The New Marksman Newsletter

Welcome to the first publication of The New Marksman

Annual Dinner Dance - 4th March 2006

This years Annual Dinner Dance is to be held at the Mansfield Civic Centre on 4 March. The tickets cost £6.00 per person and the places are limited to 350. The ticket includes a four-course dinner with wine, disco & live entertainment.

Colleagues United - Isabel Cooling

A group of friends and colleagues from the Brewery met up recently for a meal at Margarita`s (Mansfield Woodhouse) with Mavis Leverton who retired from the Brewery and now lives in Cornwall.

Mavis was here in Nottinghamshire on holiday for a few days with her husband Gordon. She said it was great to see all her friends and colleagues again and she thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Mavis was Secretary to Richard Chadburn.

Mansfield Brewery Walking Group

Mansfield Brewery Walking Group
on the Birmingham Weekend away

For 20 years members of the Walking Group have enjoyed an annual walking weekend, the past 3 years being financially assisted by BTPF.

In September 2005 the group visited Birmingham, leaving Mansfield on Friday morning and heading towards Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter,a recently regenerated area of the city which has attracted creative businesses and has over one hundred jewellery shops lining the streets. On arrival the group toured the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, originally a family run factory, which closed in 1981 with its entire contents left exactly as they were on the last day of production, even down to the workers’ final cups of tea. The day continued in the area with a visit to the “Pen Room” with its fascinating displays of historic writing memorabilia from early quills to fountain pens, early typewriters and Braille Machines.

Saturday dawned a perfect day for those of the group wishing to enjoy a seven mile walk around Sutton park, the largest Nature Reserve in the West Midlands. The remainder choosing to visit Birmingham City centre with its new Bullring shopping centre, museums, galleries and places of interest.

On Sunday, after two action packed days the group was now ready to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The gardens were opened in 1832 and today hold every imaginable type of plant, shrub and tree, including the National Bonsai Collection.

As the day drew to a close the group headed towards Mansfield after a full and enjoyable weekend.

Review by Sue Longden  
(Organiser - Bottom left in the photograph above)

T. W. Beach / Mandora - Let’s Look At Evesham

An early landowner of and an old English name Hamm meaning “enclosure” give Evesham it’s name. This historic town, on the banks of Shakespeare's Avon, 13 miles from Stratford, is the capital of the fertile Vale of Evesham. The town grew around the Abbey, founded in 709 A.D. which was dissolved by King Henry VIII. The monastic buildings were dismantled and sold off as building stone. At the centre of the town stands the fine bell tower, 33 metres high and flanked by the 12 th century church of All Saints and the 16 th century church of St. Lawrence.

The town witnessed the Battle of Evesham on 4th August 1265 during which Simon de Montfort, known as the father of the English Parliament, was bitterly defeated and brutally killed. 

The town boasts a wealth of historic buildings including a fine 15th Century timbered merchant’s house called the 'Round House' (now occupied by the Nat West Bank), Abbot Reginald's gateway, a Norman arch leading to the abbey site, flanked by the 15th century Walker Hall and Church House.  In the High Street is a notable late 17th Century town house, Dresden House, once occupied by Dr. Baylies, physician to Frederick the Great of Prussia. Tucked away in the area of the town called Bengeworth is an old manor house once owned by King Canute.

The 14 th century Abbey Almonry near the church gates now houses the Tourist Information Office and has a museum with a very good section devoted to the once-mighty Evesham Abbey.

The banks of the river Avon on either side provide tranquil and restful parks and gardens to enjoy and relax in. Rowing boats can be hired and boat trips offer regular cruises up the river.

Please could anyone send articles and pictures of T.W.Beach of Evesham to be included in the next magazine.

The "MBC" Family Album

Troop Commander of 36 Engineers Regiment

Geoff Speight, Fleet Manager at Oakham distrbution in Mansfield has recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq with the Territorial Army.

Geoff said” I left the army in 1979, but have been in the TA ever since. I thought I was going to Iraq as a Liaison Officer, but when I got there I had to fill the post of Troop Commander. This is a incredibly unusual situation, a TA officer in charge of regular solders, but the position needed filling and I was determined to do my duty.”

