Elgar's steamy night in Paris immortalised in memoirs

Elgar was 23 and Pipe 27 when they went to a risqu Parisian show and also, due to a language mix-up, drank a very potent cocktail which put them in a great sweat.

In his memoirs, Charlie Pipe explained: "In July, 1880, my future brother-in-law, Edward Elgar, and myself went to Paris for a few days. We went to an American house, the Hotel Buckingham, and were very comfortable.

"As I had been in Paris three times before, I was able to guide E.E about, and we did not miss many of the principal sights. We were very amused at the Haulon-Lees at the Chatelet theatre, especially at one scene which I cannot well write about!

"E.E had the laugh on me and my French one evening. We went to an American bar for one of their drinks but did not know what to ask for. We fixed eventually on Grog Americaine and were asked by the waiter 'Chaud ou froid?' I forgot the right word and said 'Chaud.'

"The lightning was playing round us, and so were the fools of waiters who thought it fun to watch us drinking hot rum on so hot a night. We said it was an English custom to cool us!"

About 30 years ago, Berrow's Journal published extracts from Charles Pipe's memories over 30 weeks, and I been re-reading them with amusement and interest. They offer a fascinating insight into life in Worcester during the last 30 years of the Victorian era, as seen through the eyes of a leading local personality of the time.

Charles Pipe married Edward Elgar's eldest sister Lucy and, for six years from 1883 to 1889, the composer lived with them at their home, 4 Field Terrace, off Bath Road, Worcester. Pipe was born in 1853 and died in 1938 at the age of 85. For many years, he was partner in a provision merchants' business, Browne and Pipe, in Broad Street, Worcester.

Elgar's great niece Margaret Elgar, of Worcester, tells me the grocery shop was somewhere near the Crown Hotel. She remembers Charlie Pipe from her childhood when he used to visit her parents' home in St Dunstan's Crescent during the mid-1930s, usually bringing sweets "in those white triangular paper bags" for her and her sisters.

Margaret Elgar has also much enjoyed reading Charlie Pipe's memoirs and sometimes includes a passage or two from them in the occasional talks she gives on the Elgar family. And, like her, today I'm drawing out extracts from his memoirs to give an idea of social life in the Faithful City during the last three decades of the 19th Century.

1868 "I left school at 15 and was apprenticed to my uncle, Edwin Leonard, in Broad Street, Worcester, where I struggled on for five years. He was lame and consequently had a pony carriage, and my duty was more often to go out with him than to be in the shop.

"I just about remember the fashionable pleasure gardens called the 'Arboretum,' and the delight of my boyhood was to pay a visit to the Civet Cat Toyshop kept by Mr Birley at The Cross.

"The housekeeper of the Earl of Dudley at Witley Court, Mrs Carpenter, was a friend of my uncle's housekeeper, Miss Jackson, and I was often invited there for a few days. I used to thoroughly enjoy not only the run of the house when the Earl and Countess were away but also the gardens which, in strawberry time, were attractive to me.

"I helped to amuse the younger Dudley children at croquet or racing, and they were fond of using a pumpkin or marrow as a football. They were good boys and have all grown to be a credit to our aristocracy."

1874 "Next door to our shop in Broad Street lived Mr Watton, a chemist, better known as 'Doctor' to those whose friendship he held and, although a very queer-tempered man, he was a good friend. It was he who introduced me to the smoking-room of the Crown Hotel, whose landlord was T.G Fuggle, one of the best fellows who ever breathed yet, like many of us, not over-blessed with this world's goods.

"Worcester is noted for many things besides being a sleepy hole, and the Worcester Glee Club, founded in 1810, is as well-known as any. For years the club has been based in a specially-built room at the Crown Hotel, and this year, 1874, it was my privilege to be allowed to join.

"One day, the snow had been falling for hours and only a few of us had the plunk to turn out for the Glee Club. Even so, we spent a very pleasant evening in song, and the host, having compassion on us that bitter night, had a huge bowl of punch made, which we did justice to. I have been connected with glee clubs ever since.

"I can vouch that those old days at the Crown, especially under the leadership of dear old Fuggle, were far more enjoyable than the new-fangled notions of Masonic Halls. The tripe suppers too, with or without onions, were much better than the course supper or dinner of later times."

