THE landlady who believes she is probably the longest serving licensee in the Farnham area is about to call time on her days in the licensed trade. Yvonne Cleminson will be leaving The Cherry Tree in Rowledge on Tuesday, October 30, but before she goes, she is holding "open house" for old and new friends, to whom she has been Auntie Von. People will be welcome to turn up all day on Sunday, October 28, to say their farewells, with food laid on and live music in the evening by Micky Kemp and friends. Yvonne arrived at the pub a few days before Christmas in 1979 after three years at The Cannon in Aldershot. She believes her 28 years in charge are unbeaten by any other current licensee. "I can't think of anyone who even comes close," she observed. "I have brought my family up here. Children who came with their parents and sat on the floor eating packets of crisps are my adult customers now. "The community spirit of The Cherry Tree has been alive for all that time," added Yvonne, who believes that legacy will be safe in the lands of incoming landlady Elaine Roberts. Yvonne's importance in the village even extends to her being president of Rowledge Cricket Club. Her time at The Cherry Tree, a pub with the distinction of being half in Hampshire and half in Surrey, has been particularly well known for two things - the lusciousness of the pub garden, which has won many prizes, and Yvonne's charity fundraising. Since her daughter Emma died nine years ago from the rare Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, the pub has raised tens of thousands of pounds towards research into finding a cure for EDS. In retirement, she will live in Farnham and make time for writing and travel. She has five grandchildren, two of which live in Japan and will soon be receiving a visit. "I am definitely going to write my life story and The Cherry Tree will be a big part of it," she added. (FD42-11-07)