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Rags to Riches #16

RaGS TO RICHES:        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 hea...

Rags to Riches #12

RaGS TO RICHES:     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...

Rags to Riches #14

RaGS TO RICHES:      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)....

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...

Motor Racing Days #9

MOTOR RaCING DaYS:     although an class='highlight'>Myan> blogs are about living at Hoar Cross Hall, I would just like to give a bit of background about an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan>’s racing career in the years leading up to moving to the Hall as this will set the scene for later instalments of an class='highlight'>Myan> story. as mentioned in an class='highlight'>Myan> first blog an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> used to be a racing driver but he actually started off racing motor cycles in the 1930s.   Because of this he became a despatch rider during the Second World War and spent a lot of time in North africa.  after the war he started racing motor bikes at nearby Donington Park and he raced there up to the beginning of the 1950s.  after that he moved onto cars and d...

Moving Into a Mansion #67

as summer turns to autumn an class='highlight'>Myan> thoughts have gone back in time to 1970 when an class='highlight'>Myan> family moved house at this time of the year - not to any old house, but to a 70-roomed stately home in Staffordshire!  The whole process of moving  was done over the summer months as we lived about 20 miles away in an old vicarage with a large garden and lots of outbuildings. This house was about 200 years old and they say Bonnie Prince Charlie marched past it on his way to battle back in the day, for all you history buffs out there!  actually I love history and I think an class='highlight'>Myan> interest was fuelled by living in these historic houses as a child.  an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> used to be a racing driver in the 1...