THE Queens Head at Albaston is celebrating this week - 40 years of being in the same family!

The Queens Head was built as a hotel in 1853 and the building and outhouses were all constructed for the grand total of £600.

The pub belonged to a local brewery which was bought out by Plymouth Breweries before the Second World War.

Fred May, with his wife Hilda, bought the licence of the pub in 1961. In 1991 Hilda died and their son, Peter, took over the partnership with his father. Fred retired fully four years ago and Peter and his partner, Jan Rackstraw, now keep the pub running smoothly.

The pub trade has been in the May family for many years. Fred's mother kept the Victoria Inn at Pensilva from 1947 and before that managed a pub in Plymouth.

Since Fred May bought the licence, the pub has gone from being a Plymouth Brewery pub to Courage and then onto belonging to the Unique Pub Company.

The pub is well-known for its charitable donations to many organisations such as various local charities, Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Children's Hospice, school-based charities, Scouts and Guides.

The pub also runs a bonus ball competition where once the money reaches £300 it goes to charity. The annual Harvest Festival is held at the end of September and an auction of local produce takes place at the pub with an auctioneer from Kittows of Callington and the local vicar, the Rev Andrew Wilson, holds a short service before the produce is auctioned.

Another annual event is morris dancing and theme nights are held occasionally to raise money for Comic Relief or Children in Need.

Owners of mobile phones that ring when in the pub are fined £1, unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as illness in family - and swear words also carry a fine which increases with the obscenity of the word. Both fines go to the RNLI.

Jan explained: 'No-one takes exception to the rules and people have got into the habit of turning their phone off, or the sound down, before they come in!'

The pub has a darts team who play in the Bere Alston and District League; a cricket team, made up of the locals, who play friendly matches at the Calstock Cricket Club ground which the pub sponsors; a euchre team who play friendlies and a golf team who play against other pubs at Launceston golf course.

A quiz night is held on the first Monday of each month which is a popular event with many locals.

The pub serves snacks during lunchtime, from baked potatoes, pasties, pies and sandwiches. The homemade bean pickle is a family tradition that Hilda first made.

The recipe is the original with Hilda's writing and each week either Jan or Fred make the pickle. The beans are donated by customers or Brian May, Fred's son, from Launceston, a retired policeman.

Fred's other son, Nigel, is a chief engineer with Shell and is currently in Malta where his ship is being repaired.

Christmas Day at the pub took place on August Bank Holiday Sunday as during Christmas there were so many people ill. On the Boxing Day, Bank Holiday Monday, Jan and Peter organised a snail race at the pub!

Snacks

Peter is proud of the fact that The Queens Head is a traditional pub. He said: 'Nothing has changed in 40 years at the pub. It's not a restaurant, we just do pub snacks. Many people lovingly refer to the pub as The University of Albaston or Freddy's!'

Bill and Barbara Bailey have lived locally for the past 15 years. Barbara commented: 'This is a home from home. You don't feel awkward just drinking coffee instead of alcohol like I do and it's very friendly.'

Bill added: 'The wonderful thing about the pub is that nothing's been changed in 40 years. It's a proper local pub.'

Stewart Payne, his father Geoffery, and friend Christopher Day all frequent the pub. Stewart commented: 'We come here because we like it.'

His father, Geoffery, added: 'I come here occasionally. They serve great beer and the landlady is lovely!'

Christopher said: 'Everyone is so friendly here. It's very convivial and is my lunchtime haunt. The pub is at the centre of a caring community.'

Jim McKay, a lecturer at Plymouth College of Further Education, said: 'Everyone here is brilliant. This pub is the last of the real Cornish pubs.'

Michael Ryland, having lunch at the pub, commented: 'Jan doesn't believe in making small portions for lunch!' Michael used to live locally but now lives at Mary Tavy. He visits the pub around twice a week to catch up with his friends.

Treat

Peter is a keen rugby supporter as he used to play for the Launceston team and for Cornwall. John Samphier, another rugby fan along with Michael, has been coming to the pub for over 50 years. He explained: 'I used to live across the road for 20 years and now live in Chilsworthy but it's my local so I still come back.'

He added: 'Peter has taken over the pub in the same context as his father. It's a super pub.'

The beer garden at the pub has several unusual seats - pews from Chilsworthy Chapel that closed and then auctioned off much of its fittings.

John Chambers has been coming to the pub for the past 30 years. He said: 'The pub has always been run very well by Fred and now his son.'

Syd Pawley has lived locally for 15 years. He said: 'I would come here even if I moved further away. I'm ex-Navy and I always chat with Fred about naval history and such. The Queens Head is a proper pub, very sporting - I used to play cricket and golf for the pub as a social thing - not competitive.'

Rory, the pub dog, was rescued by the cats and dogs home and placed with Peter and Jan. They believe him to be around 13 years old.

Jan had to stop people feeding him as he was getting too fat but she can tell when he gets a sneaky treat - his tail hits against the wood floor!

Tonight - Friday September 14 - is party night, open to friends old and new. Music will be from 'Out To Grass' and they will play any music, including requests!