25 years on and SIBA's drum still beats loudly

Britain's small brewers have celebrated 25 years of existence by giving a plaque to the landlady of the pub where they held their first meeting in 1980.

SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) chairman, Keith Bott, of the Titantic brewery presented Kirsty Lambert, landlady of the Cross Keys, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, with a plaque to commemorate the inauguration of the society in 1980.

Representatives from 15 small breweries were present at the first meeting and SIBA's membership is now more than 300.

Bott said: "Today represents a celebration of 25 years of self-employed, independently-minded businessmen working together for common objectives. How contradictory can one be! The small band of very small brewers could never have imagined SIBA 25 years on, or did they?

"We knew we would have to campaign long and hard to secure Progressive Beer Duty, but we got there, thanks to the work of a number of dedicated individuals.

"Now, despite apparent dramatic changes to the industry, we are as focused as ever."

SIBA has commissioned former Whitbread archivist Nick Redman to document its first 25 years of history and the booklet will be published for the society's annual conference to take place in Bristol from 7-9 April.

Mark Wallington, who organised the first meeting and is a former boss of the Archer Brewery in Swindon, was present.