09/06/2026
Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming Ann Butler back to The Compasses for a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Born in 1929, Ann returned to share memories of her childhood in Alderholt, where her father, Alec Butler, lived at Harts Farm on Lower Daggons Road.
She shared a story that had us smiling. Her father would ride his horse to The Compasses and villagers would jokingly judge just how merry he was by the speed of the horse on the journey home 🐎🍻
She spoke fondly of spending much of her childhood in the kitchen, of evenings dancing with American soldiers in 1941 and 1942 and was even able to recite the song that would play at the end of the evening, still carried in memory after all these years.
Now 96 years young, Ann is a mother of five, a grandmother and a great grandmother, full of warmth, humour and stories that deserve to be heard.
When asked her secret to such a long and happy life, her answer was simple:
“I try not to tell lies.”
Moments like today remind us that pubs like The Compasses are more than buildings. They’re woven into the lives of families, friendships, laughter and memories that stretch across generations.
We feel incredibly lucky to hear the stories behind these walls and even luckier to share them 💛
