A PUB landlady who was part of a darts team that dominated a rural league for decades has died aged 67.

Known as the Ten Year Terrors, the Blue Bell B Team won the Weardale Women’s Darts League every year between 1989 and 1999.

Just as much about enjoying a night away from husbands and children as playing darts, the league provided a chance for women to get together for a drink, and long-serving league secretary Joan Kellett was at the heart of it all.

Mrs Kellett joined the league in the mid 1970s when she moved to Weardale with her husband, Paul. The couple moved into the Kings Head Hotel in St John’s Chapel, where Mrs Kellett served as a landlady while Mr Kellett worked at Groverake Mine.

Having played darts for years, Mrs Kellett was thrilled to take over the pub’s dart team and it was not long before she was helping to run the league itself. With her passion for darts and excellent organisational skills, the league was soon thriving, with 22 teams from across the dale competing.

After five years at the Kings Head Hotel, Mrs Kellett retired from the publican trade to concentrate on bringing up her two children, Debbie and Richard, in nearby Wearhead. She also managed St John’s Chapel Youth Club alongside her friend and fellow darts player Pam Barron.

The darts team, meanwhile, moved across the village to the Blue Bell Inn, where it has remained ever since.

Mrs Barron’s daughter, June, joined the team as a teenager and has fond memories of nights out playing darts with her mother and Mrs Kellett.

She said: “It was a social night for women, mostly mothers, who got together to play darts and have a drink. We had a lot of fun, sometimes we didn’t get back home until 1am. Joan was a big part of it.

“She ruled the league with an iron fist. I think some people were a bit frightened of her but she did an excellent job, and was very popular.”

Born in Barningham, near Richmond, Mrs Kellett met her husband when he was serving behind the bar at Smallways Country Inn on the A66.

The couple married at Richmond Register Office in 1971 and briefly ran the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire before moving to Weardale.

Mr Kellett, who is originally from Bowness in the Lake District, said: “Joan loved living in Weardale, and the darts league was her life, along with her children and grandchildren who she was devoted to.”

Mrs Kellett died on April 20 aged 67. Her funeral was held at Wear Valley Crematorium on May 9.

Paying tribute, Weardale councillor, John Shuttleworth, said: “If it wasn’t for the efforts of Joan Kellett organising and attending meetings for the darts league it might not be here today.

“She will be greatly missed by all of her friends and colleagues”