London: Six elderly friends from the UK are becoming an inspiration to friends across the world after never failing to abide by a tradition they set decades ago. For 56 years, these friends have never missed coming together at a pub for a drink. They made it possible even during COVID-19! Can you believe it?
Paul Haynes, Dick Cotton, Ken King, Peter Thirlwall, Brian Ayres, and Bill Munden have been best pals for more than half a century. Their tradition of meeting each other dates back to 1968 when they were just students. It was initially started by Ken and Paul. Since then, it became a tradition and the four pals made it an inevitable part of their lives.
Six elderly friends from the UK met each other every Thursday for 56 years
Speaking to BBC News, the four friends spoke of how their conversations drastically evolved with age. “We used to talk about soccer and sex. Now it’s more prostates and pensions,” said one. Over the years, the locations of their rendezvous have changed. However, their tradition stood the test of time, even during the pandemic.
When the pandemic struck, the friends had to depend on technology for their meetings. They started having Zoom meetings on Thursdays. They were also joined by other friends from Canada and Australia.
The friends attribute their camaraderie to their shared values. “We have incredibly contrasting political views, which lead to the most incredible, illogical arguments,” said Paul. Brain added that if they were to argue, it would be about trivial things.