Three generations of an Oxfordshire family have all been landlords with Henley pub company Brakspear.

The 65-year tradition is being carried on with a new generation behind the bar.

The association started with Lew Salter, who between 1940 and 1953 had the Clifton Arms at Caversham and then went to the Four Horseshoes at Checkendon and finished in 1964 at the Maltsters at Rotherfield Greys.

His son Ben, now 70, had the Three Horseshoes in Witney -- a non-Brakspear pub -- before joining the company and holding at various times the Crooked Billet at Stoke Row, the Miller of Mansfield in Goring and the Boot at Aston Upthorpe.

He and his wife Libby are currently at the Six Bells at Warborough and retire in September after eight and a half years in the village.

Before they married, Mrs Salter had another Brakspear pub, the Chequers at Berrick Salome. Now the tradition is being carried on by their son Charles, 34, and daughter- in-law Siobhan, 24, who have just taken over the Thatched Tavern at Appleton after working at the Six Bells.

Charles Salter said: "It's a way of life really, similar to being a farmer.

"Things don't stop just because it's Saturday but it's something that I know and I really do enjoy it. It just seems perfect.

"We try to get our produce for the food that we serve locally. We want to put the Thatched Tavern on the map."

Ben Salter said: "It is a long and proud tradition and we are delighted our son is carrying it on."

Mr and Mrs Salter will stay Warborough, when they retire -- opposite the pub they have run successfully for more than eight years.

It has been the location for several television episodes of series like Midsomer Murders and Miss Marple.