(Part 01)
Shallowfield sat on the southern edge of the Finchbottom Vale and was bordered on the other side by the Dancingdean forest and the town’s fortunes had always relied largely upon forestry and agriculture for its survival.
In the post war years with rationing and a shortage of work a lot of people moved away from the area and it only just survived and the community around Teardrop Lake fared even worse.
Only a few of the houses around the Lake were thriving, a lot of the houses had been rented out and those that hadn’t were in a poor state of repair, some too such an extent they were little more than ruins.
But by the 70s however things were beginning to change, thanks mainly to tourism as a result of an increase in leisure time.
This trend was reflected by the fact that the previously derelict Shallowfield Lodge, which had been inherited by a young couple from Lincolnshire, Rob and Sheryl Brown, was being turned into a Hotel.
From then on Shallowfield went from strength to strength which was echoed by the fortunes of the Claremont Hotel.
It was once the home of a wealthy Downshire family but like so many similar great houses in the county it fell into disuse as the fortunes of the owners suffered after the Great War.
It had had many reincarnations since then, particularly in the years between the wars and had been used for many things over the post war years but it wasn’t until the 60s that it became The Claremont Hotel.
However things had got tough in the Hotel trade with the success of Travelodge, Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express and so places like the Claremont needed to offer something extra to attract the guests.
In the early summer a new manager was appointed, Matthew Millward, and he was an instant hit with the locals because he was young, tall, dark and handsome, physically fit, well-toned and had a reputation as a fair minded guy, which had very much preceded him.
He was 28 years old and his father owned the Millward Manor chain of hotels and he was grooming him to one day take over the reins of his worldwide hotel empire, the problem was that Matt had no head for business and he felt that he was more of an artistic soul.
Which could possibly have been ignored but for the fact that he had broken off his engagement with the granddaughter of his father’s oldest friend.
However that in itself wasn’t what had him exiled, it was Elaine’s attempted suicide, not that his action had caused her mental meltdown, it was rather more her mental instability being the deciding factor that forced him to end the engagement.
So it was decided to send Matt to the Claremont Hotel where he could do no real harm until the dust settled.
When he first found out he was being sent to Shallowfield, Matt was very unhappy, he was a city boy, born and bred, and he viewed being sent to the country as purgatory, but no one was more surprised than he was when he found that he actually loved it, it was a beautiful place, it was quiet and the air was clean and he felt immediately at home.
(Part 02)
When he first found out he was being sent to Shallowfield Matt was very unhappy, he was a city boy, born and bred, and he viewed being sent to the country as purgatory, but no one was more surprised than he was when he found that he actually loved it, it was a beautiful place, it was quiet and the air was clean and he felt immediately at home.
After the broken engagement and the resulting fall out Matthew Millward decided that he would not under any circumstances get himself romantically entangled while he was on punishment duty.
But there is a very apt saying which goes “never on your own doorstep” which he had clearly never heard because on his first day he fell head over heels for the Hospitality Manager, Sarah Poole, although in his defence the feeling was mutual.
Although apart from two very passionate kisses, the first initiated by her and the second by him, and the fact they were hopelessly in love with each other nothing else happened.
She was five foot eight with short red hair, in a pixie cut, mesmerizing green eyes and a cute figure with curves in all the right places and long slender legs.
Sarah was 26 years old and wasn’t looking for a relationship either because she was married, albeit to an alcoholic who hadn’t had shown her any marital attention for two years but she was still married to him nonetheless.
Sarah had worked at the hotel for since she left school, five years in housekeeping, five more in hospitality, and for two of those as Manager and she loved her job.
Despite the fact that Matthew was sent to the Claremont as a punishment and possessed no head for business he surprised his father as well as himself by doing a very acceptable job of managing the hotel and had grown the corporate side of the business and it was becoming a very popular venue for functions.
This was as a result in no small measure to his decision to promote the former Hospitality Manager Sarah Poole.
This was after Martin Tyrer tendered his resignation, he had been a loyal employee of the Millward Manor group for ten years and had been the Assistant Manager at the Claremont for 5 of those and when the Manager’s vacancy came up he believed he was a shoe in for the job.
So when Matthew Millward was parachuted in over his head it was just too much for him to take.
It left Matthew in a very difficult position as he needed someone who knew the place inside out and Sarah Poole was the only person that really fitted the bill so he offered her the job.
Matthews father was particularly pleased with him, there had been no reported mishaps and he had turned around the fortunes of the hotel, and so he invited him up to Abbottsford for the weekend for a celebratory meal but as he was conscious that his success was due more to Sarah Poole’s efforts than his own he dragged her along as well.
(Part 03)
Matthew Millward’s arrival at the hotel had a massive impact on Sarah Poole, and not just the fact that she fell in love with him at first sight and the relationship that had developed between them after she had stolen a kiss on his first day.
She had been promoted from Hospitality Manager into the assistant manager’s position and she had been able to leave her alcoholic husband because she was living in the Gate Lodge.
Matthew had decided that because she had done such a wonderful job to such an extent that she was making him look good, coupled with the fact that he was in love with her, he decided she deserved a reward, and he knew just the thing.
In November Sarah had a week off to move the remainder of her possessions from her former marital home in the village to her new home at the Gate Lodge.
Her alcoholic, soon to be ex-husband Ken was still living there but had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly a few days earlier so she took her opportunity to strike while the iron was hot and remove every trace of herself from that unhappy place and then she was done with him for good and all.
While she was away Matthew took the opportunity to reward her for her hard work and so when she returned after her week off he intercepted her before she had a chance to go in his office.
“Good morning Miss Poole, how are you?” he asked pompously
“I’m very well Mr Millward” she replied in kind
“Did you have a good week off?” he said less formerly
“Brilliant” she respond and tried to go into the office
“No not in there, let’s go in here” he suggested indicating an adjacent door.
“I’m not going in the stationary cupboard with you just because you missed me” she whispered in case she was overheard by the unusually large number of people milling around.
“I’m not suggesting we go in there for my personal gratification” he whispered back
“So this is business?” she asked
“Very much so” he replied
So reluctantly, and still harbouring suspicions, she opened the door and the room was in total darkness and she was even more suspicious.
“It’s dark” she said stating the obvious
“Then switch the light on” Matthew said
“I don’t trust you” she said and reached her hand in and found the switch and when the lights came on her jaw dropped.
It was no longer a stationary cupboard, full of clutter, it was an office, a smaller one than Matthew’s but it was an office nonetheless.
“Welcome to the Assistant Managers Office” he said
“This is for me?” she asked in total disbelief
“Only until such time as I can find a better Assistant Manager” he replied and she punched his arm.
“Go in and make yourself at home” he said “I have a meeting in Abbottsford so I’ll see you later”
“Thank you” she said and touched his hand, she wanted to kiss him but there were too many people around, she would have to do it later in the day.
It was after nine when Matthew’s car returned to the Hotel and Sarah got up from her desk, she liked the way that sounded, her desk, in her office, and went out to intercept him.
“Ah Mr Millward, may I see you in my office?” she said
“Of course you may” he replied
“Is it entirely to your liking?”
“Oh yes I love it” she replied as she closed the door.
“What can I do for you?” he asked
“I need something” she replied
“What?” he asked
“This” she replied and kissed him and after she had taken the kiss
He asked
“Was that what you had in mind?”
But Sarah didn’t answer however the smile on her face spoke a thousand words.
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