rGEORGE Robinson talks to Westleyther Lesley Richards about the Ring o' Bells -- a no-nonsense alehouse where beer was served out of jugs straight from the barrel until 1970. Bungalows now stand on the site.

THE Ring O'Bells last landlord, George Robinson, was lying in bed when he heard a crack like a gunshot.

Fearing raiders, he got up to investigate but found nothing. Later that day on a return trip from Leigh he noticed that the pub had cracked in two.

Two red hot summers in 1976 and 1982 had taken their toll on the building.

In May 1983 the towels went over the late-arriving pumps and the doors were closed for the last time before the demo men moved in.

In the early 19th century the Tickle Street hostelry was run by Walter Tickle who took in boarders working at the nearby Hayes' mill. Though names changed throughout the years, the inn was kept in the same family -- until ex-miner George took over in July 1969.

The Speddings came on the scene around 1900 and Ruth Ellen married Alf Lowe who took over at the helm in the 1930s.

In 1936 he started a picnic club which paid every serviceman who visited the pub five shillings out of its funds. That club never broke up and was still running to the end.

When Alf died from throat cancer in the mid-60s the "jerry shop" was taken over by Mrs Lowe and her sister Ida, who continued to serve beer from jugs.

George, a neighbour in Kirkhall Lane, helped them after they were allowed to stay on by Walkers' Brewery -- despite being in their 80s.

However, despite many warnings Mrs Lowe opened the door after midnight callers said they were police and she was beaten up and robbed.

Shortly after Ida died and Mrs Lowe gave in her notice. The brewery wanted to close the pub, which they said was unviable, but George convinced them he could make a go of it with modernisation, and did.

It's popularity grew until brewery surveyors ordered its demise after the heat of '82 broke the dangerous building in half. The old beerhouse had been built without footings directly on clay.

George and his wife Betty moved on to Boston Grove and George, who now lives in Palatine Square, later took up the stewardship of Leigh Royal British Legion from 1984-88 before retirement.