Christmas 2003 Social and LOROS Presentation

It was Wednesday 17th December 2003 and the Leicester CAMRA Branch gathered at The Hat & Beaver on Highcross Street Leicester for their annual Christmas Social.

As well as the regular excellently kept Kimberley Beers, the regulars were particularly happy as they were finishing off the last of many barrels of “Kimberley Classic” which had made a welcome return as the Seasonal Beer for November and Anthony had ensured plenty to last until the bitter end.

The evening was made special to us all by the presence of the three invited guests for the evening. They were Alan & Margaret Stanley and Julie Kane. Alan and Margaret are the parents of Julie Stanley, our former Vice Chairman and first Beer Festival Organiser. Julie Kane, is a LOROS nurse who cared for Julie until she passed away in February 2001 from cancer.

Keith thanked all members present for their attendance and explained how The Hat & Beaver was at serious risk of closure. The nearby “beer supermarkets” were taking a lot of the pub’s regular trade by offering low prices despite quality not to the standards of the Hat, but customers just preferred cheaper prices. It is vital to all beer drinkers to support pubs like the Hat & Beaver, or loose them.

Alan Stanley then made a presentation to Julie Kane of LOROS on Leicester CAMRA’s behalf, a cheque for £191.85, proceeds from the charity bucket which was passed around at the 2003 Leicester Beer Festival.  Alan said how pleased and proud he was that the memory of his daughter and the work she did for CAMRA lives on as the donation was in her memory. Julie thanked the branch for their generosity and explained that this money is well spent running the LOROS hospice, caring for cancer patients who are terminally ill.

Alan Stanley presenting Julie Kane of LOROS with
CAMRA's cheque.

The evening was rounded off with a traditional darts/skittles type supper, popular with the sports teams at The Hat & Beaver.

Keith Williams

This page last updated: April 15, 2011

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