Barmaid pulls her final pint as she retires after 53 years of serving punters across Essex

A barmaid has pulled her final pint as she retires after 53 years of serving punters across Essex.

Sally Ward, 71, began her career in the pub trade on the very day she turned 18, embarking on a five-decade journey through various drinking establishments in the county.

Her tenure took her through numerous venues, including the King's Arms and The Dog and Duck in Stansted, the Three Colts in Buckhurst Hill, and the Three Bottles in Great Yeldham, before finishing at The White Lion in Sible Hedingham.

She said: "I loved it so much. I love the job."

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Throughout her career, Ms Ward served drinks to several well-known faces, including comedian Mike Reid and singer Nick Kershaw.

In 2010, her "idol" snooker player, Ronnie O'Sullivan, walked into one of her establishments, where Ms Ward served him a coke, as the sportsman did not drink alcohol.

She also prepared his lunch and described the British sportsman as "such a nice man."

O'Sullivan proved particular about his meal, requesting ham, egg and chips with precise specifications.

She said: "He came into the kitchen and told me exactly the size... he went 'I want it like that. I want that thickness'."

Ms Ward expressed deep concern about the future of village pubs, despite praising the "wonderful people" who support them.

She said: "People are taking on pubs without realising just the astronomical costs of running them."

The veteran barmaid lamented the disappearance of historic establishments from the landscape.

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She added: "That's a sad thing - to see so many beautiful pubs turned into houses or knocked down."

Industry figures released in May revealed that approximately two pubs were shutting their doors each day across England, Scotland and Wales during the opening three months of 2026.

Ms Ward's commitment to her craft remained unwavering throughout her lengthy career.

She claimed never to have helped herself to a drink while working, describing it as the "golden rule of a good barmaid."

She also took pride in passing on her expertise to the next generation.

Ms Ward added: "I love to be able to teach youngsters how to pour beer properly."

Even in retirement, decades of professional instinct prove difficult to shake off.

She said: "If I see a table with glasses on, my automatic thing is to go and pick them up and put them on [the bar]. Why? I don't know."

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