A Fond Farewell To The Licensee Of A Local Hostelry – 60 Years Ago
I read with interest the letter sent in last month by Glynn Tunneycliff concerning ‘The Railway Arms’. This prompted me to get in touch as I recently acquired a copy of the Leicester Evening Mail newspaper dated Tuesday October 16th 1962. The front page showed a photograph of Mrs Florence Barratt saying farewell to her customers at The Railway Arms in Kibworth Beauchamp. Florence and her late husband George ran the pub together for 16 years, having taken up the licence in 1946. Sadly, George passed away in 1954. But Florence took over the business and continued to run the establishment in her own name.
The caption accompanying the photograph acknowledges the years of service to the community. To show their appreciation the regulars got together. They presented Mrs Barratt with numerous retirement gifts in front of a full house of customers.
It’s good to know that although the name of the hostelry has changed from ‘The Railway Arms’ to ‘The Railway’, at least the business survived and continued to operate throughout these uncertain and turbulent times for the hospitality industry.
Glyn Hatfield
Successful Ukrainian Effort
