OVER the years I've interviewed a lot of blokes with crazy ideas.

But, of course, you don't tell em they're daft. Get the info; cobble the story. Keep your nose out.

That's how it's gone for close on 50 years. But I've just made an exception to one of journalism's unwritten rules. "Terry," I told him. "You're mad."

I couldn't stop myself. I mean, who plans to reopen a battered and boarded-up pub these days when even the lively ones are struggling, there's not much money about and the combination of the smoking ban and cheap booze is hitting hard?

Especially if you are 66 and have never worked behind a bar in your life. Oh, and you've had a heart attack and cancer.

Yet Terry Whalley is undaunted at the prospect of reopening his old watering hole, Uncle Jack's pub in Lower Darwen.

"It's not going to be easy. We'll have to start virtually from scratch, but I know the pub well and there's a lot of potential there.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge. We have big plans," he told me.

Seven months ago in this column I wrote: "The local, as one of the centres of the community, seems to have had its day."

Three months ago I revealed that Sunnyhurst landlord Stuart Walsh was calling time after 22 years there.

He reckoned that barely one Darwen pub was making any money.

And now, here's Terry Whalley going out to buck the trend.

He and his business partner Steve Shread have taken a five-year lease on Uncle Jack's in Branch Road and, after a major refit starting today, the pub will open its doors on August 1 for the first time since Councillor Michael Johnson quit early last year.

Terry was MD of Apeks Marine Equipment at Blackamoor till he retired last Christmas.

He says: "We realise it's going to be hard work, certainly till it gets up and running.

But it was my local for 25 years. We know the village and we know the folk.

They deserve a great pub. We'll be asking them what they want to see and we'll try to deliver."

Steve is MD of Academy Print & Design and is also from the village.

He and Terry are looking to appoint a manager, but till then Terry will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the pub which was known as the Swan before former landlord Jim Hughes got permission from Blackburn Rovers supremo Jack Walker to name it after him.

Jim, who divides his time between homes in Darwen and Cyprus, and Terry have been pals for years and they owned several very smart racehorses together on the flat and over the jumps. What does he think about the Uncle Jack's venture?

Jim spent 13 years there. He told me: "It's a lot different on the other side of the bar.

"I was 51 when I took the pub and, looking back, I reckon that was a bit too old. I've told Terry it'll be a lot of hard graft."

Reopening Uncle Jack's will be one of Terry's biggest gambles. But it might just pay off.