The Pub Regulars Who Carried Their Mate to the Pub, Every Day

10 July 2025

Paul Francis

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There’s friendship. Then there’s Cleary Arms friendship.

In the West Yorkshire village of Burthwaite, a group of pub regulars are being quietly hailed as local heroes for a simple but powerful act of loyalty. For nearly two years, they have taken it upon themselves to ensure their mate, 78-year-old George Pickering, never missed a pint at his favourite pub. Even after he could no longer walk.

Bar shelf with various liquor bottles, including Jim Beam and Maker's Mark, in warm lighting. Bottle labels and wooden decor visible.

Every day, without fail, the regulars at The Cleary Arms take turns wheeling George the quarter-mile from his bungalow to the pub and back again. Rain, snow, or sunshine.

“Missing a day? That’d be like missing church,” jokes Pete Lawson, one of George’s oldest mates. “Only we worship ale and pork scratchings instead.”

A Slow Decline, and a Fast Response

George, a retired coal merchant, has been part of Burthwaite’s daily pub crowd for over five decades. Locals call him “The Mayor of Cleary Arms” due to his usual perch in the corner seat and encyclopaedic knowledge of local gossip.

Two years ago, George suffered a stroke that left him with limited mobility. Though his mind remained sharp, walking became nearly impossible. At first, he resigned himself to a quiet life indoors.

“Those few weeks nearly broke me,” George recalls. “I missed the lads. I missed the laughter. I missed being part of it.”

His friends, however, had other ideas.

“They told me to shut up and sit tight,” George grins. “Next thing I know, they’ve got a wheelchair and a rota.”

A Pub’s Beating Heart

Each afternoon, like clockwork, one of the lads collects George. They’ve weatherproofed his wheelchair with a pub-style umbrella and even added cupholders. Some days, he arrives to a cheer. Other days, it’s quiet chat and crisps. But he is never forgotten.

Landlady Maria Dodd says George has become the symbol of the pub’s soul.

“He’s the glue, really. The stories he tells. The way everyone lights up when he’s here. It reminds us what pubs are truly about – community.”

She adds that they’ve modified the pub’s entrance with a ramp and extra-wide access thanks to a local fundraiser.

“We thought we were helping George,” she says, “but really, he’s helping us keep this place alive.”

National Attention

Earlier this year, a passing cyclist posted a video of George being wheeled in by Pete, pint in hand, singing an off-key version of “Jerusalem.” It went viral.

Since then, the story has featured in regional news and morning radio, sparking a wave of admiration. Offers poured in – new wheelchair cushions, local breweries offering free ale, and even a campaign to name him a “National Pub Treasure.”

George shrugs it all off. “I’m just a lucky old bugger with brilliant mates.”

More Than a Pint

In an age where loneliness among older people is a growing issue, George’s story is a powerful reminder of what friendship, loyalty, and a good local can achieve.

“These lads saved my life,” George says quietly. “I was fading. Now, I’ve got something to get up for every day.”

Burthwaite might be small, and The Cleary Arms might not win any Michelin stars. But in a modest corner of Yorkshire, the spirit of the Great British pub is alive, well, and on wheels.

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Gregory Devine
May 20, 2024
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As top temperatures in the UK have now reached 40 Celsius, some people are calling for new legislation regarding working in extreme heat.

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‘I like it hot, but I don’t like it this hot’ will be a phrase we will no doubt hear multiple times this summer, with the ridiculous temperatures the UK is now forced to deal with—but at what point does the weather become too much? Business owners were asking themselves that question as they made the decision on whether they and their teams should work at home, or not, during last week’s record-breaking heatwave.

No doubt some people will say it’s only hot weather, but I’m inclined to disagree with this. This isn’t just hot weather; we are actually living through a national emergency. The temperature doesn’t just directly affect us as people— hot weather threatens the infrastructure that helps us get to work. Train tracks can buckle due to the heat, which will affect people’s commute. Last week, crews were on standby to lay sand down in some parts of the country where there were concerns the road could melt away.

On Tuesday 19 July 2022 most of the east coast mainline was closed, which meant there were no trains from York to London. Many people, therefore, couldn’t get to work on Tuesday or attend meetings and events in London. Government guidance is desperately needed. There needs to be a framework, guidelines…something for business owners, and even headteachers, to refer to, so that they can effectively make a decision on whether it’s safe for employees or students to come into work/school. Such legislation on extreme temperatures, at the rate we’re going, will be something used quite often, as the UK will see more 40+ Celsius temperatures, due to climate change.

At what point should employees not come into work? At what point is it not safe to send a child into school? There is no definitive answer for this nor is there, currently, any real guidance to help.

Do we all need to suck it up and just get on with it? Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, would agree with this. He said, ‘We ought to enjoy the sunshine, and actually, we ought to be resilient enough through some of the pressures it will place.’ Seems somewhat irresponsible of him to say that when you consider the national warnings that were given out. Some business owners are suggesting it’s better for employees to come into the workplace, because they’re more likely to be air-conditioned. I would agree with this if most people could actually get to work, but many won’t, due to public transport being cancelled—thanks to buckled train lines and melting roads.

I recently spoke about how the UK simply isn’t built for temperatures this hot, with the humidity and the fact our infrastructure is built to be more resilient against colder weather. We don’t have the means to effectively deal with extreme heat. 40+ Celsius is currently rare, but temperatures of 30+ Celsius are now an annual occurrence. Despite this, our buildings are still designed to be great at keeping warmth in, not keeping cool, which only makes matters worse during a heatwave. This isn’t a complaint, more a fact of life. We can’t get rid of the insulation, as we also experience cold winters.

We need appropriate legislation and guidance to refer to—so that business owners can make an effective decision that’s best for the needs of their company in a heatwave. In my opinion, it should be a case of ‘if you can get to work in a safe manner that isn’t putting anyone at risk’ then you should do so. The point on offices being airconditioned is a good one; it would certainly be more comfortable being at work than at home during periods of extreme heat. That being said, if you can’t get to work because trains are cancelled, for example, then it should also be acceptable to work from home.