Island Life - April/May 2011
interview
Pamela with sisters Val and Julie
coming from the food on the van. I phoned the police who
said they could do nothing, and I became so irate I threw
water into the van and over its owners. I was lucky that I
didn’t hurt someone.” As a result she made the national press
with a headline that read: Pam Pours Anger on Hot Dog Van!
“The van came back a few days later, and parked near the
bar entrance. Some of our men went out and poured Jeyes
Fluid all around it. I think the owners thought it was petrol,
so they soon departed, and as a result the law was changed
so vans had to have a pitch rather than just park anywhere,”
smiled Pamela.
When 50 Hells Angels walked into the bar where keen
yachtsman Edward Heath, later to become the country’s
Parliamentary leader, was drinking, Pamela politely told
them it was for residents only and asked them to leave. One
suggested the sign outside said ‘open to non residents’ to
which Pamela responded: “Well, the sign is wrong!” They left
without further delay.
“After what we had been through I wasn’t going to let a
hot dog van or a few Hells Angels spoil what we had built.
I am not an aggressive person, but if someone invades my
patch then I suppose I become a bit of a fighter,” she added.
After Lionel died Pamela continued the business with her
close-knit team that later included son William, who was
born at the Royal Esplanade and returned there having
trained at catering college. After spending time working with
his mother at the Royal Esplanade, William negotiated for
the purchase of Ventnor’s Royal Hotel, which he acquired in
1995 from Trust House Forte, and which he and the family
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