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Hysterical Productions #15

HYSTERICAL PRODUCTIONS:    By the end of 1974 we had done about 40 banquets at Hoar Cross Hall and they were still going strong. Most of the original cast were still with us but we were on our second King now and also doing our own catering and bar, whereas when we first started, we had a catering firm in to do it all. Every weekend over 200 people came to sample our Noble Brose, Roast Lambe and Saracen’s Delight and sing along to ‘I’m Henry VIII’ whilst drinking beer, wine and mead. But it was a very adult environment for 15 year old girls to work in; a few of my school friends also worked at the banquets as wenches and we were constantly being chatte...

Here Comes the Bride (Part 2) #33

...t a local hotel in the next village and when we came downstairs the next morning our best man (who lived nearby) called in to see us and joined us for breakfast! I think he wanted to check that we’d had no sleep all night as they’d decorated our room with ribbons and bows and about fifty bells of all types which were fastened onto the mattress springs under the bed! I don’t think anything would have kept us awake after going to bed at 6am! For saying my mum did her utmost to keep us apart, we are still happily married after  40 years! Don’t miss next week’s instalment:    "Moving out" If you would like to follow my story from the beginning, click...

The Kitchen Maid's Story #37

...THE KITCHEN MAID’S STORY:    If you were young, free and single – oh, and very well-to-do – the 1920s were the decade to be a part of. The upper classes had lots of time on their hands and enjoyed post-First World War delights such as the theatre and jazz clubs. Not so for the lower classes, in particular a young girl who was to become the kitchen maid at Hoar Cross Hall in the 1920s. The ‘depression’ after the First World War brought stark poverty to her home and many like her. Her name was Jean Rennie, and she was extremely intelligent having won a scholarship to Glasgow University to study French and music. However, the £5 bursary she got was ta...

What the Butler Saw! #38

...unlike a hotel nowadays! He also waited on table at all the meals and at night, secured all doors and windows and checked the fires were safe before retiring to bed. If there was no valet in the house then the butler would also have been responsible for looking after his master’s clothes and hunting gear. In the absence of a footman, he would also answer the door – sounds like he was a very busy man! Let’s hope that someone didn’t come calling at lunchtime while he was helping his master get changed into yet another outfit! Another thing large houses always had was a letter bag - used for receiving and dispatching letters – the butler would have the...

Here Comes the Bride (Part 2) # 28

...t a local hotel in the next village and when we came downstairs the next morning our best man (who lived nearby) called in to see us and joined us for breakfast! I think he wanted to check that we’d had no sleep all night as they’d decorated our room with ribbons and bows and about fifty bells of all types which were fastened onto the mattress springs under the bed! I don’t think anything would have kept us awake after going to bed at 6am! For saying my mum did her utmost to keep us apart, we are still happily married after over 40 years!   Don’t miss next week’s instalment:   'Moving out' If you would like to follow my story from the beginning,...

What the Butler Saw! #37

...unlike a hotel nowadays! He also waited on table at all the meals and at night, secured all doors and windows and checked the fires were safe before retiring to bed. If there was no valet in the house then the butler would also have been responsible for looking after his master’s clothes and hunting gear. In the absence of a footman, he would also answer the door – sounds like he was a very busy man! Let’s hope that someone didn’t come calling at lunchtime while he was helping his master get changed into yet another outfit! Something else large houses usually had in those days was a letter bag - used for receiving and dispatching letters – the butler...