Grand Hotel

[Guest saint]

Does anyone out there happen to have worked or been in the Grand Hotel, Sheffield in 1957? I'm doing some research into that year's Ryder Cup at Lindrick. Both teams stayed at the Grand that week (early October). Would anyone remember anything at all about that week in the hotel, the way the players behaved, the team dinner etc.

[Guest Tollbar Jay]

Does anyone out there happen to have worked or been in the Grand Hotel, Sheffield in 1957? I'm doing some research into that year's Ryder Cup at Lindrick. Both teams stayed at the Grand that week (early October). Would anyone remember anything at all about that week in the hotel, the way the players behaved, the team dinner etc.

my Grandad was the porter there he is now 81 he moved from there to the grovener when it closed and was the head porter there e was given a clock for 50 years service for trust house forte so if anyone would know he would ..i will ask him but he is on holiday til next week

[Guest Beth39]

Message for Tollbar Jay,

Hi Tollbar Jay, Don't know if there is a problem with my messenger or not but did you manage to ask your Grandad about Dorethy who worked at the Grand Hotel? Thanks, Beth

[Guest Merryhill]

I note with interest the passage regarding Winston Lee, the band leader at the Grand. Winston Lee, who was my father, first played at the Grand in 1938/39 when the leader of the band was Harold Sandler, who was a fine violinist (his brother was Albert Sandler who had the Palm Court Orchestra and broadcast on the BBC every Sunday afternoon in the 40's & 50's).

As war became nearer Harold left to live in America & the band was disbanded. My father moved to London & played in night clubs in the West End during the blitz.

After the war he returned to the Grand Hotel as resident band leader - the boys in the band at that time were Jack Ward (trumpet), Sammy Lambert (sax), Reg Skirrow (drums) & Frank Richardson (base) - my father played the piano. The hotel at that time was owned by the Nicholsons who also owned hotels in Kent.

The Grand Hotel in the late 40's & early 50's was the centre of social life in Sheffield. Every Saturday was like New Years Eve - many well known Sheffield business people & stars made it their place to be - Audrey Hepburn & Jean Simmons came with their escorts to name but a few. The BBC broadcast from the Grand and Betty Driver sang with the band.

[RichardB]

Most interesting, Welcome to the Site Merryhill and Thank you.