Folkestone
Express 21-2-1925
Local
News
Folkestone
Express 16-1-1926
Local News
On Tuesday morning there were three applications at the
Folkestone Police Court for extensions of licences, and to one applicant Mr.
Boyd, speaking on behalf of the Magistrates, said the licensee must take care,
and not allow anybody to go in other than those staying to dinner. If he did he
would be liable to get into trouble. This applied to all those who applied for
an extension. The extensions were only granted for those attending the dinner.
The applicant said the outside door was locked at ten
o`clock.
Mr. Boyd said it was a general statement, and he had
the authority of the Magistrates for making it. All the Magistrates were
anxious about was that the licensees should not get themselves into trouble. It
also applied to those who got extensions for dances. They had reason for making
those remarks.
The Clerk: And your reason, I venture to suggest, is
not in regard to this particular house at all.
Mr. Boyd: No, I simply say that because you are the
first one to come before us.
Folkestone
Express 6-3-1926
Local News
At the Folkestone Police Court, on Friday morning, Mr. F. Bright applied for extensions of his licence at the Royal
Pavilion Hotel.
The Chairman: What the
Bench have to consider is whether these are special occasions. You are not
supposed to ask for an extension until one o'clock in ihe morning unless there
is a special reason for it.
Mr. Bright:
Quite so.
The Chairman: It seems to
me you are rather inclined to ask for these late hours.
Mr. Bright: In the majority of cases they are repetitions of what you
have been kind enough to grant.
The Chairman: The procedure of the Bench also is to
see they are special occasions and that is what we are bound to keep in mind,
and if it is not a special occasion you are not entitled to special
indulgence.
Mr. Bright: I follow that.
The licences were granted.
Folkestone Herald
6-3-1926
Local News
When Mr. E. Bright, manager of the Royal Pavilion Hotel,
applied at the Folkestone Petty Sessions on the 26th ult. for
extensions of hours in respect of social functions to be held at the hotel, the
Chairman (Col. G.P. Owen) said that licensees were not supposed to have an
extension until 1 o`clock unless there was a special reason for it.
Mr. Bright: Quite so.
Col. Owen: It seems to me you are inclined always to ask for
these late hours.
Mr. Bright: In the majority of cases they are a repetition
of what you have been previously kind enough to grant.
The Chairman said that what governed the procedure of the
Bench was that they were special occasions. That was what they were bound to
keep in mind. If they were not special occasions the licensee was not entitled
to special indulgence.
Mr. Bright said that he quite followed that.
The applications were granted.
Folkestone
Express 30-6-1928
Tuesday, June 26th: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer,
Dr. W.W. Nuttall, Mr. W.R. Boughton, Alderman T.S. Franks, Mr. S. Seager, Mr.
W. Smith, and Mr. R.J. Stokes.
George Alfred Steib, a waiter at the Royal Pavilion
Hotel, was charged with stealing two bottles and four half bottles of
champagne, the property of the Fredericks Hotels Ltd.
Defendant said he wished the Magistrates to deal with
the case, and he pleaded Guilty. He was very sorry for what he had done.
Mr. B.H. Bonniface prosecuted, and said he wanted to
put before the Magistrates quite plainly the position with regard to that
matter, and with regard to the man himself. His clients desired to protect
their other employees. Having regard to the fact that the defendant had been in
the employ of the hotel for 13 years with an absolutely clean character, they
did not ask the Magistrates to send him to prison. For some three months there
had been leakages from the wine cellar. Mr. Bright, the manager of the hotel,
had the keys, and the cellarman was the only other man, other than the manager
and assistant manager, who were entitled to have the keys in their possession.
The cellarman had the
keys in his possession during the day, and when he went off duty he either handed them to Mr. Bright, or put them on the table
in Mr. Bright’s private office if the manager was out. On Sunday, having regard
to the leakages from the cellar, observations were kept on the wine cellar by a
police officer. The cellarman left shortly after three o’clock and took the
keys to Mr. Bright’s office. In the morning a check had been taken of the wine.
The keys were placed on Mr. Bright’s table. About five o’clock Detective
Constable Budgen, who was keeping observation on the
wine cellar, saw the defendant open the door of the cellar and go inside. He
came out with two bottles of champagne in his hand. Det. Budgen went to him and
found, on searching him, that he had also four half bottles of champagne in his
possession. When a check was made of the stock in the cellar in the evening the
identical bottles were missing. The position from the cellarman’s point of view
was a serious one. He had worked his way up to the position and he had only
been there for a matter of twelve months, and when three months ago bottles of
champagne were missed he had been under suspicion until Sunday. During the past
three months there had been
lost champagne of the total value of £15 19s. 5d. The defendant had been in the
hotel`s service for thirteen years, and was a married man with two daughters.
