During WWII, The Pier Hotel, now The George, was central office for ‘XDO West’ signals.
Navy at Yarmouth, Pier hotel
Signatures of WRNS, Marines and others stationed at Pier Hotel 1940s
Pier Hotel: WWII, WRNS 1940s
Tag Archives: Pier Hotel
Blanche Kennard: WWII, WRNS billets 1940s
My first billet was Gordon House in the High Street, (where Glasspool’s Chemist was, now Black rock Insurance). Years later I’d walk past and look at a window and think, that was my room. There was a sort of dormitory for seven WRNS on the top floor in the Pier Hotel (The George) and lots more at HMS Manatee ( Norton Holiday camp). I had my 21st birthday when I was stationed at The Pier Hotel.
Pier Hotel post card from Mike Holden
The central office was in the Pier Hotel, dealing with signals although we never knew much. It was ‘XDO West’ and the WRNS Officer in charge was named Greenshields. Blanche Kennard nee Dore b 1922
Navy at Yarmouth, Pier hotel
Blanche Kennard : WWII WRNS 1940s
Pier Hotel and Castle
My father worked on a farm near Ryde, which was where I grew up. I had a friend Peggy and we went everywhere together, so we both applied to join the WRNS. I thought I’d join the WRNS and see the world. Peggy passed and went to Eastbourne but I didn’t – I had a couple of teeth which needed fixing and they wouldn’t have me till they were done.
After my 2 weeks training they sent me to Yarmouth. I didn’t like it at first, I wanted to be with my friend, but after a fortnight I loved being in Yarmouth. I was a caterer, the Petty Officers’ Steward for the officers stationed in the Pier Hotel (now The George). My job was to serve them their food in The Kings Head, and help in the kitchen and do the shopping. I used to go up to Ablitts to buy their meat. Blanche Kennard nee Dore b 1922
Joan Cokes: Harbour, rowing 1920s, 1930s
Yacht and dinghies alongside Quay 1920s. Postcard from Mike Holden
My father was employed as a gardener in the Pier Hotel (now the George Hotel). He bought a boat in Lymington and rowed it back to Yarmouth on a slack tide.
I can remember rowing my father’s boat for him. He would ask me to take it alongside the harbour at high tide, from the hard by the boatyard – otherwise it would have been high and dry at low tide. I also used to row my father and a customer to go fishing off Black Rock – but he wouldn’t tell me or show me the fishing ‘marks’. Joan Cokes nee Cooper b 1918
Joan Cokes: Early Days
My father was employed as a gardener and worked in several different places. He worked for The Pier Hotel (now the George Hotel), in the garden opposite the school. In Ommanney Road, there was a garden owned by the Bugle where he also worked. That was next to a vegetable garden for The Towers. He grew the vegetables for his own family in an allotment at the top of Victoria Road.
The bridge was a toll bridge and regular users got a weekly ticket. Dad worked for the Tophams over in Norton as a gardener, and so had a weekly ticket. We children used to sneak behind a charabanc to get over the bridge without paying.
I can remember getting winkles from Pier Shore and the Common up to Bouldnor as far as Stone Pier, and prawning off the Common – I remember seeing seahorses there.
Joan Cokes nee Cooper b1918