As a D Phil student studying Modern British History, Belinda was awarded a scholarship from the Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund, funded through the Maple Leaf Trust. She did a D Phil at Oxford and currently serves on the CCSF committee. A number of our CWC members will remember an extremely enjoyable and interesting tour of Oxford that Belinda very kindly organised for us a few years ago.
In the Summer 2009 issue of Queen's Quarterly, Belinda literally takes us 'behind the scenes' of some of England's most glorious stately homes with her article "Hollywood Sells Heritage". You can read the article by clicking here.
Belinda looks at how stately homes have turned to raising revenue not just through opening their doors to the public, but by becoming either the model - or actual location - for Hollywood films. She assesses not just why this has happened, but the effect it has on how we - the public - now view these homes. Do we visit for the history, the heritage and beautiful setting or do we visit to see where Mr Darcy shed his shirt?! As Belinda mentions in the article "When Belvoir Castle was used in The Young Victoria, a special canopy bed was constructed. It has been left behind and is displayed with as much pride by the Duchess of Rutland as if the Queen had actually slept in it."
It's a fascinating article!
submitted by Barbara Richards
