A SONG about life below stairs at Littledean Hall is one of two by a Forest songwriter to have made the semi finals of a national competition.

Sue Skinner’s songs, Littledean Hall and Secrets and Lies, are in the top 20 per cent of the entries for the UK Songwriting Competition.

The song Littledean Hall was inspired by the life of the Sedbury-based songwriter’s grandmother who was a cook at the hall in the early 20th century.

Sue said: “I entered a few of my songs in different categories just for the experience of getting them looked at by top music industry professionals.

“I never dreamed that two of my songs would get so far in the competition, I’m over the moon.

“My songs usually reflect my own life experiences, and I am particularly fond of Littledean Hall as it’s about my grandmother, Gertrude Guest, who was a cook in Littledean Hall in the early part of the 20th century.

“She used to tell me about the ghosts, and they feature in the song too.” 

The prize winners will be announced in November.