We paid tribute to Brian, one of our founding editors, here. There was one final chapter. In his will, Brian stipulated that his ashes should be scattered at his three favourite pubs in the German city of Düsseldorf. The task was performed by his friends and executors, Gordon Massey and Mostyn Lewis, along with another old friend, Andrew Cunningham. There was a specific bequest to ‘fund the travel and accommodation, together with as much Düsseldorfer Altbier as they feel inclined to drink’. The party travelled out on 25 November by Eurostar. The first port of call was Brian’s favourite, the Brauhof of Hausbrauerei Schumacher zum Uerige in the Bergerstrasse. When we explained our mission to the management they invited us to the brewery at the back of the pub where, having been provided with another round of beers, we scattered Brian’s ashes and toasted both his memory and good taste. We were grateful for the pub’s hospitality and empathy and especially to the manager, who was happy to take a photograph to record the moment.
The mission was completed the next day with visits to the Hausbrauerei Ferdinand Schumacher in the Oststrasse and the Brauerei Im Fuchschen in the Ratinger Strasse. Once again, ashes were scattered but this time discreetly. Excellent as these establishments were, the party agreed that the Brauhof was also their favourite and returned there for our farewell meal and, of course, as Brian had wanted, more Schumacher Altbier.
We had not been able to scatter all of the ashes in the pubs and so the remainder were, appropriately for a devoted Wagnerian, consigned to the river to join the Rheinmädchen. Altogether a successful mission in fulfilment of Brian’s wishes and how he wished to be remembered.
Mostyn Lewis