A pub regular who stepped in to help during a busy shift in 1976 has retired after five decades working behind the bar at The Prince Albert in Ely, Cambridgeshire. Glyn Jones, who was initially asked to serve customers for just 10 minutes, remained at the pub until recently, becoming a fixture of the establishment and serving under six different landlords.
Jones was 26 years old when he first began pulling pints at the pub on Silver Street. Throughout his half-century tenure, he maintained his distinctive appearance—always dressed in a shirt, novelty tie and braces. When he started, a pint cost approximately 20p. One regular customer would repeatedly tell a story claiming that when Jones blew the horn to call time, his trousers fell down.
He told it so many times, even I used to believe it,Jones recalled.
For 48 of those 50 years, Jones balanced his bar work with a career as a lab technician at the Department for Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge. Working Thursday to Sunday at the pub, he found the role transformative.
It keeps me on my feet... I was rather shy to begin with, it gives me confidence,he said of his time at The Prince Albert, adding that the decades had
flown by.
Why has Jones decided to retire now?
According to local reporting on 22 September, Jones has now stepped down from his role as barman after reaching the milestone of 50 years. The decision marks the end of what he had previously described as the
longest 10 minutes in history.
A celebration marking his half-century at the pub drew approximately 90 people. At the event, Ely CAMRA chair Phil Eden presented Jones with an engraved tankard, while Greene King business development manager Sarah Adams presented a plaque intended to hang above the bar.
What will Jones do after leaving the bar?
Though he has retired from his barman duties, Jones will remain closely connected to The Prince Albert. According to reporting from the local area, he will continue as the pub's quizmaster, a role he has held for 17 years, setting 60 questions each month. He will also remain a regular at the establishment.
Mike Connelly, the pub's landlord for 14 years, expressed his admiration for Jones's dedication and reliability.
He's served under six landlords and he's been an absolute legend throughout. He's definitely the most reliable person I have ever worked with,Connelly said.
What happens next for The Prince Albert?
Greene King is seeking new tenants to run The Prince Albert, which is located at 62 Silver Street in Ely. The pub, which was once an officers' mess, will enter a new chapter under fresh management.
Key Facts
- Jones began working at The Prince Albert in 1976 at age 26, initially for a 10-minute favour during a rush
- He worked Thursday to Sunday for 50 years while maintaining a 48-year career as a lab technician at Cambridge University
- He will continue as the pub's quizmaster, setting 60 questions monthly, a role he has held for 17 years
- A celebration with 90 people marked his retirement, where he received an engraved tankard and a plaque from Greene King
