I do so enjoy your Pub of the Week articles on local bars.
They highlight the position that these places of imbibe have, and have had in local society for centuries.
The series is timely given the closure of so many public houses, as mentioned in another Chronicle story recently.
Your feature on The Airman (May 9) struck a particular chord as it's a place I have been associated with since 1965 and earlier (1958 through use of the off-licence).
However your article failed to mention the place that the Airman holds locally in the annals of darts.
Obviously John, the manager, could not in his short tenure know of the brilliant sides and fantastic players who have made up those teams and other stars of the oche who often could be seen practising and playing in the public bar.
Names such as Tommy Barrett, dual News of the World Darts Championship winner and county players such as Roy Jenkins, Bill Duddy, Alan Glazier, Terry and Richard Gardener and many more.
Other notable 'arrer throwers' were John Thompson, Charlie 'Two Fingers' Dodsworth, Garry Thompson and, those of more recent times, Dave Martin, John Doran and Ray Boulden who, together with others, including Roy Jenkins, contrived to be the only Airman team to win the extremely competitive Staines and District League.
Of course, the colourful Bobby George stood up to the oche taking on all-comers. I chalked that night and although Bob did not lose a game he allowed opponents to get close!
The Airman still has dart teams, ladies' and men's, and their enthusiasm is not dampened despite the lack of interest in darts locally; allied to the drop in attendances of pubs countrywide - people, it would seem, want to spend their money and leisure time in other ways.
I will close with a plea to publicans to keep up the good work and embrace fully that which is in their charge.
ALAN RICE Hon Secretary (and dart player), Feltham History Group, Feltham.
