Story Search Results

A New Year Calamity! #35

The New Year’s Eve Balls at Hoar Cross Hall were 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 Ballroom wi...

The Schoolroom Maid's Story #33

...d in attendance at the chapel ready for morning prayers. All the family and staff had to attend although it was only prayers spoken by Colonel Meynell – no singing or music. By mid-day she had again changed her outfit to an afternoon dress and made her way to the workroom to assist the lady’s maid in mending, sewing and general repairs to Miss Dorothy’s wardrobe. It seems to me that people were forever changing their clothes in those days! For the servants their morning dress was plain and serviceable covered with a large apron, for doing all the chores around the house. Their afternoon dress was still plain but usually black and trimmed with a lace colla...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #45

...d a local dance, and always made sure they were escorted to and from the event by the footman. Young maids were well protected in those times as the family were always worried about ‘undesirable’ friendships starting up, either within or outside the household. But it seems that there was generally a good atmosphere in the house for most of the time. The children mixed freely with the servants and Lady Mary forbid them to call the servants by their surname only, as was usual in those days. She said it was disrespectful although the butler was always called by his surname, something still practised by today’s aristocracy.  The header picture shows Hoar Cros...

Midnight Pool Parties # 59

...do a fan dance to The Stripper and this seemed to keep the young men amused. Alas, the neighbours complained about the noise on one occasion and reported the shenanigans to our friends’ parents.  Pool parties were thereafter banned for quite a while! All the people renting our apartments were now young men and women and they soon became part of the crowd in the Meynell.  Every weekend would find us all creeping along the basement passage to one flat or another for a party – at least no-one could hear us; the walls in this stately home were about 2-3 feet (1M) thick!  When I turned 18 we decided to have a party, of course, in one of the apartments and o...

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...

"He's behind you!" #66

...ne of the dance routines along with a local man, Paul Yukes.  Kev and I were in control of the sound and we did tape recordings of the whole show which were sold afterwards to raise a bit more money (we still have one tape left!).  Everyone gave of their time freely and it was great fun to be involved. ‘ATV Today’ cameras were present for the dress rehearsal and a clip of three or four minutes on the television no doubt helped to boost the ticket sales.  The pantomime was on for three nights and had capacity audiences every night of 300 people.  A good profit was made and a donation went to the Prince Charles’ Appeal for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee F...