Kevin & Gill Needham move to Cyprus

Kevin Needham (former Beer Dispense Manager, Mansfield) and his wife Gill have always enjoyed their holidays on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Having bought an apartment in Paphos they have now moved to the island and are enjoying their new life in the sun.

Pat and Trevor Tie the Knot.

Pat Goodwin (Personnel Department) and Trevor Price were married on 5th October at the Anvil Hall, Gretna Green. Mr. and Mrs. Price-Goodwin spent their honeymoon touring Scotland.

Graham and Helen at Gretna

The marriage took place at Gretna Green of Graham Thorman and Helen Smith in November last year. Both Graham and Helen worked at Head Office in Mansfield

Former Manager Marries

John Nicholson, past manager of the Marmaville at Mirfield, and Mary Burrows were married on November 12th at Avoca Beach, New South Wales Australia, in temperatures of 35 C.

The couple honeymooned in Cairns, North Queensland, visiting Karanga and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Wheatsheaf - Baslow Derbyshire

Shane and Debbie Watson joined Mansfield Brewery as Pub Managers 3rd January 1995. After initial success at the White Hart at Calow they moved to the Fulwood Inn and then to the Bridge Inn at Duffield. Three years ago they took over the Wheastsheaf at Baslow.

Shane and Debbie and their two children , Oliver 10, and Emily 7, enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of Baslow. Shane and Debbie have won many awards including Pubs in Bloom 1995 and 1997, Food pub of the Year runners up 1997 and overall winners in 1998 and 2004.

If you are visiting the area, the warm and friendly atmosphere of the Wheatsheaf is not to be missed

Les Reville Retires

Les began working for Mansfield Brewery in January 1962 and retires in April after 44 years of loyal service. He commenced work in the Eclipse soft drinks department, moved to Bulk Beer and eventually to Bulk Beer transport.

When transport moved to the Oakham Distribution depot, Les moved with the department and stayed on after the W & D acquisition in 1999.

Les and his wife Margraret are looking forward to his retirement and to spending more time on pastimes they both enjoy.

Mansfield Brewery Retired Members Association (MBRMA)
A short history about George Powell, MBRMA Secretary

When I was asked to write a few lines to be included in the first edition of the new magazine it occurred to me that it may be of interest if I recalled how the Mansfield Brewery pensioners started the Retired Members’ Association.

In August 1984 Eric Walker (who prior to his retirement had been the union shop steward) organised a coach trip to Evesham and the surrounding area for retired Brewery employees. The outing was a great success and Eric was asked if he would organise more days out in the future. He agreed and suggested that a committee be formed to help with the organising of future outings.

The inaugural meeting was held in the Brewery Cellars on 3 rd October 1984 and the pensioners present agreed to form an organisation which would consist of retired Brewery employees and their dependents who could take part in coach trips and other social activities. The organisation was named the Mansfield Brewery Retired Members Association and the following officers and committee were elected:-

Chairman Eric Walker Treasurer Fred Hensliegh, Committee - Ron Allen, Harry Butler, Ray Mellors, Olive McSloy (Secretary), Mansfield Brewery Group Chairman Robin Chadburn was invited to be President.

All retired employees of the Brewery were to be circulated regarding this new venture, the first committee meeting was held on 10 October 1984 and members would pay £1 per month towards association expenses commencing January 1985.

Over the last 20 years some things have changed, but throughout this period we have been supported by Mansfield Brewery, the Baily Thomas Trust and more recently by Woverhamtpon and Dudley Brewery.

We now hold a meeting on the first Wednesday of each month at the Rufford Arms on Chesterfield Road, 10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. If you have not been before why not come along and meet old workmates and friends? Who knows, you may become a regular!

Extracts from the Brewery Independant Magazine Millennium Edition

100 Years Service ~ and still young at heart!

Six staff members have been rewarded for their loyal Service.

Team leader Peter Allwood has put in 25 years and received gift vouchers from the company.

Gold watches went to five 15 years long servers - Kegging team leader Alan Boucher; Brewing and Brands executive assistant Alison Tasker, Oakham team leader Brian Beebe, shiftman Mark Harris; and Beer Process foreman Duncan Henderson.

