Brewery pays its tribute to ‘Mr Peter’
ROBINSONS Brewery has announced the death of its talismanic former chairman, Peter Robinson, at the age of 89.
Known as ‘Mr Peter’ to brewery staff and licensees, he joined the family business in January 1957 as company secretary, before becoming a director in 1962, and chairman in 1978 – a position he held for 42 years.
Peter’s brother, Dennis, paid tribute to the man who also dedicated a significant portion of his life to charity endeavours.
“It is with the deepest sadness that I announce that on Saturday, May 8, 2021, Peter passed away peacefully with his family at his side,” he wrote in a letter to licensees and employees.
“A beloved brother to David and I, father to Juliet and Rachel, father-in-law to Matt and grandfather to his five wonderful grandchildren.
“He leaves a large void in all our lives, but many memories which will live on.”
Dennis signed off the letter saying that those memories left by Peter were ‘treasured.’
Peter and his two brothers were the fifth generation to go into the family business and spearheaded the firm’s retail expansion towards the end of the 20th century. That included opening new premises in the Lake District in the 1980s, increasing the number of food-led pubs in the company’s roster, and adding more pubs with to-let bedrooms.
Robinsons Brewery started out in life with one tavern – The Unicorn on Lower Hillgate in Stockport – when William Robinson bought the premises in 1838.
After his son George took over, he began to brew the first Robinsons ale 11 years later, with his brother Frederic playing a pivotal role in the life of the company.
Frederic took the reins in 1859 and ramped up brewing, before buying 12 new pubs for the company.
He will also be ‘fondly remembered by Robinsons licensees for his regular afternoon visits,’ the company added, ‘whether it be to look at completed investments, to meet new licensees, or while judging the pubs external floral competition he organised, keeping a meticulous record of each of his visits over all the years.’
He was also an active figure in the wider brewing industry, holding titles such as Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Brewers, a founding board member of the Independent Family Brewers of Britain, a long-standing Council member of the British Beer and Pub Association, as a chairman of the North West Beer and Pub Association, and as a President of the Shire Horse Society.
Away from the family business, Peter was a long-standing trustee of the Sir Ralph Pendlebury’s Charity for Orphans in Stockport and chairman of the Alderley Edge and Wilmslow Horticultural and Rose Society.
A lifelong Manchester City supporter, he enjoyed time in his garden where he indulged in his passion for growing and showing sweet peas.