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The Volunteer Arms was situated on Roman Road. This was a Hentys pub from 1903 to 1955, then Tamplins from 1955 to 1957, when it closed.

I was born at The Volunteer Arms in 1943. My parents were Jack and Edith Booker who ran the pub until 1955. There were no pumps in the bar - every pint was fetched from the cellar. Jack was well known for saying to his customers "Well, if I have got to go down to fetch you a pint I might as well get one for myself". Edith ran the pub during the day as Jack had a full time job. My sister and I were not allowed in the bar but would get some of the older customers to let us have a beer and a fag when no one was looking. Many an evening there would be a lock in which invariably included the local policeman. The local doctor would call in for a Guinness when ever he passed. There were many great characters who drank in The Volunteer Arms and quite a few of these would have trouble riding their bicycles home after spending the evening there. For example: Jimmy Parrott was sent out by his wife to get some sprouts for Christmas dinner. He called in at the VA and had a drink (or two). He got on his bike, wobbled off down the road and when he arrived home got quite an earful from his wife because he had forgotten to get the sprouts. His children had been waiting for their Christmas dinner for hours. Mrs Parrott was not pleased. Horace Elliott (another good customer) was the local poacher. He was also gamekeeper for Stewart Grainger and would supply Jack with corn in exchange for beer. Stewart Grainger wondered why there were very few pheasants on his Saturday shoot. This was because Horace had held a shoot on the Friday.

Mick Booker (May 2021)

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