Former landlord of The Nutshell in Bury St Edmunds remembered on last round

Tributes have been paid to a popular Bury St Edmunds former landlord, who asked for his funeral procession to stop outside his cherished town centre pub.

James ‘Jimmie’ Tinley, 81, ran The Nutshell Pub, in The Traverse with his late wife Valerie from 1968-1973 and wanted to see his pub one final time as part of his funeral last Thursday.

His daughter Veronica Walker said: “Even though he was Irish and was very proud of where he came from, he always thought of Bury as his home. He was loved throughout the town and did a lot for Bury, he wanted a traditional Irish send off and to see his pub one last time.”

Mr Tinley came over to London in his youth before moving to Wickhambrook.

He finally settled down in Bury and found love on a bus to Rougham, where he met his wife, Valerie, when he was a conductor.

Celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in 2008, she told the Bury Free Press: “When he came round and asked for the fare, I refused to pay and asked him to let me ride for free - but he made me pay. It just went on from there.”

During his time running The Nutshell, the smallest pub in Britain, they hosted live music and even organised a pub outing to Great Yarmouth. He also held a number of other jobs in the town - helping to build part of the A14 and working at the sugar beet factory.

The much loved father, grandfather and great grandfather was also an avid Ipswich Town fan. Mr Tinley passed away peacefully at home on March 6, and his Requiem Mass was held at St Edmunds Roman Catholic Church.