Rowena Glayzher 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 reception 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 reception 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.
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.
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!
