Mr Brown was employed by Newton & Ridley to give guided tours of their newly built Brookside Motel in February 1971 when it held its grand opening. There were several guests of honour including Annie Walker who prior to the tour chatted with Mr Brown. When he heard that she was a member of the Licenced Victuallers he "guessed" that her pub was one with old country, beams, log fires, restaurant, hunting prints and quality cars in the car park. Annie laughed genteelly and told him that he was a perceptive man. He led the group on a “grand tour” which included one of the hotel rooms. Annie later talked to him about her own "cocktail bar" but this remark was overheard by Irma Barlow and Alan and Elsie Howard. They had been taken out there for the day by Billy Walker in the Mayoral Rolls Royce