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by Marriott Edgar
Illustrations by John Hassall
George and the Dragon, a typical name for a typical English country pub. An institution largely unchanged for over a thousand years; until the last 30 years or so.
Now they have almost disappeared; replaced by 'family restaurants', kids playground in the garden, wider choice of pickles for the 'ploughman's lunch', inside toilets (renamed as American 'restrooms'), an interesting increase in the number pubs offering of lap dancing bars, and no smoking.
Of course, not all these 'improvements' are welcomed by all customers. Many hanker for the pre-karaoke days.
But perhaps the best change is that publicans no longer encourage customers, as we read in this poem, to drink and drive!
I'll tell you the tale of an old country pub The "George and the Dragon" were t'name of the pub, The Carrier's cart were a sturdy old Ford One cold winter night, about quarter to one, | |
He lifted the bonnet and fiddled around He had eight miles to go and 'twere starting to rain, He went up to t' pub and he hammered at door She said "Who are you?" He said "Carrier Joe." "A nice time of night to come knocking folks up," |
The dragon's head appears |
Said Joe, "Aye, I'll go if you'll sell me some fuel, "Coom, coom, Lass!" said Joe, conci-latory like, With these few remarks th' old girl took in her head He picked up some pebbles he found in the road "What d'ye want?" she enquired. And "Not you," Joe replied, |