Thanet Times, Tuesday 12 May, 1964.

Eric Langley, "Westcliff Tavern."

Ships lights in the bar is remainder of his sailing days.

In common with many seafarers, mine host at the "Westcliff Tavern," Ramsgate, Mr. Eric Langley's main ambition while abroad ship was to own his own business and preferably a public house.

Serving as a signalman in the Royal Navy during the war years, with much of the time spent in South Atlantic waters, Mr. Langley realized his ambition in October 1962, when the Westcliff Tavern was re-opened.

A reminder of his sailing days when the idea of taking a pub was first born in his mind now stands in the saloon bar. It is a highly polished, well-preserved genuine oil-burning ships sailing light, which says Eric, causes quite a lot of interest.

Still a self-confessed junior in the trade, Eric said the only experience he had of spirits and mixing drinks before taking the house was on the other side of the counter.

"Just before I took over the pub, however, some of the other publicans in Thanet were very good," said Erick. "They offered to take me into their own pubs and show me the ropes and when I opened up quite a few of them came round on the first night to wish me good luck."

Born in Southend, Eric is the first member of his family to take a public house. Before becoming licensee of the "Westcliff Tavern" he was a heating and ventilating engineer.

A married man, with a 17-year old son who has followed in his footsteps as a heating and ventilating engineer, and a 10-year-old daughter, Eric is proud of his family. "My wife gives me all the help possible in the pub and even my daughter helped arrange bottles and the like before we open the doors, he said.