From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 26 February, 1965.

Club members fined after police raid at Whitfield

It was 1.10 in the morning when a small band of police officers surrounded the Circle Club, at Sandwich Road, Whitfield. They got in through the back door and told the startled club members.

"This is a raid."

What happened next was described to Wingham Magistrates at Dover, on Thursday last week, when the club licensee and eleven club members were ordered to pay a total of £215 in fines for offences related to drinking after permitted hours.

The club licensee, 26-year-old Roy Martin Scott, originally faced 12 charges which carried a total maximum penalty of £1,200.

CHARGES DROPPED

But the prosecution dropped eleven of the summonses - to which Mr. Scott had intimated he would plead not guilty - and proceeded only on one charge.

To this - of supplying alcohol between 12.30 a.m. and 1.10 a.m. Mr. Scott pleaded guilty and was fined £55.

The other members each fined £15, were Colin Clapson, a postman of the New Endeavour, London Road, Walter Waite, a quantity surveyor of 103 Markland Road, Alda Girolo, a hotel worker of 36 Folkestone Road, Edward J Perry, restaurant manager of 295 Folkestone Road, Bernard and Beatrice V Hamilton, of 5 Elm Park Gardens, Archy Grove, a fish fryer, of 1 Last Lane, Terence D Mooney, a dock worker, of 57 Lowther Road, David and Vera Pittock, of 31 Harold Street, and Wendy Anne Piddock, of Oaten Hill, Canterbury.

HAD DRINKS

Mr. Scott was also ordered to pay five guineas costs and the customers one guinea each. The magistrates made no order about the club's licence.

"It is the duty of all to see that the laws governing drinking hours are observed" said Mr. Frank Rose, the chairman, announcing the fines.

Mr. A. C. Staples, prosecuting said that at 1.10 a.m. on Sunday, January 24th, the police, led by Inspector J. Goodwall, entered the premises.

They found 24 people in the bar room of the club and a number of those people were in possession of alcoholic drinks.

Mr. Scott was asked what these people were doing at the club. He replied, "Drinking," said Mr. Staples.

Some of the members explained that they had taken a meal at the club that night while others had eaten sandwiches at the bar. Mr. Staples said "But the raid took place 40 minutes after the last possible time drinking was allowed - even with the supper licence extensions," he pointed out.

The Inspector spoke to Mr. Scott and he said that he had been foolish and had served drinks after permitted hours.

Mr. Scott and a barmaid were serving that evening and - to his credit - Mr. Scott explained that she was only part-time and he took full responsibility for what she had done," said Mr. Staples.

WAS TEMPTED

He added that there was no suggestion that non-members were being served and there was no suggestion that the club was being run improperly.

Mr Maurice Sayers, for Mr. Scott, said that his client now regretted that he had been tempted into contravening the licensing laws. But time had slipped by without him realising it was too late.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 19 March, 1965.

New licensee after raid on club at Whitfield

Landlord of a Brixtom public house, Mr. Harold J. Scott, is the new licensee of the Circle Club at Sandwich Road, Whitfield - the club with 200 members which was raided by police early one morning in January when people were found drinking after hours.

Mr. Scott, senior, has taken over from his 26-year-old son, Roy, who was convicted last month of supplying drinks after hours.

Mr. Scott, junior, is continuing at the club as manager under the supervision of his father.

The future of the club was considered by the Wingham Magistrates, sitting at Canterbury on Thursday last week when they granted Mr. Scott's application for a licence for the club.

The police had opposed an application by Mr. Scott, junior, for the renewal of his licence. But this subject was not pressed in view of his father's application.

NOT A COVER

Father and son were represented by Mr. Maurice Sayer, who told the court. "Mr. Scott is not just a cover."

Mr. A. C. Staples represented the police. He closely questioned Mr. Scott, junior, about the hours kept at the club while he was in charge.

Mr. Staples said that the police had seen cars parked late outside the club on four occasions. Mr. Scott, junior, said that he could not recall the occasions but he noticed that two of the lates were New Year's Eve and Christmas night. On those occasions he entertained friends at the club.

"I realise that there might be some valid objection in me remaining the licensee and because of this I am applying to have the licence transferred to my father," he said.

Mr. Scott was questioned about an interview he had with Police Sergeant Walmsley on 14th November about the hours being kept.

LEFT LATE

"The sergeant told me that one person had said they had left the club late. I understood that he came to see me as a 'friend and guide,' and I did not take this as an official warning," said Mr. Scott.

He agreed that in the early hours of 23rd-24th January there was a police raid on the club after which customers were prosecuted for drinking after hours.

Questioned about the hours kept, Mr. Scott, junior, denied that it was difficult to make a financial success of the club without resorting to the sale of drink after hours.

Mr. Staples: "Do you have difficulty restraining the enthusiasm of members to drink after hours?" - "Yes, sir."

CLOSED PROMPTLY

He said that since the raid he had been open each night, and had closed promptly. "And the customers have continued to come during the correct hours," he said.

Mr. Scott, senior, said that if he was granted the licence he would be at Whitfield most of the time and at his Brixton public house occasionally. His wife and eldest son were quite capable of running the public house.

"Roy will continue to work at Whitfield as a manager. He has been over zealous in the past to make the business financially successful.

"He realises that it will now be vial to keep his nose clean, otherwise my licence in London will be in jeopardy." Said Mr. Scott, senior.