ISHBEL MACDONALD AS LANDLORD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22808, 18 February 1936, Page 16

ISHBEL MACDONALD AS LANDLORD

HELPED BY COOK FROM DOWNING STREET Miss Ishbel MacDonald found herself in the thick of the week-end demand for tea and luncheon when she became licensee of the Old Plow Inn, Speen Bucks, early in January. The small car park was packed, and cars stretched for many yards along' the steep little lane beside the inn. The small chintz-curtained rooms, with their log fires and ingle-nooks, were crowded at mid-day and again at teatime. Miss MacDonald has done a roaring trade during her first two days as an innkeeper. In the kitchen the cook who prepared Mr MacDonald's meals when he was Prime Minister was busy roasting joints and baking cakes, while Miss MacDonald, in a serviceable cardigan suit, helped to serve the customers. Jock, Miss MacDonald's faithful Aberdeen terrier (says the Daily Telegraph's correspondent), welcomes every guest at the gate, and follows them with wagging tail to the doorway of the inn. He has made himself at home mor.e quickly than anyone, and struts about as if he owns the place. "ONE ON THE HOUSE."

On the first night of her life as a licensee, Miss M.;:cDonald made her first appearance in the tap-room. A serious game of darts was in progress, but she interrupted a critical "leg" to invite everyone to have " one on the house." After Mr Child, the retiring landlord, had introduced her to all the people in the room, she brought in the tankards herself and stood beside the settle while the men rose and wished her happiness and prosperity. . "Everything will be all right if you come," she said simply. The first evening had its amusing moments, particularly when old countrymen, who have patronised the inn for veais, demanded " the usual" and bad to be asked to explain what that was. At present the cook is the only servant from Downing street who is working in the Old Plow, but later the housekeeper will arrive. 4 licensee in the district who was at one time associated with the Old Plow states that the inn was sold to Miss MacDonald for £3500.