Blue plaques to honour two famous brewers
BLUE PLAQUES have been unveiled in Hinckley in honour of two of the world’s most famous brewers.
Memorials have been installed to William Bass and William Butler to coincide with the 300th anniversary of Bass’s birth.
Research suggests that he was born in Hinckley and certainly lived in Castle Street where the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Jennifer, Lady Gretton, unveiled a plaque in ceremony attended by civic guests and scores of onlookers.
A second plaque has been installed at The Greyhound pub on New Buildings close to where it is believed Butler was born in 1843.
Later this summer, a third is to be put up for William Worthington in his home village of Orton on the Hill.
All three great men attended the launch “in person” along with a 90-yearold vintage Bass lorry.
The memorials and a string of other events celebrating the three brewers have been co-ordinated by Hinckley and Bosworth branch of Camra, the campaign for real ale, together with Hinckley and District Museum, which is hosting a special exhibition, All Hail the Ale, until the end of October.
At the unveiling ceremonies, the Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, Councillor Ozzy O’Shea and his wife Jenny, was joined by the Mayor of brewing town Burton on Trent, Councillor Simon Gaskin and his wife Jane, and Leicestershire County Council chairman, Councillor Janice Richards and her husband Tony.
Camra’s regional director Carl Brett and former Bass Worthington head brewer Steve Wellington and his wife Carolyn were also in attendance.
Mr Wellington is to unveil the Worthington plaque at The Unicorn pub in Orton on the Hill at 7.30pm on Tuesday August 22.
Hinckley and District Museum chairman Ann Crabtree said: “In William Bass, William Butler and William Worthington we have three of the finest examples of energetic entrepreneurs and successful businessmen who rose to international prominence.
“Hinckley and this area may have been relatively unknown in their time but we are now able to permanently celebrate our connections with them.”
A William Bass Pubs Trail will run from July 24 until September 8, with 13 pubs to visit and the chance to win free pints.
The trail map and an entry form can be found in current edition of The Half Pint, the Camra branch magazine availble from pubs and clubs around the borough.
On Saturday August 5, Bass brewery shire horses will visit Hinckley and District Museum on Lower Bond Street and a coach trip will run to the National Brewery Centre in Burton, followed by a tour of town hostelries.
From September 14 to 16 the 10th Hinckley beer festival will have a Three Brewers Theme with heritage beers on offer and on Thursday October 5, a party to mark the end of the anniversary events will be held in the Hinckley and Bosworth Camra pub of the year, former Bass-owned The Queens Head, on Upper Bond Street, Hinckley.