1954 - 'Patrick is terribly slow and difficult. Very forgetful and lazy. Does not seem to realize that he is growing up. Conduct: Must be more reliable.' Miss R.C.Bean, Headmistress
1992 - 'Patrick you are booked to New Orleans in first class and on the Concorde from New York to London, a suite booked at the Ritz and will board The Orient-Express to Venice the following day' . Malcolm, The Travel Agent.
Miss Bean would have been shocked out of her sensible woollen stockings. Mr Bryant, my next headmaster, would have snorted in disbelief. My own parents wondered what had happened.
Whilst being treated for a third bout of persistent (and thankfully non-fatal) cancer, I indulged in some inevitable soul-searching. My wonderful haematologist, Dr Julie Crawford, exhorted me - 'don't stress, enjoy life to the full and pray'. I was used to doing the first two, and the third didn't appeal at all, so I concluded that now was the time to write the bucket list.
With the nurse's selection of 1960s music playing in the hospital ward, I realised that my life had already been spectacularly full and privileged. I had family and friends; I had indulged in a luxurious lifestyle in fabulous places, and had met the rich, famous and notorious along the way.
There was very little left to include on the bucket list, but I had a full complement of wonderful memories.
In a hotel career spanning fifty years, I encountered many people of note and notoriety. Some appeared kind and charming but were absolute bastards; others who presented as absolute bastards were, in fact, kind and charming.
In Australia, I opened two hotels that hosted hundreds of public figures, stars of film, theatre, music and society. Most fell into the category of kind and charming, but some were less so. Those of us 'below stairs' were privy to it all, especially their indiscretions. I've recounted a few of these tales, but due to the high cost of defending defamation claims as an impoverished pensioner, I have chosen to err on the side of caution, and many will remain unspoken!
The greatest lessons I had learned had been on the working floors of hotels. I came to appreciate the opportunities that were presented to me every day, and by helping others fulfil their dreams, I was able to fulfil my own.
Recounting my memories (or confessions in some cases) has given me so much fun, pleasure and reward. This is the first book of the trilogy, and I hope that you also read Parts II and III, and enjoy the story to the end.
I am still uncertain as to how I actually achieved what I did, and credit is due to those around me, but one thing I do know is how lucky and fortunate I have been to be able to say, without reservation, that it's been The Grand Life.
