The man who
I'M UP at 5am and away by 6am for the 50-mile drive from Rugby to Broadway. If I've had a clear run, there's plenty of time to change into uniform.
By 8am, I'm checking the conference rooms. If organisers need early access, I'll be here before 7am. Then I liaise with the morning porter, and check the night porter's diary. He makes a note of car lights left on; security issues such as suspicious cars parked near by; maybe a guest didn't get to bed until 6am, so we know he could be late for a meeting.
The night porter lists requests for dinner and theatre reservations or riding, shooting and golf, so we can organise them during the day. I'll also go through my pigeon-hole for faxes requesting travel arrangements or taxi services for new arrivals.
We have a manager's meeting at 9.20am to discuss yesterday and today, and see who is off sick. I'll make a note if Mr Ritchie, the managing director, wants to see new arrivals or departing guests.
I don't eat breakfast at home, so by 10am it's time to break for two Shredded Wheats and coffee. I have half-an-hour off, but it's often more like 10 minutes if my pager calls me away. At this time of day, my priority is to look after departing guests and keep an eye on the conferences, making sure coffee is served.
People often leave departure arrangements to the last minute. They ask for train times and assume we can call a taxi immediately. But it can take some time for a taxi to arrive, and the station at Moreton-in-Marsh is a 20-minute drive.
From midday, conferences start to break and the rooms have to be serviced. I'll also check to see which bedrooms are back for new arrivals, and stagger lunches for the staff. I have eight porters, with four or five on duty during the day. I couldn't manage without them.
New arrivals ask for recommendations for lunch, and we take their luggage to their rooms, and make a note of any activities they want to book, such as helicopter rides or hot-air ballooning, or theatre tickets for Stratford with a chauffeured car and a candelit supper when they return.
At 1.15pm, I have lunch in the staff canteen or, in summer, a sandwich in the staff area of the garden. We have extra staff during the handover period, so we set up conference rooms, or I send them on errands. We are changing our uniforms, so I've spent a lot of time sorting out measurements, colours and other details.
As guests arrive during the afternoon, I suggest they might enjoy afternoon tea or a swim in the Country Club, and I often show newcomers round the inn. Throughout the day, we handle emergencies: guests with dinner dates who have forgotten their black shoes; someone who has left their luggage on the station platform.
We make sure the conferences are served tea at 3pm, and I plan evening duties for the late porters. Today, I had to phone the USA, so I had to wait until afternoon because of the time difference.
Officially, my shift is over at 5pm. I try to finish by 6pm, shower and leave by 6.30. With luck, I'll be home in time to cuddle my year-old son, and read stories to the two-year-old. I usually fall asleep over Postman Pat. If I'm not in bed by 10pm, I'm seriously grumpy next day.
If there are big events such as Cheltenham Race Week, I work split shifts and stay in my flat at the hotel. I don't like being away from the family, but Race Week is a great time. Old friends return each year and the atmosphere's even better than Christmas. nus beliefs. "Twe
