Found him! Facebook appeal reunites worker with pay packet left in pub before Christmas

Name: Social media campaign returns lost Christmas pay packet to worker
Uploaded: 2010-12-29T08:33:15+13:00
Description: A Wimbledon barman who found a named pay packet left at his pub started a social media campaign to find it's owner, leading to the grateful worker giving a "generous" tip. / BBC

Daily Mail

28 Dec, 2017 05:47 PM4 mins to read

A Wimbledon barman who found a named pay packet left at his pub started a social media campaign to find it's owner, leading to the grateful worker giving a "generous" tip. / BBC

A Polish builder who left his pay packet in a pub four days before Christmas has miraculously been reunited with his wages after an appeal was put on social media.

Mick Dore, 51, the landlord of The Alexandra pub in Wimbledon, southwest London, found the envelope, which contained £600 (more than $1100).

It only had the name "Mariusz" written on it, but Dore believed he could track him down so decided to tweet a photograph of it.

The post got 1.5 million views on Facebook and more than 3 million interactions on Twitter - including by celebrities such as J.K. Rowling - and Dore received messages from New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

Dore was stunned when Mariusz later walked through the pub's front door but said it was an "anti-climax" because he calmly said: "I'm Mariusz and I think you've got my money."

He tweeted: 'OH MY GOD WE'VE GOT HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's just walked in the sports bar, I've checked the CCTV, and it's him!!!'

OH MY GOD WE'VE GOT HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's just walked in the sports bar, I've checked the CCTV, and it's him!!! Photo to follow. MARIUSZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 27, 2017

Dore wrote on the pub's Facebook page: "After 1.5 million Facebook views, Twitter activity well over 3 million interactions, messages from Australia, New Zealand, the Phillipines, Canada all over (jeez Canada loved this story, we'd have found him in about ten minutes there), all through Europe and everywhere else, we found him.

"In probably the most understated and anti-climatic end to a saga in history, Mariusz walked into our sports bar and said 'I'm Mariusz and I think you've got my money'.

"Upon being asked, he told me the chair he was sitting on (we found the envelope underneath that one), told me what time he came in (we checked him in on the CCTV) and told me to the penny how much was in the packet. It's 100% him."

After over 1.5 million Facebook views, 25 thousand shares, Twitter activity of over 3 million, he walks into the Alex & says “I’m MARIUSZ” pic.twitter.com/OETwpKK04U
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 27, 2017

He was able to find the Polish worker after originally tweeting: "Mariusz, we found your pay packet in the Alex on Thursday night (21st December).

"It's stuffed full of cash, you haven't lost it. We've got it!

"If anyone knows probably a Polish man called Mariusz, near Wimbledon, it could be him. Please tell him!"

Dore explained that Mariusz went back to Poland for Christmas and did not tell his wife
he had lost his wages because he "didn't want to cause her stress".

Matriusz facts: He DID go to Poland for Christmas. He DIDN'T tell his wide he'd lost the money "I didn't want the stress over Christmas" 😂😂and he works in the building trade. He left a hefty tip for Nobby, & like ALL Polish people, was a brilliant bloke. Filling up here.
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 27, 2017

Mariusz didn't realise his money had been found until his son saw the tweet and realised it was his father's envelope.

Dore added: "We just want to say a HUUUUGE thank-you to everyone who tweeted it, retweeted it, translated it, put zeds into etc.

"We never had one single fraudulent claim (a couple of jokey ones only) and Mariusz's son SAW IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, 'could this be you Dad?'. You did it people!!!"

We just want to say a HUUUUGE thank-you to everyone who tweeted it, retweeted it, translated it, put zeds into etc. We never had one single fraudulent claim (a couple of jokey ones only) and Mariusz's son SAW IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, "could this be you Dad?". You did it people!!!
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 27, 2017

Mariusz does not use social media, the BBC reported.

"I don't think he appreciated the fact the whole world was looking for him," Dore told the BBC.

"He didn't tell his wife because he didn't want the hassle."

Andrew Radcliffe — known as Nobby — was the barman who found the pay packet.

"We're hugely proud of him. Without his honesty there would be no story," Dores told the BBC.

There’s heroes and then there’s heroes. THIS guy, is the guy that all the fuss should be about. Andrew Radcliffe (Nobby), Mr honest. pic.twitter.com/lG20SVfogQ
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 28, 2017