I had an enquiry three weeks ago asking if I had pictures of the former Three Tuns pub in West Street and the landlord Reg Speller.

I have pictures of most of the many pubs that used to be in Marlow but unfortunately, a good view of the Three Tuns is not one of them.

The best I could do for my correspondent (and I thought you might like to see it as well) is top left and a view of the building after closure with the archway entrance to the courtyard just visible.

The main entrance to the pub was up some steps in this yard: I don’t think that the street door was much used.

The famous Marlow charabanc “Kingfisher” was garaged in this yard: there must have been a rear entrance as I am sure “Kingfisher” would not have been able to get through the arch.

Reg Speller used to look after the vehicle, although Rupert Batting from the second-hand furniture shop in Market Square was the usual driver.

Amazingly though, I do have a picture of the petrol pump from the Three Tuns yard, and that is centre above: petrol at one shilling and a penny-halfpenny per gallon!

In the first picture an illuminated petrol sign remains on the wall.

Top right is another West Street view from the 1960s with the Three Tuns hanging sign just about visible.

Another picture I was recently given is said to depict four members of the Bucks Hussars on horseback in the yard, the First World War period.

However, regarding Reg Speller, he was quite a character, and my mother used to talk about him, and his rather unique pub.

I have a picture of him during the Second World War when he was a member of the local Civil Defence, and they are pictured outside a heavily sandbagged Court Garden House, Reg is front centre.

Left of him is another big local personality complete with a natty moustache – Harry Hawkes, who had distinguished military service in the first war.

He was a harness maker and the brother of Eva from Claremont Gardens, dressmaker to the rich and famous. On the right of the front row is Hetty Dumper who worked at Lloyds Bank in the High Street but in the 1950s became secretary to the fondly remembered Doctor Richard Henry who had his surgery at Caldwell Lodge in Station Road.

I have heard it mentioned that Reg Speller was also a member of the local Auxiliary Fire Service during World War Two, although he does not appear in the final picture, also outside Court Garden, but the complicated-looking pumping trailer was another vehicle that was kept in the Three Tuns Yard.

In contrast to the Civil Defence photo, I do have all the names of the A.F.S. personnel.

Left to right, Jim Chapman, Claude Flint, Jim Woodage, John Gibbons, Reg Tucker, Ray Gibbons and Herbert “Midge” Bowles.

The enquiry came from Adam Speller, who is the grandson of Reg.

He tells me that Reg was the Three Tuns landlord from 1935 up until it closed in 1964.

Adam supplied the portrait of Reg which I have inset, although he looks much younger than my picture.

For 45 years before Reg the pub had been in the hands of various members of a family called Walker.

If any reader has better pictures of this pub I would be pleased to pass them on, and of course, I would be very grateful to be able to add them to my own collection.

Contact Michael at michael@jazzfans.co or 01628 486571.