Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer - 15 March 1957
PAULTON'S MR. W. G. CARTER IS A MAN OF MANY PARTS
FARMER, publican and church-warden is Mr. Wilfred George Carter, of Victoria Inn, Paulton. He began as a farmer with one cow; followed in the footsteps of his father as a publican; joined his grandfather in the choir of Holy Trinity Church 50 years ago.
Church work takes up much of his spare time, but Mr. Carter devotes thought in many directions. He is a rural councillor, parish councillor, member of the parochial church council, president of Paulton Rovers Football Club, president of Paulton Bowling Club and a member of Clutton branch of the National Farmers Union.
IN FOUR CORNERS
Mr. Carter has both pedigree Guernsey and Jersey cattle at Plumptree Farm, and when I visited Paulton last week he told me that his stock was now between 50-60 animals.
His farm land is scattered - about 100 acres being in the four corners of the village.
After a trip around the farm I returned with Mr. Carter to Victoria Inn - a warm public house noted for its fires. "The skittles alley is always red hot," I was told.
Mr. Carter, a native of Paulton, was a son of the late Mr. Reuben James Carter, farmer-publican, who kept the Britannia Inn, Plummers HIll, Paulton for 30 years. He died 13 years ago.
Mr. Reuben Carter's father, the late Mr. George Carter, farmed at Salisbury Farm, Paulton, and his father, another Reuben was bailiff at Simons Hill Colliery, which is now closed.
WENT TO LONDON
Mr. Wilfred Carter was born at Salisbury Farm, and his nephew, yet another Reuben, is now farming there.
Mrs. Ernest Cleaves, of Sleigh Farm, Timsbury, is Mr. Wilfred Carter's sister, and other sisters are Mrs. Reg Ashman, Cosy Corner, Paulton, and Mrs. S. Harding, of Brighton, who kept a general stores for 35 years. Mrs. Reg Ashman's husband was licensee of the Britannia Inn, Paulton, for 25 years, and followed her father.
Mr. Wilfred Carter's brother, the late Mr. Charles Carter, was at Salisbury Farm.
Mr. Wilfred Carter was educated at the Paulton Church of England School, and first went to work at Ashman's Boot Factory, Paulton
"Then in 1924 there was a bad slump and I went to the 'World Turned Upside Down' a public house in the Old Kent Road," said Mr. Carter, who added that for 2 1/2 years he remained in London as a barman. "I had a good time there. It was a wonderful experience and I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
GOOD GROUNDING
Mr. Carter said that while in London he worked at different public houses. "We were not allowed to talk to customers, and must not associate with them. That's what I was taught and it was good grounding. Mind you, that would not do here. I have to chin-wag to them all, but I never go to the other side of the counter and play games with them."
When it comes to closing time, Mr. Carter told me that he tells his customers to drink up, go home, return again next day, and "bring your money with you." He added, "The stricter you run the pub, the better it pays."
"But we have some jollification here," said Mr. Carter, who added, "We have functions every so often to keep the customers lively, and that is what a pub is for."
When Mr. Carter returned to Paulton from London he bought a horse and cart and went hauling coal. "The coal was not given to the miners; they had to produce so much coal and then they had an allowance" he said.
MILK ROUND
About 1928, Mr. Carter's father finished with farming and sold his stock. It was about that time that Mr. Wilfred Carter purchased a Guernsey cow. He also bought milk from a neighbouring farmer and started a milk round. The Guernsey cow come in calf, and Mr. Carter bought some more to go with it. Since then he has been increasing his herd, and the milk round business has likewise gone on steadily developing.
In 1929 Mr. Carter bought a lorry for haulage work. Next he purchased a car for hire service at weddings etc.
When his father retired as a licensee, Mr. Carter went to live with him at Britannia Cottage. In July 1934 Mr. Carter became licensee of the Victoria Inn, Newtown, Paulton. he ran the inn from Britannia Cottage, while a new public house was being built. On October 1, 1935, the present Victoria Inn in Farrington Road was opened and Mr. Carter has lived there ever since.
Whilst I was talking to Mr. Carter in the bar of the Victoria Inn, the side door opened and in walked Mr. Isaac Blacker, a retied miner.
THE OPENING DAY
Describing the day the pub was opened, Mr. Blacker told me there was free beer, "They had a good night," said Mr. Carter. Said Mr. Blacker, "Beer was stronger and cheaper then." For 56 years Mr. Blacker was a miner, and he was an instructor for the trainees at Old Mills Colliery, Paulton.
At the time Mr. Carter took over the Victoria Inn he was farming, had a milk round, and coal hauling and car hire businesses. He had eight cows in a lane at the bottom of Plummers Hill. After a couple of years he gave up hauling and hire work to concentrate on farming, the milk round and the pub.
CHURCH WORK
When he was seven years old - 50 years ago - Mr. Carter joined the Holy Trinity Church choir at Paulton, and he has been with the choir throughout the whole of that period with the exception of the 2 1/2 years he spent in London.
He is the parish warden, and, for about 30 years, has been on the Parochial Church Council, and is the diocesan representative for the parish to Wells Cathedral. For some time he has served on the Paulton Parish Council and the Clutton R.D.C.
For six years has has been president of Paulton Rovers F.C., and his public house is the club's headquarters. About the football club he says, "Things are looking a bit rosier now." The he recalled, "When I was a boy we had a wonderful team."
Mr. Carter showed me a cup presented to Paulton Rovers for being champions of the South Bristol and District Association Football League, 1897-8. "Paulton won it that year, and the league must have closed down," said Mr. Carter. "The story goes that two men came here from Bristol to collect the cup and were told to hop it as they had come to the wrong station," said Mr. Blacker, who added that the cup was then at the Red Lion.
"TOUGH IN THOSE DAYS"
I was shown another cup presented by Capt. Beauchamp - Volunteer Football Challenge Cup
Paulton Rovers Reserves' present right back is Brian Harrington, and left-back is R. Harrington.
I was informed that they are grandsons of Albert Harrington, who played for Paulton Rovers way back in their heyday.
It is said that when Paulton once played Crewe there was fighting after the match. "The players ran to Hallatrow railway station" said Mr. Blacker, who told me, "It used to be tough at Paulton in those days."
The Victoria Inn is the headquarters of the local Homing Pigeon Society, and the British Legion play skittles there.
BLACKSMITH'S DAUGHTER
In 1938 Mr. Carter married Miss Ivy Moxham, of Timsbury, whose father was the village blacksmith, and her mother, formerly Miss Gilson, the daughter of a Radford farmer.
It was in 1944 that Mr. Carter tool over Plumptree Farm, which meant he had the buildings he wanted in order to house more cows.
He now has a milking herd of 30 mixed Guernsey and Jersey cattle and has recently acquired, for breeding purposes, Tytherington Merry Lad, a 12-months-old pedigree Guernsey, whose mother has a proud milk yield record.
Mr. Carter told me that he liked a good head on a pint of milk and likewise on a pint of beer.
A Guernsey cow, Victory of Mont Val, who has taken first prizes at Trowbridge and Frome, is housed at the rear of the public house, and now has what may probably be her last calf.
"LIKE A PONY"
Mrs. Carter told me that she tool Victory of Mont Val for a walk around the yard every day. "She is a beautiful old cow, and I lead her just like a pony," said Mrs. Carter, whose main interest is in looking after animals.
Mr. Carter told me that he now produced all his own milk for his dairy.
As for the pub, it's chiefly a week-end trade, but, with farming, it's all the time, said Mr. Wilfred Carter