Tributes to 'larger than life' Wakefield Star Inn landlord Ivor Lloyd

Ivor Lloyd ran the Star Inn at Kirkhamgate for 38 years.

Ivor married wife Yvonne in 1964 and following three further additions to the family - son Ivor, and daughers Lorraine and Dawn - they moved to Kirkhamgate in 1969 to take over The Star Inn from his parents.

Dawn said: “Ivor loved his role as ‘mine host’ and they built up a reputation of a family pub with a large play equipped beer garden with the added attraction of Rupert the donkey.

“The pub was famous for the many brasses and Ivor’s large Toby Jug collection which was featured in many publications including Yorkshire Life magazine.”

The pub was at the heart of the village community and they both did a lot of fundraising including delivering food parcels to the elderly at Christmas.

Dawn said: “Ivor was a larger than life character, a bit of a practical joker, who loved the village and was extremely well liked by all and always had a tale to tell.”

Following their retirement in 2008, Ivor and Yvonne stayed in Kirkhamgate and enjoyed spending time with their family.

Dawn said: “He loved the Kirkhamgate Scarecrow Festival and recently won an award for his Bruce Forsyth entry, with a little help from his son in law Russ.”

Unfortunately, Ivor was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away after a long illness.

Paying tribute to her father, Dawn said: “He lived for his family and was proud of every one of them, especially his grandchildren.

“He was very much loved and always will be, everyone will miss him.

“Massive thank you to all those who helped to care for him family, friends, doctors and nurses but especially the Wakefield and Prince of Wales Hospices and the lovely staff at Academy Care.”

Ivor was born in Barnsley 1942, eldest of two boys, alongside brother Barry.

His mum and dad Bill and Dorothy had a number of pubs including the Rose and Crown in Barnsley.

After Ivor and Yvonne married they moved to the Rose and Crown with his parents.

In 1965 he became the youngest John Smiths landlord at the time, aged 23, when they took over The Red Lion at Worsbrough Bridge, Barnsley.