Published in Beers of the World Issue 2 on 16/11/2005.

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Ernie’s coming up roses

Stockport pensioner Ernie Cross was so attached to his local pub that when he died his family asked if his cremated ashes could be sprinkled over the pub’s flower boxes.

Licensees at the Hatter’s arms, Marple, agreed. And next thing they know they’ve won the ‘best pub in bloom’ award in a competition held by Robinson’s brewery.

Now the pub gets a regular stream of tourists keen to toast Ernie’s memory.

And we can’t help being reminded of a chart-topping song by British comedian Benny Hill: “Is that the trees rustling, or the creaking of the gate?

Or Ernie’s ghostly Goldtops, rattling in their crate?

They won’t forget Ernie…”.....

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By Dominic Roskrow

Section : Beer Matters

Page number : 54