Memory Lane, BBC Radio Leicester Style

From time to time, you’ve probably heard CAMRA featured on BBC Radio Leicester. This usually occurs when they have picked up on something of interest in the Leicester Drinker, or if CAMRA Headquarters send out a press release on an issue relevant to the beer drinker.

During Beer Festival week, I was invited to take some samples in to the studios for all to try. Fox’s Revenge certainly put some colour in their cheeks. They enjoyed the samples so much that an invitation to participate in Memory Lane with John Florence was suggested.

It was Friday April 25th. I arrived at Radio Leicester to meet John Florence and take part in his weekly phone-in, "Talkback". Very soon I was taken into the studio, wondering just what people were going to talk about. As 9:05 approached, John Florence was introducing me to his listeners, inviting them to phone in with any memories they had on Leicestershire and Rutland’s pubs and breweries.

Within minutes I felt very much at home, chatting to people about their experiences drinking in the pubs of years ago. I must have spoken to at least 20 people, including memories of the pubs around the Holiday Inn area from Brian (I have no recollection of any). Pub crawls around Jarrom Street and New Bridge Street with Dennis and The King Richards Road area, pubs such as the Bow Bridge, Shipstones Arms, West End Inn (Now Pump & Tap) and the original Richmond Arms. Interestingly, Barbara phoned in to chat about The Olde Red Lion at Market Bosworth where the beer was brewed behind the pub until 1908, later to be T Hoskins' only tied house. Sheila phoned in to talk about a favourite of mine for many years until refurbishment, The Salmon on Butt Close Lane, a pub I used to frequent in the late sixties with friends, but didn’t know where it was until visiting it by accident in the mid 70’s. This was a real basic pub, always busy and sold twice as much mild as bitter.

Before I knew it, the hour was up. John thanked me for coming and said we must continue this subject on a future programme, something I’m looking forward to. Thanks must go to BBC Radio Leicester for the support they give to CAMRA throughout the year.

Keith Williams

This page last updated: April 15, 2011

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