Interview with Mrs Rosalie Black about working in the hotels, Douglas, c.1930-1975
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Date(s): 1998, 1999
Creator(s): Manx Heritage Foundation
Scope & Content: Track 1: Rosalie Black talks to John Beckerson about the Alexandria Hotel (which she ran from the 1940s to the late 1960s); how the family who ran the hotel were the Rainers who bought six boarding houses before 1928: Kent, Victoria, Marina, Central, Queens and the Crescent; family responsibilities in running the hotel; hotel accommodating around 390 people; how the hotel closed after Manx Grand Prix (MGP) for the winter; busiest last week in July and first week of August; her father developing a poultry farm at the back of the Douglas Bay Hotel; staff, their duties and wages; preparation of the hotel before the season; booking letters and type of clientele; hotel license for serving alcohol. She recalls how the hotels emptied at the start of the Second World War; around 300 soldiers from Dunkirk evacuation were sent to Isle of Man boarding houses; how when the war ended most of the boarding house furniture was at the Derby Castle in the ballroom; suppliers in the post-war period; funny anecdotes about staff; family taking their holidays in January; and she talks about the Isle of Man tourist board's attempts to extend the season.
Track 2: She talks about Jack Wilson of Port Erin starting package tours from towns in England; conditions on the boats; hotel interior and what it had to offer guests; lengths of stays and the types of rooms available; improvements made to the hotel; male waiting staff seen as 'top class'; wages and prices charged for functions.
Administration / Biographical History: Rosalie Black was born 17 April 1928. John Beckerson, researcher, born 1974.
Language: English
Extent: 55 min. 6 sec.
Item name: cassette tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 2019-0001/3
Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.
Subject tags : #UOSH, #UOSHHolidays