COFFEE HUT TO HOTEL
SUCCESS STORY
A Ramsgate man who achieved success after a lifetime of sheer hard work, died at his home, Ravenssdale, Hollicondane-road, last week.
Mr. George Dawson, who was born in Ramsgate 87 years ago, was the man who established Dawson's Hotel, Chatham-street. More than half-a-century ago Mr. Dawson built himself a small coffee hut, with a corrugated iron roof, and then he and his wife developed the business into a prosperous commercial hotel of 30 bedrooms.
His passing recalls the Ramsgate of last century and the days when most of the town's visitors arrived at the old railway station at the top of Chatham-street.
Here was a fine site for an enterprising businessman, and Mr. Dawson grasped the opportunity. From humble beginnings he eventually reached success—working 18 hours a day.
He and his wife retired in 1919, and then took up residence in Hollicondane-road—a short distance from St. Luke's Church, with which they had been associated for many years.
The son of a carpenter, Mr. Dawson served his apprenticeship as a stonemason when he was a boy, and he helped for a few weeks with the building of the chancel at St. Luke's—the church where he later was to become so respected and well-known.
Thanet Advertiser, 2 Mar 1948, p. 1
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ZEALOUS CHURCH WORKER
Death of Mr. George Dawson
With regret we record the death on Feb. 24th, of Mr. George Dawson, a well-known and highly esteemed resident of Ramsgate.
In particular he will be greatly missed in the parish of St. Luke's where he had long and loyally worked, and where for several years he acted as Vicar's warden.
Mr. Dawson passed away rather suddenly in the afternoon, after drinking a cup of tea and complaining of feeling ill but had been failing health for a considerable time.
He had not been able to walk about for some years owing to a weakness of his legs, but was frequently to be seen pushed in an invalid chair, and keenly and brightly interested in the life of his home town and the greetings of his many friends.
Born in Ramsgate in the year 1860, he was educated at Christ Church school and at an early age—permissible in those days—left school to become an apprentice to Mr. Miles, a stonemason of West Cliff-road, Ramsgate.
Having completed his apprenticeship, he worked for some time in London, but returned to Ramsgate and helped to build the chancel of St. Luke's—the church which was to mean so much to him in the following years of his long life.
For a time, also, he worked as a stone-mason for the Corporation of Ramsgate.
He was married to Miss Emily Child, in May, 1885, and it was then that the decision was made which resulted in the foundation of Dawson's Hotel as we have known it, and with which Mr. and Mrs. Dawson were associated for 50 years.
First a corner house was taken and the coffee house installed in the rear. Being right opposite the old Railway Station, the new project was successful and Mr. Dawson acquired adjoining houses, and later constructed a large garage to cater for the requirements of the many commercial travellers who were ardent supporters of the temperance hotel.
Mr. Dawson on his retirement, went to live in the Hollicondane-road, and always spoke with pride of "our road"—the road which ended with the church which he served so well.
He was connected with St. Luke's from the day when it was opened under the ministry of the Rev. B. Whiting, and had worshipped there under six subsequent vicars.
Mr. and Mrs. Dawson were looking forward to a joint celebration of their birthdays—both would have reached 88 years in May—and a big family re-union. In addition to the widow, he left one son and four daughters.
The funeral took place on Saturday morning at the Ramsgate Cemetery, following a service at St. Luke's Church.
The Vicar, the Rev. J. E. Blanchett, officiated, assisted by the Rev. H. W. K. Sandy.
In addition to a large number of family mourners, there was a representative parochial attendance.
There were many floral tributes.
East Kent Times and Mail, 3 Mar 1948, p. 8
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George Dawson of 4 Hollicondane-road Ramsgate died 24 February 1948. Probate London 14 April to Lucy Winifred Thomas, widow, and Arthur Wenham Dawson, school cleaner. Effects £5197 9s. 9d. 4
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