The Royal Oak
Chalks was a connoisseur of beer, and a convivial man besides. A friendly pub, a well-kept pint, and good company – these were things that made him happy. In his years of retirement, he was well known and much liked in a number of Shropshire pubs.
At some point in (I think) the mid eighties, he painted a sign for a pub called the Royal Oak. I remember his taking me to see it soon after. The sign has now vanished, but fortunately he took a photo of it, which has recently come to light.
Here is a more detailed image of the sign. My apologies for its imperfections: it has been scaled up and digitally enhanced from a tiny square in a faded and damaged photo.
