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Saturday, 7 February 2015

London and Paris 1950s



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.
 
Photo from Folkestone Gazette

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.

Folkestone Gazette 29-10-1952

Local News

Granting a protection order in respect of the transfer of the licence of the London and Paris Hotel, the Chairman (Ald. W. Hollands), at Folkestone Magistrates` Court yesterday, wished the outgoing tenant, Mr. P.W. Attwood, a very happy retirement.

“I believe you are the oldest licensee in the town”, he said. “Personally I have known you come to this court in connect­ion with licensing matters for 34 years. On behalf of the Bench I wish you a very happy retire­ment”.

The new licensee is Mr. Alec Stephen Wales, former building foreman, of Cheriton Road.

Folkestone Herald 1-11-1952

Local News

Granting a protection order in respect of the transfer of the licence of the London and Paris Hotel, the Chairman (Ald. W. Hollands) at Folkestone Magistrates` Court on Tuesday wished the outgoing tenant, Mr. P.W. Attwood, a very happy retirement. “I believe you are the oldest licensee in the town”, he said. “Personally I have known you come into this Court in connection with licensing matters for 34 years. On behalf of the Bench I wish you a very happy retirement”.

The new licensee is Mr. Alec Stephen Wales, former building foreman, of Cheriton Road, Folkestone.

Folkestone Herald 15-11-1952

Local News

Folkestone Magistrates on Wednesday approved the transfer of licence as follows: London and Paris Hotel from Mr. P.W. Attwood to Mr. A.S. Wales.

Folkestone Herald 28-8-1954


Local News

A former well-known Folkestone personality, Mr. Claude Garland, licensee of the Game­cock Inn, West Kingsdown, near Sevenoaks, died on Sunday. Mr. Garland, who was 79, took over the Gamecock Inn in Jan­uary 1942. For many years he was a committee member and Treasurer of Folkestone and District Licensed Victuallers’ Association. Mr. Garland became manager of the Clarendon Hotel. Folkestone, in 1914, and subsequently was the licensee of the London and Paris Hotel, Folkestone, from 1932 until he retired in 1940. After a period of retirement at Hawkhurst, he resumed his active life and became licensee of the Gamecock. In his younger days he was employed in the same trade at Victoria and Bromley. While at Folkestone he was one of the founders of the Brotherhood of Cheerful Sparrows and of the Ellanpee Golf Club. Mr. Garland leaves two sons and one daughter.

The funeral took place at Charing Crematorium on Thursday.
 
 

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