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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 an class='highlight'>boughtan> 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...

a New Year Calamity! #90

The New Year’s Eve Balls at Hoar Cross Hall were usually the highlight of the year during the 1970s.  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 an class='highlight'>boughtan> 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...

Rags to Riches #15

an class='highlight'>Myan> family originated from Derby and an class='highlight'>Myan> parents were married there in July 1952. Mum was 19 and an class='highlight'>dadan> was 36 so quite a bit older. They both lived in Derby and were very arty; an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time and an class='highlight'>Myan> 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. an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> 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...

Rags to Riches #14

Before we moved to Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire we lived in Derbyshire.  an class='highlight'>Myan> family originated from Derby and an class='highlight'>Myan> parents were married there in July 1952. Mum was 19 and an class='highlight'>dadan> was 36 so quite a bit older. They both lived in Derby and were very arty; an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time and an class='highlight'>Myan> 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. an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> 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...

Suits You Sir! #23

SUITS YOU SIR! When we moved to the 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 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, an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> readily agreed.  This chap really loved organs and volunteered his services free of charge just for the love of mending this musical work of art; an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> was over the moon!  alas, after removing all the pipes and laying them out in...

The Tax Man Cometh #29

an class='highlight'>Myan> parents’ court case was finally over and an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> had six months to leave the family home, Hoar Cross Hall. In the meantime an class='highlight'>Myan> mum had to find the funds to buy him out and he had to find another house to live in. He also had an awful lot of stuff to move too! He eventually found a house in nearby Burton-on-Trent but as it was obviously a lot smaller he had to get rid of a lot of his possessions and one of the first things to go was his Lotus Elite. He advertised it in the local paper but instead of getting a phone call from a likely buyer, the first call was from the local tax office. Back in those days they used to check advertisements in the newspapers and...