Spring Trophy Thursday 19 April

Hello, I am Howard, one of the regulars here today from the Railway Hotel in Cheam.  I met Zia in 1991 in the Railway and, for those amongst you that have not sampled the delights of the Railway, let’s just say that it is a pub with character and leave it at that. The Railway was one of Zia’s favourite watering holes.

What follows stems from a question from Yasmin (Zia's eldest daughter), she asked me “When did Daddy start drinking at the Railway?”, I said, “Normally around 5:30 pm” and she said, “No, what year!” This got me thinking.

The Railway 

· We believe that Zia first became a customer of the Railway, drinking at the Lords’ end of the bar, around 1975. That said, there are few regulars left in the pub that can remember what happened yesterday, let alone almost half a century ago!

· Zia would drive to the pub arriving in a variety of cars all with the XIA number plate and would often circle the block until he could find a “free parking place” – a trait that he was often ribbed about.

· He would only have 1½ pints of beer on the understanding that he was driving back to Kingswood.

· Zia always drank Courage Best Bitter and had his own tankard behind the bar, which, when he moved to Pulborough last year his friends at the Railway had engraved as a parting gift.

· The Railway last saw Zia late last year.

Fount of knowledge

· Sporting one of his many cravats, Zia would appear in the Railway with his beloved Filofax which contained various newspaper clippings generally from the Telegraph, along with store offers, coupons and wine reviews and other assorted information.

· So, prior to the advent of the internet, this enabled Zia to answer seemingly random questions or settle arguments on a wide variety of topics such as the population of UK in 1960, the cost of bread in 1957 or the rate of inflation last year and the like.

· Zia was also a great source of information on stocks and shares as well as horse racing and generally had a considered view of likely runners and riders.

· Sport was one of his passions and Zia would be abreast of all things cricket as well as football and in particular how well Chelsea were playing.

· Likewise, with his eye for a keen deal he would have us sampling Aldi gin, Tesco’s own Sauvignon Blanc or ASDA’s mini poppadoms.

Lahore Restaurants

· In 1972, the Lahore Kebab House opened just off the Commercial Road in the East-End. We believe that Zia must have been one of their first customers!

· Zia would regale us with the fantastic food that was served at very reasonable prices and the fact that you could also bring your own bottle!

· Over the years, several trips were organised departing from the Railway for lunch at the Lahore Kebab House in London.

· On the day of the lunch, the pub would open early for the ten or twelve of us and Zia would take two or three of us in his car along with the wine and beer whilst the others would make their way into Town by train.

· Zia would guide us through the menu and order for us and we would always enjoy lamb chops as a starter.

· In 2013, Lahore Spices (not to be confused with the Lahore Kebab House), opened in Sutton and shortly after received the Zia seal-of-approval. Zia and the Railway rabble must have eaten there over 18 times since.

· Lahore Spices in Sutton has now usurped the Lahore Kebab House and remains a firm favourite with the cognoscente of the Railway.

· That said, one of his favourite dishes was “Paya”, or curried lambs’ feet to you and I. This never went down well with the rest of us and Zia remained in the minority of one who actually enjoyed it! If anyone wants the recipe for curried lamb’s feet, please see me!

· We regularly arrange sorties to Lahore Spices and will remember Zia each and every time.

· In fact, when his brothers visited him from the States a couple of months ago he recommended that they go to Lahore Spices. They did, and they enjoyed it.

In conclusion, last month on Wednesday 6th June, eleven of us at the Railway raised our glasses to Zia, a great man and a real gentleman and to paraphrase David Horwill one of the Railway regulars, “We are all better people for knowing him”.

I thank you. 

Howard Tonge