Barmaid retires after 53 years of pulling pints

Article excerpt

Sally Ward hung up her apron at 71 after 53 years pulling pints across Essex pubs, marking the end of a working life that began when she was a teenager. The veteran barmaid has watched fashions change, pubs transform, and generations of regulars come and go from behind the bar. Her retirement closes a chapter in a tradition increasingly rare as pubs shut across Britain and the industry struggles to attract young workers willing to commit to hospitality. Ward's colleagues and customers marked her final shift, celebrating a fixture of her local pub community who knew most patrons by name and preference.