Sheffield pub landlord who was 'loved to bits' is honoured at memorial festival

Keith Chatwood made a big impression on customers after taking up the reins three years ago at The Strad pub in Stradbroke, which he ran with his family.

The former Navy man and fashion designer died suddenly last December, aged 72, and was given the send-off he would have wanted when the pub on Stradbroke Drive hosted a day of live music, dubbed 'The Stradfest', on Sunday.

Keith's widow Janet said he had wanted to hold a charity music festival last year, only for his plans to be thwarted, and she felt he had been there in spirit to see his dream finally come to fruition.

"I think he was there all the way, even making sure the rain stayed away when it looked like it was going to pour down," she said.

Keith, who died on December 15, was born in Marple, near Stockport, but lived for most of his life in Sheffield, barring a brief spell in Spain.

He spent 10 years in the Navy after leaving school and then worked in the fashion trade designing fabrics, with Janet saying the 'ladies' man' loved seeing women wearing his creations.

Janet thanked everyone who attended the festival, as well as the many local businesses which had donated prizes to be raffled off.

"Everyone loved Keith to bits. He was a right character," she added.