Maids Head Memories Monday, Jun 30 2008

Rowena Glaysher Deputy Head Receptionist (1979–1984), Connie Burridge Head Housekeeper (1974–1985), Jane Foster Deputy Head Housekeeper (1974–1984), Barbara Smith Head Receptionist (1978–1984), Alison Minns Receptionist (1980–1983), Anne Wooden Receptionist (1977–1984) and Sue Syder Receptionist (1976–1984).

 

We became a RAC four star hotel when we worked on reception. It was the whole hotel team that got us there.

Mr Cooke was the manager during our time. He used to do regular room inspections checking for dust.

For some reason there was bread shortage in the late 70s and Mr Cooke bundled the housekeeping team into his Rolls Royce and took us to a supermarket with instructions to each buy six loaves.

Manchester City football Club stayed here on the night that Hovells burned down.

There were lots of famous guests including Sacha Distel (‘My hands were shaking when I took him a cup of tea!”), Sir John Mills, John Thaw, Roald Dahl and Lord Denning. Anyone involved in an Anglia TV production stayed with us including actors appearing in ‘Tales of the Unexpected’. We also looked after the contestants in ‘Sale of the Century’.

David Niven stayed in 1975 and gave Jane Foster his autograph: “For Jane, Many thanks and good luck! David Niven September 1975.”

Roy Hudd spotted Jane Foster when she was pregnant: “You look like a deckchair darling!”

She was also lucky enough to have a whisky with comedian Dave Allen in his bedroom.

Eamonn Andrews stayed here whilst preparing for a ‘This is Your Life’ programme on Robert carrier. He used the fire escape to leave the hotel to make sure nobody spotted him

Mr Cooke didn’t want pop groups to stay, just in case they wrecked the hotel. Iron Maiden tried to book in but were turned down, but for some reason the Boom Town Rats slipped through the net. Some groups managed to slip through because they booked through booking agents.

John Rosenberg, producer of ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ always left a £1 tip. On one occasion he also left a pair of tights behind in his bedroom. He was politely told that he had left the item behind and was delighted to get them back as he wore the tights to keep out the cold during filming.

Roy Marsden and cast used to stay when filming the PD James stories.

The part of the hotel used as the restaurant used to be The Courtyard Bar. It was the ‘in place’ to be seen and drink in the late 70s and early 80s and used to get packed at the weekend. There was a real log fire in the centre of the room, which was lovely in winter.

There were no hospitality trays in bedrooms so chambermaids had to deliver early morning cups of tea and coffee. There was always an evening chambermaid who turned down the beds. The night porter used to clean any shoes left outside bedrooms.

We used to confirm bookings using the telex machine – no email in those days! There was a manual switchboard. We always had to dial the number for the guest – there was no direct dial.

The hotel took part in the Lord Mayor’s Procession and the Norwich raft races

 

We think that there was a ghost on the first floor – the corridor was always cold!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a Response »

 

John Armstrong Chef de Partie 1972 Thursday, Jun 26 2008

 

 

I joined the kitchen brigade at The Maids Head in the spring of 1972, moving from the Oaklands Hotel. My post was Patisserie Chef de Partie, working under the then head Chef Wilfred Duthallier. The second chef was Ian ‘Tiny’ Sinclair.

I remember Peter Wright. He was affectionately known as Peter the Painter and would often pop into the kitchen to sample our cooking.

The biggest stars to stay at The Maid’s Head were the Monty Python crew. I think it was May 1972 when they filmed in Norwich. They had been filming in Elm Hill and as they were to do more work after dark, they trooped into the restaurant in full drag, all made up, and sat at a table set for 12 in the centre of the restaurant. This created great hilarity among their fellow diners, although the MP team duly remained deadpan throughout. Unfortunately none of us got to meet any of the stars, but I remember them sending a round of drinks through to us thirsty chefs.

