Have you ever been at a loss to know what to give an elderly gentleman for his birthday?

Mr Stan Sharpe, of Denewood Close, Watford, was when his father approached his 73rd birthday last October. Then he had an inspiration.

And no one could have been more surprised than was Mr Jim Sharpe, of The Avenue, Bushey, when he examined the content of an envelope marked “To Pop”.

It was a certificate signed by the manager of the Rose and Crown, Watford, entitling him to one pint of Worthington every Sunday for a year.

That certificate explains why Mr Sharpe goes into the lounge bar of the Rose and Crown before lunch every Sunday and collects a “free” pint.

“It’s always a problem to know what to buy a man for his birthday. My father enjoys a drink, so I thought it would be a good idea,” said Mr Stan Sharpe.

“As far as I know, Mr Sharpe is the only one of our customers to have received a weekly pint permit,” declared barmaid Miss Betty Stack, who serves him each Sunday.

[From the Watford Observer of February 8, 1963]

ONLINE TOMORROW: More stories from Februaries past

These stories formed part of the Nostalgia column first published in the Watford Observer on February 21, 2014. The next Nostalgia column can be found in this week’s Watford Observer (dated February 28, 2014 and available in newsagents now, priced 90p) or read online here from 4pm on Thursday.

If you have anything to add – or would like to tell us anything you think our readers may enjoy about Watford’s history – we are always pleased to hear from you. Contact Nostalgia, by clicking here watfordnostalgia@london.newsquest.co.uk