The independent brewery sector lost an important contributor on 21 July with the passing of Geoff Mumford. He was 82. An engineer by training, Geoff moved to the brewing industry in 1969, eventually working for Ind Coope at their brewery in Romford, which he described as ‘the Siberia of brewing’. There however he met Bruce Wilkinson. They became disillusioned with mass production using cheap ingredients and, in 1982, decided to set up their own brewery. Moreover, they did it in the spiritual home of the British brewing industry, Burton on Trent. They bought the Fox & Goose pub close to the bridge over the River Trent which had space at the rear, renamed it the Bridge Inn and set up the Burton Bridge Brewery. The brewery prospered and at one point operated five pubs, although these were sold as retirement approached. Geoff was, at least, able to see the brewery pass into good hands. Following their eviction from the National Brewery Centre museum by Molson Coors, the Heritage Brewery have taken over both the Bridge Inn and the brewery. They will continue to brew Burton Bridge beers as well as their own and are looking to upgrade and expand the site. For more information, including the story of Ind Coope Draught Burton Ale, I recommend the excellent obituary by Roger Protz which appeared in the Guardian on Wednesday 7 August.