Aprons and Silver Spoons by Mollie Moran
Published in paperback by Penguin, March 2013

Born in 1916 and now living in Bournemouth, Mollie Moran tells her life story, from her “action packed” childhood in the Norfolk countryside through to her marriage in 1938.
Moving to London to become a scullery maid at the age of 14, she writes of endless chores, the customs and rituals of life in a grand townhouse (above and below stairs) and her youthful and unexpected elevation to Cook.
She writes too of the rise of fascism, the impact of war and her desire for adventure. In an age when young girls did what they were told, Mrs Moran’s adventurous spirit ensured she made the most of opportunities which came her way – from sneaking out to dances to mixed bathing in the Serpentine.
Verdict: described as “the heartwarming memoirs of a 1930s kitchen maid”, this is a charming and very readable story of life below stairs, part autobiography and part social history, all served up with a dash of Mrs Beeton. ****