A PUB landlord who served customers at the same pub for more than four decades has died.

Bernard Herbert, who ran the Seacourt Bridge Inn, in West Way, Botley, for 41 years, died last Friday after a long illness. He was 85.

Mr Herbert, who was once chairman of the Oxford, Thames Valley and Midland Region Licensed Victuallers’ Association, ran the pub between 1950 and 1991. His wife Josephine, who survives him, had been at the pub since the late 1930s when her father took it over.

Mr Herbert went to St Andrew’s Church School, in Headington, and the School of Commerce in St Ebbe’s.

After leaving school, he joined the RAF and was posted to the Empire Training Scheme in South Africa and later India, where he flew Hurricanes and Dakotas on supply missions.

Having retired from the pub trade in 1991, the Herberts moved to Mayfield Road, in Farmoor.

He was father to Rosalind and Roger and father-in-law to John and Janice.

A funeral service will take place at St Michael’s Church, Cumnor on Thursday, at 2pm.

See Thursday’s Oxford Mail for a full obituary.