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Picture source: Movement80

The Bird In Hand was situated on Lower Road. This pub closed in 2000; the last publican being Graham Cockell.

I was a regular at the Bird in Hand from 1970 until about 1973 and played Aunt Sally and Darts there. The publican at the time was an amiable Londoner called Pete Elliot who with his young family moved down from I believe, Dartford. Pete was a customs officer at Dover. He was a popular landlord who played guitar and sang country and western which got him invited to play live in the Chinnor Village Hall at one point. Many happy Saturday nights were enjoyed with Pete playing and many young drinkers learning C&W songs. The Bird in Hand also had Frank Angel as a regular. Frank who lived opposite and Marcus Cann, Cyril Perry and a few others, formed the Chinnor Rugby Club and the Bird in Hand was the headquarters. Teams would meet at the Bird, and play their matches in Whites Field opposite the pub. A while later, playing for Chinnor would involve meeting at the Bird, travelling to Bledlow Cricket Club to change and then onwards to Towersey playing fields for the match. After the final whistle the process was reversed. The Bird in Hand was a very small pub with a big heart.

Merv Smith (April 2013)

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Name Dates Comments Alicia Elliott 1970/1973 Customer - question re. Pete Elliott

Other Photos

Picture source: Ryan Hanes