Haystack Staff

This photo, taken around 1938, shows the barmen of The Haystack. Second from right on the back row is William Alfred Weston. I believe another of them is Howard , son of Madam French, but I’m not sure which.

William Alfred Weston was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool in 1911. After moving to Canvey he met and married Rose Soper. The Canvey Chronicle from Friday October 7th 1938 reported: ‘Last Saturday afternoon there were two weddings at St Katherine’s Church, at which the Rector of Hadleigh, the Rev L J Stanford, officiated….The second marriage was by special licence, and was that of Mr W A Weston, of the Haystack staff, to Miss R S Soper of “Paarl Lodge” Paarl Road, Canvey. The bride looked very smart in a costume of russet red, with a black hat and veil, and handsome fox furs. Mr H French attended as best man and Madam S French and Mrs Draper were among the friends present at the ceremony.’