End of an era as Lambourn licensee pulls his last pint at The Wheelwright's Arms

PUNTERS at The Wheelwright's Arms in Lambourn are raising a farewell glass to Gerry McCann.

Mr McCann has been licensee at the watering hole, popular with the village racing community, for 22 years.

He took on The Wheelwright's following a career in horseracing, having come to England from his native Northern Ireland in 1963 to serve his apprenticeship with Hampshire trainer Bill Wightman.

During the 1970s he worked at Kingwood House Stables in Lambourn and photographs of the various horseracing greats he has ridden adorn the pub walls.

He was also chairman of the Stable Lads' Association for more than a decade.

For some of the younger customers at The Wheelwright's, they have never known a time when Mr McCann was not licensee.

He said: "This has always been a horseracing fans' pub."

Mr McCann, who is married to Noreen with whom he has two children, added: "It's a fantastic crowd.

"Even when it was outdoor seating only during coronavirus lockdown, we did alright.

"It's the customers that have made this place what it is over the years."

Customers have also been generous towards good causes, prompting Dr Lenny Williams, a consultant psychologist at Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire, to say: "Gerry and his wife and customers have done to much to raise funds for Brighter Futures, the hospital's charitable arm and also, more recently, for the CT Scanner Appeal.

"They even raised more than £350 in less than two years for the Covid staff at the hospital."

Yesterday, Wednesday, Mr McCann was due to hand over the reins to local businessmen Dave Klein and Dave Geddes.

He said: "I'm 74 now, so I suppose it's about time."

The McCanns will continue to live in Lambourn and Mr McCann will still be a familiar fixture in The Wheelwright's - but on the other side of the bar, from now on.

He said: "I suppose I'll have to pay for my drinks now!"