Putting names to Landlords' faces

The above photograph was published in the Dover Mercury on 27 May 2004. It is from a photograph that John Taylor, who collects memorabilia about Dover, bought on an Internet auction site.

The outing was the Dover and District Licensed Victuallers Association on their visit to Arthur Guinness Son and Co's brewery at Park Royal, in 1959.

The first call to the Mercury was from Alan Kingsnorth. He recognised his mother and father, Bert and Joyce Kingsnorth, who were the only two people identified in the photo.

He said it was a nice surprise to see the photo in the paper, especially because he had few photos of them.

Dave Morgan and Ron Ayers were among the Mercury readers who called in to tell us it was the 200th centennial visit to the Guinness Brewery in summer 1959.

Mr Ayers, whose family used to run Ayers coaches, is the first person on the left on the back row.

He was the coach driver for the trip, which took local publicans to visit the brewery in west London. "The licensed victuallers used to have quite a lot of outings," he said.

Mr Ayers said everyone on the trip was issued with a special Guinness glass, engraved with the bi-centenary dates. He still has the glass at home.

Standing next to Mr Ayers on the back row is George Barker, who ran the Carriers Arms in Tower Hamlets.

Derek Brett, who worked for Silver Spring drinks company and delivered to many of the pubs; was also able to help with names.

Others on the back row, from centre, are the licensee of the Green Man which stood in George Street, and next to him, the tall man to the right, Ken Brown, of the Falcon Inn in London Road and the Three Cups on Crabble Hill, and father of well-known darts player Tony Brown.

From the left in the middle row are Dennis, from the Rose Inn in Cannon Street, Beat Atkins of the White Horse Inn, Ellen Morgan from the King William IV - known as the King Billy - in Biggin Street, and Claire Percival of the Royal Oak in River. Third from the right could be Edna Franks of the Falstaff or Bessie Brill from the Cinque Port Arms, with Bert and Joyce Kingsnorth, who ran the King Edward public house, on the end of that row.

Left to right in the front row are Alf Tredwell of the Bull Inn, Mrs Cook of the Endeavour, Beatrice Curd of the Cherry Tree Inn, who died a few months ago, Charlie Bollands of the Castle Inn, Jim Percival of the Royal Oak in River, who was chairman of the LVA, Bernie Franks of the Falstaff, Bill Morgan of the King William IV and either Bessie Brill of the Cinque Port Arms or Nancy Smith of the Havelock Arms.

Carol O'Donoghue, who works in the King Edward VII, offered to display the picture in the bar of the pub in case any of her customers recognised people in it.