hat der Hochmeister die Commenda Autonoma „Santa Maria degli Alemanni" errichtet, nachdem die zuständige Ballei „Ad Tiberim", der Generalrat des Deutschen Ordens sowie S. Exz. Mons. Michele Pennisi, Bischof der Diözese Piazza Armerina, der Errichtung zugestimmt hatten. Ein lang gehegter Wunsch der sizilianischen Familiaren ging damit in Erfüllung. Nach über 500 Jahren wurde damit die Tradition des Ordens auf der Mittelmeerinsel wieder aufgenommen, die die Confratres nun bereits im Namen ihrer Komturei führen: die „Santa Maria degli Alemanni" ist eine in der Chiesa Madre von Gela hoch verehrte Ikone der Gottesmutter, die der Tradition nach von Deutschordensbrüdern aus dem Heiligen Land nach Sizilien gebracht worden ist. Der Hochmeister reiste aus diesem Anlass in Begleitung des Generalökonomen P. Mag. Frank Bayard sowie einer Schwester und eines weiteren Bruders nach Sizilien, wo das Ereignis am 15. Dezember mit einem festlichen Pontifikalamt des Hochmeisters in der Kathedrale von Piazza Armerina gefeiert wurde.
Source: Deutscher Orden
Mit Dekret vom 08. Dezember 2009, dem Hochfest der ohne Erbsünde empfangenen Jungfrau und Gottesmutter Maria, hat der Hochmeister die Commenda Autonoma „Santa Maria degli Alemanni" errichtet, nachdem die zuständige Ballei „Ad Tiberim", der Generalrat des Deutschen Ordens sowie S. Exz. Mons. Michele Pennisi, Bischof der Diözese Piazza Armerina, der Errichtung zugestimmt hatten. Ein lang gehegter Wunsch der sizilianischen Familiaren ging damit in Erfüllung. Nach über 500 Jahren wurde damit die Tradition des Ordens auf der Mittelmeerinsel wieder aufgenommen, die die Confratres nun bereits im Namen ihrer Komturei führen: die „Santa Maria degli Alemanni" ist eine in der Chiesa Madre von Gela hoch verehrte Ikone der Gottesmutter, die der Tradition nach von Deutschordensbrüdern aus dem Heiligen Land nach Sizilien gebracht worden ist. Der Hochmeister reiste aus diesem Anlass in Begleitung des Generalökonomen P. Mag. Frank Bayard sowie einer Schwester und eines weiteren Bruders nach Sizilien, wo das Ereignis am 15. Dezember mit einem festlichen Pontifikalamt des Hochmeisters in der Kathedrale von Piazza Armerina gefeiert wurde.
Source: Deutscher Orden
Johanniterorden - Ritterschlag zu Nieder-Weisel
Bischof der Evangelischen Kirche Österreichs hält die Festpredigt.
[Rückblick 2009] Berlin/Nieder-Weisel, 24. Juni 2009. Am kommenden Samstag findet um 15.15 Uhr der alljährliche Ritterschlag des Johanniterordens in der Komturkirche zu Nieder-Weisel statt. 57 Mitglieder des Johanniterordens, darunter zwei Herren aus den USA, zwei Herren aus Österreich und ein Herr aus der Schweiz, werden morgen durch den Herrenmeister des Johanniterordens, S. K. H. Dr. Oskar Prinz v. Preußen, zu Rechtsrittern geschlagen. Weiter ernennet der Herrenmeister während des Gottesdienstes Ruprecht Graf Castell zu Rüdenhausen zum neuen Ordensstatthalter und Dr. Peter Rhode zum neuen Ordensschatzmeister. Die Festpredigt hält der Bischof der Evangelischen Kirche A. B. in Österreich, Dr. Michael Bünker. Ihm wird das Ehrenritterkreuz des Johanniterordens verliehen. Insgesamt erwarten die Johanniter am Wochenende in Nieder-Weisel wieder über 200 Gäste.
Source: Johanniterorden.de
[Rückblick 2009] Berlin/Nieder-Weisel, 24. Juni 2009. Am kommenden Samstag findet um 15.15 Uhr der alljährliche Ritterschlag des Johanniterordens in der Komturkirche zu Nieder-Weisel statt. 57 Mitglieder des Johanniterordens, darunter zwei Herren aus den USA, zwei Herren aus Österreich und ein Herr aus der Schweiz, werden morgen durch den Herrenmeister des Johanniterordens, S. K. H. Dr. Oskar Prinz v. Preußen, zu Rechtsrittern geschlagen. Weiter ernennet der Herrenmeister während des Gottesdienstes Ruprecht Graf Castell zu Rüdenhausen zum neuen Ordensstatthalter und Dr. Peter Rhode zum neuen Ordensschatzmeister. Die Festpredigt hält der Bischof der Evangelischen Kirche A. B. in Österreich, Dr. Michael Bünker. Ihm wird das Ehrenritterkreuz des Johanniterordens verliehen. Insgesamt erwarten die Johanniter am Wochenende in Nieder-Weisel wieder über 200 Gäste.
