Tributes to former Chorley pub landlord (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Tributes to former Chorley pub landlord

12:44pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in Chorley By Chris Gee, Reporter

Tributes have been paid to a ‘generous and loving’ businessman and pub landlord who died from a brain tumour.

Paul Mulhearn, 51, was very well known in the town having run catering businesses for decades and the White Hart pub since 2002.

Mr Mulhearn died on Friday evening in Chorley Hospital after developing an inoperable brain tumour.

He lived on Southport Road with his wife of 25 years, Pauline, daughters Hayley and Lucy and ten-year-old son Daniel.

His first business was Rossi’s Pizza Restaurant on Union Street which opened in 1983, he later formed Astley Catering, which provided food for events such as the Mayor’s civic dinner and Chorley Cricket Club.

He later provided catering for both Preston North End and Blackpool Football Club.

Another of his ventures, which took him around Europe, was a converted Greyhound bus from which he and his team sold Patak’s curries.

He went to Paris, Holland and Germany, worked at F1 Grand Prix venues and to several music festivals including Glastonbury.

His wife Pauline, said: “Paul never complained once during his illness.

“He was devoted to his children and was a kind, loving and generous man.

“We’ve received messages of support from many different generations since his death. He employed dozens of young people in the business and they all warmed to him.”

Mr Mulhearn, who known to friends and customers as ‘Muggy’, was also a keen golfer, a single figure handicap player at Chorley Golf Club who at one time organised the Preston and District league.

In 2003, he won the North West heat of the Sir Steve Redgrave Golden Fives, his prize was a trip to La Manga in Spain for the finals.

Mr Mulhearn’s death is also being mourned by the business community of Chorley.

Fellow pub landlord and friend Ivan Lynas, who runs The Imperial on Union Street, said: “Paul was a true gentleman and is passing is a terrible loss.

“He was very enterprising and over the years employed dozens of people in Chorley.

“He will be sadly missed by a lot of people.”

Mr Mulhearn’s funeral will take place at St Gregory’s Church, Weldbank Lane at 11am on Friday, July 6.

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