A former mayor of Strömstad, Ledbury’s twin town in Sweden, has paid tribute to much-missed landlord Andy Ward.

Mr Ward, who was landlord at The Talbot for 25 years and a mainstay of public life in Ledbury, died earlier this month on the Isle of Man.

He had retired to the island in 2020 with wife Maria, who now works as a counsellor there.

Back in 2000, Mr Ward had played a key role in the foundation of the Ledbury Strömstad Twinning Association.

For years, he also hosted visitors from Strömstad at The Talbot - with one early visit in 2001 creating a lasting legacy at the Ledbury pub.

The first Swedish music act to visit Ledbury as part of the twinning, the Cecilia and Laudate Choir, enjoyed drinking in The Talbot and took to calling the back bar ‘Little Strömstad’.

The name stuck, and it has remained the meeting place for both the twinning association and its Swedish visitors since.

Peter Dafteryd is the emergency preparations co-ordinator/head of security at Strömstad Kommun (council) and was mayor of the town from 2015 to 2018.

He said: “Andy was very important in our twinning with Ledbury. I have been visiting Ledbury more or less every year since 2001 until November 2019, before Covid. Andy always met me with ‘Peter my friend, Westons cider as always?’

“Andy and The Talbot played a special role. Little Strömstad, which he created, has been a place that has given us fantastic memories and much joy and laughter.

“During my time as Mayor of Strömstad, I made two official visits in Ledbury and one of them with a band. They performed one evening at The Talbot and next evening Andy had a music quiz and all of them took Andy to their hearts. We still quote Andy’s ‘it is bloody marvelous, it is absolutely splendid’.

“Now, more than two years since we were able to travel to Ledbury, we are looking forward to our next visit, though it will not be the same without Andy - may he rest in peace.”

The twinning association’s 20th anniversary celebrations could not take place in 2020 due to the pandemic. Members are hoping they’ll be able to celebrate this year and The Talbot is sure to be involved.