The Plough Inn at Barkston

In 1937, Bill and Olga Healey fully retired from the theatre and became the licensees of the Plough Inn on West Street in Barkston where they remained until 1950. The Plough was originally open for business in 1871 and throughout its life as a local pub was only licensed as a Beer House. According to village historian, Neville Coulding, the glory days of the Plough were almost certainly during the war years when Bill and Olga were in charge. Sadly, there are few living survivors of those days left in the village. However, Neville was able to talk to many of those that have now passed away about their memories of village life and of the pub before they died.

(Looking west down West Street)

He believes that although the Plough was very popular, Bill and Olga were strict disciplinarians and when `time` was called you didn’t argue. He goes on to say that many of the customers were Americans, part of the 9th American Air Force contingent based at Barkston Heath. Here according to Neville, the recollections do vary. Some remembered the Americans with great affection, not least because they were generous with sweets, chocolate and black bubble-gum. Others claim there was often tension with the local men and that there was at least one ferocious fistfight at the Plough between the locals and the `Yanks`.

(The Plough today)

After the Americans had left, Barkston Heath became the base of the 1st Airborne Division, training for the raid on Arnhem. Indeed, many of these men also became familiar faces in the village. One such familiar face was that of English actor Arthur Lowe, who was later to play Captain Mainwaring in the long serving BBC comedy series of the 1970s, `Dads Army`. Rumours have it that he was temporarily attached to a searchlight battery, stationed in a wooden hut just outside Barkston. It wouldn’t be difficult to imagine that some of his experiences around the village could have possibly helped to shape his character and the antics in the comedy series based on the Home Guard.

In another recollection, a village girl wrote "Olga used to play the piano and sing to the customers - we always had a good night there. But the Plough was so popular that it always ran out of beer by Saturday night. In fact, it was nicknamed - The Pub with no beer".

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