There had been nothing against him of complaint that could be made previously,
and he had always done his work well. They could not help thinking that there
had been someone receiving the champagne, and the prosecution would only like
to have before the Magistrates the receiver as well as the thief. The defendant
had lost his position, and would certainly not be reinstated.
Det. Constable Budgen said at 1-10 p.m. on Sunday he kept observation on
the main wine cellar. At 5 p.m. he saw the defendant enter the wine cellar by
means of a key. Shortly after he came out carrying two large bottles of champagne.
He went to Steib and informed him that he should take him to the Police Station
on a charge of stealing the champagne. He cautioned him and defendant said “Can
this be looked over?” He searched him and found four half bottles of champagne
and the bunch of keys (produced). He brought the defendant to the Police
Station where he formally charged and cautioned him. He replied “I have nothing to say.
I am sorry, that is all”.
Claude Albert Attwood, of 12, Belgrave Road, Dover, said he was the
cellarman at the Royal Pavilion Hotel. He was present when the wines were
checked by Mr. Bright on Sunday morning. He left the Hotel at 3-15 in the
afternoon and before doing so placed the keys on the Manager’s desk in his
office. He was the only man who had a right to! have the keys. The stock was
checked in the evening when two bottles and four half bottles of champagne were
missing The bottles produced were
similar to those in the cellar, and the champagne was the same kind as that
missing from the cellar. The defendant had no right to the keys and had no
right to go into the cellar.
Mr. F. C. Bright, the Manager of the Hotel, said during the last three
months he had lost a considerable quantity of champagne from the cellar. The
defendant had been in the employment of the Hotel for 13
years and had been a good servant, other than the complaints concerning the champagne, which had been going on for the
last two and a half months. The value of the missing champagne was between £12 and £15. The keys (produced) were
his property.
Defendant said he had
noting to say except that he was very
sorry. He wished the Magistrates to
settle the case that day because he
wanted to make a fresh start. He had
worked hard all his life.
The Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew): There has been other wine missed. Is there
anything you wished to say as to what has become of that?
Defendant:
Nothing except that I took it to drink.
The magistrates retired to
consider their decision and on their return the Chairman said that was a very
serious case because the defendant had involved so many other people, and
suspicion had fallen on innocent men and their families. It was undoubtedly a
grave thing he had done. He would be bound over in the sum of £5 to be of good
behaviour. He really deserved having to go to prison.
Folkestone
Express 13-10-1928
Inquest
An inquest was held at the Folkestone Town Hall on
Monday afternoon by the Deputy Coroner (Mr. B.H. Bonniface) concerning the
death of Adolphe Charles Bieri, for 25 years in the employ of the Fredericks
Hotels Ltd., and who was 57 years of age.
Benjamin Flowers, second night porter, said deceased
was employed as chef at the Royal Pavilion Hotel. He saw deceased go in on
Saturday morning at five minutes to three. He spoke to deceased, who also spoke
to him (witness). He asked if the dance was finished at the hotel, and he asked
how many were in the hotel. Deceased went through the swing doors to go through
the lounge up to his bedroom. He did not see deceased go upstairs. On going
along the second floor he heard weird noises, and it was a noise something like
a groan or a snore. When he came to the staircase he saw deceased on the
stairs, about half way up. He was sitting against the wall, with his head
hanging on his chest. Mr. Bieri was very tall and very heavy. The lights all
the way up the staircase were on. He found deceased at 3.20. He went to
deceased, and there was only a small clot of blood from the nose. He went down
into the hall for assistance, and called the night porter. They went up
straight away, and got cushions. He left the night porter with deceased. Twenty
minutes later he saw deceased again, still in teh same place, and he was then
semi-conscious, and he looked better. Witness continued with his duties, and a
quarter of an hour or ten minutes later he again saw deceased, who, with his
assistance, sat up a bit. The night porter had been with him all this time.
Then he laid back on his right side, and the next time he saw deceased was
about ten minutes to five. They assisted him to sit up, and still sitting on
the floor he moved himself towards the stairs, and caught hold of the banister,
as if he was going to stand up. Mr. Hardwick asked him to see if there was a
vacant room on that floor, and he found one vacant. When he returned he found
they had gone. He went down to the hall, and Mr. Hardwick went down five
minutes later, and told him he had left deceased in the lavatory. They then
went to get the chef from the lavatory, and when they got there deceased was
standing just inside the door. They then took deceased to the vacant room, took
his boots off, and laid him on the bed. Later on he saw deceased again, when he
was half in and half out of the bed. Deceased sat on the bed, and witness put
him back in bed, and put a wet handkerchief on his forehead, and, seeing he was
comfortable, he left him. He saw deceased again at ten minutes to eight, when
he was lying on his back, and breathing heavily. A little bruise was then
coming out over the eye. He saw him again at 8.20, and deceased was in the same
position. The bruise had then come out more. Deceased touched his forehead, and
said he wondered what was the matter there. That was the first time he had
heard deceased complain. He reported this to the night porter, and he did not
see deceased again.
