A former CAMRA award-winning publican is planning to write a book about his 36 years behind the bar at one of Bedfordshire’s most popular locals and is appealing for customers’ favourite anecdotes.

Kevin Machin (pictured), who sold the Engineers Arms in Henlow to Punch Pubs & Co in September last year, hopes football legend Paul Gascoigne, who used to slip away from the nearby Henlow Grange health spa for a crafty drink, will write the foreword.

Kevin, 71, said: “I’m not looking at doing a 36-year history of my time at the Engineers, but recalling some of the comic or funny incidents that took place.

“Of course I remember many, but need prompting and a little help from my friends.”

The pub featured in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide for 30 consecutive years, once reached the last four finalists in the Pub of the Year contest, and won more local titles than Kevin can remember.

And Gazza wasn’t the only football star who drank there. Manchester United and Northern Ireland ace George Best would also sneak out of Henlow Grange for a pint.

He loved the place so much that he was made honorary president of the pub’s football team and for many years a photo of him with some of the players was displayed on one wall.

Former Everton manager Howard Kendall and Vinny Jones also turned up once with the whole Leeds United team, while actress Julie Goodyear, who played Rovers Return landlady Bet Lynch in Coronation Street, was often spotted at the bar.

Former Derbyshire miner Kevin, who before taking over the pub worked as a sports reporter on the left-wing Morning Star newspaper, which made headlines when he had a beer brewed called KGB.

Eyebrows were raised because the beer pump on the bar featured a hammer and sickle. But Kevin innocently explained that KGB only stood for Kevin’s Grand Beer.

Then when Prince Charles and Camilla were married, he had another beer commissioned called Stuff the Royal Wedding.

Kevin also served a special commemorative beer after hell-raising actor Oliver Reed died in 1999.

Regulars supped 1,600 pints of Ollie’s Ale, with Kevin explaining: “While Oliver may never have actually drunk here, perhaps he should have done.”

When he finally retired, CAMRA’s East Bedfordshire branch threw a special leaving party, presenting him with a certificate and a special miner’s lamp engraved with the pub’s symbol.

Branch chairman Barry Price said then: “Kevin’s done a superb job at this pub. He drinks real ale, he is full of fun and he cares about the community.”

Anybody with anecdotes about the Engineers can contact Kevin at kevin.machin@hotmail.co.uk