Tributes paid to Frome’s ‘Mother’ UK’s oldest landlady dies aged 99

TRIBUTES have been paid to the landlady of the Lamb & Fountain Inn, Freda Searle – who was thought to be the oldest landlady in the UK – following her death last month at the age of 99. 

Known fondly in the community as ‘Mother’, Freda ran the pub on Castle Street for over 50 years – with the pub itself also earning the nickname ‘Mother’s’. 

“Ask a taxi driver to take you to Mother’s and they will know where it is. Her renown is not just in Frome but throughout the UK and even in other countries,” said Freda’s family. “Everyone who knew her will have their own memories of Mother and it would be impossible to cover all aspects of her life. 

“Freda and her husband Harry, together with their three children, John, Jean and Sue, moved to Frome in 1949.  (Their fourth child Gary was born in 1959 but sadly died before she did).  Harry worked as an engineer first at Evans then for many years at Wallington & Weston’s while Freda continued with cleaning & housekeeping work whilst working as a barmaid in various pubs in Frome.  She worked for many years at the Victoria Hospital until, in September 1969, she and Harry made the decision to become landlord and landlady of the Lamb & Fountain Inn, Frome. 

“When they took it over the pub itself was not doing well with only about three customers a day so Harry had to keep his job going.  The brewery rep was in the pub one day when Harry refused to serve some people, the rep said, “you can’t afford to turn customers away.” In response Harry said, “I’m not having that type in my pub.” Thus, the character and tone of the pub was established.  With both of them being well-known and popular in the town it was not long before Harry had to give up his job because the pub was so busy. 

“Unfortunately, Harry died in 1975 leaving Freda with a decision to make.  The brewery offered her the tenancy of a couple of town centre pubs which she refused.  Instead, she bought the Lamb & Fountain which proved to be the start of an era.  She never re-married and continued running the pub herself. 

“She had always been the life and soul of the party and could play by ear any song on the piano provided she knew it.  She encouraged and joined in pub activities – shove ha’penny, bar skittles, music, singing, dancing and, of course, drinking. She was hard-working, stubborn and strong willed – generous to a fault whilst still refusing to pay an extra penny for a loaf of bread or throw anything away. 

“Mother refused to make any major changes to the pub. For example, knocking the three bars into one or serving meals – she’d say, “pubs are for drinking, restaurants for eating”. She said she would retire when she was 60, then 65, then 70; but the pub was her life and she said the only way she wanted to leave the pub was ‘in her box’. 

“When she shattered her shoulder, she was told she would never use that arm or hand again but her determination and perseverance proved the doctors wrong.  In her eighties she had cancer and a mastectomy from which she made full recovery. Her humour was not lost through adversity and after this operation she would joke about ‘Poor little Kitty with only one t**ty to feed her babies on’. 

“In 2010 it was obvious she couldn’t manage the pub on her own due to failing health so her daughter, Sue, went to live with her so Mother could stay in the pub and it could continue to be run the same as it always had been. 

“Sue heard so many stories from customers who had been down on their luck in one way or another and Mother had helped them out with money, food, furniture or anything else they needed – a ‘Mother’ to them all. 

“Despite all her determination and fighting spirit she finally lost the battle for life 10 minutes after the pub closed on Tuesday 16th November.” 

Freda’s funeral took place last week at Holy Trinity Church, on Tuesday 30th November. Donations in her memory to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, may be sent to Wayne Kelly Independent Funeral Directors, R20 Marshall Way, Commerce Park, Frome BA11 2FE (01373 476277).

Picture: Landlady Freda Searle aka ‘Mother’, who died last month, behind the bar at the Lamb & Fountain Inn.