Story Search Results

Rags to Riches #15

My family originated from Derby and my parents were married there in July 1952. Mum was 19 and dad was 36 so quite a bit older. They both lived in Derby and were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time and my mum attended art college. I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days. My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war. After the war he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls and candlesticks among other things (see header picture). He would go to the alab...

A Christmas Celebration #74

.... “The Derby Room,” she said out loud, as she read the sign next to the bell.  'But there’s no-one in that room,' she thought.  'How can it be?' “What’s all this noise?” asked Jenny, poking her head out of the next room.  “Who’s ringing at this unearthly time of night?” “Someone in the Derby Room,” answered Molly.  “But no-one sleeps in there do they?” “Come on,” Jenny said and grabbed Molly by the hand.  “We’ll both go down and see who it is.”  Down the spiral staircase they crept with their shawls wrapped tight around them, glad of the new electric lights in the house – much brighter than candles!  One floor do...

A Christmas Celebration #89

.... “The Derby Room,” she said out loud, as she read the sign next to the bell.  “But there’s no-one in that room,” she thought.  “How can it be?” “What’s all this noise?” asked Jenny, poking her head out of the next room.  “Who’s ringing at this unearthly time of night?” “Someone in the Derby Room,” answered Molly.  “But no-one sleeps in there do they?” “Come on,” Jenny said and grabbed Molly by the hand.  “We’ll both go down and see who it is.”  Down the spiral staircase they crept with their shawls wrapped tight around them, glad of the new electric lights in the house – much brighter than candles!  One...

Moving Out#32

...lived in Derby he had got to know a few people who were wheeler dealers who would buy and sell anything to make a fast buck at any cost; one or two of them had even been in prison for fraud.  It was back to this crowd that he went, mixing in his old circles buying and selling.  It really was like ‘Only Fools and Horses’ without the old grandad!    Unfortunately Kev often got involved with them too as my dad would try and get odd jobs for him to do at the weekends.  One of his friends was a builder and he was doing up a house that belonged to the bass player from a pop band, who were really big in the seventies.  They also owned a Ferrari between them...

Growing up in a stately home #1

...shire and Derbyshire. He bought the Hoar Cross estate in 1793 and built a hunting lodge there known as Old Hall and founded the Meynell Hunt. It seemed the family lived here for many years until Hugo’s grandson, also Hugo, got married in 1863 and decided to build the present Hall for him and his wife, Emily Charlotte. The house took nine years to build and was eventually finished in 1871. Hugo and Emily had already moved in, but their new life together was soon to be cut short by a tragic accident. Fourteen months earlier at Birch Wood on their estate Hugo had a horse riding accident and had been bed-ridden ever since – he died in May of that year. They had...

Moving Out #32

...lived in Derby he had got to know a few people who were wheeler dealers who would buy and sell anything to make a fast buck at any cost; one or two of them had even been in prison for fraud.  It was back to this crowd that he went, mixing in his old circles buying and selling.  It really was like the TV programme, ‘Only Fools and Horses’ without the old grandad!    Unfortunately Kev often got involved with them too as my dad would try and get odd jobs for him to do at the weekends.  One of his friends was a builder and he was doing up a house that belonged to the bass player from a pop band, who were really big in the seventies.  They also owned a Fe...