The former landlady of a pub in Flaunden will celebrate her 85th birthday in style tomorrow (Friday) at the public house where she has lived for 80 years.

Barbara Green's parents, Robert and Ida Burgess, took over The Green Dragon Inn in 1932 as tenant landlords to The Cannon Brewery, and later to Taylor Walker.

Mrs Green took over the pub after her father died in 1974 and has been a very popular figure among regulars ever since, growing up there and having three children, William, Rupert and Angela while there.

Mrs Green lives in the house attached to the pub and ensures she comes through to the pub every day with her dog and companion Sweet Spirit.

She said: "I retired when I was 65, but every day I still come into the pub. I will wake up around 7am or 8am, have a bath and then come in to the pub for my lunch.

"We are like a family here and it is a very friendly place."

Among Mrs Green's memories of her life at the pub are playing in the garden with two little girls who visited the pub while staying at Latimer House just before the war.

Although she couldn't have known it at the time, those two little girls - Elizabeth and Margeret - were the daughters of the then Duke and Duchess of York and within around 15 years, her friend Elizabeth became Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The pub is now run by Murray Rogers and Karen Evans, who organised the celebrations in dedication to Barbara. 

Mr Rogers is a former pub regular who worked in the pub when he was 20 years old. 

They specially organised a Frank Sinatra tribute act, with lots of dancing and singing promised.

As well as being a landlady, Mrs Green carved out a successful career for herself on the London stage and most notably starred as an understudy to the leading lady in the musical shows Carousel and Oklahoma, alongside Howard Keel.

Mrs Green, who turns 85 next Tuesday (November 20) added: "I have masses of memories here I couldn’t possibly explain them all.

"One of them has to be playing bowls in the garden with Margaret and Elizabeth - or what about when I climbed out of my window to run away and get married to my first husband at the age of just 19?

"However old or young I am, I just feel like me."