FRANCIS GEORGE CHARLES EVANS

NEWBURY’S OLDEST LICENSEE

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DEATH OF MR. FRANK EVANS

By the death of Mr. Francis George Charles Evans of the “Sun” Hotel, Cheap-street, Newbury has lost its oldest licensed holder. He had held the licence of the “Sun” for approaching a half century, and during the whole of that extended period has had the reputation of being an exemplary landlord.  The deceased, who was 74 years of age, had been ailing for the past twelve-month. He was born at Burghclere, where his father was a farmer. Later on his father came to live in Newbury and became an owner of barges  - at the time when the canal was actively used as a waterway – which used to ply between Bristol and London, carrying timber. Father and son were at one time both members of St. John’s Church Choir.

But Frank Evans was best known as “mine host of the Sun,” which he worked up as a successful commercial house. There were many old travellers who had used the house for years. At one time the house was known for its market ordinary, but this was dropped during the war and never revived. Frank was a bit of a “character.” He had his own views on the way his house should be run, and would not brook interference from anyone. If a customer overstepped the mark or behaved in a manner with which he did not agree, he would be told “to drink up his drink and be gone.” Although pressed to do so, he would never join the Newbury Licensed Victuallers’ Association, his reply invariably being, “If a man can’t conduct a house himself, he has no business to being in one.” He was a man of strong, independent views. If he said “No, “ he meant “No,” and no one would ever induce him to alter his opinion. He took the greatest pride in the conduct of his house, and it was no mere boast when he said he had never had anything against him. Indeed it would have broken his heart if anything untoward had happened there.  He was married twice, his second wife being the eldest daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Langton.

The funeral took place on Saturday at the Old Cemetery, Newtown-road, where all his people are buried. The service was taken by the Rector of Newbury, the Rev. L. R. Majendie. The mourners were Mrs. Evans (widow), Mr. Tom Langton and Mr. Bert Langton (brothers-in-law), Miss Evans (niece), Mr. and Mrs. T. Ford, and Mr. and Mrs. C. Webb (Wallingford). Amongst those also present were the Mayor(Councillor Frank Hill), Mr. John Brighton, Mr. J. Lay, Mr. Walter Cooke, Mr. and Mrs. E. Knight, Messrs. H. Hopton, G. Bass,  Greenslade, Weatherbourne, etc., etc.

Amongst the senders of the beautiful wreaths were: His loving wife; Sister Rowena and niece Edith; Agnes Evans (Wallingford); Mr. and Mrs. T. Ford and children; Roger and Cis; Emily, George and children (Sulhampstead); Mrs. Langton, Tom and Bert; Mr. and Mrs. Webb, Winnie, Charley and the boy; Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Finn; Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Lay; Mr. and Mrs. Starkey; Alice; Mr. and Mrs. Knight; Mr. and Mrs. R. Weatherbourne; Mr. and Mrs. Spracklen and Mabel; All at Wharf House; Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Brown and Joan (Headley); the Misses Rabbits; Mr. and Mrs. Childs.

Newbury Weekly News 16 September 1926

Mrs. P. Code page 56  Code NE44 (A)

Died 8 September 1926 aged 73 and buried 11 September 1926 from the Sun Hotel .

Also his wife Elizabeth Evans died 13 April 1939 aged 76.