大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Stoke-on-Trent Libraries on behalf of Peter Haynes and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

During the war Trentham Ballroom was the Clearing House for the Bank of England all the cheques issued in the country came through there. Once a month there would be a cheap night in the bar when beer would be 3d a pint. My pal Freddie Jones (now a well-known actor)was leading the Conga one night - he'd had a few pints and needed to spend a penny so he led us all into the Gents toilet - men and women all together!!

Another chap I knew called Maurice Shaw was torpedoed in the war - he was arift for nearly three weeks. This had a profound effect upon and his only solace later on was drink. He was in the Grand in Trinity Street one night and could see that they were beginning to run out of drink. He ordered a whole crate of beer, which they gave to him - possibly because he was in uniform. He took the crate of beer in the lift, went up a couple of floors. When the lift was between floors he pulled the inner door open which stopped the lift, sat himself down and drank all 12 bottles!!

The Head Waiter at the North Staffs Hotel had quite a reputation as a wine expert. I once took a young lady there and ordered a bottle of "Chateau D'quem". The Haed waiter came to our table and asked if I had ordered this wine - he told me that the wine was the great favourite of Napoleon's. So much so that Napoleon had his soldiers salute every time they marched past the vineyard!

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