A PUB landlady who devoted more than 50 years to running her traditional watering hole and helping the community has died.

Betty Stokes, 88, who ran the Forest Gate Inn in Bell Common, near Epping, died last Monday, January 10.

Her son Robin, 58, who has helped run the pub for most of his life, said she had worked hard to make sure the pub changed little during her time as landlady.

He added that she would be missed by regulars for her friendliness and the work she and her husband Victor did raising money for local hospitals and charities before his death.

“They put their heart and soul into it,” he added. “My mother just liked meeting people, I think.

“People have good memories of her at the pub. She was always on the lookout for things she could raise money for.

“She was always very fond of animals and we've always had geese, dogs, cats, goats and rabbits. She liked having dogs in the pub.”

Over the years, Mrs Stokes organised fetes and other charity events at the pub, raising £10,000 for a muscular dystrophy charity with one event and £4,000 for a hospital scanner with another.

She also supported Upper Clapton Rugby Club, Thornwood, which her four sons all played for and her grandson has just retired as captain of.

Mr Stokes said he planned to keep the pub as a traditional, family-run business, although he plans to turn one of the outbuildings into a restaurant as his daughter and son-in-law are training as chefs.

His eldest brother Rodney also runs a pub, near Saffron Walden.

Mrs Stokes was a Wren during the Second World War and was posted to Dover, where she was one of only a handful of women responsible for operating torpedoes.

Because of this, her family has asked for donations to the King George's Fund for Sailors and the Mission for Seafarers to be made in her memory.

Her funeral will take place on January 25 from 11.30am at St Mary's church, Theydon Bois.