Alan Gibbons

We are sad to report that long standing CAMRA Sheffield & District member Alan Gibbons passed away peacefully in bed at his home in Banner Cross back in November, not long after returning from one final holiday in Spain, somewhere he enjoyed going each year. He also enjoyed watching cricket, dining out and going to the theatre.

However, we all know him from his many years volunteering with CAMRA and was involved with our branch pretty much from the beginning, when it covered a much wider area and the beer and pub scene was very different. He also got involved in the Yorkshire and East Midlands regional organisation, attending meetings and judging pubs for county awards as well as working at the Great British Beer Festival and attending national Members’ Weekend conferences for many years. Locally, he held many positions on the branch committee, his final role being treasurer, before retiring in 2023. Although he had stepped down from the committee, he continued to be involved with the branch, volunteering at the beer festival and helping distribute Beer Matters magazines, something he had done for around 50 years. He also held the role of Brewery Liaison Officer for Kelham Island Brewery for a number of years.

Over the years he had been involved with a number of campaigns too and photos made it into the press when he took part in a funeral parade marking the closure of Wards Brewery.

My first notable memory of Alan was at the first ever branch meeting I attended, at the Bankers Draft Wetherspoons in Sheffield City Centre, where he made me feel welcome by buying me a pint. I don’t recall whether he asked for a receipt! Since then he was a constant, knowledgable presence that offered advice and encouragement as well as being quick to discourage any nonsense!

During my time as editor of Beer Matters magazine he also wrote a number of the Pub of the Month articles under is pen name “Wils Gee”.

Here are some other people’s memories of Alan:

“Liz and I often saw Alan on the bus going to various pubs in the City. A few years ago, when elected to branch chair, Alan was very supportive. Alan’s extensive knowledge and expertise enabled me to manage this challenging role.”
Glyn Mansell
Vice Chair, CAMRA Sheffield & District

“My earliest recollections of meeting Alan probably go back to the late 1980’s/early 90’s and two particular events stood out:

• the Beer Matters Stapling Socials when a few of us met in the former Royal Standard and upstairs in the Rutland to staple the A4 sheets together. I wouldn’t be surprised if the large staplers we used were still in Alan’s house somewhere!
• the meetings in the Washington when, armed with the latest Camra Good Beer Guide, we would select the beers for that years beer festival.

Andy Morton
Treasurer and Beer Order Coordinator, Steel City Beer & Cider Festival

“Back in 1980, Alan was at the first CAMRA event I attended (a branch meeting at the long-gone Moseleys Arms). Since then, he has been one of the constant features in my life: someone I saw occasionally, someone who did loads for CAMRA, someone who seemed to know everyone, someone was always ready to provide sound advice – the latter was very useful to myself when we recently hosted the 2023 National Members’ Weekend. Alan is the only person who was on the organising committee all three of the National CAMRA weekends which have been held in Sheffield.”
Dave Pickersgill
Pub Heritage Officer, CAMRA Sheffield & District

“Very sad news. I have know Alan for more over 20 years, in the early days at GBBF and since moving to Yorkshire. He was a periodical visitor to the pub when he was in Scarborough for the cricket he much beloved, as well as seeing him every year at Sheffield BF. I will miss especially his very dry humour.”
Mark Bates
Three Bs Micropub, Bridlington

“Very, very sad. Lovely man and always supportive. He also had many friends in the wider CAMRA world both regionally and nationally where he was well respected and liked.”
Christine Cryne
Ex-National Chair, CAMRA

The funeral will take place at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium at 11:15am on Friday 16 January with the wake following at the Greystones pub.