Did anyone else read the Lorna Hill '... at the Wells' books as a child?

[JessiCake]

These flashed into my mind this morning, having not even thought about them for 30+ years!

I was talking about books I'd loved as a child to my DD and obviously I remembered the Noel Streatfields straight away, and then right out of the darkest recesses of my brain came the Lorna Hill books.

I LOVED them, re-read every single one at least 15 times.

I'm kind of hoping my parents still have them in the attic as I'm not sure they're still in print?

Anyone else remember these? I was definitely the only one of my friends who read them so maybe they were a bit niche?

Loved loved loved the books.

Read all of them - imagined myself in the story lines . I was obsessed with ballet during my teens

Unfortunately, I suspect the books will be long gone as my parents (especially my dad)were good declutterers and very unsentimental. My mum might have kept them for me but since she died my dad has been decluttering even more

Loved these books. No idea where my copies are now. Possibly in my parent’s attic...

Ooh! Yes! And I’d forgotten, so now I’ve got a chance to try and find them for my daughter (few years before she’ll be reading them!)

Dress Rehearsal was the one with the orphan girl who worked as a maid (Nona) and featured a scary house that was very close to Cragside House in Northumberland, I think...the books were a revelation to me as a kid as they had Northumberland as the backdrop for a lot of the stories and, growing up in Newcastle, it had never even occurred to me that stories could be set locally...

Oh I just loved these! I have 5 I think. I need to go and count them and see what I’m missing.

Then @minniemoll I’m coming over to yours with a blanket and setting up camp by your bookcase.

So were the Marjorie books the horsey ones? I seem to remember a hero called Guy who was magnificent on a horse?

Yes, Marjorie was the horsey ones. Guy was indeed magnificent on a horse and also appeared in the Wells books and married Jane I think.

I loved them too although I only read four of them - I didn't know there were nine books?

Remember when a rival dancer changed the time on Veronica's watch and she missed her audition? I was so upset on her behalf.
Sebastian was very intense and brooding.

And in 'Castanets' the main character (Caroline?) turned out to be a natural at flamenco dancing, lost the puppy fat she was carrying and gained a husband. What's not to like?

@cannycat20 that's the one, thank you!

I loved those books too and I bet DC1 would love them now! I hope they're still in print!

Oh I loved these! And the Drina series. Think they got handed down to younger sisters, along with all the Chalet School books which are an absolute fortune secondhand now. Thank you for the lovely memories all...

I read them all avidly, and was desperate to have ballet lessons! Didn't happen. I wrote to Lorna Hill, and got a hand-written letter back, when I was ten. Wish I'd kept it. I remember choosing one of the later ones "Swan Feather " for a prize in my last year at primary school, and my teacher saying coldly "What a very odd choice."

The first one was a dream of the wells I think.
I loved it!!!
Remember Veronica meeting Sebastian on the train and insulting him and his family. I can’t remember what his Dad was called but I remember the cousins were Fiona and Caroline.

I reread the Drina books (sadly I only have two) and the Ballet Family books by Jean Estoril every so often. Love them.

Also had forgotten about the Sadlers Wells books. Thanks OP.

Ooh I had forgotten all about these! I loved them.

There was also a series about student nurses, I loved those too but can't remember for the life of me what they were called.

I remember these! But only really odd snippets. The main character gets tricked by another girl into wearing fishnets which are banned. Another scene where she loses her purse and train ticket and is stranded in London at the end of term. Living in a mansion flat and having really terrible food sent up from a restaurant?

Ah, I loved these. First fictional crush also Sebastian, I tried to name DC1 Sebastian, but DH was having none of it. My first boyfriend had dark hair and piercing blue eyes 😁
I also still hate the name Fiona (apologies to any Fionas out there 😳)
Ella was my favourite character, although I loved Swan Feather too, I think she was called Sylvia. Also loved Italian Rosanna 😊

Coincidentally, someone nominated me recently to list my seven favourite books on Facebook and tag seven people to do the same. No-Masquerade was the first one I listed; I loved this book and read it so many times as a child. I loved anything ballet related (and still do) and did ballet until I was 24.

minniemoll I hope you’ve got a lot of guestrooms because that’s at least five of us who are coming to stay and work our way through your bookshelf! I want to read ‘Evelyn finds herself’!

A few more photos for those with bookshelf envy....

I loved these books, and like the PP also often think about that journey to London “on the milk train” when travelling on that line. And the imaginary adder bite in the bracken

I was torn between hero-worshipping Sebastian for his piano and hating him for being so arrogant (even Veronica got really angry with him calling her “my girl” or some other patronising thing)

Ohhhhhhhhhhh I loved the Wells books! And Patience and Marjorie too, I have almost all of them - just missing a few of the later ones! I tried to read them to The Girl but they were really too old-fashioned for her and there was a lot of smoking!

This is my shelf!

Oh goodness yes. I had them all. Wonder if they are still in my parents loft.

I spy Chalet School!