John Young dies at 85
London family brewer Young's has announced the death of its Chairman, John Young CBE.
The company said Mr Young, 85, passed away after a "long and courageous" battle against cancer.
Ironically, the Ram Brewery in Wandsworth, to which Mr Young devoted most of his working life, will cease brewing at the end of this month. He was the great-great-grandson of Charles Young, who acquired the Ram Brewery and founded Young's with Anthony Bainbridge in 1831.
John Young joined the family business in 1954 after serving in the Fleet Air Arm during the second world war, followed by seven years with shipping firm Runciman and Moor.
He became chairman and chief executive in 1962, and was a stalwart of the UK's family brewing sector, championing cask ale at a time when other brewers were shifting to keg. He was awarded a CBE in 1975 for services to the brewing industry and to charity.
Young's chief executive, Stephen Goodyear, said: "We are all very sad to hear of the death of John Young after such a long battle against cancer. He was both a great leader and a marvellous character who was a source of inspiration to everyone who knew him or worked with him."
The company announced in May that the Wandsworth site will be sold for redevelopment, with brewing moving in October to Wells and Young's, the new company in Bedford owned jointly by Young's and fellow regional brewer Charles Wells. Young's continues to operate more than 220 pubs in the south of England.
