WHEN Anne's first husband, Gerald Fox-Edwards, wanted to move down to Devon from London for health reasons it was the Arundell Arms in Lifton, that caught his and his wife's eye.

Gerald, being a passionate fisherman, the hotel appeared the perfect place, with 20 miles of its own waters on the Tamar and six of its tributaries — the Lyd, the Lew, the Wolf, the Thrushel, the Carey and the Ottery.

Since that time in 1961, Anne has been a driving force behind a business which has secured an international reputation as a fishing hotel as well as providing employment for more than 40 local staff.

In such an environment it was perhaps no surprise that Anne herself soon became hooked on angling, but she did admit that her knowledge, gained over almost 50 years, was not so fly on the subject at first.

She said: 'My first attempt at hotel keeping was to pour a Bloody Mary in the bar when asked for a "Hairy Mary", which as our fishing guests will know is a famous salmon fly.'

Although Gerald died in 1973 their work sealed the reputation of the Arundell Arms as a quality sporting hotel with a lure to the angler of sea trout and salmon which swam in the rivers of the verdant Devon countryside.

Anne, 82, told the Times: 'I'm a Londoner and I had never been here before but I'd put all my energy into finding a nice place.

'It was extremely hard work, even when you are experienced it is very demanding.

'I suppose I happen to be a people person, people are all different but to do this job you have to like people. It's absolutely vital not to be patronising, which is not in my nature.

'I like to think I get on well with people and it is so important with guests that they are made to feel welcome. I am fortunate that many who have come to the hotel are indeed, still friends of mine.'

It was through fishing and the hotel she met her second husband Conrad Voss-Bark, BBC parliamentary correspondent, fisherman and author. Perhaps not to be 'outdone' by her husband's literary talents Anne's own 'West Country Fly Fishing' — a collection of essays by experts and friends, including Conrad, the poet Ted Hughes and others — is considered a classic.

However, there are many 'strings to her bow.' She is a former winner of the Woman Hotelier of the Year and in 1994 received the MBE for her services to tourism.

She is a former chair of the Regional Fisheries committee and been presented with a lifetime's achievement award by the Country Landowners' Association for her services to angling. A former chair of Tavistock magistrates she is also a former chair of the Board of Visitors of HM Prison Dartmoor.

Now in her 80s she is very much associated with the hotel although she has now handed its day-to-day running to her son, Adam Fox-Edwards, a former RAF fighter pilot, and his wife, Tina.

Anne added: 'The Arundell Arms is very much at the heart of the community. A lot of the staff have been with us for many years, and we all muck in together, working together as a team.'

What would she have done if she had her time again? 'I wanted to be the best actress in the world, but it was not to be. But I have lived a very happy life and had a lot of fun, especially going over the world, enjoying my passion for fishing.

'Well,' interjected a proud Adam, 'You might not have been the best actress in the world but you certainly ended up one of the best hoteliers.'

Perhaps that sums up Anne Voss-Bark: hook, line — although not in fly fishing — sinker!