Interview with Mrs Jeanne Bell and Mrs Shirley Birch about working as hoteliers in Douglas, 1962-1999
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Date(s): 1998, 1999
Creator(s): Manx Heritage Foundation
Scope & Content: Mrs Jeanne Bell and Mrs Shirley Birch talk to John Beckerson mainly about their work as hoteliers in Douglas. The recording starts mid-sentence with them talking about aunty Jane and her father, a policeman in Onchan.
They talk about 8-days notice given to hoteliers in the Second World War to vacate hotels for internment purposes; getting hotel furniture back after the war; Regal Hotel; grey blankets; Palatine.
Shirley talks about first getting involved in the guest house business aged 18 working for her parents and her duties; good life running a guest house for income and home for family; changes in tourism; demand for en-suite rooms and the demise of the bucket and spade holiday; change in the ages of visitors; 'special' weeks such as Railway Week and sporting activity weeks; cycling and scooter weeks; football and rugby teams as guests; student weekends brought in by the Tourist Board; hotel capacity, modernisation, staffing and winter functions.
Administration / Biographical History: Mabel Jeanne Bell was born 21 May 1931. Shirley Birch was born 9 February 1935. John Beckerson, researcher, born 1974.
Language: English
Extent: 12 min. 54 sec.
Item name: cassette tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 2019-0001/43
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