Guest 1629- Registered: 6 Jan 2016
- Posts: 6
#1
Hi everybody,
My name is Ron Turner, and I discovered this forum while I was showing my grand-kids photos and history of the Crypt, as I used to be the manager for four years, and left just before it got burnt down.
I was wondering if there is anybody on here that used to work there, as I noticed a post from Vic Matcham, who said that some of his family were working on the night of the fire.
When I left, my assistant manager John Bamford took over, but don't think for long, as a couple from London with children were in charge when the fire broke out, and I have learnt that the wife and kids sadly died.
My wife and I were never happy with the safety of the accommodation above, as we had two children so we decided to live out in Whitfield, which didn't go down well with the owners.
I have been in contact with the Dover Express, for any articles on the fire, but they said they don't have any!
I would appreciate, if anybody that worked there during my time as manager, would like to get in touch, as there were a lot of staff, and it would be nice to see how you are getting on.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards, Ron Turner.
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Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,829
#2
The Dover library keeps all the old copies of the Dover express on microfilm and they would certainly have the copies containing the details of the fire,was it around 1976-77?but they will have them.I dont know if you live local but give them a call,i,m sure they could copy and send you the articles by post,they did a similar service for some friends of ours a few years back. I can remember the fire,i was around 14-15 at the time and my dad used to drive for Deans taxis back then.I,m sure he came home quite shocked as he had dropped some passengers there that night.Good luck with your search.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#3
Yes sir my wife working on the night of the fire at the Crypt also working with her at the same time was her Dad who was the cook (Bill) that night also there working was her sister and her husband in fact all the family was working there on the night of the fire.If you would like to talk to her please give a phone number or email address.Bills name was Masson my wife name is Lesley. thank you.
Guest 1629- Registered: 6 Jan 2016
- Posts: 6
#4
Hi Vic,
Thanks for the reply, and I am wondering if your Dad was the same Bill that worked in the Duck Bar on the first floor, as he was a great character & very popular with the rest of the staff.
Not sure if your family were working there when I was the manager, but here is my e-mail address just in case they were.:
rtaxron@hotmail.comGuest 1629- Registered: 6 Jan 2016
- Posts: 6
#5
Thanks Andy B, will give them a call, as I live in Newmarket now, in Suffolk.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#6
Yes Bill did work in that bar I have send you a email.
Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
#7
Hi Ron, we were only talking about you a couple of days ago. I am a mate of Bill Stone who was the Landlord of the Dover Tavern in your days at the Crypt. Bill lives in Folkestone now but comes over to Dover once a week for a drink with me. I used to drink in the Crypt and had many a meal there, I met you a couple of times. I think you are from Manchester, as I am ,if my memory is correct.
Regards.... Alec Sheldon
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Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,599
#8
Guest 782- Registered: 4 Oct 2012
- Posts: 357
#9
I have read the article about the Crypt several times over the years, but having been pointed to it again by Karlos , I particularly noticed the picture of a Down fast Demolition machine with Burlington House in the background and thought that it is a bit of a coincidence that more than 30 years later the same company is demolishing Burlington House too.
Guest 1629- Registered: 6 Jan 2016
- Posts: 6
#10
Alec Sheldon wrote:Hi Ron, we were only talking about you a couple of days ago. I am a mate of Bill Stone who was the Landlord of the Dover Tavern in your days at the Crypt. Bill lives in Folkestone now but comes over to Dover once a week for a drink with me. I used to drink in the Crypt and had many a meal there, I met you a couple of times. I think you are from Manchester, as I am ,if my memory is correct.
Regards.... Alec Sheldon
Hi Alec,
What a small world. Your name certainly rings a bell & the Manchester connection, but cant picture your face, my apologies.
Bill Stone, what a character & nice bloke. We had many a pint discussing how we could put the World to rights, and I helped him canvass when he was standing for independent at the local elections. There was also Jack who had a pub not far from the Tavern, who used to pop in with Bill for a drink
I had a great 4+ years at the Crypt, and met some lovely people & a few not so nice, but that's all part of running a licensed establishment.
Will get back to you soon, as I have to reply to a couple of more people who have kindly got in touch, and say Hi to Bill when you see him. Is he still married to Sheila?
Bye for now.
Ron.
Andy B- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,829
#11
An image of the Crypt i can still remember was at the rear of the building.At the top of the metal fire escape was a door with a big hole in it near the handle were the firemen had obviously hacked their way in to search for survivors.I,ve never forgot that.
Guest 1629- Registered: 6 Jan 2016
- Posts: 6
#12
That was a fire door Andy, to the right of the managers bedroom.
Dont know how true, but I heard that the mangers wife & children were found behind that locked fire door, which of course shouldn't have been locked, or lockable.
Andy B- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,829
#13
I think you may be right,i can remember hearing the same story.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#14
It did happen along time a go but it s still upseting for some of my family to see it all again.And to have left the building for many years like a bomb site has not helped.
Alec Sheldon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
#15
Ron wrote: "Alec Sheldon" wrote:Hi Ron, we were only talking about you a couple of days ago. I am a mate of Bill Stone who was the Landlord of the Dover Tavern in your days at the Crypt. Bill lives in Folkestone now but comes over to Dover once a week for a drink with me. I used to drink in the Crypt and had many a meal there, I met you a couple of times. I think you are from Manchester, as I am ,if my memory is correct.
Regards.... Alec Sheldon
Hi Alec,
What a small world. Your name certainly rings a bell & the Manchester connection, but cant picture your face, my apologies.
Bill Stone, what a character & nice bloke. We had many a pint discussing how we could put the World to rights, and I helped him canvass when he was standing for independent at the local elections. There was also Jack who had a pub not far from the Tavern, who used to pop in with Bill for a drink
I had a great 4+ years at the Crypt, and met some lovely people & a few not so nice, but that's all part of running a licensed establishment.
Will get back to you soon, as I have to reply to a couple of more people who have kindly got in touch, and say Hi to Bill when you see him. Is he still married to Sheila?
Bye for now.
Ron.
Hi Ron, I have passed your message on to Bill as he doesn't log in to the Dover Forum. I see that you have got lots of info. on the Crypt from various people.
Guest 1629- Registered: 6 Jan 2016
- Posts: 6
#16
Hi Alex,
Thanks, I actually had a message from him on FB, asking if I was the same Ron T that had the Crypt. I replied back asking him how he was, but not heard back yet.
Yes I have had lots of information about the Crypt from kind people, and I will be getting in touch with the library tomorrow, as I would like to see a copy of the Coroners report if that's possible.
And while I am at it, I will be asking for information on the murder of a barmaid, Beryl Carr who was strangled in the staff accommodation upstairs.
I think she was from Folkstone, a nice girl, and cant remember what happened to the person who allegedly killed her.
I am not being macabre asking for all this info, its just for my life's diary for my grandkids & their kids to look back on, as
I knew nothing about my grandparents.
Cheers Ron.
Guest 1864- Registered: 25 Sep 2016
- Posts: 1
#17
My father was the licensee when the fire happened. His wife and two of his children died in the fire when it happened. I obviously wasn't born when this happened but I have read articles online and it is horrific!
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Andy B- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,829
#18
Another memory i have of the fire was the eerie haze of smoke hanging over the town early next morning whilst fire fighters were still damping down the blaze.We was in the flats at Rokesley rd back then and you see it clearly over the town.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#19
My wife still gets up set by it all.They were all working there that night.
Guest 2006- Registered: 12 Mar 2017
- Posts: 1
#20
Hi nikichoo are you related to a Lionel and christine. Lionel often spoke of the crypt and said he lost his mum and siblings there in the fire.
