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As it has
been sometime since I wandered through Canning Circus I do not
know whether this is now the pub's official name, though I think
it is high time to regale you with the nice little story behind
this name.
John was
born on 2nd September 1753 the fourth son of another John Borlase
Warren, thus demonstrating a lack of imagination in the Warren
family.
John the elder lived both at Stapleford, Nottingham, and Little
Marlow, Buckinghamshire, though I have no idea at which of these
addresses the younger John first saw life.
John junior was destined for a career in the Church but he always
had a passion for the Sea - a little odd for someone who lived
in Nottingham.
He joined the Royal Navy as an able seaman on HMS Marlborough
on 24th April 1771. He
worked his way through the ranks at speed and became greatly
involved in the aftermath of the French Revolution.
After his leadership in the Battle of the Glorious First of
June 1794, in which the French fleet was soundly defeated, he
returned to Nottingham a true hero being cheered through the
streets on his way from Trent Bridge to the White Lion where
he had a few well earned pints.
In 1802
he was sent to St. Petersburg as the British Ambassador and
later went on to be the Member of Parliament for Nottingham
for twelve years.
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| Sir
John Borlase Warren |
As follows
the tradition of naming public houses after war heroes, the
Canning Circus house received its name on opening in around
1814 (although there was another 'Sir John Warren' at Sion Hill
in 1799).
The Naval
gentleman who appears on the Happy Man’s sign at Stapleford
is Sir John. In this case the pub name remembers John’s
love for the beautiful Caroline Clavering.
John was privileged to sit opposite Caroline at a dinner table
and instantly fell in love (I’ve had the same experience
with a pint of Kimbo bitter). He expressed his feelings for
her by writing in French - rather ironic when you think what
he was doing to the French a little later.
His words can be translated as "If this heart is worthy
of you and you deign to accept it, you will make me the happiest
of men" which, I am sure you will agree, is better than
you find in the present day Valentine’s card. Caroline
wrote back in English "Then you shall be happy" and,
indeed, he was.
Sir John
died on 27th February 1822 and Lady Caroline followed him in
1840 but not until after she had financed schools in both Stapleford
and Toton.
The Warren Arms at Stapleford, not surprisingly, is named for
Sir John’s family and Ilkeston and Loscoe also have pubs
named the 'Sir John Warren.'
Mark Andrew Pardoe
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