Story Search Results

Aristocratic travels Part 2

...ry of the Hall.  The aristocracy often went on travels abroad and it's obvious that they are in hot countries.  Note the one with the soldiers marching - does anyone know where this might be? One of Emily's paintings The Meynell family abroad Soldiers marching Emily's schooner,  "Ariadne"   African farmers   I hope you have enjoyed looking at these old photos - more next week! If you would like to follow my blog from the beginning, click here and please feel free to share with your friends!        ...

Like Father Like Sons #20

...ve at the Hall but one day the steering arm broke and he crashed head on into the chapel wall breaking his pelvis!  Occasionally he got to drive it at Chasewater when Gavin was testing so then there were two of them going off to race at weekends. It was in 1979/80 that Piers started to test a proper racing kart and went on to race for four seasons with 1983 being the most successful – the highlight was winning the Cristal CHallenge National.  He also drove Gavin’s Reynard FF2000 at Donington Park for a few laps to get the feel of a racing car and to see if his future lay there.  Nowadays he’s more interested in the two wheel variety, regularly travelli...

Here comes the bride (Part 2)

...Entrance Hall steps, another couple were flat out on a sofa in the Long Gallery.  Two more hadn’t quite made it up the main staircase and others were snuggled up on the Library sofas, books and drinks long abandoned. It had been a fantastic day, with no more fights or arrests.  The next day we started our honeymoon at 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 mat...

Like Father, Like Sons #21

...ve at the Hall but one day the steering arm broke and he crashed head on into the chapel wall breaking his pelvis!  Occasionally he got to drive it at Chasewater when Gavin was testing so then there were two of them going off to race at weekends.   Piers in Gavin's car      It was in 1979/80 that Piers started to test a proper racing kart and went on to race for four seasons with 1983 being the most successful – the highlight was winning the Cristal CHallenge National.  He also drove Gavin’s Reynard FF2000 at Donington Park for a few laps to get the feel of a racing car and to see if his future lay there.  Nowadays he’s more interested...

Here comes the Bride (Part 2) #31

...Entrance Hall steps, another couple were flat out on a sofa in the Long Gallery.  Two more hadn’t quite made it up the main staircase and others were snuggled up on the Library sofas, books and drinks long abandoned. It had been a fantastic day, with no fights or arrests.  The next day we started our honeymoon at 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...

The graveyard shift #24

...THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT:    Life carried on at Hoar Cross Hall as best it could in difficult circumstances.  My dad continued to go to Arms and Armour Fairs to buy and sell antiques and we also went to a mediaeval banquet in Cheshire one night, although it wasn’t anywhere near as good as ours!  Once or twice we took my dad out with our friends to Derby, where he originated from, and that seemed to cheer him up.  But he really needed to get away from the house for longer periods of time and when he saw a boat advertised for sale at Caernarvon he jumped at the chance and bought it.  It was an ex lifeboat called The Bembo so quite sturdy, although in need of a...