Source: Johanniterorden.de
Marion Hedda Ilse Gräfin Dönhoff
Marion Hedda Ilse Gräfin Dönhoff (* 2. Dezember 1909 auf Schloss Friedrichstein in Ostpreußen; † 11. März 2002 auf Schloss Crottorf bei Friesenhagen, Rheinland-Pfalz) war Chefredakteurin und Mitherausgeberin der Wochenzeitung Die Zeit. Sie gilt als eine der bedeutendsten Publizistinnen der bundesdeutschen Nachkriegszeit. In dieser Eigenschaft war sie Gesprächspartnerin für führende Politiker in der Welt.
Obwohl sie ihre ostpreußische Heimat während der Kriegsgeschehen des Zweiten Weltkriegs verloren hatte, setzte sie sich für eine Versöhnung zwischen den Staaten des Ostblocks und dem Westen ein. Sie unterstützte in ihren Leitartikeln die aktive Ostpolitik, lehnte die Apartheid in Südafrika ab und rief zu freiheitlichem Denken, Toleranz und Gerechtigkeit auf. Weitere Hauptthemen waren der Widerstand gegen Hitler und die Bekämpfung der Auswüchse des Kapitalismus.
Marion Gräfin Dönhoff ist für ihre Tätigkeit mit zahlreichen Auszeichnungen geehrt worden, unter anderem mit dem Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels. Als Buchautorin – sie schrieb mehr als zwanzig Bücher – war sie ebenfalls erfolgreich. Ihre bekanntesten Titel sind Namen, die keiner mehr nennt, die Geschichte ihrer Familie und der ostpreußischen Heimat, und Um der Ehre willen, persönliche Erinnerungen an ihre Freunde, die am Widerstand teilgenommen und ihr Leben verloren hatten.
Source: Wikipedia.de
European Noble and Private Collections
Christie's
European Noble and Private Collections
15 - 16 December 2009
Amsterdam
Lot Description
DUTCH SCHOOL; A GENEALOGICAL FAMILY TREE OF JOHANNA MARIA PARVÉ
CIRCA 1912
Watercolour on paper, depicting various coats of arms of the family tree of Johanna Maria Parve from 17th to 19th Century, monogrammed and dated Jan 1912
60.5 x 74.5 cm. incl. frame
Klik hier voor een lijst van de aangeboden voorwerpen.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest!
Verehrte Leser und Leserinnen, heute Abend beginnt die Weihnachtszeit, in der wir die Menschwerdung Gottes feiern; in wenigen Tagen beginnt das neue bürgerliche Jahr. Es ist dies für mich ein Anlass, Ihnen für Ihr Interesse an der Homepage des Hochmeisteramtes des Deutschen Ordens zu danken. Wir konnten uns in diesem Jahr über mehr als 400 000 Zugriffe freuen und für nächstes Jahr planen wir einige Erweiterungen der Homepage, vor allem im Bereich „Geschichte", und wir werden auch mehr über den Alltag in unseren Konventen, in unseren Pfarreien und verschiedenen Einrichtungen berichten.
Ich wünsche Ihnen allen, auch im Namen aller Mitglieder des Konvents am Hochmeisteramt ein gesegnetes und besinnliches Weihnachtsfest, voll von Freude über die Geburt unseres Herrn Jesus Christus und Freude am Glauben überhaupt. Die Freude, die wir manchmal im Alltag unter der Last unserer Sorgen vergessen. „Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe und Friede den Menschen auf Erden, die in seinem Wohlgefallen stehen!" (Lk 2,14). Für das Neue Jahr wünsche ich Ihnen Gottes Segen, damit Ihr Leben Tag für Tag von diesem Frieden erfüllt sei.
Hochmeister Bruno Platter
Source: deutscher-orden.at
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Dinner for One
Millions of Germans and other continental Europeans will settle down in front of their TV sets on New Year's Eve for what has become an annual ritual -- the airing of an aged British comedy sketch starring a long-dead music-hall comedy called "Dinner for One."
The 15-minute sketch, acted by Freddie Frinton and May Warden, will also be televised by every other major regional public-TV channel in Germany and by a scattering of commercial networks.
The black-and-white British slapstick sketch, totally unknown in the English-speaking world, has become the highest-rated TV show in German history, and has spawned fan clubs and a cult following of viewers who stage parties to recreate the sketch at home.
In a nation not exactly known for its ribaldry and thigh-slapping humor, the New Year's Eve showing of "Dinner for One" never fails to bring down the house. There are viewers who have memorized every gesture, every line of the English-only sketch.
Source: Deutsche Welle
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