A POPULAR former landlady of a city centre pub has died just six months short of her 100th birthday. Molly Laidler and her husband Harold ran the Kings Head pub in Market Place from 1955 until 1972, when it was sold by the brewery to become Bravingtons je

A POPULAR former landlady of a city centre pub has died just six months short of her 100th birthday.

Molly Laidler and her husband Harold ran the Kings Head pub in Market Place from 1955 until 1972, when it was sold by the brewery to become Bravingtons jewellery shop.

They then went on to provide holiday relief for other landlords in the area during their retirement.

Mrs Laidler, who had been a pastry chef for the American Red Cross in World War Two, was the secretary of the St Albans Ladies Licensed Victuallers Association for more than 25 years, raising thousands of pounds for its charities.

And in 1989 she won the Famous Grouse whisky award for the best association secretary out of more than 300 others in the country.

Mr Laidler, who was known as the "Sherry King" by the Kings Head locals, died in 1985 and Mrs Laidler, who was born in Yorkshire, continued to live on her own until she was 92.

Her only child, Ann Banham, aged 62, who is married with two adult sons, said she would remember her mother for being, "happy, busy and very kind".

Mrs Laidler died on February 13 after spending her final years at Oak Tree Manor care home in St Albans.

Her funeral was held last Thursday at St Stephen's Church in St Albans.