I think that you can rightly use the term ‘family brewers’ when a chairman’s father was one of his predecessors and in turn he passes the job to his son. Robert, usually known as Bobby, died last November at the age of 85. He became a director in 1957 and played a major part in keeping Shep’s out of the hands of the ‘Big Six’. Among his achievements were the agreement to brew Swiss Hurlimann lager for the UK market, the development of the Spitfire brand and the unavoidable introduction of keg beer. He was chairman from 1971 to 2005. He was also a prominent campaigner on the subject of beer duty. At one point, he countered the threat from ‘booze cruises’ by exporting Shep’s beers to France for the British to bring back into the country. He was prominent in Kent life. At various times, he led the county council, was Deputy Lieutenant, High Sheriff and president of Kent County Cricket Club. This was acknowledged by the award of a CBE. If you wish to find out more, I commend Roger Protz’s obituary in the Guardian on 2 December 2019.