Mrs Franks did not share Mrs Squires"s acquired stoicism, being instinctively intolerant of the slightest interference in her kitchen. It was sacred ground to her, having been a part of her for over fifty years. She and Joseph were the longest serving members of the staff at The Hall, he outranking her by seven weeks. Both no longer lived in the parts of the house reserved for staff, living now in the houses on the eastern edge of the estate that were built specially for accommodating highly valued, long-serving household colleagues. They owned their homes that were first envisaged as places for retirement, but neither wanted to retire and I had no wish to replace either. I use the word colleague intentionally, as without any of those at The Hall, or those employed outside on the estate, n
