Members of SI Cannock & District and their guests were treated to a fascinating peek into how the other half lives when they welcomed Lola Lamour to their meeting to talk about her time as Lord Lichfield’s maid.
Before she became a professional singer Lola spent seven years working at Shugborough Hall until Lord Lichfield’s death in 2005. She told how after answering an advert in the local newspaper, she was successfully interviewed for the post by the lady of the house, Lady Annunziata Asquith and the butler. Her role was to work at the hall on the weekends when Lord Lichfield hosted shooting parties.
She was asked to work the week after her interview, reporting to the house on Friday afternoon when she met the other house staff – as well as the butler, there was a cook, another maid and usually Lord Lichfield’s butler from London.
After ensuring the house was ready to receive the guests – around 14 people – Lola’s job was to welcome them, show them to their rooms where she often unpacked their clothes She served dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, Fridays usually fish & chips, Saturday a formal affair with full evening dress! While they were dining she would tidy the guests’ rooms, preparing them for the guests to retire. In addition, she helped Betty the cook in the kitchen when required. After the guests had eaten she helped with washing up and prepared for breakfast the following day.
On the day of the shoot, breakfast trays were taken to the bedrooms for the ladies who weren’t participating though they would join the others later for a picnic in the grounds of the hall. In their absence, Lola and her fellow maid cleaned the house and helped to prepare dinner for their return.
Sunday lunch was served buffet style which gave Lola and her fellow maid the opportunity to pack for the guests and strip and change the beds in preparation for the next shooting party!
The staff was always treated with the utmost respect by the family and their guests who made sure they knew how much they valued the work that they did and Lola still keeps in touch with Lady Asquith.
Lola became a professional singer in 2006. She wonders whether this would have happened if Lord Lichfield had still been alive because she would not have wanted to leave his employ as she enjoyed working there so much.
Photo below Lola Lamour with President Carole Holdcroft
