Every Tuesday Evening, Rain Or Shine, The Van Turns Up

In her weekly column, Maddie Grigg shares tales from her life in rural Dorset . . .

 

LUSH PLACES is sad this week as Jim and Tonic ring last orders at the village pub for the final time. It’s a shame they couldn’t make it work because they’re such a lovely, enthusiastic family. And there’s no sign, yet, of anyone taking over.

It’s a familiar story – we must have had eight landlords in this tenanted pub in as many years.

Some were better than others, but there have been lots of laughs and friendship in the pub over the years.

In the heart of the village, it would be a shame to see it closed for ever, although whoever takes it on will have their work cut out to make a decent living without running themselves ragged.

I know this because Mr Grigg and I ran a pub in a nearby village for three years after he was made redundant in the mid 1990s.

We had some great times, but it was very hard work, particularly as I was also working full-time elsewhere to make ends meet.