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Picture source: Steve Harris
The Sportsman was situated on Lower Street. This pub is now used as a private residence which retains the name 'The Old Sportsman'.
My Great Grandfather & Grandmother ran the pub during the war. Charles Harris (1896 - 1947) and Nell Harris (1896 - 1983) (real Name Ellen). They had 3 sons, Charles (my grandfather), George and John. They moved to Quainton some time during the war, presumably to avoid the bombing of the east end. There was an air field near to the pub and US airmen often frequented the pub. The pub was very busy during the war and the beer supplies (rations) often ran low. My grandfather remembers driving into London with his mother, where there were more pubs with excess beer supplies. They would buy bottles of beer and put them in the boot of the car to bring them back to the pub to sell. Sally Power mentions my Great Grandmother 'big tits and loads of jewellery'. I only remember her in the 70s and 80s, this was not my memory of her! lol.
Steve Harris (December 2020)
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Name Dates Comments Sally Power 1942-1944 My father was evacuated to Quainton. Lived with Mrs Knibbs. No 5 Dormer cottages. He remembers the Sportsman because he went in there because his Mum Amellia Smith was working in the bar for Charlie Harris the Publican at the time. He remembers his wife was a typical bar maid "big tits and loads of jewellery ". He left Quainton when he was 11.
Other Photos
Picture source: Movement80
Nell Harris, publican, c1940	Picture source: Steve Harris