Another large claim to fame is the tale of Peter ‘PJ’ Smith who was 3^rd Chef. In summer 1971, the ‘Go Between’ was being filmed in Norwich and North Norfolk. One day a rep from the film crew called in. He was searching for a traditional looking chef to appear in a cameo role in the film. Peter Smith was deemed perfect. He was a rotund individual with ginger hair and a full Henry VIII beard. He duly made his appearance before the camera carving a joint of beef in a restaurant – The Maids Head courtyard bar – and appears in the film just after the star’s visit a Horse Fair on Tombland.

I was a sprightly 21 year-old at the time when I worked at the hotel and got engaged to my future wife Dawn while there. The manager at the time was Mr Alan Pike. His wife would often come to the kitchen at around 6pm to get scraps for her dog.

 

 

Leave a Response »

 

Love and The Maids Head Snug 1902 Monday, Jun 9 2008

John Garrett from Sprowston, sister Jacqueline Dickerson, who lives in Eaton and brother Jeffrey from Hellesdon, can thank The Maids Head Hotel snug bar for their existence.Their Grandmother, Edith Beart (1879-1972) worked as a barmaid in the snug in 1902. It was there that she met their Grandfather, David Maggs. Mr Maggs ran a successful saddlery business in Golden Ball Street, Norwich. A photograph shows his tack on display on the area now occupied by Archant’s headquarters, Prospect House, home of the Evening News.

Edith was the daughter of William and Hannah Beart. William was a gamekeeper, and worked at Cockley Cley Hall and also spent some time on an estate at Ashcombe in Devon.

They married in 1904, and had four daughters, Margaret, Dorothy, Queenie and Winifred. Queenie, who died in 2002, was cashier at the Noverre Cinema for 30 years and also worked at the Hippodrome. Winifred was the mother of John, Jacqueline and Jeffrey.

David Maggs had a drink problem and sadly the business seems to have folded soon after World War I. After 29 years of marriage to Edith, David ended up in the workhouse (now Norwich Community Hospital), dying in 1933.

Edith moved with her four daughters to an attic in Thorpe, which was so small that the two youngest children had to sleep on the landing. She scraped a living scrubbing floors in Wroxham for 6p a day and also cared for an elderly lady. Edith was a regular churchgoer and attended St George’s Tombland.

“Grandmother always stuck up for men, which is rather surprising considering her experience with our Grandfather,” said Jacqueline Dickerson. “Everybody loved her, she was a real old fashioned Grandmother.”

One of Jacqueline’s most treasured possessions is Edith’s copy of the 1900 history of The Maids Head Hotel. She noted her hours on the back page – Monday 11am to 5.30pm and Tuesday 3pm to 8.30pm. Wednesday was half day off, Thursday’s shift began at 3pm and she worked 11am to 4.30pm on Friday and Saturday. The hotel’s telephone number at the time was 85 Norwich. Residents could garage their cars for 1shilling (5p) a night, but bicycle storage was free. The rates for room for the night began at 3 shillings (15p).

The book introduces The Maids Head as…”the only purely Family Hotel and only Hotel with its own Livery Yard attached in Norwich. It is the most unique house in England, being at least 600 years old, and combines all the charm of an old-world hostelry with every up-to-date modern luxury.”

Reviews from newspapers and magazines are included. “Certainly the Norwich hotels are decidedly well conducted, and the chief of them, the ‘Maids Head’ may vie in interest with any hostelry in the country.” The Gentleman’s Journal August 15, 1896.

The booklet also features an illustration from The Graphic showing the 43^rd and 44^th Companies of the Imperial Yeomanry recruiting for the Boer War, in what is now the Maids Head’s restaurant, in January 1900.

John Garrett added; “You could say that if it was not for The Maids Head, that my family would not be here today. My wife, Lesley and I were at a family wedding at the hotel in December, and had a drink in the snug. We sensed our Grandmother’s presence. It was as if we were stepping back in time.”

Christine Malcolm, Maids Head General Manager, will be hanging a framed photograph of Edith Beart in the snug as a permanent reminder of ‘Love and The Maids Head Snug 1902’.

Leave a Response »