Brewing industry's Bridgett passes away

One of the brewing industry's best-known personalities, Alan Bridgett, has died following a short illness at the age of 82.

His trade career, which spanned more than 40 years, began at the Charrington Brewery in Mile End Road, London in the late 1950s and continued at Samuel Websters Brewery, Halifax, where he became free trade sales director.

He was best-known for his work with German brewer Holsten after forming a new UK distribution arm of the company in 1977 which later became Holsten UK.

In his post as managing director and deputy chairman he helped grow what was then a little known German lager into a UK premium packaged brand leader.

His time with Holsten also saw the company become one of the country's first corporate football shirt sponsors when he forged a deal with Tottenham Hotspur which was to last 18 years.

He was a keen racegoer and his love of the sport also saw the name of Holsten closely linked with TV horse-racing sponsorship.

During his career he became actively involved in the work of the licensed trade charities which saw him become national president of the Licensed Trade Convalescent Home, the Licensed Victuallers National Homes and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association.

Many licensees and trade groups will best remember him as a popular ambassador for Holsten when he presided over UK trade visits to the company's brewery in Hamburg

He was a great friend of former Yorkshire and England cricketer Freddie Trueman, forged during his days at Websters which featured Trueman in a successful television advertising campaign.

He leaves a wife, Heike, daughter Heather and son Stephen who works as a national account manager for brewer Shepherd Neame.

A private funeral is take place near his home in York.