She far preferred dogs to children, and was, I suspect, even disappointed we weren't dogs ourselves. My mother also loved her dogs so much that I remember being very jealous of them because of all the affection they got. I absolutely adored those times, as she did lovely things with my sister and me - she didn't have to bother with the boring bits - but she was often away, busy or with my father. The house was a warren with extensive attics and cellars, innumerable corridors and secret doors that were a delight to explore.Ī succession of nannies and governesses took care of the practical aspects of looking after me: dressing, washing, feeding and putting me to bed, and I saw my mother for select parts of the day. We'd spend long holidays at Holkham, exploring the grounds and the wide, sandy beaches. In 1932, however, there was nothing the three men in the photograph could do other than hope that the next child born would be a boy. I hope it does happen eventually and women are no longer excluded, although it would be a bittersweet moment for me: life would have been so different if I'd been able to inherit. To change that would take an Act of Parliament, and I think it's understandably a long way down the list of government priorities at the moment. But in England aristocratic titles and estates are still inherited only by male descendants. The Royal Family has changed the rules of primogeniture so that the eldest child of the monarch will inherit the Crown no matter if that child is a boy or a girl. She was still madly bashing things when everyone else had gone, absolutely gleeful with it. The last person to leave was Colin's mother. I sprayed it across a wall with my paint tin, feeling very reckless and rude.Įveryone went potty, and though the place was an absolute wreck, people felt as though they had never had such a fun time. I said to Colin: 'I've always longed to write the word 'f***' and now I can.' Well, it was interesting to see what people drew when they knew it wouldn't last. We put out tables of food and drink where they wouldn't get dusty, and played very loud music, which encouraged people to let loose.Īs for the graffiti. We were allowed to do exactly what we wanted and I'd never felt so liberated. No props, except for a hammer or a mallet and some spray cans of paint. ![]() No fancy outfits were required, just old clothes, a hard hat and some safety spectacles, which we provided. For a donation to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, our guests were invited to come and let rip. When we bought our house in Chelsea, and realised that as it was it couldn't be saved, we turned the demolition of the interior into a party. ![]() It was Colin's idea, and it was a stroke of genius. One of my favourite parties involved no dressing up or celebrity appearances. Alongside helping Erin Pizzey after she founded domestic abuse shelter Refuge, I was involved in the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, the National Association of Maternal and Child Welfare, and was president of the disability equality charity now known as Scope, so I arranged many events and fundraisers.
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