Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C., the London brewer and premium pub company, is sad to have to announce the death of its former Head Brewer, Reg Drury, a man who played a key role in Fuller’s history. Reg had been ill for some time and passed away peacefully on 7 June 2015.
Reg was a great leader of Fuller’s brewing and operations team for 40 years and retired from his position as Brewing Director in 1999. He was responsible for the new brewhouse and the switch from open squares to conical fermenters. He was the first brewer to use such vessels for brewing ale – and today, the process is common place.
Under Reg’s tenure, Fuller’s was awarded the Champion Beer of Britain prize an unbeaten five times with three different beers. He also trained current Head Brewer John Keeling and was a very popular figure around the Brewery and in the wider industry, latterly as a Cask Marque Assessor.
Simon Emeny, Chief Executive, said: “Reg was a true gentleman and he will always be synonymous with Fuller’s. He was a legendary brewer, a great statesman and a fantastic mentor and will be greatly missed by those that knew him.”
Reg, who was born on March 10, 1939, leaves a wife, Sarah, and two children – Jonathan and Fiona.
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For further information please contact the press office:
Georgina Wald 020 8996 2198 georgina.wald@fullers.co.uk
Joanne Steward 020 8996 2135 joanne.steward@fullers.co.uk
Andrew Furness 020 8996 2175 andrew.furness@fullers.co.uk
Notes to Editor
Fuller, Smith and Turner P.L.C. is an independent traditional family brewer founded in 1845 and is based at the historic Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London, where brewing has taken place continuously since 1654. The Company runs 189 Managed Pubs and Hotels and 203 Tenanted pubs, with a focus on outstanding cask ale, great wine, exemplary service and delicious fresh, home-cooked food. The Company also has 651 boutique bedrooms in its Managed estate. The Fuller’s pub estate stretches from Brighton to Birmingham and from Portishead to the Greenwich Peninsula, including 171 locations within the M25. In 2014, Fuller’s acquired a 51% stake in The Stable, a craft cider and gourmet pizza restaurant business. The Stable has eight sites in the South West of England.
The Fuller’s Beer Company brews a portfolio of premium beers including London Pride, ESB, Organic Honey Dew and Frontier Craft Lager. In June 2013, the Company acquired Cornish Orchards, a craft cider maker producing a range of award-winning ciders and premium soft drinks. Fuller’s is also the UK distributor for Sierra Nevada, the premier US craft beer.