THE April meeting was held in the saloon at Coughton Court by invitation of Clare Throckmorton.

A record number of people came to watch a video of Miss Mary Thompson BEM, who rose from humble seamstress to be Housekeeper and Administrator of the Court.

In the audience were a number of invited guests, including Annie Atkins, aged 102, who had worked with Miss Thompson.

Mrs Throckmorton introduced the video by recounting some of her early memories of Miss Thompson. As a child she stayed at the Court with her nanny, Miss Thompson, whom she knew affectionately as Tommy, who used to spoil her.

Mrs Throckmorton thanked Michael Johnson, who made the video. She also spoke of John Graham, who helps with the archives.

Mary Thompson came from the north of England to take the post of seamstress. Mr Wells met her at the station with a pony and trap. They came along Sambourne Lane and approached the great avenue of elm trees, which used to front the house. Mary thought the house very grand. She was greeted by the housekeeper, who was very kind. She then met a very tall lady in grand clothes who was Lady Throckmorton.

The butler was Mr Palmer and the groom Mr Green. Mary was taken to Stratford to buy material for dresses and so began her service to the family.

In 1929, the eldest son came of age and celebrations went on for a week. During ''The Season'' the family went to London for six weeks. Mary made the dresses for the grand occasion and then stood outside Buckingham Palace to see the fine guests arrive.

Mary described a typical day. At 7am a can of hot water was brought to her room. She washed and dressed and had breakfast at 7.30am.

Then it was upstairs to wake the young ladies and Mary helped them to dress. The dirty washing went to the laundry on Sunday but Mary washed the delicate articles and pressed the dresses.

At 12.30pm the staff had lunch; the family lunched at 1.30pm. After tea, the staff had a leisure hour and then it was back with hot water for the ladies to wash and dress for dinner. Mary went to bed at 10pm.

The staff was paid by the quarter so they were often broke, as wages were small.

In 1936 there was great sadness as the estates had to be sold to pay death duties. All the estate houses were sold to outsiders and the big family of retainers was no more.

In 1939, Ann Throckmorton married Baron Von Twickel, a German Count. Mary made all the dresses.

She saw many changes during her years at Coughton. She was awarded the BEM for services to Coughton and the National Trust.

In 1981, a devout Catholic, she was awarded the Pope's Benimerenti medal and in 1982 she met the Queen Mother.

The next meeting is next Wednesday when speaker Dr Christine Hoggetts will talk on the Warwick Pleasure Gardens.