For many people living alone a daily outing can mean the difference between company and not seeing anyone all day.
Pete, from Essex, England, lives alone but to make sure he gets out of the house he visits his local pub every day for lunch.
The 90-year-old orders the same meal every day: Hunter’s chicken with a glass of red wine.
He’s developed a strong friendship with Tim Mepham, the landlord of the Moulsham Inn in Chelmsford, who started posting videos of his favorite customer on TikTok.
The video posted on May 24 racked up hundreds of thousands of views with many asking how they could buy Pete a meal.
Tim posted a way of donating to Pete’s table so he could enjoy a couple of free meals and before long almost $1,000 had been donated to Pete’s lunch fund.
“So I’ve got to drink 90 pounds worth of wine?” Pete joked in the video adding: “I can’t believe it, I’m indebted to you. I love this place and there’s no fault I can find in this place.”
Tim has known Pete since he started working as a manager at the pub three years ago describing him as “one of the most polite gentlemen I’ve ever met.”
Tim always sits with Pete until his lunch arrives.
“Quite often his son-in-law will have lunch with him as he works locally, but when Pete’s alone I will sit with him until his lunch arrives, and if I’m not there, one of my team will,” he said, as per the Epoch Times.
“Pete loves talking about his wife, who sadly passed away eleven years ago. He also talks in great detail about his time served during the War.”
The wonderful video of Pete’s reaction to his generous fans attracted 1.6 million views.
“Pete’s story isn’t unique, maybe the going viral part is, but there are so many people out there who are alone and lonely,” Tim said.
“Elderly, vulnerable, and even teenagers. Loneliness can affect many people in many ways and after the year we’ve all had I think it’s so important to reach out to these people.
“Pete’s story had truly proven the kindness of strangers. Pete has asked people stop buying him food and drinks now as he believes there must be so many other people out there we could support.”
Tim, known online as “The Pub Man,” is now setting up a “Meet and Greet Lunchtime,” where people can come together to socialize.
I love that Pete gets out every day and visits his local pub and that Tim makes a point of sitting down with him for a chat.
Their friendship highlights the need for us all to reach out within our local community and connect with others.
