Six elderly friends in the UK have a weekly tradition that they have not missed in 56 years. Every Thursday, the friends meet for a pint of beer at a pub without fail. This tradition continues like clockwork, and rarely during unavoidable times have they given it a miss.
For 56 years, Paul Haynes, Bill Munden, Ken King, Peter Thirlwall, Brian Ayres, and Dick Cotton meet every Thursday. Peter, a retired electrical engineer, told the BBC: “Sometimes, we’re all on holiday, and we can't manage it. But there have been times when we've made every Thursday in the year, two or three years in a row."
Their friendship began in 1968, when students Ken and Paul started hitting pubs after playing golf during their study breaks. What began as casual outings turned into an immovable tradition, evolving into a ritual that’s spanned decades. “You need a written note if you miss one,” Ken jokes.
Over the years, the conversation topics have shifted. What once centered on football and relationships has now turned into debates on health and pensions. "We used to talk about soccer and sex. These days, it's more prostates and pensions," Peter quips, sitting in the White Swan pub a few miles south of Sheffield.
The group has rotated pubs over the years between Sheffield and Rotherham, ensuring they account for the geographical spread of their members. Despite pub closures and the impact of the pandemic, their bond remained intact.
During COVID-19, their Thursday tradition was maintained through Zoom calls, with friends from as far as Australia and Canada able to join in. "We still do Zoom once a month," explains Ken, adding that they even had a delayed 55th-anniversary reunion last month for their long-distance members.
The group attributes this harmony to their shared fundamental values despite stark differences in political views and football allegiances. "Everybody is different. We have incredibly contrasting political views, which leads to the most incredible, illogical arguments," says Paul, but these discussions never cross into the personal domain. "If we argue, it's not about critical things," adds Brian.
A testament to their unity is their shared generosity — there's never been an argument over whose turn it is to buy the next round. The only disputes have arisen from their eagerness to buy each other drinks, rather than any stinginess. The BBC reporter covering their story was even denied the chance to buy a round, as they were wrapping up for the night.
Even as life threw major milestones their way — between them, they’ve collectively had 17 children, 33 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren — their tradition has remained untarnished.
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