Chris Maclean: Helping the aged
The companion was to be paid seven pounds an hour just to be good company for an old boy. Heart warming stuff.
It is clear the old boy cherished his quality time in the pub and a couple of gentle sessions a week were just what he needed.
Clearly the son understands his father's need for quality time and is prepared to advertise, interview, choose and pay for a companion to join him.
It is also a lovely touch that Trevor Pugh (78), a retired kitchen fitter, has got the job. And Henry Rosenvinge (58), a retired doctor, is also joining them voluntarily.
The whole story is a beautiful testimony to all that is good in pubs.
So how come the politicians seem oblivious to the good that we do?
What is more alarming is how oblivious many licensees are to the idea of pubs being tranquil places where Jack and Trevor can enjoy a couple of pints. I look around at all the pubs I have visited recently and ask myself the question ~would Jack and Trevor be welcome here? Probably not.
Maybe because the old boys are only likely to spend a few pounds. Maybe because they will get in the way of the food service. Maybe because they will complain about the intrusive music or the permanent television noise in the background. They certainly wouldn't be welcome in all places.
Many years ago I worked in a very busy country pub where David, a man in his eighties, would visit every lunchtime. He had his own seat near the bar and a small carpet square that was arranged under his feet.
It didn't matter how busy we were David was accompanied into the pub, his chair was cleared regardless of who was sitting in it and he would be served his beer at the table. It was a luxury afforded to no one else.
David would have his two pints and then he would go. There is no doubt that, at times, he was a bloody nuisance. But we never let it show.
When he died his (huge) family all came to the pub and thanked us for looking after Dad. They knew how important it was for him. And it was this simple gesture that justified all the effort we had made. It had been worthwhile.
I hope when I'm in my eighties my children will realise how important the pub is to me and will seek out a suitable companion for me and pay for them to accompany me to the pub (I am writing down the various characteristics I want that person to have ~ but the first is that she hasn't even be born yet.).
But just as worrying is the possibility that in 2037 there might not be a pub that would welcome me or that a pub then might be one I shouldn't want to go to. Could that be possible? That is a prospect of old age that could depress me.
