Over a Hot Stove

Flo Wadlow’s life in full-time domestic service provides a fascinating story of a world that has disappeared. Flo started, aged 16, as a young kitchen maid in South Kensington and at the almost unheard-of age of 23 was appointed cook at Blickling Hall. Her story is told with no resentment that the lowly position of servants, such as herself, supported the privileged life-style of her employers ‘upstairs’. Flo made the most of every opportunity, and after her marriage, continued to enjoy her cooking in every capacity possible, based around the village of Heydon. Aged 95 she still has a great enthusiasm for life, and in her cottage a tottering pile of encyclopaedias, dictionaries and thesauri are ready at hand. Flo is an amazing lady by any standards and her book will surely give great pleasure to all who read it.

Alan Childs is a teacher and historian, and the author of a number of books, including children’s historical fiction. He has also been involved in the setting up of children’s ‘living history’ projects. In recent years Alan has had his photographs published in books such as Portrait of Norwich.