- Beano Group (Patrick Long)
I found this picture in my Dad's belongings after he died. Therefore all I know is that my Dad (third from the left, with his hand on his friend's shoulder), never really strayed from patronizing just the local pubs. He was born in 1912 in <?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>, when there were houses there and not apartment buildings. I'm guessing that he's about 25 years old in this photo, so it was pre-war. Also he was wounded by a rocket blast after landing for D-Day and then advancing into , and as a result had to wear glasses due to his head wounds, and he's not wearing them in this picture.
I have vague recollections of seeing the two gentlemen on the far left (standing), in my neighborhood when I was a kid, but I can't put a name to them. I posted the picture on Friends Reunited a couple of years ago, hoping to hear from someone that might recognize a family member or friend in the picture, but I haven't heard back from anyone about it.
The earliest recollection of a pub which my parents used that I can remember, was one they called the "White House", located either in or . That pub was demolished around 1950, but I know it was one of their favorites and may be where the beano was organized. I can remember how the men used to take a collection of pennies for the kids that went to see them off, and then they gave them to us as they left for the trip.
Other pubs that were still there when I left in 1968, and that they used as their "locals" were:
The Brighton ( and .)
The Bull (Old Kent Road and Great Dover Street)
The Black Horse Court (Law Street and Great Dover Street)
The Golden Fleece (Law Street)
The Duke of Wellington (Long Lane)
However, depending on his "thirst" my Dad would sometimes have to pop into the Kings Arms or the Bricklayers Arms, just to get re-hydrated on his way home from placing a bet with the local bookie.