



Legend of Goodwood's golden racing era and Le Mans winner Roy Salvadori once famously said "give me Goodwood on a summer's day and you can forget the rest".




One Summer, King Edward VII turned his back on the traditional morning suit, and donned a linen suit and Panama hat. Thus the Glorious Goodwood trend was born.




The red & yellow of the Racecourse can be traced back hundreds of years, even captured in our stunning Stubbs paintings in the Goodwood Collection




...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?


We have been host to many incredible film crews using Goodwood as a backdrop for shows like Downton Abbey, Hollywood Blockbusters like Venom: let there be Carnage and the Man from U.N.C.L.E.


Easy boy! The charismatic Farnham Flyer loved to celebrate every win with a pint of beer. His Boxer dog, Grogger, did too and had a tendancy to steal sips straight from the glass.



The Gordon Tartan has been worn by the Dukes and Duchesses over the last 300 years.











Our gin uses wild-grown botanicals sourced from the estate, and is distilled with mineral water naturally chalk-filtered through the South Downs.






Each room has it's own button to ring for James (your butler) whenever and whatever you need him for.


Easy boy! The charismatic Farnham Flyer loved to celebrate every win with a pint of beer. His Boxer dog, Grogger, did too and had a tendancy to steal sips straight from the glass.


The Fiat S76 or "Beast of Turin" is a Goodwood favourite and can usually be heard before it is seen at #FOS


Spectate from the chicane at the Revival to see plenty of classic cars going sideways as they exit this infamous point of our Motor Circuit.


Spectate from the chicane at the Revival to see plenty of classic cars going sideways as they exit this infamous point of our Motor Circuit.


Goodwood Motor Circuit was officially opened in September 1948 when Freddie March, the 9th Duke and renowned amateur racer, tore around the track in a Bristol 400


For the last two years, 5,800 bales have been recylced into the biomass energy centre to be used for energy generation




FOS Favourite Mad Mike Whiddett can be caught melting tyres in his incredible collection of cars (and trucks) up the hillclimb


Leading women of business, sport, fashion and media, take part in one of the most exciting horseracing events in the world.


The first public race meeting took place in 1802 and, through the nineteenth century, ‘Glorious Goodwood,’ as the press named it, became a highlight of the summer season


Leading women of business, sport, fashion and media, take part in one of the most exciting horseracing events in the world.










One Summer, King Edward VII turned his back on the traditional morning suit, and donned a linen suit and Panama hat. Thus the Glorious Goodwood trend was born.


The first public race meeting took place in 1802 and, through the nineteenth century, ‘Glorious Goodwood,’ as the press named it, became a highlight of the summer season


The first public race meeting took place in 1802 and, through the nineteenth century, ‘Glorious Goodwood,’ as the press named it, became a highlight of the summer season


The red & yellow of the Racecourse can be traced back hundreds of years, even captured in our stunning Stubbs paintings in the Goodwood Collection


FOS Favourite Mad Mike Whiddett can be caught melting tyres in his incredible collection of cars (and trucks) up the hillclimb


Ray Hanna famously flew straight down Goodwood’s pit straight below the height of the grandstands at the first Revival in 1998




The iconic spitfire covered almost 43,000 kilometres and visited over 20 countries on its epic journey and currently resides at our Aerodrome.


Built in 1787 by celebrated architect James Wyatt to house the third Duke of Richmond’s prized fox hounds, The Kennels was known as one of the most luxurious dog houses in the world!




Goodwood Motor Circuit was officially opened in September 1948 when Freddie March, the 9th Duke and renowned amateur racer, tore around the track in a Bristol 400


...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?


One of the greatest golfers of all time, James Braid designed Goodwood’s iconic Downland course, opened in 1914.




One of the greatest golfers of all time, James Braid designed Goodwood’s iconic Downland course, opened in 1914.


The first ever round of golf played at Goodwood was in 1914 when the 6th Duke of Richmond opened the course on the Downs above Goodwood House.


Ray Hanna famously flew straight down Goodwood’s pit straight below the height of the grandstands at the first Revival in 1998


The iconic spitfire covered almost 43,000 kilometres and visited over 20 countries on its epic journey and currently resides at our Aerodrome.





...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?


...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?



...plan strategy in an ancient woodland, enjoy award-winning dining then drive around a racetrack?



