BRIDGNORTH area publicans have outlasted their Shropshire colleagues as members of the county’s only surviving Licensed Victuallers’ Association.
While other LVAs’ including Broseley & Much Wenlock, and Telford have folded as pub trade drops, the Bridgnorth group can boast healthy ‘liquid’ assets and increasing membership.
It was formed in 1918 and LVA books recording its bank balances from 1956, when there about 100 pubs in Bridgnorth, show then it had the healthy sum of £115 7s 8d in the bank. Its accumulated funds now total almost £10,000.
President in 1956 was Mr J Hollinsworth, a director of brewery Wm Butler, while Tom Jones of the Golden Lion (who also ran the Hundred House at
Norton) was chairman.
Vice-chairman was Reg Scott who was then at the King’s Head and also ran the Ball, now The Habit in East Castle Street; secretary was Mr W Ellingham of the Hundred House and treasurer Mr B W R Francis of the King¹s Arms at Chelmarsh.
Later chairmen included Mr Scott, Tom Westbury who was at the Castle in Highley, W S ‘Tony’ Anthony who ran the Bear at Northgate, Claire Meredith and Mr W Scriven. Geoff Bodenham, a former landlord at the Bell & Talbot in Salop Street, is now president and secretary of the local LVA, while Audrey Cooper-Hodgetts is chair.
Vice-chairman is Fosters Arms landlord David Brown, Geoff’s wife Joan looks after the books, Frank Pickford is auditor and Phil Cowell LVA solicitor.
Committee members and other stalwarts include Chris Smith, Tracey Dobell, Dave Cole, Jeff Watkins and Sandra Jefferies.
“I joined after Tom Jones died. He had the Hundred House at Norton and the Golden Lion at Bridgnorth and took over as secretary,” explained Geoff.
“We used to have golf days, went to Hereford races as well as to the dogs and had an annual dinner-dance at the Punch Bowl.
“We work hard to keep going and our numbers are now going up,” he added. “There is talk of forming an entertainments committee.”
The LVA works with police, local councils and licensing authorities, including attending and acting on meetings involving crime and disorder.
Geoff is quick to point out the help that the LVA have had on licensing laws from former district council licensing officer Steve Knapper and his successor Mark Wakelam.
Police licensing officer Tony Mantle, who covers south Shropshire and is based at Much Wenlock, is helping the group through the ‘Best Bar None’ initiative, involving responsible management of premises and recognition of good practice, with bronze and silver awards available and top gold award for the county for meeting criteria.
Membership of the local LVA stretches as far as Cleobury Mortimer (the Blount Arms), Burwarton (Boyne Arms) and Stottesdon (Fighting Cocks).
