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	Picture source: Ken Cook
The Grove Tavern was situated at 26 Gloucester Grove. This pub has now been demolished.
What a surprise to see pictures of my Dad, George Sampford, outside the Grove Tavern. I have the original photo showing Dad with the 'vicar', somewhere... Dad's also in the group photo, back row 4th from the left. I've never seen that pic before. Having failed his medical, when volunteering to join up, Dad was in the AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service), during the war, fire watching duties were often conveniently carried out on the roof of the Grove Tavern! As a kid I can remember waiting outside the pub and an occasional glass of lemonade coming my way, or sometimes an arrowroot biscuit or a bag of crisps with a little blue twist of paper containing the salt. An arrow was chalked onto the wheel arch of the coach prior to pub outings. Around the tyre was chalked the numbers as displayed on the coach seats, say 1 - 48 inclusive. A 2 shillings whipround was taken from all passengers. On arrival at the destination the arrow pointing at a number determined who won the 96 shillings. Dad was Captain of the Grove darts team and was very good at it. If visiting a pub whilst working away, he'd play someone just for the price of a pint, he rarely had to put his hand in his pocket all night...
George Sampford (February 2022)
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Other Photos
Pub outing, 1940s	Picture source: June Simpson
Pub outing, 1940s	Picture source: June Simpson
Pub outing, 1940s	Picture source: June Simpson