Tiaras and Tantrums: Twenty-five Years in Service at Kedleston Hall

Kedleston Hall, situated four miles north-west of Derby, stands in 800 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland. An outstanding example of the neo-classical style, the Hall was designed and built in the third quarter of the 18th century as a great showpiece for the Curzon family. The north facade - 107 metres long, is arguably one of the grandest of its kind in Britain. In the early 1960s, Roy Adams arrived at the imposing entrance of Kedleston Hall to take up the position of houseman. His duties included stoking the boilers twice a day and ensuring that fires were laid and lit in all rooms. Roy eventually progressed to the position of butler and went on to work for the Scarsdale family at Kedleston Hall for the next 25 years. "Tiaras and Tantrums: Twenty-five Years in Service at Kedleston Hall" is a response to requests and urgings from family and friends to recount his memories from his time at the Hall. By the time of his retirement, Roy had nursed the sick, changed babies' nappies, placated irate cooks, dealt with amorous intrigues, buried family pets, acted as chauffeur and had been expected to know the answer to everything - even to crossword clues! Sadly, Roy died in Cheltenham in 2008, aged 86, so his wife has shaped his memoir into the pages of "Tiaras and Tantrums: Twenty-five Years in Service at Kedleston Hall". This book is a fascinating read for anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes look at society life in Kedleston Hall.