Please read this as if you are looking at a Beryl Cook painting because that’s how I remember it.
Way back along in the mid 1970’s when we used to live in Torrington there was a roadside pub out on the Plymouth road called The Gribble Inn and it was THE place to go. Gribble I think means either trout or salmon but that is by the by. What started as a very simple pub was extended to have posh loos and a great big functions area where they used to get cabaret acts to come. We saw hypnotists, magic shows and the piece de resistance was Billy Fury!
My friend at the time C was beside herself. She was a lovely Devonshire Maid. I don’t think she’d ever been out of North Devon leave alone out of the County; she was so excited and talked of nothing else for weeks. There was much careful planning of what to wear. At the time Barnstaple was a very modest market town. It had a very old fashioned M and S and a couple of department stores. All clothes buying had to be done In Exeter or Plymouth where they had a few of the more fashionable chains like Van Allen, Etams and Dottie Perkins. Most people did their clothes shopping via club books and many lunch hours were spent poring over them and getting opinions of what suited whom and what size to buy. Of course the best of the catalogues was Freemans but it was considered to be quite expensive, even with free postage. I digress.
On the night all the girls were done up to the nines – this is the Beryl Cook bit – Stillettos, short skirts, loads of slap and hair back combed to within an inch of it’s life.
We were in the Ladies when HE arrived. The word went round followed by hysterical screaming and a stampede for the door to get a place near the stage. All the men stayed by the bar – it was safer- while the women pushed and shoved trying to get closer. He was still a very good looking chap and he wore a white floppy shirt and leather trousers. Poor C nearly wet herself , she was in ecstasy. A grand time was had by all and C talked about it for years to come.
Sadly with the stricter drink driving rules and the recession the Gribble’s glory faded and eventually a fire took most of the new extension. I don’t know if it’s still even open as a pub. We drive passed it when we head towards Plymouth and still joke about when Billy Fury came to the Gribble.
Way back along in the mid 1970’s when we used to live in Torrington there was a roadside pub out on the Plymouth road called The Gribble Inn and it was THE place to go. Gribble I think means either trout or salmon but that is by the by. What started as a very simple pub was extended to have posh loos and a great big functions area where they used to get cabaret acts to come. We saw hypnotists, magic shows and the piece de resistance was Billy Fury!
My friend at the time C was beside herself. She was a lovely Devonshire Maid. I don’t think she’d ever been out of North Devon leave alone out of the County; she was so excited and talked of nothing else for weeks. There was much careful planning of what to wear. At the time Barnstaple was a very modest market town. It had a very old fashioned M and S and a couple of department stores. All clothes buying had to be done In Exeter or Plymouth where they had a few of the more fashionable chains like Van Allen, Etams and Dottie Perkins. Most people did their clothes shopping via club books and many lunch hours were spent poring over them and getting opinions of what suited whom and what size to buy. Of course the best of the catalogues was Freemans but it was considered to be quite expensive, even with free postage. I digress.
On the night all the girls were done up to the nines – this is the Beryl Cook bit – Stillettos, short skirts, loads of slap and hair back combed to within an inch of it’s life.
We were in the Ladies when HE arrived. The word went round followed by hysterical screaming and a stampede for the door to get a place near the stage. All the men stayed by the bar – it was safer- while the women pushed and shoved trying to get closer. He was still a very good looking chap and he wore a white floppy shirt and leather trousers. Poor C nearly wet herself , she was in ecstasy. A grand time was had by all and C talked about it for years to come.
Sadly with the stricter drink driving rules and the recession the Gribble’s glory faded and eventually a fire took most of the new extension. I don’t know if it’s still even open as a pub. We drive passed it when we head towards Plymouth and still joke about when Billy Fury came to the Gribble.
17 comments:
Me and some of the girls are getting p+++++ as newts in the common room do come over and join us toady adn we will all dress up like beryl cooke characters and let our hair down! I do like Beryl cooke.
It has been one of those weeks so far and we all need it!!
I can just imagine you and your friends all dolled up! wonderful! Great blog Toady!
Its OK Toady I kept a bottle of chateau to chatpee in blossoms pe bag draw for emergencies we shall break it out!!!
Just been looking at the website, BillyFury.com which tells you all about him. He was a looker I have to say. My husband remembers him, and was quite interested to read your post.
Crystal x
Billy Fury ... I bet that was one of Torrington's finer moments Great memories.
I love the springer photo, gorgeous.
Van Allen - you have brought back memories of that shop I had forgotten its name.
Tents - my son had a rats nest in his, he left it in a shed for ages! He should have stored it up high in the garage.
Billy Fury was just before my time, only just.
Great pic, great blog.
Caitx
What a fabulous picture you conjure up! Sounds like a night to remember!
Hello Toady,
I remember quite some years ago when I came for the weekend to Norfolk, before I lived here, I went to The Links Dance Room near Cromer, on the bill was Billy Fury that has brought back memories, My mother made me an Emerald Green Satin dress, the year of the mini of course. Those were the days!
Camilla.x
P.S. I love your animals Toady, great pictures.
Camilla.x
That was a night to remember - can imagine all of you dressed up for the Gribble's big night.
Ps thanks for your kind comments.
What fun, Toady! How are you feeling after your cold turkey session? Better I hope xxx
Great blog, Toady! I've never been to a place like you describe, but you took me right there! Loved the look back at the girls shoppping from the catalogues at lunchtime.
Wonderful days when we planned how to dress weeks in advance.
Hello Toady,
What an atmosphere and a time you have captured so well in that blog.
All the shared excitement, and anticipation, and great fun!
Best wishes.
Just catching up, sounded like a great night, definately one to remember, and you have.
So glad you are going to get some cognitive therapy, I found that really helpful. Know just what you mean about not being able to do buses yet, at times I found so many little things were huge obstacles, it was very disabling, but it passes, you will get through it, you just have to go with it, and don't push yourself. Good luck. Posie x
Hi Toady ...just popped in to see if you are OK? Loved the blog...I can remember Billy Fury ...he was a looker if I remember right!
Uufff...stilettos. I am lucky to get my clodhoppers into regualr heels, never mind stilettos. I might break an ankle in those.
Love the Beryl Cook painting, and give Bo a kiss on the nose for me!
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