Centenarian Vera hailed as UK's oldest licensee

A woman from Cornwall who has celebrated her 100th birthday has been declared the UK's oldest publican and shows little sign of wanting to call time.

Vera Ghey, licensee of the Bulls Head in Callington, moved from Southampton with husband Syd shortly after the Second World War and has run the pub for past 60 years.

According to Vera, she has poured more than a million pints, 200,000 shots of whisky and 150,000 glasses of wine for customers.

Over the decades, Vera has taken a keen interest in the issues affecting the industry and was chairlady of the Local Licensed Victualler's Association (LVA) for seven years. When Syd died 30 years ago, Vera ran the pub on her own until 1983 when business partner Gerry Forster became co-licensee.

Gerry now attributes her success to hard work and a love of the trade.

"It has always been her life. She has always enjoyed the business despite the long hours. If you stick with something for 60 years you have to love it."

When Vera reached her milestone, she took the record for the oldest pub landlady from Mabel Mudge, who in 1994 retired from the Drewe Arms in Drewsteignton, Devon, aged 99.

"When told about her new found fame, Vera was delighted with her achievement.

"I feel like a queen," she said. "I have always loved the pub trade. It is the best business in the world."

Although she no longer works behind the bar, Vera still keeps a close eye on the book keeping and accounts. She was recently admitted to hospital but Gerry is confident she will return to hold court at her beloved pub once more.

"She could have sold the pub a year ago but she decided not to. She is determined to carry on and spend the rest of her life here," he said.