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Ansells Brewery

Does any one recall a guy known as "Tiny" and of course he was big and tall worked at Ansells in the 70's for sure, he rode a motorcycle and wore a long tan coat his job was BEER TASTER !!.

Then would come out at night and sink a few, this was a big man so a few beers was just that, he maintained he really did not drink that much at work,
 
Robert Ensor (bob) said:
Have to say it if I worked in a brewery I would have been a beer taster, and if I worked at Cadbury's I would have been a taster and Wimbush and so on
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You would very quickly tire of that. During my early and mid teems I worked during the summer school holidays on farms, over much of the Midlands - a nice healthy way to earn money. Most university students also did it, but in those days I got away with my age - I really wan't old enough, but the lady in Broad Street said I looked older. Plums, strawberries and other fruits galore to be picked but after the first flush that was usually enough. :grinning:
Things have changed as most people underestimate my age these days.
 
Spot on, Alan. Anyone who has done "pick your own" strawberries or whatever, spends the first ten minutes eating as many as possible, and then picks the ones you are going to pay for. By the time you get home, you don't want to eat another strawberry for a couple of days. And, of course, what you thieve is built into the price you pay, so no one loses out! :cool:
 
Robert Ensor (bob) said:
Have to say it if I worked in a brewery I would have been a beer taster, and if I worked at Cadbury's I would have been a taster and Wimbush and so on
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Pete and the brewers had the keys to this tasting/sampling room. If I worked at cadburys I would be ill as I can't stand the smell let alone the taste. x
 
Robert Ensor (bob) said:
Does any one recall a guy known as "Tiny" and of course he was big and tall worked at Ansells in the 70's for sure, he rode a motorcycle and wore a long tan coat his job was BEER TASTER !!.

Then would come out at night and sink a few, this was a big man so a few beers was just that, he maintained he really did not drink that much at work,
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Hi, you don't mean Yorkie do you.
 
G G Jean said:
Pete and the brewers had the keys to this tasting/sampling room. If I worked at cadburys I would be ill as I can't stand the smell let alone the taste. x
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I understand what you say. When I was at school and when the wind was in the right direction we could smell the chocolate from Cadburys. After a few hours it would turn my stomach, however I do like the taste of chocolate. (A bit off topic I know, sorry!)
 
Anyone who knew my Dad, Ron Timmins AKA "Cowboy". I regret to say that he sadly passed away on 28th August.
 
chocks2 said:
Anyone who knew my Dad, Ron Timmins AKA "Cowboy". I regret to say that he sadly passed away on 28th August.
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Yes I remember your dad from my days at Aldridge Depot, didn't know him well because he was on the bottles and me the drays we didn't seem to mix much. Nice man something to do with country and western I think, The Silver Saddle comes to mind. Sorry to hear your news.
 
Stevehanson said:
Yes I remember your dad from my days at Aldridge Depot, didn't know him well because he was on the bottles and me the drays we didn't seem to mix much. Nice man something to do with country and western I think, The Silver Saddle comes to mind. Sorry to hear your news.
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Thanks for the kind words Stevehanson. Yes, you've got the right guy and the right name of the C&W club he ran.
 
A big C&W fan the brewery stalwart Alex Brackstone died a few weeks ago aged 91. Remembered by many I am sure. Worked there for over 35 years.
 
G G Jean said:
Was he over the transport Ken?. Pete remembers Albert but not Jimmy.
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Jimmy Jones was originally on the Transport and them moved to the Security (gateman) staff working for John Powers. He eventually became the "Sergeant" of the Security Dept. and was in charge of burning old returned beer tickets in the Boiler Room, allegedly many of which did not reach the flames as he and his compatriot Les Ward were very "clumsy". Both died years ago.
 
My mother and aunt both worked at Ansells in the offices - if anyone remember the Kemshall sisters? Mum left when I was born, but Jackie was at the brewery until it closed and then transferred to the office in Aldridge Road. Dad was one of the visiting ICL engineers, Frank Price, if anyone remembers him. I visited the brewery a lot as a youngster, and I believe one of the drays was pressed into service to move furniture from my Gran's to Mum's
 
bishop street said:
Jimmy Jones was originally on the Transport and them moved to the Security (gateman) staff working for John Powers. He eventually became the "Sergeant" of the Security Dept. and was in charge of burning old returned beer tickets in the Boiler Room, allegedly many of which did not reach the flames as he and his compatriot Les Ward were very "clumsy". Both died years ago.
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I am quite sure they didn't!!.
 
Aston Brewery from a 1972 booklet about Ansells brewing history. Was this at Aston Cross ? Doesn’t have the look of that location. Viv,
 

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Vivienne14 said:
Aston Brewery from a 1972 booklet about Ansells brewing history. Was this at Aston Cross ? Doesn’t have the look of that location. Viv,
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Yes it is Ansells Brewery, it is not in the 70s but much earlier. If you ever walked up Park road you would recognise this as the very old brewery gates, the newer entrance gate was much the same. The drays used to enter from coming down the hill and queing up until a space was available on the unloading deck. I have a modern photo of the entrance somewhere, I will post it and you will see the drays queing up.Regards Steve.
 

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Robert Ensor (bob) said:
Does any one recall a guy known as "Tiny" and of course he was big and tall worked at Ansells in the 70's for sure, he rode a motorcycle and wore a long tan coat his job was BEER TASTER !!.

Then would come out at night and sink a few, this was a big man so a few beers was just that, he maintained he really did not drink that much at work,
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Bloody hell. I remember Tiny. He was a mate of my dads as was yorkie.
 
Nigelb63 said:
Bloody hell. I remember Tiny. He was a mate of my dads as was yorkie.
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That's great I often wonder what happened to some of the guys I knew.
I meet Tiny back in the early 70's he would ride his motorbike to the Man on the Moon pub most nights and have several pints.
I always thought it odd a man who tasted beer for a job working for Ansells would come out at night and drink at a M&B pub ..
 
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Pete was on the brewing and a beer taster too. He said the name rings a bell (Tiny) but can't put a face to him.
 
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