| A History - by Avon
The Canley Arms was founded on 1st July 2000. Its roots go back
however to the Reclaim the Forum party that began on 17th June 2000 in
the BoyDen and then turned into a beach Recovery Party on 22nd June.
In the Recovery Party’s last few posts Debz and Bubs threw around some
pub names and decided on the BoyDen Freehouse. They hung its sign
up and began serving drinks. It had only a very short life, however,
as CIJAH, very politely, pointed out there could only be one BoyDen.
I was on Forum at the time so I quickly grabbed a discarded name and a
certain tall Scottish DS with a head for heights who was prepared to hang
the sign for me and started a new thread – The Canley Arms. It has
been more or less continuously licensed ever since. CIJAH endowed
us with a beautiful solid oak bar (long enough for even Anna’s sliding
tendencies). It is out of respect for this fine piece of wood and
the history it represents that we ban dancing on the bar in heels.
The Canley Arms has survived Forum crashes, premature culling, gr*mlin
attack, snow storms, parties, tantrums, sulks, LOUD music, pool parties
and fireworks. Some of the original patrons have gone but many new people
have come to take their place and naturally it has evolved and grown with
each new participant. Rodders and Lukie, our two look-alike barmen,
have joined us, a jacuzzi has sprung up in the ablutions area, the old
orchard through the holly hedge at the bottom of the garden has been acquired
and a pool put in… as has been remarked the Arms does have Tardis-like
qualities! Whether you consider the Arms an island of sanity or insanity
on the Forum it has tried to be a place of peace and sanctuary where all
are welcome – Santinists, Listeners, Nuts to Bolts-ers… even people who
have admitted to liking Jenny Delaney!
Tolerance, Acceptance and Perseverance
The Canley Arms came into existence as a place of sanctuary, a place
where all were welcome, a place where one could retreat from unpleasant
realities. Weapons are peace bonded (except during the occasional
water fight when super-soakers are de rigueur) and arguments left
at the door. It grew from a party held to reclaim the Forum at a
troubled period of its life and is a peaceful gentle place. All this
was crystallized into its motto – Tolerance, Acceptance and Perseverance
- during yet another dark period on the Forum. Anna finished a post
in the main part of the Forum by calling on Forummers to practise tolerance
and acceptance – and by saying that it seemed newcomers needed to practise
perseverance. Avon had the words engraved on block of sandstone –
with a nice border edging of handcuffs, cocktail glasses and high heels
– and voila! The Canley Arms had a foundation stone. While it seemed
particularly appropriate to the Peace, Love and Happiness 60s party we
threw to go with that crisis the foundation stone has remained with us
ever since, much to the chagrin of Rodders. He, as the nearest lump
of muscle, gets to lug it up the Forum each time the Arms moves north.
As we tell him, he’ll just have to learn tolerance and accept his lot and
persevere with the job. |