A surprise visitor pops in for a pint (From Ludlow Advertiser)

A surprise visitor pops in for a pint

A FORMER German Chancellor went almost unnoticed last week when he paid a visit to a south Shropshire pub.

Locals at the Castle Hotel, in Bishop's Castle, were unaware they were drinking in the company of Gerhard Schroeder, who was in the area studying at a nearby language school.

Landlady Nicky Simpson said: "I didn't realise who he was until a few days after the event. He just popped in with a group of students.

"We are used to them coming in for a drink but no-one realised at the time they had a famous face among them.

"He was so low key that I couldn't even tell you what he looked like or how many times he came in.

"He didn't stand out even though we believe he had his security guards with him."

The visit of Mr Schroeder, who was Germany's Chancellor for seven years, resulted in the normally sedate town becoming the centre of the media's attention.

"We've been very busy dealing with all the interest from newspapers and radio stations," Nicky said.

"Not only have we had reporters from national papers, there have also been journalists from Germany here."

Mr Schroeder, who stepped down last month after a General Election, was undertaking an intensive English course at Park House, near Hyssington, on the Welsh border.

Charles and Ann Jackson, who run the language centre, bring the students to the Castle Hotel so they can sample the delights of a traditional English pub.