Richard Nelson The well-known landlord of a popular North Norfolk village pub, who with his wife raised thousands of pounds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, has died at the age of 65.

Richard Nelson

The well-known landlord of a popular North Norfolk village pub, who with his wife raised thousands of pounds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, has died at the age of 65.

Pat Newman and his wife Bridget have run the Bluebell pub at Langham for nearly 40 years, taking over in 1972 from Pat's parents, Victor and Myrtle Newman.

Mr Newman, who was a popular and out-going character behind the bar, has been ill for some time, but died last week at Kelling Hospital, where he was being treated for lung cancer.

Over the years that Pat and Bridget have been running the pub they have become known for their fund-raising for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and raised more than �11,000 from the variety of events, including raffles, quiz nights, darts tournaments and music evenings, they organised.

Norfolk champion Keith Skipper and his team staged their first 'sit down' comedy squit show at the pub and paid tribute to Pat's sense of humour.

“Pat was always ready with a yarn and always found time to mix business with a bit of Norfolk pleasure. The Bluebell was a good local family-run pub and played an integral part in the Langham Street Fayre,” said Keith.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, are invited in Pat's memory for the air ambulance charity.

Bridget continues to live at the pub but is not in good health herself so the couple's son, Shean and his partner, Tonya Sizeland, are looking after the premises and keeping it open for business as usual.

Mr Newman's other son, Neal and one of his grandsons, Thomas, are returning home from Australia for the funeral.

Shean Newman described his dad as a “popular, out-going and lively character” and someone who was well-known in the area.

“As well as the fundraising that dad and mum did for the air ambulance charity, dad was also known for the colourful assortment of waistcoats and bow ties that he worn behind the bar,” said Shean.

“We knew that dad was very ill but we didn't realise that we would lose him so quickly. We would like to thank the medical staff at Kelling Hospital for the dedicated care they gave dad during his short stay there,” said Shean.

As well as his two sons, Mr Newman leaves grandchildren, Thomas and Charlotte, Jessica and Zaphry and great-grandchildren, Ellie, Oscar and Macey .