The family of a much-loved Oxhey pub landlord who lost his battle to cancer last month have shared some of their fondest memories of the well known character with The Watford Observer.

Seamus Healy ran The Railway Arms pub opposite Bushey station between 1993 and 2003 with his wife Ann Sheridan.

After a four month battle with liver and stomach cancer, Mr Healy passed away in Ireland on October 19 aged 62.

Mrs Sheridan paid tribute to her late husband who had a knack for getting on with people.

She said: “He was always very easy going. He just got on with everyone.”

The Irish couple moved into the pub at the end of March 1993 with their young daughter Aisling, who is now 20.

Speaking of their time in the pub, Mrs Sheridan said: “The first year was hard because we had a lot to sort out and a lot of the wrong people in there. But then the locals started coming in and they were lovely.

“It was hard work but we had good days there and we had great friends there.

“We always had karaoke and a good old sing song – he loved all that.”

His daughter, Aisling Sheridan-Healy, also has happy memories of her dad pulling pints behind the bar.

She said: “My dad loved to get involved with the customers, always having the craic as he would say.

“He loved a game of cards, karaoke and a bit of golf occasionally with the customers. He took pride in looking after the pub and was very good to the regulars.”

Mr Healy met his wife 25 years ago when he visited the function venue where she worked as manageress for a business meeting.

They didn’t tie the knot until they moved back to Ireland in 2003 after leaving their home at the popular pub to be closer to their families.

After two years of job hunting Mr Healy found a job as a salesman in a local car garage.

His wife remembers watching with pride as her husband began to shine in this unlikely career change.

She said: “He didn’t think he would be very good at it but he was there five years – he became such a good salesman.

“Someone once said that he could sell ice to an Eskimo.”

Whilst living back in Ireland the ex-pub landlord visited the doctors as he was feeling constantly tired.

The family then received the shocking news that he was suffering with liver cancer, and two days later when they were still coming to terms with the life changing news, they were told he also had aggressive stomach cancer.

Mrs Sheridan said: “He was so brave through the whole thing – he never complained.

“That is what everyone is talking about now - how could he be in such good form and in such good spirits up until the very end.”