Story Search Results

Mediaeval Mayhem! #12

MEDIAEVAL MAYHEM!         It was the end of the summer season at the Hall in 1973 <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> rehearsals had started for the new venture of Mediaeval Banquets.  All the cast would come round to the house each week for rehearsals <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> my mum <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> one or two other ladies were busy making the skirts <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> blouses for the wenches.   My mum also made about 200 bibs which the guests were going to be wearing as eating five courses with a dagger can be quite messy!   We had a King, a Jester, a Fire-eater, a Halberdier, an organist <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> various wenches <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> serving ladies.  To launch the banquets my parents decided to hold a Press Reception about a month before <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> so we al...

A New Year Calamity #34

The New Year’s Eve Balls at the 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 <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> long dresses for the ladies – usually around 500 people bought tickets for an evening of entertainment with a dance b<Span class='highlight'>andSpan>, disco <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> a meal. At midnight a man dressed in traditional Scottish regalia, including a kilt <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> sporran, would pipe in the new year with his bagpipes. Down the Long Gallery he would slowly walk <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> into the Ballroom with his...

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 <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> long dresses for the ladies – usually around 500 people bought tickets for an evening of entertainment with a dance b<Span class='highlight'>andSpan>, disco <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> a meal. At midnight a man dressed in traditional Scottish regalia, including a kilt <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> sporran, would pipe in the new year with his bagpipes. Down the Long Gallery he would slowly walk <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> into the Ballroom wi...

Eat, Drink <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> be Merry! #10

EAT, DRINK <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> BE MERRY!      We were now in our third year at Hoar Cross Hall <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> our lives were always busy keeping on top of the weeds <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> general upkeep of the house.  My dad expected us children to help as much as possible, which we hated, <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> much of our time was spent trying to hide from him to get out of doing the chores.  But sometimes we didn’t mind <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> we happily pulled an old trolley into the woods every now <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> then to collect wood for the fires <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> sometimes as a family we would spend a day clearing parts of the woods <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> grounds.  My mum had hired a lady from the village to help with the housework <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> we had also taken on a retired chap ca...

Christmas High Jinks #87

Here's a true story to get you in the mood for Christmas!  My brother <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> I were definitely not good children <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> we were always amazed that Santa still left us gifts on Christmas Eve!  We were like 'elves behaving badly'!  Hope you enjoy it! The sounds of "La Golondrina" floated through the air as Viv sat at the gr<Span class='highlight'>andSpan> 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 <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> she was thoroughly enjoying it.  The piano was in the Library <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> suited the room perfectly.  She could h...

Suits you Sir! #22

When we moved to Hoar Cross Hall in 1970 the organ in the private chapel wasn’t working as the house had been empty for 20 years. It was such a shame as it had been designed by George Bodley, the famous organ maker of the 19th century. The chapel itself had been added about 25 years after the house was built at the staggering cost of just under £1000! When one of the visitors to the house said he could fix the organ, my dad readily agreed. This chap really loved organs <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> volunteered his services free of charge just for the love of mending this musical work of art; my dad was over the moon! Alas, after removing all the pipes <Span class='highlight'>andSpan> laying them out in the baseme...