Hotel showing Bob and Joan Lord circa 1965, kindly supplied by Peter Lord.

Above photograph kindly supplied by Jan Pedersen, 1978.

From www.thisiskent.co.uk Friday, April 29, 2011

Family mourning for hotel boss Bob

By Eleanor Jones

TRIBUTES have been paid to the former landlord of the Bouverie Hotel, who died last week at the age of 89.

Bob Lord was involved with the pub, with his father then on his own, for 53 years and, according to his son, "knew everybody".

The hotel, which stood where Bouverie Place is now, had five bars, more than any other in Kent at the time, and offered traditional pursuits such as shove ha'penny, as well as a billiards room.

Former Harvey Grammar pupil Mr Lord, who served with the RAF in Africa during the Second World War, ran the hotel first with his father Percy, then with his wife Joan.

His son Peter said: "He was always friendly and ready for a chat and he knew everybody.

"Sooner or later, everyone went into the Bouverie Hotel and whenever you went down the street with him, he'd point people out – he'd make some comment about all of them."

Mr Lord moved to Twiss Grove, Hythe, when he retired in 1982. He underwent heart bypass surgery in 1978, and again in 1993, but died of pneumonia. His son said: "I think he must have been one of the longest-surviving patients ever – his heart was fine.

"I think he just missed my mother too much. They were married for 59 years but she died a couple of years ago and he faded away after that. He was always very keen on sport though, right to the end. His best friend was Wilf Armory, who managed Folkestone Invicta after the war, but he also followed Kent County Cricket Club all his life.

"He supported charities, especially for blind children, and he was always very good at what he knew. He was a generous and sociable person and I think a lot of people out there would remember him."

Mr Lord is also survived by his daughter, Penny Weir, and three grandchildren.

His funeral was due to take place yesterday (Wednesday).

From an email sent 2 October 2011.

Hallo!

I am Peter Robert Lord, son of Robert Percival Lord and grandson or Joseph Percival Lord. My forbears ran the pub for just over half the 20th Century. My granddad Percy and dad Robert formed a partnership, and were joint landlords (as far as I know) from about 1948, when Percy was 65.

I think the address was 25 Bouverie Road East.

Then it became something Middelburg Square.

I attach some photos, which may be of interest.

Above photo shows landlord Joseph Percival Lord and friends at a local shoot circa 1930. The boy is Robert and next to him the tall man on his right is Joseph. Caption by Peter Lord reads:- "Landlord Percy Lord and friends prepare to meet the Tax Inspector." Grandad was always Percy, or the old man, never Joseph.

Robert Percival Lord as his happy self, 1995.

An outing to London for the darts club at the Bouverie Hotel, 1950. Dad 4th from left. Wilf Armory (later Folkestone FC manager) 10th from right.

Getting ready to fill it up! Joan Lord with the Kent Senior Cup at the Bouverie Hotel 1979. Won by Folkestone FC. Caption by Peter Lord:- "Bob Lord asked Father Christmas for A Trophy Wife. But Father Christmas misheard…

Above photo, (Dad’s mother, my grandmother, died when he was 3 months). Miss Osgood, centre, cared for him till her own death when Dad was 4. This must be about 1925. His sisters, Drena and Joyce are in the picture as well.

Bouverie Golden Jubilee celebrations 1979. Wilf Armory is front left, Frank Yeo is front right.

Regards

Peter Robert Lord.