Laindon, The Fortune Of War Hotel c.1960
Photo ref: L150033
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Photo ref: L150033
Photo of Laindon, The Fortune Of War Hotel c.1960

More about this scene

After a spell as the Hustlers, this pub has reverted to its original name. Opened in 1928, it replaced a previous Fortune of War (now a printer's on the Billericay road), which had itself been founded, supposedly, by a soldier returning from the Napoleonic Wars. At the time of our photo, the pub offered 'dancing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening—to the music of the Roundabouts'. In view of the pub's position on the arterial road, the band were aptly named.

Memories of Laindon, the Fortune of War Hotel c1960

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. These memories are of Laindon, The Fortune Of War Hotel c.1960

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In the late 1950s my mum and dad moved to the Fortune of War and ran it for a few years. Bob and Betty worked for the brewery and this was the first house since Bob had left the navy. I went to Laindon Hill primary school and had the time of my life growing up in the vast rooms and yard of the pub with my older brouther Steve.
My dad sold his flowers outside the Fortune of War hotel. He had a plot of ground opposite our bungalow in Florence Road, Langdon Hills (now Florence Way). He picked them, put them in boxes at the front and back of his bicycle, then cycled down Laindon High Road each night in the summer months. He sold them to the people on the coaches going to and coming from Southend, sometimes I would go with him and sell blackberries or mushrooms I had picked.
This is another part of Laindon that is no more. I can remember waiting outside the Fortune of War with a Guy leading up to Firework Night, I always collected lots of change from the kind patrons of this local drinking establishment. I don't think anyone noticed that it was really my sister dressed up in the wagon, if they did they kindly didn't say. Other times of the year we would return beer bottles to the off-licence ...see more
This memory of the Fortune of War, was a photograph that my mother has. This is of my father Reginald Waddingham who was a barman at the hotel. They all wore white jackets. The photo showed all of the employees and the boss standing outside. It was amazing that a lot of people worked there. I can remember catching a no 14 Eastern National bus outside the Fortune of War to Southend and watching all the coaches ...see more