From the Whitstable Times, 26 January 1867. Price 1d.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

Wednesday. Present—Sir W. M. Coghlan, K.C.B. and Major Wilkie

ROBBERY

A ticket-of-Leave-man, named George Moyne, was committed for trial at the adjourned sessions, for stealing a 2s. piece, 3s., and 6d. from the person of Charles Anslay, at the “Shakespeare Hotel,” on the previous evening.

Thanet Times, Tuesday 23 February, 1965.

He raised £20,000 for charity in one evening.

From coal mining in South Wales, promoting boxing throughout the midlands and pint-pulling in Margate; that, almost in a nutshell, takes in the very career of genial Mr. Ken Timms, licensee of the "Shakespeare Hotel," Canterbury Road, Margate.

Has been at the "Shakespeare" since 1954, first as manager and now has tenant. Before they actually had two years at the Margate Working Men's Club, coming to the town from a hotel in Birmingham.

Born at Gilfach Goch a village near Bridgend, Ken's first love as a young man was boxing and he was amateur flyweight champion of Wales in 1926, shortly after which he turned professional.

During the war he was employed at a Coventry engineering factory, finishing as chief buyer. Then, in partnership with his old friends Jimmy Gough, he became a boxing promoter.

"Our greatest achievement was promoting the first coloured boxer to go for a British title," he said. "Dick Turpin was the fighter and he outpointed Vince Hawkins to become middleweight champion in 1948.

Villa Park, Birmingham was a venue and the bout was watched by roughly 12 thousand fans. Also on the bill that night was such redoubtable pugilists as Rinty Monaghan and Don Cockrell - then a light heavyweight.

That promotion realized £20,000 for charity and goes down in Ken's book as the most successful evening he and his partner ever organised. Ken, in fact, started all three Turpin Brothers on their path to boxing glory and had them on his bill constantly during his five years in the business.

While in the fight game he became friendly with Mr. Maynard Mitchell, the boxing Board of Control steward for the Midlands as well as kingpin brewer of the area, and he persuaded Ken to go into the licensed trade.

His ties with Margate, however, go back more than 33 years - the time he has been married. Before the nuptials his wife Muriel ("Timmy" to all her their friends) worked in Margate and she always had a hankering to return to the town.

Ken, as wiry as ever and with a strong the Napoleonic jut to his jaw, is also an accomplished pianist and his "cabaret" is always eagerly awaited at the patrons of the "Shakespeare" - a pub full of atmosphere and bonhomie.

Thanet Times, Tuesday 30 October 1979.

Thieves forced me to quit pub says sea-front landlord.

Ted and Binks While pictured behind the bar of the Shakespeare. Margate.

BURGLARS have forced Mr. Ted White to retire from the "Shakespeare" public house on Margate sea-front.

They have struck four times in two weeks.

The most recent was last week when £140 was stolen from the till.

It forced Mr. White. (65) who has bronchial trouble, to quit after 10 years as a landlord.

He said "I had previously been thinking about retirement, but the break-ins have finally made up my mind.

"Another factor is that trade has been steadily declining over the past 10 years. People are afraid to come here because of the vandals and hooligans who smash up the place."

Mr. White feels that the last year has been the worst of all and he has lost count of the number of times he has had his windows broken.

Thanet has been his home for nearly 40 years and he has been married to his wife. Binks (66), for 41 years.

He served in the Navy for 14 years before becoming caretaker at King Ethelbert's School and then worked as a barman in Margate.

Although he is not retiring until tomorrow (Wednesday) Mr. White had his farewell party on Friday to say goodbye to his regulars.

"Retirement will enable me to spend more time with my children and to relax a little," he said.