DARTS professional Jim Williams will be throwing in Gill Kirby’s farewell competition at the Cotterell Arms next weekend.

Terry Jenkins’ son, Graham, is also supporting the event, which will be an emotional one for Gill, who is leaving the pub next month after 25 years.

“We know Jim Williams is coming and so, too, is his dad and we will be having a really good competition,” said Gill.

“Graham Jenkins always enters our competitions and Terry has even been to watch a few times.

“I have done around 30 tournaments since the skittle alley was put in around five years ago, and this will be my last one at the Cotterell Arms.”

The competition takes place on Saturday, April 5, starting at 5pm, and Gill is putting up a £200 cash prize for the winner.

“Barry Tyler has been successful in our darts competitions and Kevin Mackenzie from the Herdsman has won it the most times,” said Gill.

Gill will have been a tenant at the Whitecross pub for 25 years and seven months when she leaves on April 29.

“It has not sunk in yet that I am leaving and it probably won’t until I walk out of the door for the last time,” said Gill, who has previously worked in the Starting Gate.

“I have decided that I will be leaving at the end of April and the pub is now up for sale.

Her husband, Noel, died suddenly in May last year, aged 59 years.

The couple had run the pub together since 1988.

Gill is the Hereford LV Darts League organiser and says the Welsh Club will become the league’s headquarters from May.

“Noel was running the league as secretary and I now run the league with my son, Lucas, and my daughters Amy and Sara,” said Gill.

The men’s team from the Cotterell have won Division One and the team which Gill captain’s have won the women’s Division One crown.

The league’s finals’ night takes place on Friday, April 25 at the Welsh Club.

Gill is already thinking about the future and is organising a darts competition to raise money for Hereford United on Saturday, May 10, starting at 5pm.

“My son, Lucas, plays for Hereford United’s Community Trust Under-19 team and he was picked in the squad which lost 2-1 against Chelsea,” said Gill, who was educated in Hereford.

“I want to do something to raise money for Hereford United. After I leave the Cotterell, I am looking to carry on afterwards at other venues,” she said.

Gill has previously worked as a Post Office catering manager in London.

She added: “I have a personal license and I could run bars, but I am looking forward to a break from the pub and I will see what happens.”