John Hardwick, night porter at the Royal Pavilion
Hotel, said that while deceased was in the lavatory he asked him not to inform
Mr. Bright or get a doctor. At 7.30 a.m. he noticed that the deceased`s right
eye was closing. At 8.20 a.m. he saw Mr. Bright.
Mr. Frank Cecil Bright, manager at the Royal Pavilion
Hotel, said deceased had been with the company for 25 years, part of the time
in London and the rest of the time at Folkestone. He was a most reliable man,
and a very valued and esteemed servant. He saw deceased at 8.15 p.m. on Friday,
and his health generally was good. He had had a very busy season, and he had
been to the doctor, who had prescribed him a rest. He (witness) arrived in the
hall at 8.25 a.m. on Saturday, and the night porter was looking for him, and he
told him about the accident, and where deceased was. He went straight away to
the bedroom, and he found deceased lying on the bed breathing very heavily, and
he was holding his hand to his nose. Deceased had a badly discoloured eye, and
the other was slightly discoloured. Deceased was alive. He telephoned to the
doctor, and also for an ambulance. He went back about twenty minutes later, and
found that deceased had ceased to breathe.
Dr. J.W.D. Buttery said he received the telephone
message about 9.30 a.m., and he went to the Royal Pavilion Hotel, and found the
chef dead. He made a post mortem examination, and death was due to a fractured
skull. It was an extensive fracture. He had an unusually thin skull for a man
of his age and build. Had he been called earlier there was nothing he could
have done for the deceased.
The Deputy Coroner said it was a most unfortunate thing
both for the hotel and for the relatives that this should have happened, but it
was some consolation for them to know that the hotel porters did everything
they possibly could under the circumstances. The doctor had told them the cause
of death. He found that deceased died from an extensive fracture of the skull,
following a fall on the stairs, but there was no evidence to show how he came
to fall.
Mr. E.J. Chadwick (Coroner`s Officer) said he would
like to express his sorrow that deceased had met with such an untimely end. He
had known him for many years as a good and true friend.
Mr. Bright said that on behalf of his company he had
been asked to express their regret at the untimely end of such an esteemed and
valued servant.
Folkestone
Herald 13-10-1928
Obituary
We regret to announce the death, on Saturday, at the
Royal Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, of Mr. Charles Adolphe Bieri. His death was
caused by injuries sustained in a fall downstairs, as detailed in our report of
the inquest.
Deceased, who was in his 58th year, was
widely known, not only locally, but beyond. He had been employed as a chef for
30 years by the Fredericks Hotel Company Ltd. He earned for himself the highest
esteem of the Chairman and Directors of the Company, as he did also the
successive managers under whom he served.
Mr. Bieri was a Swiss by birth, and never lost his love
for the little republic situated amidst the Alps. He was a patriot in the
highest sense of the word. However, he became devoted to the country of his
adoption and for the people of England he had a fond affection.
No ordinary man was Charles Adolphe Bieri. He was of
fine stature – tall and broad shouldered. He always wore a pleasant smile, and
had a kindly word for all. No trace of envy or jealousy possessed his soul. If
he was big man so far as his frame was concerned, his heart was bigger still.
It can be said without exaggeration that he went about doing good. Only his
intimates know the extent of this. It can be said too that no-one who was in
real trouble ever sought his aid in vain.
Deceased was one of the first twelve to join the local
Brotherhood of Cheerful Sparrows, and, although it was accomplished quietly, he
did some splendid work for an organisation that appealed to his heart and soul.
Deceased was a Freemason, and in this connection was
associated with the Temple Lodge, Folkestone, and the Mark Lodge. He was also a
member of the Folkestone Club and it goes without saying he won the esteem and
respect of all his associates.
