A Co Tyrone man received an extra special 90th birthday surprise this weekend after a flying visit from a travelling cycling group.
Peter McLernon from the Rock touched the hearts of many from The Biking Community after he welcomed them as complete strangers into his home for a cup of tea on a trip through the village last year.
Returning the favour, more than 100 bikers turned up for a special event to celebrate Peter’s landmark birthday on Saturday.
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Well known by many in the Rock area, "Petie" then received a "This is your life" reception in the community hall in the village to mark the occasion.
“Peter is living there on his own now and was running the wee shop up and the hardware business up until October 2020," said Cyril Cush, Rock Community Hub chairperson said.
“The village shop closed and all of a sudden in 2021 these bikers arrived and it just gave him a new lease of life.
“They have never met a character like him.
“Because they have been the length and breadth of Ireland and have never met anybody like him, they just wanted to do something to acknowledge his birthday.
“He’s never had a birthday party before, he never married and doesn’t have any children.
“This is why we as a community thought we would help the bikers and allow them to do whatever it was they wanted to do.”
Cycling enthusiast Enda Carthy said it was something they wanted to do for a man they hold in great esteem.
“Peter McLernon welcomed many of us bikers, as complete strangers, to the village of Rock in Co Tyrone while participating in the 2021 Irish Photo Rally," Enda added.
“He took the time, whenever he could, to come out and chat and give us a glimpse of the true gentleman that the locals affectionately call 'Petie'.
“He seems to be very fond of the biking community and he has invited many of us who had the time, into his house and fed and watered us, while looking for nothing in return – only our time and ears.”
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