I love trawling through the pages of the now defunct, Salford City Reporter both historical and quirky stories, and have uncovered some corkers over the years and this story made me laugh. Salford in it's heyday could boast of having several breweries including, Walker and Homfrays, Groves and Whitnall and Chester's Ales no to mention some 400 pubs before World War Two and countless off-licences, clubs, theatres etc were you could buy beer. This story from September 1923 tells the plight of Richard Gould aged 36 of no fixed abode, who appeared at Salford Magistrates Court, charged with being drunk and disorderly on Broad Street, Pendleton. The Clerk of the Court asked him if he pleaded guilty to which he promptly replied, "Correct, Sir" A police constable told the court that Mr Gould was seen annoying pedestrians on Broad Street, and staggering along the road, shouting and swearing. Mr Gould took the witness stand and offered a curious explanation for his behaviour to the Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr P.W. Atkin. "I had a drop of beer again last night, as usual, I have been out of the area for two months looking for work, I have rambled through four counties, and it seems strange to me that when I return to Salford, I always seem to fall into trouble. I don't know if the beer here is stronger than elsewhere. anyway when I am in Salford I have the misfortune to get into trouble" The Stipendiary Magistrate showing he had a sense of humour replied. "The worst of it is, that you pay such high testimony to the strength of the beer in Salford that I fear that unless the newspapers are reticent about what you say that the Borough will receive such fame that I shall be having more work than I care about" "He then added that he recognised Gould's voice and complimented him on it, Gould told him that he had been a chorister for five years and still did a bit of singing to raise a few bob, he than asked him if he thought it would be a good thing if he tried to avoid coming to Salford? "I wish I had never seen the town, I would be better off and not have the convictions that I have against me" When asked if Mr Gould had any convictions the Clerk of the Court replied with a single word... "Plenty" It was his fifth appearance this year and he had four appearances here last year. Mr Gould was fined £1 or 13 days imprisonment. Was Mr Gould correct about the strength of Salford beer an argument that has raged for years, I have heard of Chester's Fighting Mild also Walker and Homfrays referred to as... Water for Courses... so possibly not that strong then. I do remember Boddingtons bitter in the 1970s and the beer was superb but now... dreadful stuff. I do hope that Mr Gould took up singing and avoided Salford like the plague for his own good, he seemed a likeable enough drunk.
