What was the Red Lion public house like nearly 60 years ago?
There’s a glimpse in a newspaper cutting we’ve added to our downloads section (but you can also access it below). A reporter from The Star Chesterfield Magazine, of 14 March 1963, popped in to the Red Lion public house.
Geoffrey Nash interviewed landlord Joe Tyler, who started out in showbusiness and once appeared on the same bill as Noel Coward. There’s brief mentions of some other Red Lion ‘regulars’ – included are Hadyn Riley, Bert and Ann Owen and Leonard Rasen. There’s a few photographs as well including Bill Carter, who had his own £2,500 electronic organ in the pub!
Brimington and Tapton Local History Group 
My family lived next door to Bill Carter (at 21 Devonshire Street) for several years. I was only a child at the time so didn’t have much to do with him, but my parents were regulars at The Red Lion. (John and Doreen Froggatt, for anyone who might remember.) We emigrated to Australia in January 1966 and, before leaving, they were presented with a parting gift by the publican. (Sorry, I don’t know his name.) Bill lived with his father, known to us as “Old Mr Carter” (to differentiate from “Mr Carter” ie Bill). He was a very kind and gentle man who always had time to speak with us kids, though I’m sure we irritated him at times. Old Mr Carter seemed very ancient to us, though looking back now I think he was really quite frail because of illness. He didn’t seem to leave the house at all, though he sometimes sat outside when it was warm enough. I remember the magnificent Rolls gleaming outside in the sun as well. Most days it was idling in the driveway outside his garage, sitting in the shade of a climbing white rose that extended the whole length of the long driveway. I don’t remember it being driven much but I remember the lovely purring sound of the engine. I don’t recall him being much of a gardener but there was a blackcurrant bush at the end of the yard, and a small strawberry patch, that we were allowed to pick from – if we asked first! Thanks for reminding me of a great time in the past. Bill was a lovely man.
LikeLike