Joan Edwards, 84, who now lives at Honey Lane Care Home in Waltham Abbey, spent two decades as bar manager at the Royal British Legion in Borehamwood before retiring in the late 1990s.
Known for her warmth and character behind the bar, her son nicknamed her the “Pat Butcher of the British Legion”.
Joan pulls a pint at the RBL she worked at for many years (Image: Honey Lane Care Home) Ms Edwards said: “It’s been almost 30 years since I left the legion.
“I’ve loved getting the chance to chat to my old friends and regulars, and to pull one last pint.
“I worked as a barmaid for most of my working life.
“I loved the social side of the job, getting to meet new people, many of whom turned into friends.
“It felt very special going back after so many years.
“I was surprised to see so many of my old customers.
“It was lovely to have such a warm welcome, it brought back lots of memories from the good old days.”
Ms Edwards began her role as bar manager in the 1970s and was known for organising events.
These included karaoke, bingo, outings, and even holidays abroad.
During her visit, she poured a pint of Guinness with ease, needing no assistance from current staff.
Her son, Dave Edwards, said: “I call her the Pat Butcher of the British Legion, as like the EastEnders character, Mum was so well-known and respected for her role behind the bar.”
Arthur Neal, a long-time friend, said: “Joan could run two bars with a queue of 100 members with no stress and still have a smile on her face.”
Honey Lane Care Home arranged the visit as part of their commitment to creating meaningful experiences for residents.
Lisa Gammalliere, lifestyle manager at the care home, said: “Our team take the time to get to know our residents so that we understand what they love and what’s important to them.
“To see Joan’s joy at being back on her old stomping ground was wonderful.
“You could see how highly thought of she was by all of her friends and regulars.”
