Family mark centenary of ancestors taking on The Bell at Smarden

The descendants of a man who took on The Bell in Smarden 100 years ago gathered there to mark the centenary.

Seventeen members of the Hughes family got together at the Shepherd Neame pub in Bell Lane to raise a glass or two to long-serving pub couple Gordon Hughes, who became licensee at 19, and his new bride Daisy (nee Clark) in 1925.

He wrote in his un-published handwritten memoirs, which his son Arthur, 83, still has: “I had become engaged to the auburn-haired girl in Tenterden and we were on a short holiday at Hastings – imagine then how surprised we both were to receive a telegram from my father which said ‘Arrange to get married – on your return I have taken The Bell for you’.”

“Naturally we were pleased that after five years our wedding was so unexpectedly near, but to take a pub… and when we were both teetotallers!”

The couple married at Tenterden Church on October 10, 1925 and took over the village pub 15 days later, on October 25.

Gordon’s father William, a farmer and general dealer, had paid all the expenses for them to start out, including the rent, which at the time was £36 a year. It wasn’t raised until they left 23 years later, to take on The Railway in Headcorn.

The couple had three children – Gordon, who has since died, Arthur, and Betty, now 98 – all of whom were born at the pub.

Gordon Snr built greyhound kennels at the back of the pub, and brought champion dogs over from Ireland. He was also a keen sportsman, and quite tough, having been a Regimental Sergeant Major in the war.

Arthur recalled that there was a wooden bench in the pub – known as ‘Flying Ben’ - which had a spike that could poke through the seat, which regulars operated from the other end to catch out unsuspecting newcomers. But occasionally his father would turn the bench round to catch out the locals!

Arthur, who now lives in Charing Heath with his wife Sandie, said: “The Bell has been very important in the family. All three of us children were born there, and I remember growing up there. I used to bottle up when I was young but running a pub was never for me – too much hard work! I went into the motor trade instead.

“But we are very much a family of pub people. It was my mother who did all the work, but my father could be formidable – he once laid out a man with one punch when he was at the Railway Hotel.”

Sandie added: “Daisy was the most funny lady, a real character.”