‘tetley dave’ parker

Tetley Dave was a legendary figure in the Castleford area of West Yorkshire where he and his wife Margaret ran the Shoulder of Mutton pub and where for many years the Castleford branch of the GFS has flourished. The former Tetley's drayman, which is how he got his nickname, spent almost 17 years behind the bar of Castleford's oldest pub. He died after battling a long illness. Dave was a character in a world were characters are few and far between. He loved his pub and the fact that he had formed the Castleford GFS branch - one of the best nights in the Formby calendar. Dave created a unique atmosphere at the meetings. Whenever Out In The Middle East was played, Dave would make the fastest outfit change imaginable to emerge in Middle Eastern costume before the end of the first verse. He loved to play the bones and the spoons. The legendary pub boss came to national attention after being featured on a Radio 4 documentary about pub landlords and landladies. Bob Wallis of the Campaign for Real Ale said: "You stick a microphone in front of some people and they go to jelly, not Dave. He was a delight and a joy. What a character? He made that pub what it is, in a working class area for working class people. He was also, to judge from my own consumption, a talented and experienced cellarman." Daughter Diane said: "He was a connoisseur and knew a good pint. He was well-known and loved worldwide by a lot of people. I've had messages from people I don't know saying, 'What a great guy'. It was quite humbling." Dave joined the GFS in 1997 and was a popular entertainer at the Blackpool conventions He was also a member of the Yorkshire Ukulele Circle. On behalf of those who attend the Castleford branch now and in the past, I extend sincere condolences to Margaret and the family. Peter Pollard - February 2014