TOPIC:

I've just noticed this story whilst looking through a (very) short history of The Bell Inn, compiled by Geoffrey Binns of Widcombe, in 2002 (I think).

In the year 1805, a Colonel Townsend was sitting at the bar having a swift half, when he dropped dead on the spot.

One of the landlords of the time (either William or Francis Lewis - the brothers ran The Bell together) rushed around and - realising he had died - breathed his own breath into Captain Townsend's body, in what may well have been the first recorded use of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Townsend came back to life.

Never having seen this trick performed before (it's possible that it never had been), the rest of the pub declared it a miracle, and The Bell was celebrated for it for quite a while.

If ever I suffer the same fate and only Jamie, Louis and/or Owen is behind the bar, just leave me please.

Saved by the Bell...