Brothers Edward and Frank Elgar were also long-time members of the Worcester Glee Club.

1875 "Summer Races at Pitchcroft are traditionally accompanied by entertainments. For a penny one can see a fair, circus, marionettes, the fat lady, waxworks, conjurors and wild beasts."

1876 "A new amusement of the British public came out this year in the form of skating rinks, but the one built in Worcester did not last long."

1877 "In March, I became engaged to Lucy Elgar and was very much in love until July when, owing to differences in religious matters, the engagement was mutually broken off. However, it was 'on' again shortly afterwards."

1880"After serious thought, I decided to join Lucy in her religion and was received into the Roman Catholic Church, which meant I was obliged to give up Masonry. I did my best to be a good Catholic but, after three years, I found it no better than the Church of England and felt obliged to ask for my name to be removed from the roll. Between my fiance and myself it made but little difference."

1881"On April 26, we were married at St George's Roman Catholic Church but we had only just left when all the bells tolled a muffled peal. It was the same day as the funeral of the Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disreali, a great chief of the nation who was much mourned."

1883"In June, it was my privilege to visit Norway with two priests. I stood the sea journeys fairly well and had a very pleasant holiday. My brother-in-law Edward Elgar, who was then living with us, had a beautiful collie named Esculapius, and I began to rise early and walk two to four miles before breakfast, taking a book and the dog."

1884 "February saw the start through Worcester's streets of what may be a blessing to many and a curse also - the horse-drawn trams. Trade in many cases has not been the same since the trams started. To my mind, they were never required in Worcester and made men lazy by rarely walking. They also rendered the streets and roads into a filthy state... Oh, the dust!

"The great attraction of this year's Worcester Three Choirs Festival was the appearance of the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak to conduct his Stabat Mater and Sixth Symphony. I had the pleasure of speaking to him in a rather peculiar way. During an interval, I was thirsty and went to a nearby hotel where he was staying. I asked for a bottle of Guinness and was spotted doing so by Dvorak. He asked through a companion what I was drinking and, for some reason, I hit on two words I knew in Norwegian for 'black beer'. He thought I knew German and started talking to me in that language. Even so, I felt proud to have had that little conversation with him.

"The Prince of Wales and his graceful consort came for a few days to Witley Court. The decorations and illuminations in Worcester for this Royal visit were very handsome, but the Prince decided to leave on the Saturday before Christmas, drawing the crowds to his route and spoiling what should have been the city's best day in the year for trade."

1885 "In April, I went to the Union Workhouse at Martley for the annual treat to the inmates. I gave them a song but, whether they liked it or not, I cannot say.

"We had supper with the Master and Matron and then a dance, returning in the morning to Worcester with the milkman. The roads were so slippery with ice and our horses kept stumbling all the way home. Due to the intense cold, I developed rheumatism and sciatica and was in agony for two months. Medicines, pills and old wives' remedies simply made my condition worse.

"In the end, I was recommended to try the waters of Llandrindod Wells and spent 10 days under the specialist Dr Bowen Davis and drank no end of the filthy waters, but it did me good and I have sworn by the Wells ever since."

1886 "In May, Worcester suffered the highest Severn flood on record. People in the low-lying parts of the city had to have their goods handed to them from boats, and many were obliged to live entirely in their top rooms. The novelty was to go in boats up New Road or down Hylton Road.

"Newport Street and Pitchcroft were also under several feet of water with boats sailing all about. The damage in the lower rooms and cellars was great, and a collection had to be made city-wide to help many of the poor. Cattle and trees floated down the river all day - a grand but cruel sight.

"In July, I went on my first outing with the Worcestershire Naturalists and at dinner I was accepted as a member of that body. We went by train to Wyre Forest Station and walked to Far Forest Rectory, where a light luncheon was given us by the Rev Josiah Lee, and afterwards we drove to Arley and Stourport. How many pleasant men I have met during the years I have been a member."

