A RATHER wet Richard Reeve was given a warm welcome by Sam and Gordon Edwards when the cyclist stopped off at The Shed Alehouse in Pewsey as part of his micropub quest.

The 51-year-old IT consultant from Enfield in North London, is on a mission to cycle 2,000 miles to 100 micropubs in the country raising money for Alzheimer’s Support.

Although the weather was miserable on Sunday, spirits were high as he arrived from visiting the Cow & Cask in Newbury the previous day to the recently opened Shed Alehouse in North Street, which is micropub number 67 on Mr Reeve’s list.

“He arrived early but he was soaking wet,” said Shed Alehouse owner Mrs Edwards. “But lots of people came out to see him and chat to him.

“My mum’s best friend’s husband has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and it is a terrible frightening illness and when I saw what Richard was doing we asked him to include us on this route.”

Waiting for him were gluten-free muffins baked especially by Mrs Edwards and of course a pint of beer before Mr Reeve was sent on his way to the next micropub at The Vaults in Devizes.

He started his charity feat earlier this year in memory of his father who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and so far, in between working, he has cycled around 1,300 miles from one micropub to the other in places such as Devon and Wales.

His target is to raise £5,000 and he’s just passed the £3,300 donation mark including Gift Aid.

Mr and Mrs Edwards donated a barrel of beer at the bar with all the sales being donated and as well as punters dipping in their pockets, £275.69 was raised.

Since opening their micropub in July the couple who live in Broadfields have been humbled by the reaction to their new business venture.

Mrs Edwards added: “It’s totally amazing. We are so overwhelmed by people’s response to it. A lot of people had said Pewsey really needed it, it’s been absolutely amazing.”

To donate to Mr Reeve's charity challenge go to: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RichardReeveCycling