Letter: I Have Just Discovered The Guildford Dragon NEWS!

Published on: 28 Jun, 2013
Updated on: 28 Jun, 2013

From Sue Bushell

I live in Wonersh and have just discovered The Guildford Dragon NEWS. As a Guildfordian, born and bred, I have really enjoyed reading the articles.

It all came about whilst staying with friends in Wales who also used to live in the town We were trying to remember the name of the pub in Park Street that led down to the old Farnham Road bus station, so we Googled it and up came your publication.

Brilliant and a great find.

Thank you for taking the time to write in Sue. Please do pass the word. The more readers, comments and letters the more lively The Dragon will be. Ed

Responses to Letter: I Have Just Discovered The Guildford Dragon NEWS!

Malcolm Fincham Reply

June 28, 2013 at 10:46 pm

I think I used to work with Sue Bushell’s husband in Shamley Green a few years ago. I would like to welcome her to The Guildford Dragon NEWS and ask her and all the readers not to forget to check out ‘Birdwatcher’s diary’.

[They definitely should. It’s great. It’s a bit like Guildford’s very own nature watch. We are lucky and proud to have it. Ed]
Sue Bushell Reply

June 30, 2013 at 7:59 am

Yes Malcolm Fincham is correct, it is me! I am married to Chris we both really enjoy his Birdwatchers Diary and look forward to reading more. Just back from the land of red kites in West Wales.
Stephen Pinn Reply

July 2, 2013 at 7:46 am

I too stumbled upon the Dragon by accident. It reminds me of Guildford Keyhole, a similar publication (not online, of course – just a lot of back-breaking work on an ancient Roneotype printing machine in a Victoria Road basement).

When a group of us (all cub reporters indentured to the Surrey Ad between 1969 and 1973) were called out on strike by the National Union of Journalists, we thought we should provide a crude (but infinitely more interesting and entertaining)alternative. In those days, proprietor Ray Tindle was prevented from publishing the real thing because the big print unions actually supported the NUJ on occasions. I still have a few grainy photos of some of us huddled around a brazier in Martyr Road.

Having spent 18 months in Colchester, I returned to the Surrey Ad as chief reporter in late 1974, eventually resigning in 1977 when the news editor refused to delay the print schedule to take breaking news of a bank robbery in the High Street (just a few doors up from the Bull’s Head, where we happened to be having a pint at the time).

By the time the the following Saturday’s edition was on the streets, the culprits had long since been apprehended and charged.

Which brings me to your piece on Guildford pubs – not just those that closed, but those that changed their name (sometimes more than once).

At lunchtimes and after work, we decamped to the Two Brewers in Castle Street, the Spread Eagle (Dead Beagle) in Chertsey Street, or the Surrey Arms in North Street (chip butties, pints of Directors’ bitter, a game or two of bar billiards and lunch hours that seem to go on for ever).

Didn’t spend much time in the Horse and Groom (just as well, as it turned out) and no time at all in the Live and Let Live (I mean there’s spit and sawdust, but just spit?).

Anyway, keep up the good work.

(Some of your readers may remember some of my partners in crime – Simon Clarke, David Britton, Tim Friend, Tim Petzold, Rebecca Renbourn, Jane Adams, Robin Elias and many more).
Rebecca Skinner Reply

April 13, 2015 at 10:23 am

Oh, those were the days Steve. I don’t think I realised at the time how marvellous they were – so many fabulous memories.