Farewell to Dave and Lorraine!
AFTER ALMOST SIX YEARS, Dave and Lorraine Nicholls will be leaving the Red Lion to take up residence in the No Hurry (now The Five Miles) at Upware. Their tenure has seen the Pub blossom into the sort of local most people can only dream about, and in this month's tribute, a Snug Regular tells us how it's been.
THE OWNERS OF THE LION begged Lorraine to manage the pub for a short period whilst they found a new landlord. Lorraine reluctantly agreed, whilst Dave was adamant that he would return home after six weeks, "come what may"; the six weeks are clearly over.
During their tenure the pub, and the community spirit it has engendered and supported, has flourished. The pub Dave and Lorraine leave behind supports a Ladies' Dart Team, a crib team, a lunchtime old timers club, a seriously hard card school, and a week-end debating and legislative chamber. There are probably many others at other times; the Tigers Youth football team forthcoming move to Swaffham Prior was fist plotted over a pint or two in the snug.
The Red Lion has become a favoured haunt of footballers, nature lovers,
walkers, seriously hard cycling teams, gardeners and other serial bores, there
is even a division bell, sounded for those Parish Councillors who occasionally
nip out for a refresher during particularly prickly parish meetings. In the
summer months, after dark, the public bar can rival any London club for
fashion, gossip, and downright 'this joint is jumping' good time fun.
In winter the pub represents a microcosm of all that is good about English
village life, roaring fires, tales of shooting and fishing, country cooking,
cheese platters, broad-armed ruddy faced men of the soil and sharp suited London accountants sharing a few glasses of port - all life is here.
There have been jazz evenings and Halloween parties, New Year's Eve balls
and (quiet) rock and roll concerts. The pub restaurant is popular with locals
and townies alike. Lorraine' famous fish-supper, curry, and explosive
chestnut nights will be long remembered.
Despite Dave and Lorraine's hard work not everything has been successful. During their tenure the packed bars have seen England's finest lose at football (2 world cups and Euro 2004); we have won and lost the Ashes, and we have won a rugby world cup. .. . And Norwich have failed.. again.
Many youngsters in the village have had their first experience of regular work, supervised by the watchful eye of Lorraine's family. Many of them stayed for some years, some are still there. The elegant and demure Sylvie has become as much part of the Lion as the hops in the beams, and the smoke in the snug. GOOD LUCK, Dave and Lorraine, we wish you all the best!