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A Dinner in Honor of Downton Abbey Creator Julian Fellowes

Commemorating the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty, The Queen

Thursday, July 28, 2022 at 6 pm
Castle Hill Inn, Newport, RI
 


Join us as we honor Julian Fellowes with our Lifetime Achievement Award and present him with his family history. Fellowes is an award-winning screenwriter, director, producer, novelist, and actor. He is the creator, sole writer, and executive producer of the worldwide hit series, Downton Abbey, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, among other awards. 

Proceeds of the Family History Benefit Dinner help fund our groundbreaking work, including educational programs, youth outreach, original research and scholarship, diversity programming, publications, and online services and content development.

 

Platinum Benefactors: 
Elizabeth and Michael Vitton 

Gold Benefactors:
John E. and Julie Corcoran 
Elizabeth and George Passela 
Nacy Clay Webster and John W. Webster

Silver Benefactors: 

Thomas and Juliet Gede
Thomas Bailey Hagen
Gerry and MaryLee Halpin
Nancy S. Maulsby
Jonathan Treat and Leslie Aitken

Welch & Forbes LLC 
 

Bronze Benefactors

Richard D. Batchelder, Jr.
Brady Brim-DeForest of Balvaird Castle
Russell and Marian Burke
Stephen and Margaret Case
Cheryl L. Edwards
Lea Sinclair Filson
Sarah E. Gunderson
Beverly and Lyman Hamilton
Jo Anne C. Makely
Charleen and Matthew Mullenweg
Nancy Place
Rebecca Morgan Rogers
Andrew F. Saxe
Julia and Timothy Schmolke
M. David and Mary Alice Sherrill
Diana and David Smith
Florence C. Stanley
Alexandra and Marshall Stocker
Eva and Roy Strasburger
Mary M. Tedesco
Sarah and Eric Ward

Highclere Castle Gin

 

Venue Information

Castle Hill Inn
590 Ocean Drive, Newport, RI


Valet is provided to all guests of this event. 

For more information about Castle Hill Inn and directions visit https://www.castlehillinn.com/ 

Coat and tie for men; summer dinner party attire for women.

Our Honored Guest

 Julian Fellowes is an award-winning screenwriter, director, producer, novelist, and actor. In 2002, Fellowes won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Gosford Park directed by Robert Altman. He is the creator, sole writer and executive producer of the worldwide hit series Downton Abbey, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe and is the recipient of the International Emmy Founds Award and a special BAFTA award. He is also the writer of the Downton Abbey movie. His film writing credits include Vanity FairPiccadilly JimSeparate Lies (National Board of Review Directorial Debut Award), From Time to Time (Directed, Best Picture – Chicago Children’s Film Festival) The Young Victoria, and The Chaperone. His television writing credits include Little Lord FauntleroyThe Prince and the PauperTitanic (miniseries), Doctor ThorneThe English GameBelgravia and The Gilded Age. His theatre writing credits are School of Rock – The Musical (Broadway/Tony Award nominee, Best Book; UK opening October 2016), Mary Poppins (West End, Broadway/Drama Desk nominee, Best Book), Half A Sixpence (Chichester Festival Theatre, UK opening October 2016). He has written three international bestselling novels, SnobsPast Imperfect and Belgravia. In January 2011, Fellowes was given a peerage and entered the House of Lords as the Lord Fellowes of West Stafford. He and his wife, Emma, live in London and Dorset, England. They have a son, Peregrine.    

 

Recommended Accommodations

 Hotels book fast in the summer season- please plan accordingly! 

Newport Marriott
 

Brenton Hotel

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Castle Hill Inn

Our Hosts...

D. Brenton Simons OBE

Chief Stewardship Officer
D. Brenton Simons OBE is a veteran nonprofit administrator, author, speaker, and historian. Currently President Emeritus and Chief Stewardship Officer, he is immediate past President and CEO of American Ancestors.

Ryan J. Woods

Ryan J. Woods is Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of American Ancestors / New England Historic Genealogical Society and an appointed member of the Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution.