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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 11 Feb 1961
Page 11 Column 6
Licensee and Entertainer
Mr. 'Bob' STEVENS Dies at Taunton
Mr. Robert Henry 'Bob' STEVENS, for 40 years licensee of the Black Horse Hotel, Bridge Street, Taunton, died in the Taunton and Somerset Hospital on Tuesday. He retired from business in November, 1954 and, with his wife and daughter, went to live at 37, Henley Road. He was 73. He was born at the Alma Inn, Taunton, where his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. J. R. STEVENS, were licensees for 29 years. A brother, Mr. H. J. STEVENS, of Henlade, is now the only surviving member of the family. Mr. Bob STEVENS, besides being one of the town's best-known licensees, was for a long period a popular entertainer, and had his own concert party. As a boy he sang in St. Mary's Church choir.
Mr. STEVENS had spent all his life at Taunton, except for a period before the First World War, when he was employed by Messrs. PETTER at the Nautilus Engineering Works, Yeovil. Before going to the Black Horse Hotel, he was for over two years licensee of the Compass Inn, Taunton.
He had considerable experience of catering at shows in West Somerset and also at indoor social events.
He was chairman of the Taunton and West Somerset Licensed Victuallers' Association for four years, and a member of its committee for 20 years. He was chairman of the Taunton Brewers' Skittles League from its formation in 1935 until it was disbanded in 1939, and he held the office again in its revival year after the war.
Mr. STEVENS was a Member of the Roll of Honour of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, in which he was a Past Provincial Grand Lodge Officer and a Past-President of the Knights Chapter. He was greatly interested in the old Taunton Town Association Football Club.
The funeral service will be at Holy Trinity Church, Taunton, this (Saturday) morning at 10.30.
<NOTES: Robert Henry or Bob STEVENS son of John Radford STEVENS and Henrietta VICKERY, married Olive SHERRING>