Earl Grey 1930s

Folkestone Express 13-9-1930

Saturday, September 6^th: Before Col. G.P. Owen, Mr. W. Griffin, and Eng. Rear Admiral L.J. Stephens.

Julia Donovan, an elderly woman, of the Bowling Green Lodging House, Dover, was charged with being drunk and incapable on the previous evening. Prisoner pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Kennett said at 7.30 p.m. on the previous evening he was called to the Wonder Tavern public house in Beach Street. He saw the prisoner drunk in the public bar. The licensee requested her to leave, and she refused to go away. He (witness) advised her to go away, and she did so. At 7.45 p.m. he saw her again in High Street, where she was using foul language and was surrounded by a crowd. She went into another public house and came out again. She said “It takes ten ---- policemen to lock me up in Dover”. With the assistance of P.C. Simpson he brought her to the police station.

Prisoner said she promised it would never occur again.

The Chief Constable (Mr. A.S. Beesley): She has not been in custody before. I think that from the evidence the beer and the police at Folkestone are stronger than at Dover.

The Magistrates` Clerk (Mr. C. Rootes): Has she been in Dover long?

The Chief Constable: No, not long. She is on her way to the hop field now, I understand.

The Chairman: You admit that you have behaved badly?

Prisoner: Yes, but I will never do it again. For Gawd`s sake give me this chance, please.

The Chairman: The Bench have decided to allow you to go.

Prisoner: Thank you, kind gentlemen.

The Chairman: You will leave the town, of course.

Prisoner: Yes sir, thank you, I will.

Folkestone Herald 13-9-1930

Local News

Julia Donovan, of Dover, an elderly woman, was charged at the Folkestone Police Court on Saturday with being drunk and disorderly.

P.C. Kennett said that at 7.30 p.m. the previous day he was called to the Wonder Tavern, where he saw the prisoner in the public bar. She refused to leave the premises at the landlord`s request. Witness advised her to go away and she did so. At 7.45 he saw prisoner again in the High Street. There was a large crowd round her and she walked into the Earl Grey public house. He spoke to her and she said “It takes 10 ---- policemen to lock me up in Dover”. With the assistance of P.C. Simpson he brought her to the police station.

Prisoner tearfully said it would never occur again.

The Chief Constable said Donovan had never been in custody before. From the evidence he thought both the beer and the police at Folkestone were stronger than at Dover. He understood prisoner was on her way to the hop fields at the time.

When the Chairman (Colonel G.P. Owen) informed prisoner that she could go on condition that she left the town, she said “Thank you, kindly. Good morning”.

Folkestone Express 17-1-1931

Obituary

The death occurred with painful suddenness on Saturday afternoon of Mr. Charles William Arthur Dixon, the well known licensee of the Earl Grey, High Street, Folkestone. About a quarter past five Mr. Dixon complained of a pain and five minutes later he expired. He had not been in ill health and his death came as a big shock to his many friends.

Mr. Dixon, who was 62 years of age, was a very genial and kind hearted man and he was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. He was a native of Dover, and came to Folkestone and took over the Earl Grey nine years ago. Whilst at Dover, he held the licences of the Barley Mow, Pavilion, Union, and Prince Albert in turn, and had a wide circle of friends. Mr. Dixon was also well-known to those engaged in teh cross-Channel passenger services both at Dover and Folkestone, for in his early days and also between the times he held the licences of the various licensed houses he was a second mate and worked on both services. On and off, he was employed for 23 years on the cross-Channel passenger boats. In his younger days Mr. Dixon was very keenly interested in life-saving work, while during the War he was a volunteer in the Buffs. The deceased leaves a widow and five daughters to whom the greatest sympathy will be extended in their loss.

The funeral took place in the Cheriton road Cemetery yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

Folkestone Herald 17-1-1931

Obituary

We regret to record the death of Mr. William Charles Arthur Dixon, aged 62, which occurred suddenly on Saturday last at the Earl Grey Inn, High Street. Mr. Dixon was for nine years the licensee of the Earl Grey Inn, and his passing will be regretted by his wide circle of friends. He was born in Dover, and prior to coming to Folkestone he held licences at the Pavilion, Union, and Prince Albert hotels, Dover.

Mr. Dixon leaves a widow and five daughters to whom much sympathy will be extended in their sad bereavement.

Folkestone Express 14-2-1931

Annual Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, February 11^th: Before Alderman R.G. Wood, The Mayor, Colonel G.P. Owen, Alderman A.E. Pepper, Mr. J.H. Blamey, Miss Hunt, Mr. W. Griffin, Dr. W.W. Nuttall, Alderman G. Spurgen, Alderman T.S. Franks, Mrs. E. Gore, Mr. W. Smith, and Mr. F. Seager.

The licence of the Earl Grey, High Street, was transferred from the late Mr. Dixon to Mrs. Dixon, his widow.

Folkestone Herald 18-2-1933

Local News

The licence of the Earl Grey, High Street, was transferred from Mrs. Dixon to Mr. P. Hartland at the Folkestone Petty Sessions on Tuesday. Mr. Hartland was formerly manager for Mr. F. Joseph, of Tontine Street.

Folkestone Express 11-3-1933

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, March 8^th: Before Alderman R.G. Wood, Dr. W.W. Nuttall, Mr. J.H. Blamey, Miss A.M. Hunt, Alderman T.S. Franks, Mr. W. Smith, Eng. Read Admiral L.J. Stephens, and Mr. S.B. Corser.

The licence of the Earl Grey, High Street, was transferred from Mrs. Dixon to Mr. F.S. Hartland.

 

 

 

 

 

Updates

28th June, 2014: Folkestone Express and Folkestone Herald Reports for 1932 Added

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.