Voices from the past

Last week I had a phone call from a very kind person who had a collection of old brewery measuring equipment. She asked me to call and see it.

Opening the box was like taking a step back in time. Beautifully bound record books, measuring sticks in fine stitched leather cases for travelling and hydrometers for the specific gravity of beers all in inlaid mahogany boxes. They reminded me of the happy days spent in the old brewing room, with the farmers bringing in their barley for my Dad to look at before going to the maltings, the smells and the wood, the laughter and discussion, and yes, the pipe smoke!

Also underneath the tall desk of the writer of the brewing book were a large pair of working leather boots, size 13, which belonged to a man called Maurice Singlehurst. They smelt of the brewery and I always used to think that the brewery mice could use them as boats in the vessels to get away from the brewery cat called Smokey!

What a box can do to recall memories! Very kindly the lady has offered them to us and when we have parties up at the new building we shall be able to show you and also some of our collecting of bits from the past.