Story Search Results

Midnight Pool Parties # 59

Following on with The summer Theme my mind drifted back to those halcyon days of summer when we were all young and lively and hanging out with a large group of friends.  By now Kev and I had left college and were both working but weekends were for fun and parties! Kev and The band were also getting a few gigs around The area and after singing with Them for a little while I gave it up and let a more professional singer take over – I needed to work on my confidence first!   We still went to The local '76 Club' though to see live music – it was The start of The punk era and we saw The Sex Pistols There when They were just starting out – I have to say They...

Rags to Riches #63

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. My parents on Their wedding day - 1952   After The Second World War he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls and candles...

Christmas High Jinks #72

The sounds of 'La Golondrina' floated through The air as Viv sat at The grand piano.  How pleased she was that someone had asked Them to look after this fine musical instrument for a few months.  Having learned to play when she was younger, this gave Viv The opportunity to brush up on her skills as a pianist and she was thoroughly enjoying it.  The piano was in The Library and suited The room perfectly.  She could hear her faTher and an antique dealer talking in The Long Gallery as They haggled over The price of a painting that he was selling.  Viv gazed out of The window as she played and thought back to The Midsummer’s Eve Ball that They’d had a few...

Behind The green baize door #47

"The green baize door - dividing line betwix servant and master.” All stately homes had at least one green baize door and Hoar Cross Hall was no different. This was The door used by The servants to access The main part of The house unobtrusively and silently so They could go about Their work without disturbing The family. The Hall had a spiral staircase at each end of The house for The servants to use and The green baize door on The ground floor opened onto The Garden Corridor which led to The Chapel and The main house, as well as The garden. The green baize door on The first floor opened onto The east wing corridor and guest bedrooms and from this corridor t...

A Christmas Celebration #74

The final festive story is here based on true events and people that lived at Hoar Cross Hall.  “Come on, look sharp!” shouted Cook to her assistants in The kitchen.  “We’ve got a load of cooking to do for The Christmas party at The weekend and if you don’t get a move on There’ll be nothing to eat!” The kitchen maids looked at each oTher, stopped Their gossiping and started to move a bit quicker.  Cook could be quite intimidating when she was in one of her moods.  The table was laden with pastries, jellies and fruit and The girls were just putting The finishing touches to The gingerbread biscuits before starting on The blancmange. “I love...

A New Year Calamity! #75

The New Year’s Eve Ball at Hoar Cross Hall was usually The highlight of The year.  After twelve months of hard work, especially running The Mediaeval Banquets twice a week through The winter, we were always ready to see out The year in style with a big new year party.  In those days it was always black tie for The men and long dresses for The ladies – usually around 500 people bought tickets for an evening of entertainment with a dance band, disco and a meal.  At midnight a man dressed in traditional Scottish regalia, including a kilt and sporran, would pipe in The new year with his bagpipes.  Down The Long Gallery he would slowly walk and into The Ballr...