In his profession he was regarded as a peer amongst
chefs. Deceased was, indeed, in this connection highly gifted, whilst his power
of organisation in reference to staff work was beyond compare. Thousands of
patrons that have sat at tables of the Royal Pavilion Hotel during the nearly
quarter of a century that the late Mr. Bieri occupied the post of chef have
testified to the excellence of his art. The almost countless public banquets,
including those of successive Mayors of Folkestone, held at this hotel have won
fame too because of their merit. It has been the fashion for years to hear the
expression when a banquet has been held at the Pavilion “Ah! Bieri is here
tonight. We are sure of an excellent menu and well served into the bargain”. By
the death of Mr. Bieri, Mr. Bright, the manager of the hotel, has sustained the
loss of a friend and invaluable colleague. The whole staff at the Pavilion
Hotel were grief stricken when they knew that he had passed away.
The deceased was unmarried. He lost a brother recently
in Australia. Another resides in New York. Deceased`s nephew, Captain Frederick
Bieri, came to Folkestone from Switzerland immediately on being informed of his
relative`s death.
There are many in this town who by the death of Mr. Bieri
feel the loss of a brother and friend. For full twenty years the writer of this
notice has enjoyed the sunshine of deceased`s friendship. He was always the
same, and had a good word for all, be he rich or poor.
“He was a man; think what a man ought to be. He was
that”.
Inquest
The inquest was held at the Town Hall on Monday by Mr.
B.H. Bonniface (Deputy Borough Coroner).
Mr. Benjamin Flowers, second night porter at the Royal
Pavilion Hotel, said he saw Mr. Bieri come in at about five minutes to three on
Saturday morning. He spoke to Mr. Bieri, who asked him about a dance. Mr. Bieri
then went through the swing doors to go through the lounge and up to his
bedroom. Witness did not see him go up the stairs. On going up to the second
floor at about 3.20, he heard a queer noise – something like a groan or snore.
When he came to the staircase he saw deceased on the stairs, sitting up against
the wall, with his head hanging down on his chest. Deceased was a very tall and
very heavy man, and he did not move him. The lights were on all the way up the
staircase. Witness went down and fetched the night porter. They fetched
cushions and undid deceased`s collar. The night porter then instructed witness
to go on with his duties. About 20 minutes later he saw deceased in the same
place and he was then semi-conscious and looked better. About ten or fifteen
minutes after that deceased sat up, but lay back on his side. At about ten
minutes to five he again saw deceased, who moved himself along the floor with
his hands, in a sitting position, to a banister. At the request of the night
porter, who had been with deceased all the time, he (witness) found a vacant
room on that floor. When he returned he found the night porter and deceased had
gone. The night porter came down and told him he had helped deceased downstairs
to the lavatory. They found deceased standing inside the lavatory door and took
him to a vacant room, took his boots off, and laid him on the bed. At about a
quarter to seven he again saw deceased, who was half out of bed. He got his
legs out of bed and sat on the side. Witness wetted his handkerchief and put it
on his forehead. When he was comfortable witness left. At about ten minutes to
eight he saw deceased in the bedroom. He was then on his back and breathing
heavily. At about 20 minutes past eight deceased was in the same position and a
bruise had come out over one eye. He touched his forehead and said he wondered
what was the matter there. That was the first time witness had heard him
complain. Witness reported it to the night porter.
Mr. John Hardwick, the night porter, also gave
evidence. Deceased asked him not to get a doctor. That was at about 5.30. At
7.30 he noticed Mr. Bieri`s right eye was closing.
Mr. Frank Cecil Bright, manager of the hotel, said that
deceased had been with the company 25 years, part of the time in London, but
most of it in Folkestone. He was a very esteemed and valued servant. He enjoyed
good health generally, but witness thought he was in need of a holiday after a
busy season. At about 8.25 he went to the bedroom and found deceased lying on
the bed breathing heavily, holding his nose with his hand. He had a badly
discoloured eye, and the other was slightly discoloured. Witness communicated
with the doctor and on going back to the room about 20 minutes later he found
deceased had ceased to breathe.
Dr. J.W.D. Buttery said he received a message at about
9.30 on Saturday morning and went to the Royal Pavilion Hotel. Mr. Bieri was
dead on his arrival. He made a post mortem examination and found that the cause
of death was an extensive fracture of the skull in the frontal region. Deceased
had an unusually thin skull for a man of his age and build. Had witness been
called earlier he could not possibly have done anything for the deceased.
The Deputy Coroner found that deceased died from a
severe fracture of the skull following a fall on the stairs, but there was no
evidence to show how he came to fall. Mr. Bonniface said it was a most
unfortunate thing for the hotel and the relatives that this should have
happened, but it was perhaps some consolation to know that the night porters
did everything they possibly could in the circumstances.
The Coroner`s Officer (Mr. E.J. Chadwick) said he had
known deceased for many years. He was a very good, true friend.
Mr. Bright expressed regret on behalf of the company
for this untimely end of a very valued and esteemed servant.
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