Tidworth Social Life In The Sixties-Part Two

Tidworth - The Ram Public House A popular drinking establishment which was built in 1848. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Where shall we go next in our whirlwind tour of the village of Tidworth and its entertainments? We have a choice of a Pub, A Bookmakers or yet another NAAFI.

We'll start with the Pub. The only public house I knew of was "The Ram." I don't know the origin of the name, but as it was in a rural area where sheep, amongst other farm animals could be found, the name certainly didn't seem to be out of character with the area. It was hardly a new establishment as it dated from 1848. It had worn well though, despite the passage of literally thousands of soldiers through its doors. I always remember there being a welcome given to hospital staff when we visited. I remember visiting, not too frequently though, with friends, and with my girlfriend, who later became my wife. I was not, at that time at least, too familiar with the ways of drinking and "knowing my ales." I will only say that the brewery supplying The Ram was Brickwoods which I believe was a Southampton brewery. I was told by the more experienced drinkers of the day, that it was "a good pint." This I won't contest-all I will say is that I have tasted others since then that suit my palate better. The favourite games in the pub were the inevitable darts and dominoes. I never took part in these as (a) I wasn't safe with a sharpened pencil in my hand let alone a tungsten tipped mini-spear, and (b) what the hell is this dominoes thing all about anyway? Way over my head it was, and still is! 

As popular as The Ram might have been with the local populace and the military, I reckon there was one place that was equally, if not more popular. What could this place be? It was none other than Captain Keith Hurts' betting emporium, the local Bookies. I have to admit to being attracted to the place in my early days in Tidworth. I heard so many of my colleagues talking about winning pound after pound in the bookies, that I became tempted to try and do likewise. Thankfully, I soon discovered that it was a fallacy that riches were just waiting for me to collect. My first Theatre boss was a keen visitor to this establishment-in fact I seem to remember he almost lived there! The bookies, strangely enough actually became a popular place for me a little later.

One of the ways that the Hospital Management Team found to keep their staff amused was by having Regimental Weekends. For those not familiar with this term, Regimental Weekends were a legitimate use of a soldiers time and energy in terms of using cheap, if not free labour at weekends to tidy up the local area, apply coats of paint to peeling woodwork, cut grass etc, so that the areas around the hospital and barrack areas were always "ship-shaped and Bristol fashion." Sorry about using a naval term, but I couldn't think of an army equivalent. Sadly though, they were occasionally used as a form of punishment. If the Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM) and or Company Commander carried out a Barrack Room inspection whilst suffering with a hangover, or having lost at the bookies or whatever else might have upset them, they would declare a Regimental Weekend as punishment for even the most minor problem discovered during the inspection. To cut a long story short, we had an RSM with a heart for a short while, prior to his accepting a Quartemaster Commision. His wife knew my wife, via the Wives Club. I had a record of being late for work at one time, so, this particular RSM, and I promise you this is true-bought me an alarm clock to bring my lateness to an end. He would also, on the occasion of a Regimental Weekend, make me report to his office mid-way through the Saturday morning for "Duty Runner" duties. Always my task was the same. He would pass to me an envelope with his bets for that day along with cash, and send me hot foot to the bookies. From there, having collected his betting slip, I should return to his office prior to being dismissed for the rest of the weekend. All this happened because of the Wives Club. For anyone who doesn't know of such clubs, the Cosa Nostra could learn a lot from them in terms of influence!

The third and final social centre was the NAAFI complex in Station Road. Within could be found a Bar and a Store cum Supermarket. Without doubt, at the time I was there, this was the biggest store in Tidworth. Later a Ten Pin Bowling Alley was built next to the store. An instant hit, it served as a popular place to meet and have a burger and a drink as well as to hire a pair of shoes and throw overweight balls down an immaculately maintained runway, with the expected result that all ten pins would be knocked over as one. Not, strictly speaking, always the case for me. Nevertheless, great fun was had by many. It helped us while away an afternoon or evening. I look back and remember how I enjoyed making others laugh with my failures, while they continued to improve. I seem to remember that I never received an invitation to join the hospital bowling team. Still, their loss not mine.

As well as the complex having a bowling alley, it also was blessed with a manager who appeared to have been separated at birth from both a sense of humour and any conception of good manners. Popularity was not a word that featured in his vocabulary. Many a young soldier was removed from either the bar of bowling alley for at might have been a minor misdemeanour. Now, this is where the story really starts.

At this time I was married, and renting a small flat above the Green Grocers part way up Station Road. I had married before I reached the age of 21 years, so didn't qualify for a Married Quarter. (Don't worry, the wives club sorted that one out for me after just a few months.) At the back of the building was an alley way that ran the length of the hill, up to the NAFFI Complex. One Sunday morning we were awoken by a member of the local Constabulary. (My wife, bless her, immediately said that I had been at home all night and didn't do it anyway, whatever it was.) Casting flippancy aside, "whatever it was" turned out to be the discovery of the NAAFI managers body in the toilets of the club. All of us living in the vacinity were questioned for some time about whether we had seen or heard anything "suspicious" overnight. Regardless of the lack his popularity, he did not deserve to have his life ended in was was later reported as a violent way. The bowling alley was closed for some time. I will be honest and say that I was shocked by the whole affair. It took some time for the earlier happy atmosphere to return to the premises. Eventually there was an arrest and a prosecution for murder committed in the course of a robbery.

Well thats all I remember of social facilities in Tidworth from days gone by. I'm sure there were more. If you remember any that I have missed-do let me know, via the comments facility at the bottom of this article. Many Thanks.