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Suits you Sir! #22

SUITS YOU SIR!      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 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 and 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 and laying them o...

Whodunit in the Library? #24

...wn to the police station – apparently I was aiding and abetting this time but when they found out my dad had told us to do it and they were his things as much as hers, they had to let us go as it was a domestic situation again! However, it was a few more months before my mum discovered that the music box had gone! One day during this time, I came home from college to find the house empty and the Library door locked, which was most unusual on both counts. I eventually got in through the secret door to find blood all over the floor – and I mean loads of it - right in the middle of the room. I thought I’d walked onto the set of a Hercule Poirot film – it w...

Whodunit in the Library #24

...wn to the police station – apparently I was aiding and abetting this time but when they found out my dad had told us to do it and they were his things as much as hers, they had to let us go as it was a domestic situation again! However, it was a few more months before my mum discovered that the music box had gone! The musical box (centre of picture)   One day during this time, I came home from college to find the house empty and the Library door locked, which was most unusual on both counts. I eventually got in through the secret door to find blood all over the floor – and I mean loads of it - right in the middle of the room. I thought I’d walked o...

Panto Pranks! #30

...During the 1970s Hoar Cross Hall was used from time to time for local community activities and one such event was the production in 1978 of a traditional pantomime, ‘Midnight and a Journey back to Happiness’. It was written by local people, Robert Leighton from Yoxall and the Hon. Alexandra Meynell, daughter-in-law of Mrs Jean Meynell whom we had purchased the Hall from. The words and music were written by local songwriter, David Matthews, who had written songs for quite a few pop artists during the 1960s, his most famous being Matt Munro’s ‘We’re gonna change the world’. So off to a good start there! For those of you who don’t reside in the UK an...

Whodunit in the Library #24

...wn to the police station – apparently I was aiding and abetting this time but when they found out my dad had told us to do it and they were his things as much as hers, they had to let us go as it was a domestic situation again! However, it was a few more months before my mum discovered that the music box had gone! The music box seen here on display just behind the barrier   One day during this time, I came home from college to find the house empty and the Library door locked, which was most unusual on both counts. I eventually got in through the secret door to find blood all over the floor – and I mean loads of it - right in the middle of the room. I...

"He's behind you!" #66

...During the 1970s Hoar Cross Hall was used from time to time for local community activities and one such event was the production in 1978 of a traditional pantomime, ‘Midnight and a Journey back to Happiness’.   It was written by local people, Robert Leighton from Yoxall and the Hon. Alexandra Meynell, daughter-in-law of Mrs Jean Meynell whom we had purchased the Hall from.  The words and music were written by local songwriter, David Matthews, who had written songs for quite a few pop artists during the 1960s, his most famous being Matt Munro’s ‘We’re gonna change the world’.  So off to a good start there! For those of you who don’t reside in t...