West Berkshire CAMRA Berkshire Pubs Week 2nd - 10th October

All the Berkshire branches of CAMRA were delighted to announce the winners of the photo and limerick competitions that were held during the inaugural Berkshire Pubs Week, held at the start of the October. The winner of the photo competition was Sam McGahan from Newbury and the limerick competition winner was Dave Wood from Old Windsor, closely followed by runner-up Helen Louise Mappley from Maidenhead.

Sarah Rigby, who organised Berkshire Pubs week said "Sam’s photo depicts a Berkshire pub and Berkshire ales beautifully, and the light and colour immediately caught the panels’ eye."

The winning photograph

The limerick competition was judged by local historian, author and keen poet, John Dearing who made a sterling job of assessing both the theme and poetic technicalities of the entries, declaring Dave’s limerick as the winner with Helen’s as a strong runner-up.

There once was a drinker of ale,
Who from Windsor and Eton did hail.
So Guardsman he'd sup,
from an elegant cup,
As a brew it just never does fail.
 

The winning limerick from Dave Wood

Sam won a polypin (36 pints) from West Berkshire Brewery and Dave won a pin (36 pints) from the Windsor and Eton Brewery.

Sarah presented Sam with her winning voucher at the Bacon Arms, Newbury, on the recent West Berkshire CAMRA ale trail in Newbury. Sam said about winning the prize, “I was able to mix two of my loves, good real ale and competitions. We often take pictures of the kids, but they don’t always come out very well as they keep moving about. The picture of two pints in front of the Pot Kiln, Frilsham was easy, as everything stayed still!”

Sam receiving her prize from Sarah.

As a keen supporter of his local brewer, Dave was delighted with his prize from Windsor & Eton Brewery, with Helen very happy to receive three bottles of beer from Butts Brewery.

Sarah summed up by saying, “I would like to thank everyone who participated in the two competitions and I hope everyone enjoyed taking part in Berkshire Pubs Week. Berkshire Pubs Week presented people the chance to try pubs they may not have visited before and we would encourage people to make more use of their local community pub, as they are a relaxed place to enjoy a beer. We are looking to run Berkshire Pubs Week again next year and already have some ideas of how we want to change it. I urge people to keep an eye out for it in their local CAMRA newsletters and if anyone has suggestions for next year, please contact me at bpw@readingcamra.org.uk”.