The drinks are on Rosemary Wenzerul as the joint compiler of an unusual addition to the city’s historical records — a collection of photos of 270 pubs and pub signs, past and present, from the locality.

Mrs Wenzerul — wife of the St Albans Synagogue chair — spent 18 months on the project. She said that “pubs are such a huge part of our heritage, especially in St Albans, where every street used to be lined with coaching inns. As they close down, we lose another part of our history. I wanted to produce a permanent record before it was too late.”

A CD featuring in excess of 600 photos was launched at the annual St Albans Beer Festival. It is being sold “for the price of a pint of beer” to raise money for a local hospice.

Although Mrs Wenzerul rarely touches alcohol, she says her interest in the licensed trade is in the blood.
Her late grandparents David and Miriam Vandermolen were publicans, as were some of their relatives.

“I believe many Jewish families were publicans as they had large families and pubs provided the ample accommodation they needed,” she explained.