So it was a very pleasant surprise to spot them in the town centre the other day and have a brief 'catch up' chat.
The location for our chance encounter was only a few yards from the hostelry they ran together on Wrawby Street.
Bob and Sue took charge of the Queen's during the mid-1980s, having been at the White Hart.
Many sportsmen and women who played football, cricket and hockey made this their local, with darts, crib and domino teams representing the pub in local leagues.
Sue's hockey teas were legendary!
A micro-brewery producing ale for sale was added in the 1990s, and Bob and Sue later turned the premises into The Fish Inn.
We were honoured to be invited to the restaurant's opening night when the huge haddock was much too big for the large plate.
And while on the topic of fish...
Having spoken to Bob and Sue we took a stroll along the River Ancholme towpath and glanced into the water near the B&M store car park.
In clear conditions we spotted a young pike close to the bank. Sadly, it departed before we could get a decent picture.
What anglers dubbed The Spring's Stretch has a renowned reputation among pike fishermen, who will be pleased to know that a new generation is growing to maturity and available for landing having attained a good size.
You still hear talk of a giant pike that is supposed to live in the river near the wall beside the Nelthorpe Arms beer garden.
Maybe they should open it up to anglers.
Just a thought.
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| Pike being landed on the Spring's Stretch in 2014 (above) and 2011 (below). Jick's catch (below) was the larger specimen. We just happened to be walking past at the time and asked if we could take a picture or two. |
