Mr Fred and Mrs Bessie Brown ran the bar and Mrs Brown did all the cooking although there were some others who came in to help on busy times. The only other person living in was Bill ‘Boots’ who was the general handyman. He slept in the loft above the old stable. Bread was brought from Alford’s bakery in Newbridge but just about everything else was cooked in the kitchen. There could be times in the winter when there were not many resident guests and we would then spend most of the day decorating and cleaning the rooms. In summer the hotel was always busy with a large number of guests staying as well as others coming in for meals and to the bar. The Tuesday Auction day was always busy and we would then also serve refreshments in the Iron Room usually to about 40 and to very many more at the big auctions in March and October. We also fed the auctioneer’s staff who had an office in the old Court Room at the far end of the Iron Room and took a tray of food over to the Bank Manager across the road.

We were very busy when fishing parties came from the Birmingham Fishing Syndicate arriving in up to three coach loads a day - in time for breakfast and returning later in the day for their main meal before returning home. The Teme Valley Hunt met at the Severn Arms about twice a season and the Hawkstone Otter Hunt came two or three times each year with their Master the Earl of Coventry, returning for a meal together after their day’s hunting. There were also many evening dinners for the Football Club, Women’s Institute, Young Farmers’ Club and refreshments to be prepared and served at Whist Drives, Concerts and Dances. The Annual Race Meeting was a very busy day indeed for all the staff and we also catered for many wedding receptions and funeral teas. A very busy life, but a very happy one. I still recall my days at the Severn Arms with great fondness and the kindness shown to us by Mr and Mrs Brown and by all our many guests and customers.