92 year old Lincs barmaid calls time on pub career

Joyce Leyshon has only given up bar work aged 92 after discovering her pub of 12 years, the Crown Inn, Lincolnshire, was due to close on 24 July.

“I’ve had a good run, I can’t complain, but I’ve had enough now,” she said.

But Leyshon’s love for pubs has not died.

“If I win the lottery tomorrow I will go and buy myself a little pub,” she said.

“I love the life, I love socialising all the time, I love mixing drinks for people, it’s my life.”

Leyshon is still full of energy after six decades of bar work.

“I’m a big believer that no matter what age you are if you want to go out and do something then do it,” she explained.

“It’s good, and it helps you get organised and keep things going. It keeps the brain working, you’ve always got someone to talk to in a pub.”

Leyshon has seen the industry change “tremendously”.

She managed a nightclub in Cyprus in the 60s, a bar in Belgium for three years while her husband served in the RAF and has worked in pubs up and down the UK.

“Going back years ago bar maids weren’t allowed in the cellar,” she said.

“And now you don’t know who’s coming in your pub, if they’re drunk or on drugs, you didn’t get that before, we had never heard of people on drugs.”

One key to Leyshon’s long career is her strong character.

“I’ve thrown people out, and said ‘I’m not serving you, you’re too drunk’,” she said.

Licensee at the Leyshon's final pub, Cindy Burn is “devastated” to close after 26 years.

She said Leyshon was a “marvellous” employee, and the two have never fallen out in 12 year working behind the bar together.