George 1920s

Folkestone Express 19-3-1927

Local News

A presentation was made to Mr. F. Taylor, popular host of the George Inn, George Lane, last (Thursday) evening, on his leaving the house after 23 years.

The presentation, which was really to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, consisted of a canteen of cutlery, and eight day clock, and an illuminated address with the names of the subscribers, which were handed to him by Mr. J.F. Eldridge, who wished them a long and healthy life. Mr. T. Dodd also made a short speech, and Mr. and Mrs. Taylor both expressed their heartfelt thanks.

A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. H. Addison, who organised the subscription list and the gathering.

Folkestone Herald 26-3-1927

Local News

The large club room of the George Inn, George Lane, was crowded on the occasion of a presentation being made to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Taylor, the host and hostess, who are retiring from business. The gifts took the form of an eight-day clock a canteen of Sheffield cutlery, and an illuminated address which bore the following inscription: Presented to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Taylor by a few friends on the occasion of their retiring from the George Inn, George Lane, wishing them nay years of health and prosperity”. (Here followed sixty three names).

Mr. J.F. Eldridge, in making the presentation, said he had known both the recipients for more years than he cared to remember. He was acquainted with them before they became host and hostess of the George. Mr. Fred Taylor was the fourth son of the late Mr. Tom Taylor, whose memory they all revered. Their friend, who had been a model licensed victualler, might be described as a real “white man”, just and square in all his dealings, and the soul of geniality.

Mr. Taylor, in returning thanks, said the splendid gifts were a revelation of the good feeling they expressed. In a somewhat difficult position both his wife and himself had endeavoured to do their duty to customers and keep themselves at the same time within the licensing laws. Mr. Taylor expressed a hope that the same good feeling would be extended to Mr. and Mrs. H. Thompson (from the Red Lion, Paddlesworth), who would in future carry on the house, which had both for himself and his wife many pleasant memories.

Mr. H.A. Addison said everyone had subscribed most readily.

The proceedings closed with the singing of “The Froth Blowers Anthem”, “For He`s A Jolly Good Fellow”, and a verse of the National Anthem.

Folkestone Express 16-4-1927

Local News

At the Police Court on Wednesday, at a special transfer sessions, the licence of the George Inn, George Lane, was transferred from Mr. F. Taylor to Mr. Harry Thompson, formerly of the Red Lion, Paddlesworth.

Folkestone Express 22-6-1929

Monday, June 17^th: Before Alderman C.E. Mumford, Alderman T.S. Franks, Mr.F. Seager, Mr. W. Smith and    Mrs. E. Gore.

Albert Edwin Chantler was charged with having on the 15^th June unlawfully and wilfully broken a window at the George Inn, Folkestone. Defendant pleaded guilty.

Frank McGurr said about five o’clock on Saturday evening he was proceeding to the Central Picture Theatre in George Lane, and saw the prisoner break a pane of glass in the door of the George Inn. He did it deliberately with his fist. Witness informed the landlord of what he had seen, and helped to take the prisoner to the police station. Prisoner was drunk.

Mr. Thompson, landlord of the George Inn, said the value of the window was £3 3s. He saw the prisoner on Saturday evening, and noticed that his hand was bleeding. He asked him if he had had an accident, and he said “No”. Witness then asked him if he had been pushed against the window and he said “No”. He then asked him how he did it and he said “I did it with my fist. I asked a man for 1s. for a night`s lodging and he refused me, so I told him I would break a window”.

P.S. Fox said at 5.10 p.m. on Saturday he was Station Officer when prisoner was brought to the station with the two previous witnesses. Prisoner said “I am fed up”. The first finger on his left hand was bleeding. In his (witness’s) opinion, he was recovering from being drunk He was not drunk at the time.

The prisoner said he was very sorry about it. He did not know what made him do it at all. He was awfully sorry about the damage, but he could not pay for it.         

The Chief Constable (Mr. A.S. Beesley) said prisoner was on the tramp. He was a pianoforte tuner out of work, and was just passing through Folkestone.

Prisoner said he was over sixty.

The Chairman said the case would be dismissed on condition that he promised to clear out of the town within the next few hours.

Prisoner said he would do that, and would also promise never to touch drink again if they wished it.

The Chairman said that was a promise he was very anxious that he would keep, but they expected him to keep both. Many people would say that they ought to have sent him to jail, but they wanted to give him a chance. Sixty was not a very great age, and he had plenty of time to do something yet. 

Folkestone Herald 22-6-1929

Local News

Charged at the Folkestone Police Court on Monday with wilfully smashing a plate glass window, and doing damage to the extent of three guineas, Albert Edwin Chantler, who pleaded Guilty to the offence, was discharged on undertaking to leave the town.

Frank McGurr, of the Sherwood Foresters, said that on Saturday at about five o`clock he was going to the Central Picture Theatre in George Lane when he saw the prisoner strike a pane of glass in the doorway of the George Inn. He did it deliberately with his fist, and smashed the glass. Witness called the landlord and informed him what he had seen. The man was taken to the police station. He appeared to witness to be drunk.

Mr. Harry Thompson, landlord of the George Inn, said when he saw prisoner his hand was bleeding. He asked prisoner if he had had an accident, and he said “No”. He asked him if he had been pushed against the window, and he said “No”. Witness asked him what had happened, and he said he did it with his fist. Witness asked him if it was intentional, and he said “Yes”. He said he asked a man for something for a night`s lodging. The man refused him, so he told him he should break a window.

Sergeant Fox said that when prisoner was brought to the police station at 5.10 p.m. on Saturday by the two previous witnesses he smelt strongly of intoxicating liquor, and in witness`s opinion was recovering from being drunk. He was not drunk.

Defendant said he was very sorry. He should not have done such a mad thing if it were not for the drink. He was sorry about the damage, and could not pay for it.

Chief Constable Beesley said that prisoner was an out-of-work piano tuner, and was on the tramp.

Discharging prisoner on his giving the undertaking stated, the Chairman (Alderman C.E. Mumford) said “Evidently drink has been your downfall”.