We have been host to many incredible film crews using Goodwood as a backdrop for shows like Downton Abbey, Hollywood Blockbusters like Venom: let there be Carnage and the Man from U.N.C.L.E.


Just beyond Goodwood House along the Hillclimb, the 2nd Dukes banqueting house was also known as "one of the finest rooms in England" (George Vertue 1747).


Ensure you take a little time out together to pause and take in the celebration of all the hard work you put in will be a treasured memory.







The red & yellow of the Racecourse can be traced back hundreds of years, even captured in our stunning Stubbs paintings in the Goodwood Collection


The first ever round of golf played at Goodwood was in 1914 when the 6th Duke of Richmond opened the course on the Downs above Goodwood House.








The oldest existing rules for the game were drawn up for a match between the 2nd Duke and a neighbour



A 20m woodland rue, from Halnaker to Lavant, was planted by our forestry teams & volunteers, featuring native species like oak, beech, & hornbeam


Inspired by the legendary racer, Masten Gregory, who famously leapt from the cockpit of his car before impact when approaching Woodcote Corner in 1959.




Easy boy! The charismatic Farnham Flyer loved to celebrate every win with a pint of beer. His Boxer dog, Grogger, did too and had a tendancy to steal sips straight from the glass.


Just beyond Goodwood House along the Hillclimb, the 2nd Dukes banqueting house was also known as "one of the finest rooms in England" (George Vertue 1747).


The first thing ever dropped at Goodwood was a cuddly elephant which landed in 1932 just as the 9th Duke of Richmonds passion for flying was taking off.


The Motor Circuit was known as RAF Westhampnett, active from 1940 to 1946 as a Battle of Britain station.


Testament to the 19th-century fascination with ancient Egypt and decorative opulence. The room is richly detailed with gilded cartouches, sphinxes, birds and crocodiles.

Name:
David Edney
Position:
Head Butler
When did you start:
2nd June 1997
Where did you work before:
QE2, Wind Spirit, Renaissance Cruises
Why you love your job:
It’s a joy to work in such a beautiful house, seeing the guests faces when they enter the house for a wedding or any other event. This makes my job all worthwhile. I work alongside an amazing team of people striving to maintain the highest standards possible. I’m always looking to push the boundaries and go the extra mile to deliver an unforgettable customer experience.
Key Achievement or something you are proud of:
All the Revivals and Festival of Speed weekends are amazing weekends serving up 1600 guests on the Saturday, and training all the staff. It’s always an amazing feeling at the height of dinner seeing all the plates coming from the kitchen, seeing the guests being served a bit like at a ballet.
I organised a skills exchange which included Stanstead House, Petworth House, Blenheim, Highclere, Royal Yacht Squadron, The International Butler Academy in Holland, Buckingham Palace, The British Pullman. When it all comes together, the Goodwood Values all come through to our guests from our staff.
It’s a joy to work in such a beautiful house, seeing the guests faces when they enter the house.
David Edney
Day to day life at Goodwood
Every day is like a first day for me, each event is unique. The weddings are extra special as it brings everyone together for the most important day in their lives and it’s a privilege to a part of it. I still get goosebumps when the Bride and Groom come up the drive.
I had never announced anyone one before to speak after dinner, the first 3 people I announced were Sir Rannulf Fiennes, Sir Alan Wicker and Sir Seb Coe. Growing up I remember seeing these faces on the Telly.
A funny story was when the Bride and Groom walked back down the aisle, the shoes the Groom weas wearing, the sole had come completely off so there and then I gave him my shoes, luckily he was size 9.
Seeing the guests faces when they walk in the Ballroom for dinner is overwhelming and it’s a job to ask them to sit down sometimes, everyone is taking photos of the room set up.
A lot of our casual staff are students and start at 16, it’s great to see them go through college and university building some great life skills and character building for the future.
Sum up your role in paragraph
While at Buckingham Palace I worked with each area and learnt a lot, they had an event each day, one was afternoon tea for 9000 people in the garden, the Royal tent was for a hundred people and we washed the teapots up behind the tent afterwards ! Some of our team visited them and experienced how they worked and they came to us.
There is also an amazing team that make the magic happen, they are the planners and chefs. My colleagues Enda, Butler, David Smith, Junior Butler and our fantastic cleaner Michal all led by our amazing House Manager Shelley Hoath. Nearly 28 years and still it’s the Best Company in the world to work for, and it’s a privilege to have job here as Head Butler at Goodwood House.
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