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Pensioners are top pint-pullers
TWO women have called time on their retirement and are still pulling the pints - despite having a combined age of 186.
Keeping busy comes naturally to 93-year-olds Gladys Fulton and Lizzie Stocks as the pair of pint-pulling pensioners continue to keep their feet firmly behind the bar to serve customers at the Grove Inn in York Road.
And for Gladys, her career has come full circle because her current boss is Colin Davock who she employed to work for her over 30 years ago during her days as the landlady of the Bay Horse in Bentley.
"Gladys was the first to give me a job about the age of 17 or 18 so I owe everything to her. It's funny how things have turned out because it's almost come full circle. I needed some help behind the bar when I took it over so I just asked them both if they wanted to cover a few shifts and it's gone from there," said 51-year-old Colin.
"It's absolutely fantastic that I can still work with Gladys, she's a brilliant barmaid and everybody loves her. Her and Lizzie always get remarks from the customers who can't believe they are both 93 because they're excellent at their jobs and look fantastic for their age."
Gladys, of Hawthorne Road in Thorne, first started work at the local White Hart when she was 18 before she took over the Bay Horse. However, some aspects have changed for the serving superstar because back them she used to pull pints for just over 20p.
During her time there she took a young Mr Davock under her wing where the Scawthorpe landlord began to hone his pub skills.
Gladys retired at the age of 74, however Mr Davock, of Jossey Lane, persuaded his former boss to help him get his pub up and running when he took over the Grove Inn two years ago.
In-keeping with Mr Davock's 'traditional' feel he wanted for his pub, he took on the experienced Lizzie.
The Balby barmaid used to run The Olde Castle Hotel in the Market Place for several years before retiring. She was then asked back by Mr Davock and was quick to join his serving staff and get back to pulling the pints.
The Doncaster duo work every Wednesday and Mr Davock said they are a big hit with the punters.
"I wanted to bring back the pub tradition which I think is lost in a few places today because chains are taking over, so Gladys and Lizzie were a major part of making that happen," he said.
"In my pub I don't allow bad language, the older generation mix with the younger people, we have old-time singalongs on a Wednesday and a really good pub atmosphere like it used to be. I took over when it was virtually ready to be shut down, but yesterday I celebrated two years there, which I'm delighted with.
"You also can't ask for two better people to go behind the bar, they're fantastic.Although I have caught both of them enjoying a whisky behind the bar when they think I'm not looking!"
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Weather for Doncaster
Sunday 05 February 2012
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Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
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