Everyone said how much they enjoyed the new hotel and the whole weekend experience. We had more attending this year than in recent years, partly because the Three Ways Hotel has more rooms available than Dumbleton Hall, but also because many new attendees came having been recommended to do so by our regulars.
The Friday and Saturday, 8th & 9th November, were the two main days of the event when everyone attended, but most of our guests arrived on the Thursday and a smaller number stayed the Sunday night too. On the Thursday evening we had a cabaret show by Amanda Hayes who also provided a disco for the first three nights.
During the days, a group (mostly smokers) seemed to spend most of the time sitting on the narrow terrace in front of the hotel getting very drunk but it was far too cold out there for me. I preferred the warmth of the lounge or the bistro. A number of the locals came into the bistro for a drink too and they soon got chatting to us and enjoyed getting to know us. In the Friday afternoon I conducted a quiz in the lounge.
The highlight of the Friday was the ‘Pudding Club’ evening for which the Three Ways House hotel is famous. It began in 1985 as an occasion to preserve the Great British Pudding and is now an event that takes place every Friday evening at the hotel. It starts with a glass of Bucks Fizz and a jovial introduction by the Pudding Master followed by a ‘light’ main course (I wouldn’t have described it as ‘light’ – it was excellent!). Then there is the Parade of Seven Traditional Puddings before everyone gets to taste them all. I only managed five but I think a few managed all seven. We then vote on our favourites and we all get a certificate. It was a most enjoyable and fun evening.
As Saturday is the only day when everyone is present for the whole day, we have our trade stands this day. Unfortunately, the store that brought us fashions and a fashion show in recent years, jewellery and a make-up lady, were unable to come this time. But the fabulous Dori of MissTresses did bring along a great display of wigs and jewellery, and we did have a good response to a Swop Shop.
After another excellent gala dinner, we had our usual Miss Rose of the Year Parade (hotel staff were queuing up to be judges), raffle draw and prize giving. This was followed by Amanda’s disco which apparently was busy late into the night but regrettably I was too tired too stay up for that (I had suffered a collapse at home a week before the event which had left me very weak and pains in my shoulders that made sleep very difficult).
I had a film crew following me on the Friday and Saturday. They were making a documentary about me because of the pioneering work I did for the trans community during the 1980s and 90s. Naomi, the producer, and her partner had visited me at home to film several times over the past year and I believe there is some interest in the final documentary, though I do not know when or where (or whether) it will eventually appear anywhere. A few of our guests were understandably concerned about appearing even in the background of the film despite our assurances that no one who didn’t want to be filmed would be included. The film crew did take extraordinary care to avoid upsetting anyone but I fear they might have been too hampered to get some of the shots they would have liked.
It had been cold and cloudy the first few days but Sunday was a bright sunny day and much warmer. I took a car load of us to the Hidcote National Trust Gardens that were little more than a mile from the hotel. We all found the gardens to be extremely impressive and it was a most enjoyable outing. It was Sunday roast for the evening meal, which not only was excellent as usual, the helpings were massive (I think the staff were expecting more of us to be dining that night!). Some of us had planned to go to a local pub after dinner but by the time we had finished it was late and we felt too sated.
Altogether, it was a most enjoyable weekend. Hannah even said it was “perhaps the best I have EVER attended”! Everyone I spoke to as they left for home said they definitely want to come next year.
Martine Rose
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