It was the end of an era for one of the last traditional old fashioned pubs in Largs, when The Royal Oak closed its doors five years ago.
It inspired the much missed and talented late Arlene Muir to pen a special poem which was, fittingly, read out at the packed bar in Boyd Street, as the final pints were being served in 2016.
Arlene told the Largs and Millport News in 2016: “We had such great laughs and banter at the pub over the years. I thought I would write a poem about the pub’s special memories, and read it out at the farewell party, and named it ‘The Star of Boyd Street’ - I thought the regulars and locals would have enjoyed a story about all the good times we shared."
Her poem takes a humorous, affectionate look back at the Royal Oak:
"It isn’t just a pub you know
- we want to make that clear,
it is a cosy little living room
where people could spread some cheer,
For years and years it stood its ground and always gave us pleasure,
The laughs, the jokes, the lives we shared, It
has truly been a treasure
The Willies, Jimmies, Bills
and Johns, the gossip and
the chatter is buried deep within these walls with all the local patter
The star of Boyd St corner, this little house of drink,
some come to chat and down
a pint, and others just to think
Tonight is the grand finale,
as we bid this pub adieu, we
will forever have these memories,
the staff and me and you
And so tonight the doors
will close, so let us not be sad, instead let’s toast each other for all the laughs we have had.
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