Out & About February 2017

To celebrate 150 years of the Newbury Weekly News , West Berkshire Brewery has created a special beer for the newspaper. Dan Cooper went along to watch the start of the brewing process I n 1867, Walter Blacket and Thomas Whieldon Turner founded the Ne bury Weekly News from a stationers shop at 34 Northbrook Street. Today, despite the emergence of digital media, the paper is still going strong and this month marks the 150th anniversary of its service to the community. To celebrate this milestone, the NWN decided to team up with West Berkshire Brewery to brew its very own beer in what is believed to be an industry first. In December, chief executive James Gurney, group editor Andy Murrell and I were invited along to the Yattendon brewery and introduced to head brewer Will Twomey – the man responsible for creating many of its award-winning beers. I’m a big fan of beer. However, despite my taste for the brew, I didn’t know the first thing about how it was made. To get invited to a brewery to see the beer-making process first-hand had me as excited as I imagine my two-year-old would be at a visit to Peppa Pig World. I was fascinated by the tour of the brewery, which will soon be replaced by a new state-of-the-art building just down the road, following a £4m fundraising campaign. After a coffee, which was more than welcome after a 7am start, Will showed us how the Newbury Weekly News beer goes on its amazing journey from barley to bottle. We were joined by West Berkshire Brewery chairman David Bruce, who has invested more than £150,000 into the company since taking over. Will showed us how the Newbury Weekly News beer would go on its amazing journey from barley to bottle “ ” Walter Blacket was born in Newbury in 1842, the oldest of three sons of James Blacket, who had moved to Newbury to take over an ailing stationery business. Within three years, Walter was in sole charge of the business, and keen to start a local newspaper.

Walter Blacket was born in Newbury in 1842, the oldest of three sons of James Blacket, who had moved to Newbury to take over an ailing stationery business. Within three years, Walter was in sole charge of the business, and keen to start a local newspaper. Walter sought an editor for his new venture and found Thomas Whieldon Turner, a former printing apprentice at Blacket’s, who had become a reporter on the Cheltenham Examiner . TW Turner returned to Newbury and on February 7, 1867, the Newbury Weekly News was launched to an eager public.

Walter sought an editor for his new venture and found Thomas Whieldon Turner, a former printing apprentice at Blacket’s, who had become a reporter on the Cheltenham Examiner . TW Turner returned to Newbury and on February 7, 1867, the Newbury Weekly News was launched to an eager public.

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