The George Hotel

A Memory of Walsall.

Fond memories of the George, Saturday night meeting place when we would frequent the Palm Court Lounge with mirrored walls and a Grand piano at the end of the room with a man named 'Tinkler' ... believe it or not!!!! playing tunes of the day. As you entered the hotel there were glass cases displaying jewellery and fashion items. The basement was a 'men only' bar that us ladies always wondered what they did down there.
My most vivid memory was outside the George Hotel, one frozen night when we left our A35 van parked outside Burtons shop (on the right hand side of the hotel). It was so icy we couldn't get the car away from the curb, so my boyfriend left me inside (passenger side) and pushed from the bonnet (with my foot on the accelerator and holding the steering wheel) the choke on full. The engine roaring, the van shot backwards in a complete arc and the back end smashed through Key's electrical shop window on the other side of the George. Straight away a policeman appeared, unbuttoning his top pocket to take notes saying 'elo, elo, elo what's all this here then'....... we never did get charged with anything!! Happy days, we've now been married for 51 years and still going strong in Walsall.