WHAT do Prince Andrew, eccentric astronomer Patrick Moore and pop crooner Tom Jones all have in common? All three have been customers of Gwen Swain at The Bosun Caf on Calshot beach.

In Gwen's 25 years behind the Bosun's traditional Formica counter, thousands of visitors have enjoyed her seaview snacks and stocked up on her buckets and spades, wind-breaks and fishing nets.

But after one of her busiest summer seasons, Gwen has decided it is time to hang up her pinny and retire.

"It's very sad. I'll miss the people most," said Gwen.

"I remember when Prince Andrew came in with a squad of cadets. He lined them all up at the door to choose ice creams one by one. Patrick Moore had an ice cream too. I think he'd been up at the activity centre.

"And Tom Jones - he came in wearing huge dark glasses, slipped them down his nose and gave me a great big wink!"

Gwen herself is a celebrity to her regular customers who pop in for mugs of steaming tea and her famous bacon and egg rolls.

Local traffic warden Bert Worthington said: "Calshot won't be the same without the Bosun Cafe. I've been coming here for eight years and I shall miss having a chat with Gwen."

Barrie Rogers, from Romsey, has been a customer for ten years. He said: "It is tragic that the caf is closing - a loss to the whole south coast.

"But at least Gwen has had a great final summer. It's a lovely way to go."

Gwen is looking forward to more time with her family. "I'm over 70 and I've worked since I was 14, so I'm due a rest," she said.

"But I think I will still come down here most days, just to sit in the car and look at 'my' beach."

The Bosun Cafe's final day is due to be Sunday, October 5. The future of the white weatherboard building - an RAF training centre before the Second World War - is unclear, although New Forest planners have been considering a scheme to build a restaurant on the site.