Foresters Arms 1905 - 1909

Folkestone Chronicle 7-1-1905

Gossip

If licensed victuallers generally would follow the example of Mr. Austin (landlord of the Foresters Arms Hotel), the debt at the Victoria Hospital would soon be wiped out. On Friday, Mr. Austin forwarded a cheque for £3 18s. to the hospital, the result mainly of Sunday morning collections, the £3 18s. representing a quarter`s subscriptions. In 15 months the Foresters Arms customers have sent through host Austin over £10 10s. to the hospital.

Folkestone Chronicle 6-1-1906

Local News

It has been truly said that “More evil is wrought by want of thought than is for want of heart”. This truism cannot be applied to our old friend, the kind hearted host of the Foresters Arms, Mr. A.J. Austen, who since his advent to Folkestone has always made a praiseworthy effort to assist the funds of the Victoria Hospital, an effort which, if followed by other licensed victuallers, would soon completely wipe off the debt on the hospital, which today is a stigma upon a large town like Folkestone. That an institution which in the course of a year alleviates so much pain and suffering should have an adverse balance is a disgrace to a town of 30,000 inhabitants. Would we had a few more Mr. Austens working so energetically in such a grand cause.

We have before described the modus operandi adopted at the Foresters Arms, but with the hope of such a fine example bearing fruit with the licensed victuallers and traders in the town, another brief description will not be amiss. Every Sunday morning Mr. and Mrs. Austen hand round the Victoria Hospital box among the customers, who now look upon the Sunday morning contribution as a fixed institution.

It is now two years since the Sunday morning collection was commenced at the Foresters Arms in 1904. The collection for the year amounted to £8. In June of 1905, for the first six months of the year, the average was beaten with a total of £5 5s., and on Monday, January 1^st, when the box was opened for the second half of the year concluded, all past collections were eclipsed. The grand total reached £7 13s. 6d., being £3 13s. 6d. increase upon the corresponding period last year, and making a total for 1905 of £12 18s. 6d. The opening of the box was looked forward to with much pleasure, not to say excitement, by the customers at host Austen`s. Early in New Year`s morning a guessing list was opened, and those who had contributed during the year were entitled, on payment of another penny to the new box, to make a guess at the total in the box, the nearest to be awarded a prize by the host. To prove the exceptional interest taken, we have only to say that the guessing pence amounted to 8s., with which to start upon the New Year`s collection box. Again we say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And we invite other local licensed victuallers to follow the course of Mr. Austen, which, if persistently followed by the trade, would relieve the Governors of the Victoria Hospital of much anxiety.

One concluding word. The collecting box at the Foresters Arms is not forced upon anyone; if at the regular hour on Sunday it is not handed round one or other of the regulars will soon make a call for it, or voluntarily hand his contribution over the bar. We sincerely hope that before the conclusion of 1906 Mr. Austen will not only maintain his fine average, but be the cause of many successful imitators.

We must also not forget to mention the efficient service rendered by Mr. Austen`s able lieutenant, Mr. W.L. Cook, the well known farrier, who on Sunday mornings regularly takes charge of the collecting box from 12.30 to 1.30.

Folkestone Herald 12-1-1907

Felix

Mr. and Mrs. Austen, who so well conduct the Foresters Arms, follow a little hobby, and this takes the form of reminding one and all of their customers of their duty to the Victoria Hospital. I understand this worthy pair have just opened their box, with the result that the noble institution on the north side of Radnor Park has benefitted to the extent of £6 7s. 8d. in six months, making a total of £12 16s. 8d. for the year. In a period of three years Mr. and Mrs. Austed have collected for the Hospital no less than £35 16s. 8d. This is greatly to the credit of themselves and their customers, and is an example that might be imitated in more tretentious establishments. The Victoria Hospital has many friends, but none more constant than the Host and Hostess of the old hostelry at the bottom of Shellons Street.