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Honky-tonk Piano, Sailors and Other Rare Flowers

We've only recently come across this portrait by John Montgomery of gay Brighton in the 1930s which first appeared in Gay News No 31. Playwright and local historian, Montgomery was also the pseudonymous author in 1963 of Queer People: The Truth About Homosexuals in Britain - a passionate autobiographical plea for homosexual law reform.

Guardsmen and sailors

"I first came here in 1919, and have lived here most of my life. From London, in the thirties we used to roar down to the coast in fast sports cars, or if we were hard up, ten bob would buy a week-end return. The main rendezvous was the Star of Brunswick pub in Hove, outside which Rolls-Royces, Daimlers and MGs were parked far up the street. There was also the New Pier Tavern, long since gone, with its noisy honky-tonk piano, thick atmosphere of tobacco, and sprinkling of red-coated, pink-faced guardsmen, and sailors from Portsmouth. When the war came, the naval authorities banned the Star of Brunswick because too many officer-cadets from HMS King Alfred were going there. And after the war everyone moved to the Albemarle, near the Palace Pier, where we sipped drinks in a palm court full of potted plants and other rare flowers, and could stay upstairs for seven and six a night including breakfast.

Plumbers with their mates

Later came the Great Powder Puff Raid, involving a club in the town centre which unwisely served drinks after hours. Although warned by the police, they insisted on remaining open long after closing time. So the police swooped, and took the names of everyone present. Next day the local paper printed all the names. The magistrates' court was crowded with business men, shop owners, bank clerks, bus conductors, ex-army types, retired gentlefolk, gas officials, and plumbers with their mates. All their addresses and occupations were published, as was the police evidence that although the club had been completely all-male, a number of powder puffs had been found on the floor. The club was closed, but how all those powder puffs got scattered on the floor is a mystery.

In 1935 and 1936 the annexe to the Old Ship Hotel was always full. Few chauffeurs used it, but at week-ends the cubicle bedrooms were packed. For five bob a night you got a comfortable bed, bath or shower, and a gigantic breakfast of corn flakes, kippers, eggs and bacon, toast, marmalade, tea or coffee."

Reprinted by permission of the Peter Fraser Dunlop Group.

John Montgomery 1916-1987
" I am a homosexual, a so-called 'queer' or 'pansy. I admit it without shame..."