By Brian Hayhurst

The funeral was due to take place today (Friday January 6) of much-respected former Huddersfield licensee Sylvia Brown who has died aged 78.

Sylvia spent all her adult life in the pub trade alongside her entrepreneurial husband Alan. They ran various establishments together over some three decades.

The couple met in a popular local pub called The Tam O’Shanter in Paddock where Sylvia worked behind the bar. They married in 1964 and Alan became a police officer in the town.

It was in 1970 that they decided to take up a new challenge and become licensees of their own pub – The Traveller’s Rest in Brockholes – which gave them the groundwork for an incredible launch into the pub trade. Sylvia was renowned for her smile and warm welcome.

In 1973 the couple took on the then rather dowdy Paddock pub The Royal Oak where Sylvia quickly got to know the locals.

As the other nearby pub – The Angel, Paddock – became busy, the village was THE place to be. It was once admitted by the Chief Constable that the village at weekends was like a town centre location.

Sylvia did much to become involved in many charity events and fundraisers for worthy causes, always making sure that her locals were well catered for.

New Year’s Eve was so busy they could not get everyone inside, and the party continued, out in the street, everyone in fancy dress, after queuing outside from 7pm!

Some years later they added another outlet to their portfolio, The Black Bull in Lindley which, again, became very popular as a local with a wide variety of fine food on offer. They carried out a tasteful refurbishment with décor etc mainly chosen by Sylvia.

In 1989, Sylvia took on the pub/restaurant she loved the most, The Kings Arms, a freehouse, which she ran until retirement in 2003.

Sylvia’s son Wayne and two daughters Dawn and Deborah helped their mother a great deal during those hectic three decades.

They, along with seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, will sadly miss this loving and much cherished lady, who influenced everyone she met along the way.

Sylvia will be remembered as someone who could calmly deal with any problem with ease and confidence, knowing that she would always be supported by family members and customers alike. A lovely mother and excellent landlady.

Sylvia died on December 7, peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. Her funeral was at Huddersfield Crematorium on Friday January 6 at 11.15am.