FULLER, SMITH & TURNER
As mentioned in the October/November edition, the only Golden Award made to a London brewery was to Fuller, Smith & Turner. It was very much an acknowledgement of their achievements before the split into a separate pub company and brewery, following the sale of the latter to Asahi.
The presentation was made to Fuller’s brewing manager, Guy Stewart, by CAMRA’s regional director for Greater London, Geoff Strawbridge, on 10 December. The venue was the Tun Room, a new development at the back of the brewery shop. Former brewing director John Keeling was in attendance, as well as a small number of CAMRA regional representatives and West London branch members. Fuller’s very kindly provided some beer and snacks. Charles Owens, CAMRA’s Brewery Liaison Officer for Fuller’s, also took the opportunity to present several Champion Beer of Britain awards.
The photograph shows Guy (centre) with the award, together with two colleagues on the left and John Keeling and Geoff Strawbridge on the right.
LEYTON ORIENT SUPPORTERS CLUB
I mentioned in the October/November edition that this award had been announced but the presentation had yet to be made. It was well deserved, given the Club’s track record. It was Joint Winner of CAMRA’s National Club of the Year competition in 2008, has been runner up twice and, in addition, it has been Club Mirror’s National Club of the Year. It has also won CAMRA’s Greater London Club of the Year seven times. It was one of only two clubs to be given a Golden Award, the other being the Appleton Thorn Village Hall in Cheshire.
The presentation took place on Friday 8 October. The first photograph shows David Dodd, chairman of the Supporters Club, with bar manager Mark Harrison (left) and Geoff Strawbridge, CAMRA’s Regional Director for Greater London, who made the presentation. The second photo shows the assembled bar staff volunteers. In there somewhere are the chair of CAMRA’s East London & City Branch, Kim Scott, and the branch secretary, Andy Kinch. The photos were taken by another ELAC member, Esme Bradbury.
The full address of the club is the Breyer Group Stadium, Oliver Road, Leyton E10 5NF. It usually only opens on home match days and for special events, so check before you visit. You will find details on their website.
As an example of the spirit of the club, when Leyton Orient’s home game against Bristol Rovers on 3 January was cancelled at short notice, the Club donated its stock of prepared rolls and some mince pies to the Christian Kitchen foodbank in Walthamstow.
ROLL OF HONOUR
Readers will recall that the 50th Anniversary Golden Awards come in three categories, Pubs, Pints, and People. The first two are now complete and the People awards are due to be announced any time now. There are, inevitably, many people who have made enormous contributions to the Campaign who are no longer with us. To acknowledge their place in our history, the award organisers have drawn up a Roll of Honour. The only London member whose name I recognised was Leslie Maggs of West London branch whose citation is ‘In recognition of his work to support the campaign, his branch and his region, as well as delivering the regional magazine and holding various branch positions’.
Also included were John Young, ‘in recognition of his work in leading the cause of real ale in pubs as chairman of Young’s Brewery, well before CAMRA was formed’ and Geoff Brandwood (see page 43).