On Sunday, October 20, I had the great privilege of meeting Lady Thomas-Stanford.

She very graciously invited a small group to join her for a guided tour of her magnificent home, Preston Manor, Brighton.

We were greeted by the lady of the manor, who arrived wearing the most elegant afternoon attire - a full-length plain black satin skirt with silver buckle fastening and demure white lace blouse. Her simple, swept-up hair was adorned with a delicate diamante tiara.

The tour started in the entrance hall, where the party was privy to the history of Lady Thomas-Stanford. Portraits of the Stanford family hanging in the entrance hall were brought to life as their stories unfolded.

The Lady herself had inherited a fortune at the age of five, including 1,000 acres of land in Brighton and Hove.

In each room, we were treated to personal anecdotes and stories: Why the four-poster beds had their tops removed; where the servants went at four o'clock in the morning before work; about the family pets, now buried in their own cemetery; and an extremely moving account of Vere, Lady Thomas-Stanford's grandson, whose exposure to the First World War contributed to his early death.

Finally, in the delightful surrounds of the dining room, we discovered why Lady Thomas-Stanford would not leave any of her fortune to John, her only child and potential heir, and her reasons for donating Preston Manor to the Corporation of Brighton.

Lady Thomas-Stanford then retired and kindly allowed us to wander round the manor, which included a visit to the upper servants' bedrooms and the servants' quarters in the basement, with a fully equipped kitchen.

If you have never visited Preston Manor, I urge you to take the opportunity to attend this wonderful, personalised guided tour. If you cannot make the tour, just go along anyway and grab a guide book from the gift kiosk to read while you walk round. I guarantee you will be delightfully surprised.

Lady Thomas-Stanford (portrayed by Jackie Marsh-Hobbs, tour guide and lecturer) will be opening her house again for a guided tour this coming Sunday, at 2pm and 3.30pm. For tickets and information, call 01273 292770.

-Jacqui Rush, Wilbury Road, Hove