PRINCE OF PALATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 3 (Supplement)

PRINCE OF PALATES

FOOTMAN TO HIGH SHERIFFS RECORD OF 36 YEARS To have served 36 years in a capacity which has brought him into contact with judges of the High Court, barristers and others associated with the administration of justice is the proud boast of a good-humoured and jollyfaced Aberdonian, who is now the proprietor of a hotel in Westmoreland. He is Mr. John Tarves, of the Bluebell Inn, Heversham, between Carnforth. and Kendall. Mr. Turves, who is 71, has just completed 36 years as footman to the Higli Sheriffs of the country, and many refer to him by the friendly title of " Old John." He is also known as the "Palate Prince," for he has supervised the menus and wine lists at almost every official or society function that has been held in the county since 1889. In addition, Mr, Tarves has attended every judge who has presided at the Assize Courts at Appleby in the last 3G years, and among barristers whom he has waited on in their early days is the present Lord Chief Justice. In an interview with a News of the World representative, " Old John " recalled many amusing and interesting experiences. During the war he was a javelin man at Liverpool Assizes, and the late Lord Leverhulme, who was then Sir William Lever, was High Sheriff of the county. " A female prisoner," remarked Mr« Tarves, " was being cross-examined m the witness-box, and counsel suggested that she had been dabbling in chemicals. Her reply set the whole court laughing, with the exception of Lord Leverhulme, who was very deaf at the time. She denied counsel's suggestion, and then, quite unaware of the Higli Sheriff's identity, stated that she had only used hot water and Sunlight soap! " When the judge explained to Lord Leverhulme what everyone was laughing at, he started laughing, too, and declared it was a splendid advertise- * ment. " At Lancaster Assizes the following year I met an Inspector Bruce from the Bolton Police Force. We were not long in conversation- before we found that we both belonged to Crimond, were born in the same street:, the same house, and the same concealed bed, in fact! It also transpired that my father, who was a policeman, had passed Inspector Bruce into the force as a raw; young constable in Aberdeenshire." Mr. Tarves has a collection of clothing which is probably unique. It consists of the liveries worn under most of the 36 high sheriffs to whom he has acted as footman, and on the waistcoats alone there are yards of braid which cost a shilling an inch.