Folkestone Gazette
22-10-1952
Local News
Licensee in Folkestone for nearly 50 years and a
well-known sporting personality, Mr. P.W. (Pat) Attwood, of the London and
Paris Hotel, is retiring shortly.
It was in 1904 that Mr. Attwood entered the
licensed trade, helping his father in the management of the Castle Inn, Foord
Road. Two years later he became mine host there and remained for 22 years. He left there to take over the licence
of the Shakespeare Hotel in Guildhall Street.
“In January, 1939, I
decided to retire and was looking forward to a restful time”, Mr. Attwood told
the Gazette, “but the war upset my plans”.
But it was not back to the licensed trade that
Mr. Attwood went. Instead, he joined the Auxiliary Fire Service, completing about
a year’s service, when he was invited to accept the licence of the London and
Paris.
They were grim days in Folkestone then, and
grimmer ones were to follow, for within a short time of taking over the “L and P” the
premises were not only damaged by air raid action but they came under repeated
shellfire from the Nazis’ big guns on the other side of the Channel.
The tall building stood out very conspicuously in the vulnerable
Harbour area and the military authorities had it camouflaged; possibly the only
pub in the country to be dealt with in that way. The London and Paris remained
open throughout the war except for one fortnight in March, 1943, when it was
considerably damaged by a cross-Channel shell which fell just behind the
premises. “It happened one evening about nine o`clock when there were about a
dozen in the bars”, said Mr. Attwood. “No-one was hurt although we were pretty
well shaken. We had to close for a time to get things straight again. Altogether the place was damaged 22
times as the result of enemy action”.
A Folkestonian - his father was one-time park
keeper at Radnor Park - Mr. Attwood has also been closely associated with sport
in the town.
In his younger days he was a very good
oarsman; he won the Championship of Folkestone one year and the Championship of
Folkestone and Dover combined on another occasion. About that
time there were only four towns with rowing clubs - Folkestone, Dover, Herne
Bay and Hastings. He was also a cricketer and footballer,
playing for the old Wingate club on Park Farm. Mr. Attwood was one of the first
members of the Folkestone Park Bowls Club. In his possession he has a group of
bowlers who went to Chelsea to play a match. Mr. Attwood is the only one still
living. His interest in Folkestone football clubs has extended over many years.
He was a shareholder of the old Folkestone Football Club in the days when the
club played on the Canterbury Road ground. He was a member of the committee, as
he was of the Folkestone Football Club formed after World War 1. During the
last war Mr. Attwood was also associated with Folkestone Wartime Football Club.
Mr. Attwood, who is 71,
is still a very active man. Not infrequently he can be seen on his bicycle and
although he says he is retiring, well, who knows what he will turn his hand to next?
He was a foreman plumber
before he went into the licensed trade, and altogether had 10 years` experience
in the building trade.
Folkestone Herald
25-10-1952
Local News
Mr. P.W. (Pat) Attwood, 71, of the London and Paris
Hotel, one of the best known personalities of the licensed trade in Folkestone,
will retire shortly. He has held the licences of the Castle Inn, Foord Road,
and the Shakespeare, Guildhall Street. He has been in the trade for over 48
years.
During the war the London and Paris was damaged in
air raids and by shellfire. It remained open throughout the war except for a fortnight in March,
1943, when it was considerably damaged by a cross-Channel shell which fell just
behind the premises. “Altogether the place was damaged 22 times as the result of enemy action”,
Mr. Attwood told the Herald.
A Folkestonian - his father was one-time park
keeper at Radnor Park - Mr. Attwood has long been closely associated with sport
in the town. In his younger days he was a very good oarsman; he won the Championship
of Folkestone one year and the Championship of Folkestone and Dover combined
on another occasion. He was also a cricketer and footballer, playing for the old Wingate club
on Park Farm. Later he became one of the first members of the Folkestone Park Bowls Club. His
interest in Folkestone football clubs has extended over many years.
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