Published: Thursday, 15th July, 2010 9:20am

Golfers remember popular pub boss

by Bryan Copland

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Brian Fleming with wife Karen.

NEARLY 100 golfers helped raise more than £4,000 for a cancer charity - in memory of a popular Haddington publican who passed away late last year after a short battle with the disease.

Brian Fleming, who owned and ran The Plough Tavern for about six years with wife Karen, died on November 4 from Hodgkin's lymphoma - just two days before his 53rd birthday.

Wife Karen, 51, arranged the golf day in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Ninety-five players took part, raising £4,021.48 for the charity.

Haddington rock legend Fish - a close friend of Brian's - attended the day to lend his support.

The former Marillion front man also spoke at Brian's funeral, describing his pal as a "celebrity" who "contributed to a lot of people's lives on so many levels".

Newtongrange-born Brian worked in Yorkshire and East Lothian for many years as a chef in various hotels. He was a keen Rangers and Scotland football supporter, enjoyed playing golf and the odd bet on horse racing.

As a youngster, he was a promising footballer, having trials for clubs including York City and Bradford City. But his football career was brought to an end at the age of just 21, by a heart problem, which caused him to black out on the football pitch.

He met Karen in 1977 while playing for Harrogate Town and working as a chef in a hotel there.

Brian later worked in the Blenheim House Hotel in North Berwick before moving to Haddington 19 years ago and becoming chef at Haddington Golf Club, where Karen also worked at the club as stewardess.

The couple took over The Plough Tavern Hotel on Court Street about six years ago.

Brian - who had won a battle with cancer years earlier - only knew it had returned a few weeks before it took his life.

Karen, of Neilson Park Road, described her husband as "quite a character".

"He was very popular," she told the Courier. "He's got a lot of friends and there must have been 500 people at Brian's funeral.

"I arranged the golf day because of his love for the sport, and the Macmillan girls. They used to come and visit when Brian was out of hospital. They were terrific."

A separate memorial day at Tantallon Golf Club, where Brian was a member, as well as a raffle, a silent auction and sponsorship helped add to the total sum.

Karen plans to keep running the pub for the foreseeable future.

She added: "I've been in East Lothian for a long time now and all my friends are here. I'm going to give the pub my best shot.

"Doing this memorial day has been keeping me busy and focused, and I really want to do it again next year. I'd like to thank the club and pro John Sandilands for their help."