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Janet Mobbs-Longman finishes book by her late dad Roy Glyn Longman – An Incomplete History of Ringwood Pubs




A BOOK charting the history of Ringwood’s current and former pubs, will be released on what would have been the author’s 100th birthday.

An Incomplete History of Ringwood Pubs marks the culmination of over 20 years of research by Roy Glyn Longman, who died 15 years ago. Determined to see his retirement project shared with the wider public, his daughter Janet Mobbs-Longman set about transforming his research into a book.

Janet said: “Twenty-one locations that were pubs before 1939 are described in this book by Roy, who lived most of his life in Hampshire, or just over the border into Dorset.”

Janet Mobbs-Longman finished the book on Ringwood’s pub history started by her father Roy
Janet Mobbs-Longman finished the book on Ringwood’s pub history started by her father Roy

“Over a period of about 20 years, Roy spent many hours trawling through public records to identify the pubs’ locations and the people who worked in them, up until the outbreak of the Second World War.”

Now 15 years after his death, Janet has compiled his findings into a paperback, which she is launching in Ringwood on Monday on the centenary of his birth. The book launch is at the Meeting House from 10.30am to 11.30am.

The book is split into three parts. The first is a walking trail around Ringwood, printed in larger font “so there is no need for slightly older readers to don their reading glasses”.

The author Roy Glyn Longman would have been 100 on Monday (photo: John Hawkins)
The author Roy Glyn Longman would have been 100 on Monday (photo: John Hawkins)

The second part details all the names, dates and snippets of information that Roy discovered during his research. Most of the pubs also have a list of unanswered questions – and Janet is inviting those who have the answers to contact her.

The final section gives a very brief overview of the pub industry and contains a glossary of any terms no longer used in everyday life, so no prior historical knowledge is needed. And for anyone with an interest in local family trees, nearly 300 surnames are listed in the index.

An Incomplete History of Ringwood Pubs (£9.50) will be available from Ringwood Meeting House and History Centre and The Lighthouse Cookshop. Copies can also be bought via www.RingwoodPubs.co.uk

Janet Mobbs-Longman at a memorial bench in Ringwood dedicated to her parents
Janet Mobbs-Longman at a memorial bench in Ringwood dedicated to her parents


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