Top pub landlord's death at age of 89

A Black Country landlord who ran a landmark pub for nearly 25 years has died at the age of 89.

Ted Woodward took on the Stone Cross pub in Walsall Road, West Bromwich in 1956. His father, Albert, ran it for 18 years before retiring. Ted took it on a few years later.

He died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, on May 22 after acute renal failure. Daughter Delia Smith, 64, said: "He got into the pub trade because his father was in the pub trade.

"My father was 18 months old when grandad had the Stone Cross so it was in dad's blood and his two sisters also kept pubs."

Ted, a West Bromwich Albion supporter, ran Ye Olde Bell, Spon Lane for six years from about 1968, moving in as Delia was four.

Sister, Joan Green, ran the Park Inn, Wednesbury, and other sister, Ivy King, was landlady at the Woden.

Delia, an ex-dental practice manager of Yew Tree Estate, on the Sandwell and Walsall border, said: "In 1954 he went to The Halfway House in Black Lake and was there for around two-and-a-half years and then went to the Stone Cross and kept that for nearly 25 years."

He met wife Margaret through sister Joan and they married at All Saints Church, All Saints Way, in 1943. They had three children, Delia, Roberta Bragg, 64, now of Newport, Shropshire and Kelvin, 52, who still lives in Stone Cross.

"It was good growing up in the pub," said Delia. "It was always busy, especially at the Stone Cross.

"We were all happy we had a good life. Mum and dad were excellent parents."

Ted retired at 60 due for health reasons and lived in Campville Crescent, Stone Cross. Delia said he enjoyed visiting the Sons of Rest club, Dagger Lane and Charlemont Social Club.

Black Country historian Terry Price said: "He was so well known throughout West Bromwich and the last of the old pub landlords who were treated like God."

"His standing in the community was up there. He was the town's leading publican and everyone knew him and respected him."

The funeral is at All Saints Church, West Bromwich. on Friday (11.30am) with burial at Heath Lane Cemetery (12.15pm).