The son of a beloved landlady who died suddenly this week after collapsing in a hospital car park has paid tribute to his “loving mother”.

Maggie Sturgess, landlady at Derehams Inn, Loudwater, suffered a stroke in the car park at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and sadly passed away in intensive care on Tuesday (December 1).

Her son Daniel, 36, who did not want to disclose his surname due to his profession, heaped praise on his “loving mum” in a touching tribute.

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He  said: “After years of working behind bars and running various pubs in the local area in 1998 she made her dream come true to finally own a free house pub with her husband Graham.

“They had previously made a success of running the Rose and Crown in Wooburn Green. She worked tirelessly and put her heart and soul into everything that she did.

“Her and dad turned the Rose & Crown from a rough, run down pub into an extremely popular and well-loved local pub.

“From starting out in the pub trade, her ambition was to own her own pub and she was so proud to have finally achieved her goal in owning the Derehams.

“Most of her customers from the previous pubs followed her to the Derehams, which was a testament to how highly she was loved by the community.

“She was well loved by all her regulars and always went the extra mile for people and making a fuss of birthdays etc. She regularly organised themed parties and publicity stunts for the pubs in the past.

“She was famous for her lively yearly beer festival, Halloween party and her curried goat nights. She loved feeding people and looking after anyone that came through her door.

“She’s the sort of person that would run around and give out free ice creams to kids in the pub and free food when ever she had an opportunity.

“She supported the Derehams sports teams and regularly played for the darts team. She also sponsored local football teams and kept them well fed after matches.

“She ran the pub to keep people happy and put this before profits, the Derehams is part of the local community and not just a business, and this was the way she loved it.

“On a personal note, she was a loving mother to her children and her two sprocker spaniels whom she treated like her babies and would often be seen walking numerous times throughout the day at the local football club.

“She would have done anything for her children and had recently become a Grandmother. She absolutely loved treating her grandchildren and babysitting duties.

“She will leave a big hole in our lives, and those of the customers and staff of the Derehams Inn as she treated them like family too.”