Story Search Results

Panto Pranks #21

...ne of the dance routines along with a local man, Paul Yukes. Kev and I were in control of the sound and we did tape recordings of the whole show which were sold afterwards to raise a bit more money (we still have one tape left!). Everyone gave of their time freely and it was great fun to be involved. ‘ATV Today’ cameras were present for the dress rehearsal and a clip of three or four minutes on the television no doubt helped to boost the ticket sales. The pantomime was on for three nights and had capacity audiences every night of 300 people. A good profit was made and a donation went to the Prince Charles’ Appeal for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Fund. Thi...

A New Year Calamity! #30

...A NEW YEAR CALAMITY!       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 and long dresses for the ladies – usually around 500 people bought 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

...My family originated from Derby and my parents were married there in July 1952. Mum was 19 and dad was 36 so quite a bit older. They both lived in Derby and were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time and my 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. My dad 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...

What the Butler saw!

...y-awaited dance at the Servants’ Ball at Christmas time – most large houses had one and Hoar Cross Hall was no different.  The Ball was held in the Long Gallery and this was the one time when the family mixed with the servants.  With mulled wine flowing freely and mistletoe hung here about, the young ladies would be very excited to be standing near to a young, good looking footman!  Let’s hope they didn’t get up to too much mischief when the butler wasn’t looking!  Don’t miss next week’s instalment:  Gardeners world at Hoar Cross If you would like to follow my story from the beginning, click here and please feel free to share with your frien...

Becoming a Rock Chick #17

...only seen dance bands at the New Year’s Eve Balls (yawn), even though I loved music. They opened my eyes (and ears) to a new type of music and always bought me a ticket for the next concert they went to but my mum would always say ‘No’, much to my disgust! Eventually I started dating one of the lads who was actually 21 so a bit older than my 16 years but as he was quite sensible my mother approved of him and eventually let me go to concerts with him. Over the space of a few months we saw Jack the Lad, Dr Feelgood, Status Quo and The Who. The Who were incredible and Keith Moon even smashed his drum kit up as their grand finale! We also went to this really...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #19

...d a local dance, and always made sure they were escorted to and from the event by the footman. Young maids were well protected in those times as the family were always worried about ‘undesirable’ friendships starting up, either within or outside the household. But it seems that there was generally a good atmosphere in the house for most of the time. The children mixed freely with the servants and Lady Mary forbid them to call the servants by their surname only, as was usual in those days. She said it was disrespectful although the butler was always called by his surname, something still practised by today’s aristocracy. The basement rooms were where most...