30/01/2024
RIP Francis
Frances Bacon
our hearts are breaking as we announce that our precious girl Frances Bacon has passed away. After a short illness Frankie passed peacefully, cosy in her favourite place in front of the fire, comforted by her family, graciously receiving cuddles and belly scratches.
At almost 14, Frances has led a colourful life. As a piglet she rampaged through the house, made herself at home in the kids beds and established herself as part of the family, she grew up alongside our children and they are feeling this loss deeply.
Friends made her an outdoor pen on our roof garden and a piggy ramp for access, she thanked them by nipping at their ankles! As she aged and suffered with arthritis, she was no longer able to manage the stairs to our flat and so she took up residence in the pub, happy in front of the fire, happy foraging in the beer garden and cosy in her private pen dozing on the carpet and enjoying heating that was so kindly installed.
Frances was known, especially in her younger days to be something of a terror, she would wait until the bar was locked to check the hatches and see what she might steal from behind the bar, she would nudge the kitchen door endlessly to convince us that she needed a treat. Often in the mornings we would find she had overturned the bar stools and chairs whilst checking for snacks. As we sat with her last night we recalled so many stories of her rummaging through customers hand bags, stealing food if there was a chance and her impressive pace if she was to hear a peanut fall at the other end of the bar.
Over the years Frances became something of an accidental celebrity, social media spread the news of her residing in the pub and she became a diva when her story hit the National press. She became loved by SO many people, had regular visitors who would faithfully bring her treats of apples and nuts. At times it seemed a little strange to us that everyone was so fascinated by our pet pig but then, to know Frances was to know a very special soul and we are glad that in her advancing years she knew how loved she was.
Pigs have a very special human quality about them and hand on heart Frances you have touched so many lives and brought joy to so many people.
So, to our baby girl Frances, we wish you all the peace you deserve and hope you are reunited with your best pal Tazzy Cat, spending happy days foraging for crab apples.
Things will never feel quite the same again around this old place, but we will carry you with us in our hearts and remember all the fun times.
To most you were the ‘pub pig’ but to us you were so much more than that, you were family and we could not have loved you more.
Rest easy sweet girl and know you were loved.
