From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 5 January 1901. Price 1d.

ACCIDENT

On Friday evening, during the prevalence of a westerly gale, Mrs. Sophia Townsend, of 8, Poet's Corner, in endeavouring to walk round the "Imperial Hotel," was blown down, and one of her shoulders was dislocated. She was pushing a perambulator containing a child, and it was blown over, but no damage was done to them.

Thanet Times, Tuesday 18 July 1967.

Publican was slumped over car wheel.

A 43 year-old publican, found slumped over the wheel of his car early one morning, appeared at Margate quarter sessions on Thursday accused of being in charge of a car while unfit through drink or drugs.

William Charles Higgins, licensee of the "Imperial Hotel," Canterbury, pleaded guilty to the offence, committed at Margate on 13th of April and was fined £40 with £21 costs.

The Deputy Recorder (Mr. Michael Hickman) told Higgins that he had put himself in peril of losing his licence. If you appeared in court again for such an offence, that was what would happen.

On this occasion, it had been decided that it was possible to take a merciful course.

P.C. Frank Chandler said Higgins had a previous conviction in 1961 for a similar offence, when he had been fined and banned from driving for 3 years.

Mr. Anthony Thompson prosecuting said that soon after midnight on 13th April, a police constable, called to St. Mildreds Gardens, Westgate, saw Higgins sitting in the driving seat, slumped over the wheel. The ignition key was on the front passenger seat.

When he got out of the vehicle, he was unsteady on his feet and, when asked who he was and where he came from, made an unintelligible reply.

"He appeared to be muddled and confused," said Mr. Thompson.

Mr. Bryan Anns, defending said that Higgins, and ex-Royal Navy Petty Officer, had risen early that day, and was consequently very tired.

Higgins had a Merseyside accent which could have accounted for the officers observations on his speech.

He had been on business to Sandwich and later at the "St. Mildreds Hotel." He now appreciated that he should not have got into the car.