Hinckley and Bosworth

Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale

Unveiling of the William Worthington Blue Plaque

Saturday 26 August 2017


CHURCH BELLS RING FOR GREAT BREWER. The bells of St Edith’s Parish Church rang out as a Blue Plaque honouring the life of William Worthington was unveiled in the village of Orton-on-the-Hill. Worthington was born in the village in the Borough of Hinckley & Bosworth and went on to become one of the three great brewers who all came from the Hinckley area.

The Blue Plaque event took place at the village’s Unicorn Inn and was jointly arranged by Hinckley & Bosworth CAMRA and Hinckley & District Museum supported by the Borough Council.

Special guests included the Deputy Mayor of Hinckley & Bosworth Jan Kirby, Councillor Stanley Rooney who is responsible for Heritage, and County Councillor Ivan Ould who represents the area. Carl Brett, CAMRA’s Regional Director for the East Midlands also attended. Colin Goss the landlord of the Unicorn and his wife were present.

As well, a vintage brewery vehicle had been driven down from the National Brewery Centre Burton-on-Trent made an excellent backdrop to the event. It has the enviable number plate of ALE 1. The main guest of honour was Steve Wellington, with his wife Carolyn, who unveiled the plaque. Steve is well known within the industry as a beer champion and an award winning master brewer.He also has a passion for microbreweries, for brewing history and for re-creating long lost brands of beer. As Head Brewer at the Worthington Brewery in Burton-on-Trent there could be no one more fitting than Steve to unveil the plaque in honour of William Worthington.

On a perfect summer’s evening some 55 people gathered in front of the Unicorn for the ceremony. After a welcome by Richard Lewin of CAMRA, Gregory Drozdz of Hinckley Museum gave an interesting and informative talk about the history behind this event. Steve Wellington’s speech followed and the church bells rang out as he unveiled the Blue Plaque commemorating William Worthington.

The bell-ringing was significant as Worthington himself was a bell ringer. Graham Titley, St Edith’s Church Tower Captain said “He was an accomplished and enthusiastic ringer who went on to use his wealth to endow many churches in the Burton area with bells”. The bell ringing itself was an attractive addition but was further enhanced by the presence of Worthington’s great grandson as one of the bell ringers.

Finally the party moved indoors to toast the life of William Worthington and enjoy a buffet. St Edith's Church Orton on the Hill where on 22nd August 2017 a quarter peal of bells rang out for William Worthington.

The above review was provided by Richard Lewin, Three Brewers Committee

newsletter is out now, so look for it in a pub or club near you. This edition provides details of the upcoming 10th Hinckley Beer Festival and an update on continuing Three Brewers celebrations. The centre fold of the newsletter contains the associated Bass Ale Trail guide which maps the local pubs that are taking part in the scheme, along with a sheet for collecting the stickers.

For a full size representation of the front page, click on the image.

This is for the period August to October 2017. As always, congratulations and thanks go to David & Dianne Bates who have edited this edition.