Regulars at the New Inn at Coate, near Devizes, will bid a sad farewell this week to Vic Pike, who has been drinking at the pub for more than 66 years.

Mr Pike, 83, is having to move to sheltered accommodation in Westbury, leaving his four-bedroom home next to the pub where he has lived for 64 of those years.

He said: “I never talk about myself as an Englishman. I am British because I was born in the Channel Islands.”

Mr Pike’s mother was born in Coate but fell in love with a Wiltshire Regiment soldier who hailed from Guernsey, so they went to live there when they married.

But the threat of Nazi invasion in 1940 brought the family back to Coate and Mr Pike has lived there ever since – apart from his 27 years in the Royal Navy.

He said: “I was a Chief Petty Officer and I was in charge of the engine room of HMS Ark Royal. I never married but had a woman in every port.”

After being demobbed, Mr Pike worked for Archie Kidd Engineering until he took early retirement aged 63, to look after his invalid mother.

Mr Pike has been drinking in the New Inn since he was legally old enough to do so, which would have been in 1944.

He has repaired to the New Inn every day for his pint of Henry’s IPA and tot of Pusser’s Rum. His photograph in naval uniform adorns the wall above his special seat.

But now Mr Pike has trouble walking and arrangements have been made for him to move into sheltered accommodation close to his niece in Westbury.

He said: “I shall miss this place like anything. They are always so good to me.”

Feelings are mutual with the staff at the pub. Mr Pike is a treasured customer and was invited to open the remodelled skittle alley 18 months ago.

Landlady Patsy Lowe said: “We are going to miss Vic so much. It just won’t be the same without him. I hope he will come back and see us from time to time.”

Tomorrow representatives from the pub’s owners, Wadworth’s, will make a special presentation to him.