Come and celebrate Father's Day at the Oak

The first known celebration of Father's Day was on July 5, 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia, where it was commemorated at William Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South – now known as Central United Methodist Church. Grace Golden Clayton is believed to have suggested it to her pastor after a deadly explosion in nearby Monongah in December, killing 361 men.

It was also during a sermon in 1909 that Sonora Smart Dodd became inspired by Mother's Day. After the death of her mother, Sonora and her siblings were raised by their father William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran. Sonora wanted to show how thankful she was to her father and, because William was born in June, she worked to have the first Father's Day celebrated on June 19, 1910.

In 1924, President Coolidge recommended that Father's Day become a national holiday. President Johnson designated the third Sunday of June to be Father's Day in 1966. It was not until 1972 that President Nixon instituted Father's Day as a national observance.

Pip is looking forward to this Sunday - he remembers the fuss made about Dads when he was a youngster. All the old boys coming back from the front used to have their powdered egg Sunday brunches. He still hankers back to that time of austerity and ArthurAskey. Sentimental old fool!!

We're looking forward to a great Father's Day on Sunday - but be warned it could be busy. So, if you want to treat Dad, why not bring him along to the Oak this Sunday?

Lunchtime or evenings - we're not proud!