A COUNTY Durham woman who lost her father in April last year has created a ‘pub’ in her own back garden in lasting memory of him.

Charlotte Napper, who lives in Carrville near Durham, has come up with a rather special way to pay tribute following the death of Allan Napper.

The father-of-four, described as a “hardworker” and a “gentleman,” died in Thailand, but sadly his body was never brought back to the UK.

Saying she did not have a “special place” to visit and reflect on her father’s life as a result, Ms Napper decided to transform her garage into ‘Big Al’s Bar.’

The Northern Echo:

The garage has been transformed into a pub Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Complete with custom-made signs, optic lighting, football memorabilia and pictures, the bar has also been transformed to include real-life bar counter.

Ms Napper said she wanted to create somewhere where she could "feel close" with her father - who was known as 'Big Al' by his friends in Thailand.

The Northern Echo:

The pub has been named after her father's nickname Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

She told The Northern Echo: “I decided to create the bar and have somewhere I could be close to him.

“Most people have a grave or somewhere special to go, but for me I didn’t have anywhere specific because of the fact we couldn’t get him back.”

A Brasside man originally, Mr Napper was also father to Paul, Robert and Amanda, and had previously been husband to Karen – he died aged 73 on April 16, 2020.

The Northern Echo:

Charlotte with father, Allan Napper Picture: CONTRIBUTOR

Explaining that her father had spent his latter years retired overseas, Ms Napper said: “He had holidays in Thailand after he retired - then after going back and forth, decided to live there permanently.

"I'd always kept in contact with him via FaceTime and letters, we had lots of letters always handwritten.

“I knew he’d been ill with different health problems, but last year he got taken to hospital and he passed away.”

Tragically, due to a breakdown in communication with those dealing with Mr Napper’s death, his body or ashes were never repatriated.

Ms Napper said: “We couldn’t even get his ashes back, we tried to speak to the British Embassy, and they couldn’t do anything about it.”

So opening the pub, she said it had been turned into somewhere where close members of the family could also pay their respects. 

She said that she did not take on the project for lockdown, rather it was themed idea around her father's favourite things - pubs and Newcastle United.

Paying tribute, Ms Napper said he had a rich history, working for the likes of Vaux Brewery in Sunderland and later Durham County Council before his retirement.

The Northern Echo:

Paul, left, with Karen, Charlotte, Allan, Robert and Amanda Picture: CONTRIBUTOR

Ms Napper also said he was a popular drinker at the now demolished, Grange pub in Carrville and had become well-known in his role with the council.

Describing Mr Napper as a “traditional” man, she said: “He worked hard, he worked six and seven days a week.

“He would give his pay packet to his wife and get his pocket money, he was very traditional – but caring.

“The first question when I got with my partner was ‘are you a black and white or a red and white’ – he was a huge Newcastle United fan.”

“There was a lot of people who new who he was, a lot of people would describe him as a bit of a gentleman.

"When he passed away I got lots of texts messages – a lot of people were upset when he passed away.”

Ms Napper added that the pub is a work in progress and that she fully intends to continue making improvements to the pub, adding new features as time goes on.