1889 "A project started at Worcester early in the year to purchase Pitchcroft for the citizens and, on April 29, a somewhat noisy meeting was held at the Guildhall against it. It was postponed for some time but eventually, as we all know to our cost, it was carried out. It is doubtful if the land will ever be useful as a park owing principally to the floods, but time can occasionally work wonders.

"My brother-in-law Edward Elgar had lived with us for six years but, on May 8, we lost him as he took unto himself a wife on that day. The wedding was a quiet one in London with no invitations issued."

Elgar married Caroline Alice Roberts, the daughter of a Major-General.

1890 "A very pleasant kind of entertainment called lantern socials commenced in October at the Bell Hotel, in Broad Street. They have been held at intervals ever since and are organised by members of the Bicycle and Tricycle Clubs of Worcester.

The slides are thrown on the screen by Mr Santonna and not only provide beautiful views of this country but also of Wales, Ireland and even South Africa. At intervals, songs are given to prevent proceedings becoming monotonous."

1892 "We moved this year from Field Terrace to a pretty little villa in Chestnut Walk. The rooms are not large but, in February, we entertained a party of about 30 children and adults at dancing, games and magic lantern.

"Lottie Collins has brought to the nation her new song with the weird name Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay. The words and title may sound silly and stupid, but the song has taken London and all England by storm. I shall never forget the night I heard Lottie sing it at London's Gaiety Theatre."

1893 "In March, I assumed the duties of chairman of the Talbot Glee Club and that evening we had a recital by a charming girl from Malvern. Little did I think I was watching the future celebrated violinist Marie Hall. The next time I heard her was many years later at London's Queen's Hall, where she played my brother-in-law's Sonata under his conductorship with full orchestra.

1894 "In April, the Duke of York" - later George V - "came to Worcester to lay the foundation stone of the Victoria Institute, a new building being erected to commemorate Queen Victoria's Jubilee. My wife and I had tickets and had to be in our seats a long while before the Duke arrived. It was a general holiday and the city was gay with decorations and illuminations.

"One Sunday morning, friends and I planned to attend the morning service at Earls Croome Church but found that the Rector had already been and, finding no one present, had left his surplice on the pulpit rails and returned home for a pipe and a glass of beer. He later left the parish after being reprimanded for drunkenness and neglect of duty.

"Worcester's first electricity works was opened at Powick, but I believe a mistake was made in going there for the driving power for Worcester. Electric light is too much in its infancy for so large and expensive a trial. No doubt, eventually it will supersede gas, but not for many years."

1895 "Earl Beauchamp of Madresfield Court is our new Mayor of Worcester, though he is still only in his mid-20s. A most genial man, he sent for me and asked me to arrange for my store to send a parcel of good things to each individual in the almshouses in the city as a Christmas gift from him."

1896"In October, I was unanimously re-elected Governor of the Hop Market. About this time too, my brother-in-law Frank Elgar started what turned out to be a first-class Worcester Civil-Military Band which has had numerous engagements over the years. On November 14, motor cars were allowed to run free over England. In my opinion, they will be the locomotion of the future."

1898 This year my father-in-law and mother-in-law, William and Ann Elgar celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary. They had no family gathering as they were not well enough, but all their relations who lived near called some time during the day and congratulated them."

1899 In April, I went to the Albert Hall to hear my brother-in-law's new work Caractacus. He had a reception to be proud of and was recalled several times. I also saw my friend Sir Henry Irving playing Robespierre. He had sent me a Dress Circle ticket, and never has Irving acted better than in Robespierre.

A reception was given at the Public Hall where Earl Beauchamp handed to the Mayor the keys of the new gates he has presented to the city to grace the entrance to Pitchcroft.

Perhaps surprisingly, Sir Edward Elgar doesn't feature as much as one would have expected in Charles Pipe's memoirs. He speaks glowingly of the composer's works over the years but, perhaps, makes one significant comment: "Anyone reading these memoirs may wonder whether I have liked concerts or dinners better. I think, on the whole, the latter!"

Charles and Lucy Pipe spent their final years living at No.2 Waterworks Road, Worcester, a property bought for them by Sir Edward Elgar. Charles Pipe ends his memoirs: "These writings recall all the best side of my life, but I would not go three parts of it again to ensure a seat in Heaven."