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John Burmiston |
Top publican at the heart of the community
JOHN Burmiston, of the Northumberland Arms, Goodge Street, who has died after a short illness, was a true character of Fitzrovia.
He and his wife Pearl, represented the heart of the community for the area, John providing a network of help, support and advice to anyone in need, linking one person with another in his typically modest way.
A quiet, private man, like his friend, Paddy O’Donnell of the Hope public house, John was a genuine and staunch supporter of north London Licensed Victuallers charitable organisations and several housing groups.
“I couldn’t praise him enough” said Johnnie Andrews, a fellow publican of the Kings Arms, Great Tichfield Street. Denis O’Keeffe a Radio 2 producer said: “When I worked in Charlotte Street, he kept the best Guinness in the West End and was of one the team with those of us from the music business and colleagues from the BBC Club. A really nice guy”.
John and Pearl met in Ireland, set up on a date by Pearl’s sister. Pearl gave up nursing after their marriage, and they became hotel managers for TrustHouse Forte for years, returning to Ireland briefly in the early 1960s to manage a sweet shop. But they returned to London and John became manager of the Railway Tavern, Finsbury Park, a hugely demanding role for them both, with young children to raise at the same time.
In 1969 John took over the running of the Northumberland Arms in Goodge Street following the death of his brother, Jimmy, the publican, and there they remained for 24 years, retiring in 1993. They lived there with their lovely family, Sheila, Raymond and Marie. John loved dancing, singing, story-telling and golf, but his family usually came first.
“It was like home from home, with lots of characters there,” said their friend, Mike McCarthy. “They were a great couple, always giving a warm welcome for my friends and family”.
It was tragic that the happiness of their retirement was short lived, because Pearl died in a car accident weeks later, and it was in St Patrick’s Church, Soho Square, – where they had married almost 40 years before – that her Mass was held.
John’s funeral was a huge tribute to his work for the church.
Five priests from his local churches officiated and the church was packed with friends and members from every walk of life John had touched.
John had a glowing personality, he made us all feel like members of a large family and in the “North” as his pub was known, locals played cribbage, discussed the latest bookies’ favourites, or sang to the music of visiting Irish troubadours.
He was an active member of the licensed victuallers’ association and its chair for some years, as well as a member of local business associations.
Following retirement, John remained active in all areas, family, church and community, constantly attending meetings, lunches and dinners and charitable events.
He stayed in close contact with Radio 2 friends and those from the Middlesex Hospital, but despite leaving the area to move to Maida Vale, John remained involved in the business side of St Patrick’s Church, reflecting his love for the church and the surrounding area.
In his 80th year, he realised a life-long wish to see Table Mountain in South Africa, and go on safari, when he went with his daughters, visiting the wine regions, and Robben Island on the way.
The weekend before John fell ill, he attended a birthday party in Dublin, and at the age of 84 was seen on the dance floor, as typically exuberant as ever.
John Burmiston died on December 8. |
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