A FORMER landlady of a Chingford pub has died aged 95.

Kathleen Mary Evans, nee Day, was the tenant of the Royal Oak Pub in Kings Head Hill, Chingford, from 1938 and throughout the Second World War.

Born in Dalston on June 27, 1914, the daughter of a master baker, Mrs Evans moved with her parents and three brothers to Walthamstow just after she had left school.

Her father ran a bakers in Netley Road, Walthamstow, and Mrs Evans worked for the Times Furnishing Company in the High Street until 1935 when she married Sydney Evans of Walthamstow building company PG Evans & Sons Ltd.

Three years later, the couple started running the Royal Oak pub where their son was born in 1939.

They remained there during the war years and were a popular couple, making life-long friends with customers.

The pub remained open during the war regardless of air raids and bombings and an entry in Mrs Evan's diary at that time says: “During the war it was like having a party all the time, with piano, singers and a wonderful atmosphere. It was, however, always very sad to say cheerio to soldiers, sailors and airmen knowing they may never return.”

After leaving the pub in 1955, the couple moved to Stewardstonebury in Epping Forest and remained there until her husband died in 1991.

Mrs Evans moved into a retirement home in Cheshunt and remained very active until August this year when she was admitted to hospital where she died peacefully on November 20.

Kathleen Evans is survived by a son, Godfrey, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Her funeral takes place today (December 1) at 1pm at Waltham Abbey Church, Abbey Gardens, Waltham Abbey.