The Cape of Good Hope. Dudley Rd.

[yogimon]

The Cape of Good Hope was our local in the early seventies. My husband and i lived in the high rise flats in Grove Lane at the time so it was'nt too far to stumble home after a few bevvies. There was never a dull moment in the lounge room at the weekend. Somebody or other would start singing or a argument would break out. I can remember one particular Friday night we were sitting with friends, the room was packed then there was an almighty rush. It was just like a scene from a John Wayne movie. There were chairs and snooker cue's being bounced off people's heads.Of course the culprits did a runner. We got locked in till the police came. My husband got splattered in blood so one of the regulars borrowed him a jacket in case the police thought he had been involved in the incident. The trouble was he stood out like a sore thumb because the jacket was about 3 sizes too big. We often have a laugh about that and say how lucky we were not to be injured. My mother-in-Law Elsie and her friend Ruby also used to frequent the pub. in 1945. They would sing and dance on the tables to the old joanna. Elsie very often tells me the story about when she and Ruby were standing outside and she asked the soldier who was on leave for a light for her cigarette. Elsie married that soldier a few weeks later they were married for over 50 years till he died. Elsie is 94 now and she is still telling me that story. In the 90s the Cape was demolished and a McDonalds fast food place was built on the ground. I did have some photo's but they have been mislaid over the years. Whenever i hear the song .Blanket on the ground by Billy Jo Spears i always think of those nights in the pub.

 

[mikejee]

Here are two photos showing the Cape of Good Hope