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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Guardian readers and Alfie Packham

‘My mum was a barmaid. I was raised on Bacon Fries!’ - readers on the pub that changed them

Six people touch together six glasses of beer

‘I watched Oliver Reed get barred’

I started working at the Windmill in the Surrey Hills when I was 14 and the landlord, Cecil Baber Brendan Holland – Dutch to the locals – became my second father. My second son’s second name is Brendan, after him. Several photographers, entrepreneurs, sportspeople and musicians lived in the area – Eric Clapton’s house was just around the corner. Although I never quite got over answering the phone to someone asking for Mick and I made the mistake of asking “Mick who?”

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