Valiant Sailor 1930s

Folkestone Herald 16-5-1931

Felix

Of course we have been reminded if we needed reminding – of the “sailor” described as “valiant” standing isolated alone on the edge of the cliff on the Folkestone-Dover Road, and standing all these years four square to all the winds that blow, and hundreds of feet above the level of the sea. Of course, I am referring to the famous inn “The Valiant Sailor”, owned by Mr. A.C. Aird as it was also by his father, the late Mr. W. Aird. Of course this particular “Sailor” is on the main road to Dover – six miles distant. Outside the establishment was at one time a toll house or turnpike gate. So rapid is the flight of time that the present generation can hardly realise that every horse and vehicle, besides droves of sheep and cattle, were compelled to pay toll before they could pass through the aforesaid gate or similar gates on the main roads. A carrier van, and an occasional horsed bus – that was all the communication that existed in those days, which many of us can recall. And so it comes about that our “Valiant Sailor” on Dover Hill has witnessed a revolution. He has seen the old gate abolished, a ten minute motor bus created between the two towns, whilst hundreds of motor vehicles pass by every day of the year. Here is progress if you like. I may be perhaps pardoned for mentioning it, that I made the first journey ever made from Folkestone to Dover on a motor vehicle named “The Pioneer”. It was driven by Mr. Ernest Salter, motor engineer, and son of the late Alderman W. Salter, J.P., of Folkestone. Those of us who braved that journey, especially up Dover Hill, were proud of ourselves on that day. I often gaze on a photo which depicts the old “Pioneer” on its way to Dover. I could write a story – an exciting one, too – of an experience I had on this self-same “Pioneer” as it did a sprint down the famous Whitfield Hill. Space, however, just now forbids.

I am informed by the present proprietor, Mr. Alfred C. Aird (whom I have already mentioned) that the old inn alluded to was originally designated the “Jolly Sailor”. Why its name was altered I cannot tell, and my friend, Mr. Aird, cannot throw any light on the subject. Certainly there is something very jolly associated with that word “Jolly”. But from what I can gather from a volume that I have before me, there were certain people in other days that did not approve of it. Thus I read; “The use of the word “Jolly” on the signboards of various inns formerly so common in our now “Merrie England” is now gradually dying away. Whatever be the opinion on the subject of national good humour it seems people no longer desire to be advertised as jolly”. Why object, for instance, to the “Jolly Britisher”, the “Jolly Farmer”, or the “Jolly Sailor”? What a funny world this is. It would seem then that in the Merrie England of those other days they had their killjoys with their sour faces and their canker of envy, malice, and uncharitableness ever gnawing at their hands. However, when we pause to think, the word “Valiant” is a very fine one.

Folkestone Herald 6-6-1931

Felix

With reference to a recent note appearing in this weekly contribution, and having reference to the approaching visit of H.M.S. Valiant, I mentioned the fact that the old Valiant Sailor had stood solitary these many years on the edge of the cliff on the Folkestone-Dover road. I also stated that the famous wayside hostelry was once known as The Jolly Sailor, but that its name, for some reason, was altered to the Valiant Sailor. Why, no-one appears to know. Mr. A.C. Aird, the present proprietor, since my paragraph appeared, has had an opportunity of looking up the deeds of the property with the result that he kindly informs me that the designation of the house was altered from “Jolly” to “Valiant” in 1826. Mr. Aird also states that he is unable to explain the change in the name. As he truly remarks he has always found the sailor to be both “Jolly” and “Valiant”, and so either one fits in as well as the other. However this may be, our old friend declares that the same spirit prevails in the ranks of the 20^th century sailors as it did in that of their forefathers when ships of war depended entirely on sail rather than coal and oil, and when navigation, too, depended alone on the compass and flag signals.

Note: Date for name change is at variance with More Bastions.

 

Folkestone Express 5-12-1931

Local News

A mysterious fire, which resulted in considerable damage to a motor car and garage, occurred on Friday evening at the Valiant Sailor Inn at the top of Dover Hill. Mr. A.C. Aird, the owner, had not long returned from Maidstone in his Austin saloon car, and had taken it into the garage adjoining the premises. When he left it everything was apparently in order.

Shortly before nine o`clock, however, the car was discovered to be on fire, and the Folkestone Fire Brigade were hastily summoned by telephone. The large motor tender and five men answered the call, and in view of the serious nature of the fire six men remained standing by at the Station. The Brigade, however, soon had the blaze under control, and extinguished it with the aid of chemicals, but not before the body of the car was extensively burnt and the rafters of the garage charred. The damage is estimated at over £50.

The cause of the fire is quite unknown, and Mr. Aird is at a loss to understand how it could have originated. It did not start from the engine or the chassis, for only the bodywork was damaged, and the owner states that he had not been smoking on the road from Maidstone and had not had a light in the car.

Folkestone Herald 5-12-1931

Local News

Mystery surrounds an outbreak of fire at the Valiant Sailor Inn on Dover Hill on Friday evening of last week, when a motor car and garage were extensively damaged.

Mr. A.C. Aird, the proprietor of the premises had placed his Austin car in a garage adjoining the premises earlier in the evening, on his return from Maidstone. At about nine o`clock the car was discovered to be on fire, and a telephone call was immediately put through to the Folkestone Fire Brigade, and a large motor tender and five men were sent.

The flames gained a strong hold of the car, and the rafters of the garage were burned before the Brigade extinguished the blaze by means of chemicals. The body of the car was completely destroyed, and the total damage is estimated at £50.

Folkestone Express 31-12-1932

Local News

Burglars were very busy at the Valiant Sailor public house on the Dover Road just outside the Folkestone boundary early on Wednesday morning.

Mr. A.C. Aird, the proprietor, did not retire to rest until nearly one o`clock after seeing that the premises were properly secured. Nothing was heard during the night to disturb any of the occupants of the house, but when Mr. Aird got up in the morning and entered his office he found that the contents of the room had been disarranged.

A sum of about £6 in money which had been placed in the room the previous night had disappeared.

Entry had been obtained by means of a window which had been forced.

Folkestone Herald 31-12-1932

Local News

Mr. A.C. Aird`s residence, the Valiant Sailor, Dover Hill, was burgled in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

An entry was made into the office by cutting away a pane of glass and releasing the window catch. A thorough search was made of the room and £6 in silver and coppers taken.

Mr. Aird told the Herald that he heard nothing during the night.