Chris Maclean: living in the public eye

One of our central pubs, particularly popular with the younger element is firmly closed tonight. The blinds remain drawn and there are no lights on in the building.

The rumour is that one of the partners has left debts in excess of £40,000 and the other is weeping, claiming she had no idea what had happened and was bidding people farewell.

The tragic tales of the sad fates of many licensees are known to all. We live our lives within the public eye and our trials, tribulations, dramas and problems are shared with a wide audience. Pub gossip is rampant almost all the time. The tales of what a licensee is up to, what happened with whom, where and when are all brandished in the public eye, usually with a heap of additional detail.

This is the third broken relationship within this town that I have heard rumour of this weekend. These events are public and painful. In the context of pubs they are public events with dramatic scenes embellished by alcohol. They are highly charged and emotional. And tragic. I feel intensely sorry these people must experience this within the context of a public arena.

My wife and I, strangely, have never had a row in over thirty years. We have disagreed. But never rowed. Everyone knows us as solid, dependable and true people. But, even so, it would be nice to step out of the spotlight sometimes.

This evening my wife and I discussed over the dinner the prospect of buying a house within a hundred yards of the pub where we could live. Where she and I could get out of the spotlight and where we could have some privacy.

I have been a licensee for many years and I have forgotten what it is like to have time of my own. This may be our opportunity.

I shall go to the bank in the morning.