As many of you know, we recently held our AGM and elected a new committee for the year. With some old hands, and a few new faces, we are hoping to bring a new lease of life to the branch. Without further ado, let us introduce ourselves:
Chair: Kate Major: I have been a real ale lover for a few years now, but was thrown in at the deep end last year when I took on my first CAMRA role as branch secretary. The learning curve was steep but rewarding, and I decided the logical progression was to challenge myself in the role of chair. I currently run a pub as my ‘day job’, so my love for ale and the licensed trade runs deep, and I’m so excited to be a small part of what makes Sheffield the world’s real ale capital!
Vice Chair & Beer Fest Organiser: Louise Singleton: I became involved with Sheffield CAMRA when I volunteered to help at the 2011 AGM. Following that I volunteered at the festival at Ponds Forge, and was soon given the task of Staffing Officer. I became Chair of the Festival Organising Committee for the 41st festival, and again this year. I am not from a Beer Industry background as I work in Pensions Administration, and although working 60+ hours on the festival week I really enjoy it, though at times through the tiredness it doesn’t seem that way! It is a long 11 months organising the festival with many obstacles to overcome, but I do enjoy working with the other volunteers and am very proud of what we achieve together.
Secretary: Richard Short: I joined CAMRA while an archaeology student in York in the early 1990s. My subsequent archaeological work gave him access to pubs and a wide range of ales from around the UK. I am now a life member and an enthusiastic home brewer.
Treasurer: Tony Kennick: Having retained the Olympic cheese tasting gold for the third time in the row I retired to Sheffield to take up a life of dark beers and twice cooked chips.
Have own clown shoes.
Membership Secretary: Andy Cullen: I joined CAMRA at Sheffield’s Steel City Beer Festival when it was held at Hallam University Student Union’s Nelson Mandela Building (since demolished) and my first active role was on the national Young Members committee. Locally, I have held an number of branch committee positions including secretary, Membership Secretary and Chairman along with being editor of Beer Matters, having taken over from Paul Goddard when it was still a black and white publication where the master copy was printed on a photocopier and taken to the printers in hard copy – no PDF files uploaded in those days! I have also been involved with the Steel City Beer Festivals for a few years, generally as staffing officer but more recently as the person in charge of the beer order! I also volunteer on the Membership Stand at the Great British Beer Festival in London, and the Robin Hood Beer Festival in Nottingham, as well as being one of the organisers of the Three Valleys Festival in Dronfield.
Press Officer: Paul Crofts: Although a lifelong beer fan, I only joined the committee last year. I sells kitchen worktops for a living. I’m a huge music fan, particularly live music, and will talk endlessly about Mary-Chapin Carpenter given half a chance. And Sheffield Wednesday, Science Fiction, old Slot Machines, woodwork. In fact, I just generally talk endlessly. Probably best avoided.
Pubs Protection Officer: Dave Pickersgill: CAMRA member since the 1970’s, SCBF42 will be the 35th Sheffield CAMRA festival at which I’ve worked. I lead on Pub Heritage and ACV issues within the branch, and also have an e-book on the ‘Worksop and Retford Brewery’ which for a brief period was top of the Amazon Kindle charts in the ‘beer’ category!
Social Secretaries & Pub Officers: Mark Boardley, Patrick Johnson: I moved to Sheffield from Newcastle 4.5 years ago and straight into the Kelham Island area to partake of its many glorious pubs and their myriad pale ales. While I have been a CAMRA member for almost 10 years, this is the first time I have ever been ‘active’.
Cider Officer: Sarah Mills: Hi my name is Sarah Mills I have been a member of CAMRA for about six years. I was encouraged to join because I wanted to get involved with the beer festival. I joined at the time when cider was a small sideline and since I have been joint cider bar manager I have seen it go from strength to strength. I enjoy talking about the ciders we sell and like to encourage customers to try the new things we have on offer.
Young Members Contact: Matt Nedved: Hi I’m Matt, a keen lover of beers, ciders and pie. I have another 2 keen interests which are cricket and Geology.