 

Facts and Figures

Smallest Pub: thought to be the Manchester Arms on Scale Lane, Hull - situated on a side street in the old town.
Largest Pub: the very popular Goodfellowship also in Hull. A huge pub on Cottingham Road, the `GF` is run by Bill Vallance and Judith Clarke who took over two years ago. It has a 140 cover restaurant and a 300 seater function room which is the venue for the annual karaoke Competition.

The Brewery Independent Spring 1996

Managers’ Fancy Dress Party

It was a stick up for Commercial Director
and “Sheriff of Mansfield Brewery” Colin Stump
as he is held up by northern outlaws & merry managers !

Green Fingers By Ted Taylor (Accounts)

We are well into the dead of winter at the moment so I thought I would give readers a few ideas for the season ahead on growing vegetables in CONTAINERS for a small back garden or a fair size patio with a reasonably sunny aspect. It can be absorbing and rewarding and the flavour of home grown produce is always something special.

Firstly, a good supply of potting type compost will be required and this can be mixed with ordinary garden soil if so wished. Incorporating moderate amounts of chicken manure pellets or other fertilizers will provide food content in the growing medium.

1. Potatoes These will obviously require a good–sized container, say 1½ to 2 ft deep. A cheap method is to use strong plastic rubble sacks which you can buy from any D I Y store, not forgetting to puncture the bottom for drainage. Two good salad varieties are Charlotte and Pink Fir Apple.
2. Carrots
   An ideal container is a round plastic one 1ft 9in wide by about 10 ins deep. Carrots love a peaty compost. Further sowings can be made at intervals of about 2 –3 weeks.
3. Cucumbers
   I have had good success with a variety called Petite, which can be grown indoors in a greenhouse, or perfectly well outdoors in large pots with a couple of canes for support. The fruits are half the normal size, cropping well and juicy with superb flavour.
4. Lettuce, other salad crops and Strawberries.
   These are quite easily grown in grow bags.
   However you grow strawberries, I would recommend to you a variety called Darselect, which is now grown by quite a few British growers.
5. Runner Beans
   Here I fill 5 large 20 litre pots with compost and arrange in a circle on my patio. I insert 2 or 3, 7foot canes per pot and tie in at the top to form a wigwam. Not so productive as a long row in the garden, but 3 plants to a pot will provide a useful crop.
6. Mint
   The roots of this herb are very difficult to control so the plant is very well constrained by a container; remember that any surplus leaves of mint can be frozen.
7. Beetroot
   I’m afraid I have had no success in growing this vegetable in containers. Maybe some reader can accomplish it and let me know the secret. With me the seed germinates but does not go on to mature.

Finally later in the year it will be time to sow tomato seeds, If any reader wishes to do this, obviously using a propagator, I would give an unqualified recommendation to the cherry variety, Sungold, whose flavour, in my opinion, is quite unsurpassed. As well as in a greenhouse it grows really well outdoors in a sheltered position, planted when the danger of frost is passed. Stake, disbud,and grow to 5 trusses.

Whatever you do in your garden, I hope you enjoy it - it’s a wonderful relaxing pastime.

Obituaries - Friends and colleagues who have passed away in 2004 / 05

Philip Baker, Charles Kerridge, Keith Brown , Eric Murray, Mrs M Eaton, Paul Rodway, Tony Egan, Hazel Slade, Joyce Gilson, Delsie Summers, Albert Gregory, Arthur Thomlinson & Joe Grogan,

Philip Baker, who died on Saturday November 6th 2005, was a dedicated supporter of The Brewer’s Guild for nearly sixty years. He was born in Nottingham in 1918, the second child of a Lace Maker. He was educated at Oakham, along with John Heron and Tony Scruby, and entered Brewing via a pupilage with Sydney Deakin at Mansfield Brewery, just before the second world war. Philip saw active service, first as a Desert Rat in the Eighth Army in North Africa and then in Italy where he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry.

He returned to the Brewery after the war and joined Edward Deakin, where he remained for the rest of his career. Philip succeeded Edward on the Board, as Production Director until his retirement. He married Sue Crockford in 1946 who predeceased him some five years ago. Philip Baker was a loyal Englishman of sound common sense, a great sense of fun and a deep love of Brewing and The Brewer’s Guild. His wit was needle sharp. He will be missed by his son David and his many friends.

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