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Growing Up In Feltwell in the 1950s & 60s – Part – 18. Pubs & Clubs Part 2
A big help for the publican (other than the closure of the nearest rival) was the introduction of the “one-armed bandit” - a gambling machine which took the smallest silver coins: sixpences. The machines, also referred to as “Fruit Machines”, were illuminated but were essentially mechanically operated. You pulled a single right hand lever to spin three reels decorated with bells, “jackpot bars” and fruit symbols, and if they stopped to reveal certain patterns (eg 3 of a kind), then you won and the machine paid out immediately with a satisfying crash of coins. A jackpot payment depended partly on how much cash had been inserted since the previous big payout but it was usually around 200 silver 6d coins – ie £5. A single bunch of cherries on the first reel paid 3 coins (1/6d) and on two drums 5 (2/6d). 3 plums paid 12 coins (6/-) while 3 pears 16 coins (8/-) and so on. There were also lemons which won nothing. Because they were mechanically operated, people felt they had a degree of control– unlike the later automatic electronic machines. The operating arm could be pulled with an angry yank or so gently that the mechanism only just engaged but whether winning lines depended on the way the lever was pulled I have no idea. I would have believed they paid out on average not much more than 50% of takings but a search on the internet suggests returns were far better than that and between 70-80% of takings. That does not mean that returns were not set to maximise takings overall: there was a balance between how little could be paid out before overall takings fell. Initially the clubs seemed to install the machines more readily than pubs; possibly due to gambling and licensing laws. The Crown at Cross Hill and The Cock in the High St closed before these machines became widespread but for some, they became a financial lifeline.
Despite the impact of television, I do not recall the pubs having a television in their bars, although The Oak did have a small jukebox. The Oak was always warm, comfortable and clean and after the closure of the Crown, it was the only pub in easy walking distance of Munson’s Place, Lodge Road and Wilton Road and despite its small bars it was the village’s superior venue and not least because of its imposing position and ability to provide comfortable overnight accommodation. It ran a Christmas Club for patrons and participated in the darts and bowls leagues. The Oak (also Steward & Patteson’s at this time) and The Chequers (Bullards) were more modern compared with The Cock and The Crown, though the two bars in The Oak were quite snug. The Oak and The Cock’s pub signs were given by the brewery to the Feltwell Archaeological Society in 1968.
From the late 1950s I attended the British Legion Social Club (initially with my parents of course) and in the 1960s, the Ex-Servicemen’s Club (now the Feltwell Social Club). The recollections of others suggest the reason why 2 social clubs were established in the early 1950s stemmed from 2 senior Home Guard officers Major J T Orange and Captain Arthur Dennington falling out, initially over the use of a commandeered car during the war. The Legion had an active local committee then but lacked a social club and a group of members decided to establish one, to be called the Feltwell (Ex-)Service Men’s Club. The current Social Club site in Lime Kiln Lane was provided by a Mr Challis and an ex-RAF wooden hut procured from RAF Bircham Newton. Captain Dennington then moved that it should be called The Feltwell Working Men’s Club and this was agreed at a special meeting but it is unclear that it was ever implemented. However the British Legion stalwarts who had been prime movers of the new club, resigned from that committee; to set up a British Legion Social Club. At a Legion Branch meeting (held at the Cock Inn) in November 1950 and chaired by Lord Walsingham, it was reported that after 5 years of negotiations with the Air Ministry, land (surely the site which the Legion still occupies) had finally been purchased. The annual British Legion Fete was already established and Christmas parties, dances and pantos were held in the old barn-like Legion Hall to raise money. Shop keeper Bill Hockley was one of the main fund raisers. Unlike the pubs, the British Legion Social Club had a TV and a full size snooker and billiards table. Mr Orange and farmer Chris Walker were keen billiards players and my father and village barber Ray Parnell were frequent snooker players. My mates and I played snooker there too from the mid 1960s. A bowling green was planned from the 1950s and when we were about 10 yrs old, my father enlisted about five of us during Cubs’ “Bob a Job” week to pick up stones on the land at the rear of the club house. It was back-breaking work on a hot, sunny afternoon and we made little impression on the offending stones. When we finally gave up, the green had not progressed at all. Dad took pity and bought us all an ice-cream from the nearby Blade Cafe. He would have been so pleased his dream was eventually fulfilled.
The Ex-Servicemen’s Club’s long wooden hut off Limekiln Lane was popular with both adults and youths. Furnishings were more basic than the Legion’s but it also had a TV like the Legion and a stage at one end which could feature live entertainment. I can still hear Peter (Dick) Wing’s excellent renditions of Dion & The Belmont’s “Teenager in Love” and Johnny Cash’s “Woman in Love”. Singing with The Checkers, his strong, clear voice nailed both effortlessly. In September 1963 the Lynn News described a talent contest and dance at which a beauty Queen (Miss Watts) was chosen with music provided by top King’s Lynn band, Mike Prior and the Escorts. It was in these clubs that I first shook hands with a one armed bandit!
The West End had its followers but was a little out on a limb at the western edge of the village. It was popular with service men, partly because of its proximity to the Camp and its live music from local bands. Ray Weight had a good, powerful voice and also played piano. One of his songs was about the horrific 1930 Ohio Prison Fire: it had the moving line “Convicts were never meant, to die like rats in a hole”. I have never heard it since. John told me of the time a brother brought back six fellow sailors to share their leave together and challenged landlord Bert Fletcher that they could drink pints faster than he could serve them for 30 minutes. We do not know the other side of the wager but suffice to say the sailors won. Fun times - but we would not want to give up our televisions now…..would we?
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