Sylvia and Len Robinson live at The Old Inn, formerly The Red Lion, at Lt. Thurlow Green. They came to Thurlow 15 years ago and very soon got involved in village life. Sylvia joined the Women’s Institute and her main interest within that is music and drama. Sylvia has been Suffolk West’s Chairman (a term of three years) and is currently president of Thurlow W.I., a job she has done for several years. She also enjoys singing in the church choir, travelling and walking the dog.

Len is currently chairman of Lt. Thurlow Parish Council, is Church Warden and Treasurer of St. Peters, Lt. Thurlow, and has for many years helped to organise Thurlow Fayre. He plays carpet bowls and likes watching football and cricket.

Len and Sylvia have traced the history of The Old Inn back to the early 1700s. It began as an ale house and in mid-1800 Rebecca Webb, licensee at the time, was granted a spirits licence. Next door to the pub was a slaughter-house. The pub also served the people of Lt. Bradley, a footpath from there coming right to the front entrance.

During the war when Stradishall aerodrome was in use The Red Lion was a very busy place with all the RAF personnel visiting. Apparently the airmen wrote their names on the cellar ceiling, but all trace of that was gone when Sylvia and Len arrived.

The pub closed in 1967 and the house was modernised! When Sylvia and Len arrived in 1980 they quickly got rid of the hardboard and exposed all the beams ­ studs. They found a small book belonging to Susannah Webb who lived there in 1800 and various other small items lost in the past between floorboards.

The main change they have seen is Lt. Thurlow Hall being occupied ­ for years there were only Mr. and Mrs. Chorley as caretakers.