Half a century at the Midland Hotel

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The days when the prestigious Midland Hotel was the centre of Derby’s social scene were recalled recently in the article entitled No-one got past Midland head porter Frank. It reminded the family of Len Watson, maitre d’ at the hotel at the same time, just what a wonderful lifestyle those influential men had. Pat Parkin reports.

Len taking an order from Rams legend Roy McFarland at the Midland in the 1970s

From Sir Donald Bradman, with his Australian team-mates during the 1948 Ashes tour in 1948, to Brian Clough and his Derby County stars of the 1970s – interspersed with famous names from radio, television, music, film and stage in between – the Midland Hotel hosted them all.

Anyone who was anyone, in those golden days before the era of nonentity “celebs”, remembers Len Watson, the man who rose from insignificant page boy who had to sleep in the rafters, in 1917, to be head waiter and maitre d’ in its upmarket restaurant.

It was an opportunity for the young man from a working class background to become friend and confidante to the rich and famous who invariably chose to stay at the Midland Hotel whenever they were visiting the Midlands and valued his advice and information on the extensive lunch and dinner menus.

Alan Watson, of Spondon, who was Len’s only son, said: “It was a wonderful life he lived, so different from the one he had at home.

“He learned a great deal from his work in the hotel trade and, though he never wanted me to follow in his footsteps, he taught us a great deal about the way to behave and how to conduct ourselves in any situation.”

Len, who worked at the Midland Hotel for 49 years until he retired in 1972, came from a modest home in Willington, where there were 10 children to feed.

He left school and joined the staff of the Midland at the age of 13, just before the end of the First World War.

In those early days, whenever there were leftovers from the table, he would take home scraps of the wonderful food, fruit and vegetables which had been served to the paying guests. His family loved it.

“We tried all sorts of specialities,” said Alan. “He told us things we never needed to know, like how to beard an oyster and would often bring home leftover food, especially cheeses, which we loved.”

Even when he was living off the premises, Len was always expected to be immaculately dressed. His suits were specially made and he had to travel to Liverpool to be fitted and collect them.

A dashing young Len Watson when he was a waiter at the Midland Hotel

After luncheon was served, he used to cycle home to Chaddesden for a few hours before returning to serve dinner in the evening, so he would have to ensure his suit was never mud-spattered or crumpled.

Len did not talk a great deal to his family about his work because Alan believes he did not want him to follow in his footsteps.

“Though he loved the work and enjoyed every moment of his 49 years, it was very demanding and he worked very long hours which greatly affected his home life – something he did not want to happen to me.

“So when the time came he steered me into engineering and made sure I never knew anything about the hotel business.”

Nevertheless, as a child, Alan did find out a great deal when he went to parties for families of the staff and became friendly with some of the young page boys who were employed there.

“The parties were wonderful and the lads used to sneak me down into the wine cellars and show me all sorts of things they shouldn’t.

“I always remember the door in the middle of the kitchen which led down to an underground passageway, past the amazingly huge wine cellars and then came out on platform one in the station. I was quite frightened by it all but the page boys, who were always up to mischief, used to show it all to me.”

Often, on his way home from work Len, would call in at a pub kept by his friend, Tommy Frith, in Tenant Street, where his own silver mug was stored behind the bar and he could relax with friends and a drink.

“I am not quite sure where the pub was now but it was just a few steps down from the street, near Sam Adams’ tripe shop. I am sure lots of people remember that,” said Alan.

Apart from serving for six years in the Army during the Second World War, Len spent all his working life at the Midland, employed as a waiter for about 20 years when Frank of the Midland was the head porter.

Said Alan: “I was born in 1940 so didn’t see very much of my father during the war. He was taken ill with peritonitis soon after he joined up and my mother had a telegram delivered to the police station, sending for her to go to Wales where he was based.

“No-one expected him to survive but he did and had to stay in the Services. I never felt I really bonded with my father because he wasn’t there during those early years of my life, but I admired him a great deal and was very proud of the job he did.”

Len Watson, front right, with fellow hotel staff in the 1970s

.Len did most jobs at the Midland, rising from page boy to waiter, running the cocktail bar, and then to head waiter and maitre d’. He was held in such high esteem by the hotel that a special Christmas card was printed for him in the 1930s, which he sent to valued guests.

Len died in 2001, aged 97, and his son still has his Midland memorabilia of photographs, souvenirs and autographs, including those of Don Bradman, comedian Arthur Askey, radio presenter Wilfred Pickles, big band leader Joe Loss and all the leading sportsmen who stayed there.

So busy was the hotel with visits from sports stars and celebrities that it had a dedicated private dining room where they could have breakfast before going off for the day and where they could return for an evening meal.

Len had two children, Alan and Maureen, with his first wife, Violet, who died in 1952, and a second daughter, Jane, from his marriage to Anne in 1955.

Do you remember maitre d’ Len Watson? Did you work at the Midland or were you a guest there in its heyday? Add your memories by editing this article or going to the Discussion link at the top of the page.

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