Folkestone Herald
5-5-1979
Canterbury Crown Court
Former carpet “General” Stanley Palmer met his Waterloo after a heavy
drinking session. It started with a
late-night mock wrestling match on a car bonnet and ended in a Folkestone
police cell. On the way, Palmer, whose carpet firm was taken over by the
Official Receiver, left behind a trail of damage, violence and obscene
language, a court was told this week. He
damaged the car during the wrestling bout with a friend, Mr. Gordon Murdock, he
told Canterbury Crown Court.
When a policeman and
policewoman approached Palmer on October 18, 1977, he began swearing and
complained about being arrested. Put in the back of a police car, he began
throwing “No Waiting” cones out of the window. Then, jumping out of the car,
Palmer ran towards W.P.C. Jane Smallman, pinned her arms to her sides and shook
her violently. P.C. Graham Steel and another officer tried to stop him, but
Palmer punched P.C. Steel in the face before sitting on a low wall and trying
to kick the officers. After another struggle and more bad language, Palmer was
forced into the back of a police car. During the journey he grabbed W.P.C.
Smallman`s lapels and then got his legs over the front seat and kicked P.C.
Steel in the head. When officers managed to quieten him down, they led him to
Folkestone police station, where Palmer lashed out and smashed a pane of
reinforced glass. In the charge room he started swearing again and threw his
wristwatch at W.P.C. Smallman. It missed and smashed on the floor. He kept
swearing and tried to assault other officers.
Palmer, aged 34, of
22, Beatty Road, Folkestone, denied two charges of assaulting police on October
18, 1977, and two criminal damage charges. The friend in the wrestling match,
David Hollingsbee, aged 28, of 26, Broadmead Road, Folkestone, denied one
criminal damage offence.
Palmer told the Court
that he had been drinking and playing darts at the Royal Standard pub, and at
closing time the landlord invited them to stay on drinking as guests. He was
staying with a friend as he was too drunk to rive, he said. He and Hollingsbee
were singing and laughing and started wrestling, but didn`t roll onto a car
bonnet. “When I was told I was being arrested I did get a little truculent, but
I didn`t use the strong language and filth the police claim I used. I thought
if I kept calm and didn`t strike out, nothing would happen”, he said. He said
he did not hit P.C. Steel and did not shake W.P.C. Smallman, and during a
struggle in the police car his legs did go over the front seat, but he did not
kick anybody. “At the police station I was still struggling as we went towards
the door and I felt a third pair of hands push me forward”. “I saw my head was
going to hit the door”, Palmer said, “and put my foot out to stop myself. My
leg went through the door. It was cut on the broken glass and bleeding
profusely. My watch came off in Dover Road. I didn`t take it off and throw it”.
He alleged that policemen started to beat him up. “I was kicked in the stomach
and head and dragged into the cell, where my clothes were forcibly ripped from
me. There was a pool of blood on the floor. I never deliberately struck an
officer. They are all lying when they say I did”.
Hollingsbee said he
did not remember any singing or swearing and could not recall sitting on a
wall. “I remember grappling with Palmer, but we were nowhere near any cars. We
were just lighting up cigarettes when the police arrived and mentioned
something about damage. Palmer made a joke and an officer grabbed his arm and
told him to quieten down”. He said he took no part in the struggle, “and I
never saw Palmer throw any punches at police. I saw him the next day, and he
had been badly beaten. He had a black eye and his face was red”.
South Kent Gazette
1-7-1981
Local News
Two hundred pounds worth of damage was caused when a
stone was thrown through a window at the Royal Standard public house in
Canterbury Road, Folkestone, on Friday night.
The following night burglars broke into another
Folkestone pub, the Royal George in Beach Street. They escaped with £150 and
some cigarettes.
Folkestone Herald
5-11-1982
Local News
Police are investigating a spate of thefts and burglaries
in the Folkestone area over the weekend. Thieves got away with £300 from the
till when the Royal Standard pub in Canterbury Road was broken into on Sunday
night.
Folkestone Herald
26-8-1983
Local News
Kent wicket-keeper Alan Knott stepped away from the
crease to enjoy a pint and a game of darts at a Folkestone pub on Monday. Alan
isn`t giving up his fit, cricket-playing lifestyle for the pleasures of the
local, however. This was a visit as part of the Whitbread Pub Sports contest.
He met prize-winners at the Royal Standard, Canterbury Road Harry Tanton, of
George Gurr Crescent, Folkestone, took the pub`s prize for crib, while Bob
Mabberley, of Greenfield Road, Folkestone, was the darts winner. A poll had
shown Alan to be the Best of the Best when it came to wicket-keepers.
“Town centre pubs get a lot of attention”, said Reg.
“It`s nice to have a celebrity like Alan in a local pub, and we really do
appreciate it”.
Pint mugs proclaiming Pub Champion were presented to
Harry and Bob although they were not asked to display and cricketing prowess.
Photo from Folkestone Herald
Folkestone Herald
28-8-1987
Local News
Mrs. Shirley Nightingale, landlady of the Royal Standard pub, had her
handbag stolen between 9.30 – 11 a.m. It was later found in Canterbury Road
with its contents all intact.
Folkestone Herald
27-8-1998
Local News
Three Folkestone watering holes have new owners after the
sale of more than 250 pubs owned by brewing giant Whitbread.
The Royal Standard and the Two Bells, both on Canterbury
Road, and the Brewery Tap at Tontine Street have been sold to Avebury Taverns.
Martin Foulkes, landlord of the Brewery tap, believes the
new ownership could have positive effects. He said “No changes are going to be
made to the pub for three months, but then Avebury Taverns are talking about
introducing some new beers”.
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