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Midnight pool parties #22

...see live music – it was the start of the punk era and we saw the Sex Pistols there when they were just starting out – I have to say they didn’t get a very good reception as they couldn’t even start the first song properly and were actually booed off stage which was a ‘first’ for that club.  Their ‘punk’ behaviour almost started a riot in what was normally a peaceful hippy venue! My mum still wasn’t convinced that Kev was the right person for me and was becoming quite determined to split us up.  She tried to talk me into giving Kev up for six months - but we didn’t want to be parted.  When he walked 7 miles from Burton to see me my mum as...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history! #14

...arts and music.  She also played the pipe organ in the chapel at the Hall for the morning services there.  However, this young lady didn’t want to conform to the usual things of her society such as parties and husband hunting!  She begged her parents to let her train for some useful occupation and they finally agreed to let her train as a secretary in London.  She went on to become the private secretary to the Bishop of Portsmouth.  Dorothy never married and when the Second World War started she returned to Hoar Cross and joined the Joint War Organisation of the Red Cross and St John which meant travelling overseas to Africa, Sicily and Italy.  In 1944...

Panto Pranks! #23

...PANTO PRANKS!       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...

Suits you sir! #24

...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 la...

The War Years and Beyond #38

...or drama, music, films, crafts, conferences and other activities.  A bold plan indeed!  The monks lived in the Lodge and Gatehouse having full use of the Hall and its surroundings for four years while they appealed for money.  They even demolished the kitchens and laundry block at one end of the house in readiness for the swimming pool which was going to be built there.  However, the money was not forthcoming and they were asked to leave with a large part of the house demolished and the gardens in sad neglect.  I’m not sure how they were allowed to knock bits down before buying the property but they must have been sure of their funding.  Interestingly, t...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #11

...arts and music.  She also played the pipe organ in the chapel at the Hall for the morning services there.  However, this young lady didn’t want to conform to the usual things of her society such as parties and husband hunting!  She begged her parents to let her train for some useful occupation and they finally agreed to let her train as a secretary in London.  She went on to become the private secretary to the Bishop of Portsmouth.  Dorothy never married and when the Second World War started she returned to Hoar Cross and joined the Joint War Organisation of the Red Cross and St John which meant travelling overseas to Africa, Sicily and Italy.  In 1944...