LE COURRIER

Picard

May 8, 2000

Robert, Thomas, William, Sybil and the others: the anniversary of the Saint Legers to be celebrated at Eu on May 13.

The descendants of the de Saint Legers will meet on May 13 at Eu, to celebrate the millenium of their family which is of Norman origins.

The members of the Saint Leger family in the diaspora will come from all parts of the world for this reunion in the chateau of Eu. In honor of this event, the royal city of Eu will give the name of the ancestor of this family, Robert Saint Leger to one of its streets.

The passage Robert de Saint Leger, behind the choir of the collegiale, will connect the Plaza Saint-Laurent O'Toole to the Plaza William the Conqueror. This choice is not haphazard when one thinks back on the history of this family with its well defined Norman past.

The Battle of Hastings

Robert de Saint Leger figures on the list of two hundred knights, companions of William the Conqueror during the battles of England and Hastings in 1066. This was a victory which led the first well known ancestor to have roots in England.

In Normandy, the de Saint Legers held the low forest of Eu while in England they shared the forest of Dallington with the Counts of Eu. Saint-Leger-aux Bois, Saint-Leger du Bourg-Denis, Saint-Leger -sur-Bresle: these names evoke the "Saint Leger" family.

Dispersed around the world, especially in the Anglo-Saxon countries, the Saint Leger French family branch is still very much alive. It is the latter branch which had the idea of this celebration in which participated the American cousins as well as the British, Canadian, South African and Australian ones.

To celebrate their millenium they chose Eu which is historically close to the origins of uncle Robert. The town went out of its way to honor this private reunion, "which might have long and short-term economic effects", according to the ideas of the chosen few.

With, on the one-hand, Anglo-Saxon professionalism and, on the other, Norman hospitality, the preparations were perfected. A press release, an Internet portal site for the Saint Leger family, the investment of the Office of Tourism and the practical planning of this important event were instrumental in the making of a dynastic weekend for Eu.

May the inhabitants of Eu not feel left out. The convivial and familial character of this millenium reunion has to be preserved and the only public part will be the inauguration of the passage Robert de Saint Leger on Saturday, at 11:30 followed by a wine toast in honor of the event.

A Game of Sioule

On the private side, a luncheon in the Joinville Pavilion, in the Parc du Domaine, will precede the traditions of that era. The most valiant of the Saint Legers will be invited to participate in a match of "sioule" rough ancestor of the Anglophone rugby.

For all those who inquire about the most famous Saint Legers, it is of note that a Scottish whisky as well as a mineral water carry the name of the famous family. In addition, after the Epsom Derby in the United Kingdom, the famous Saint Leger horserace takes place annually at Doncaster.

www.desaintleger.com

Thierry Desbarax

Three Questions to Dominique de Saint Leger

Dominique de Saint Leger is today the point of convergence of the family.

Courrier Picard: "What made you decide to embark on such an enterprise?"

Dominique de Saint Leger: "To celebrate the millenium of one's history is a rare event. In France, we have hardly 150 families which can go so far back in their origins."

C.P.: "When did you start your research?"

D.S.L.: "The research was started thirty years ago by my uncles Maurice and Bernard de Saint Leger who will be present on May 13. The have been doing this important work for the past 25 years. The fruit of their endeavors materialized in a book of 1000 pages which is considered an authority on the subject by historians.

Four years ago, during a wedding in the family, some English cousins suggested a family reunion. For various reasons, I followed up on my uncles' work. The main reason was historical because our first ancestor, Robert de Saint Leger, the companion of William the Conqueror originated from the town of EU.

Later, it became simpler to organize the whole reunion at Eu which possesses everything necessary for such an occasion and which received us warmly during our various peregrinations.

It remained for us to contact everyone by mail and to create the Internet portal site."

C.P.: "Do you know all the members of your family?"

D.S.L.: "Not at all. I know many in France but none who are outside of France. However, my uncles know a few but their lists are incomplete. In addition to the Internet, the word spread from mouth to ear and we communicated with many by means of the Internet. My uncle Bernard then verified that each would-be participant truly belonged to the family before receiving an invitation from me. Thus 90% of the contacts were done via the Internet or the mail.

We noticed that many of the non-French were avid to renew contact with the past. Many came even from South Africa and Argentina. All the participants will discover the family tree which was rigorously done by my uncle Bernard, and thanks to this reunion, we will be able to complete it."

Gaetan Habasque