Geoffrey P.S. Ballard 1929 - 2009 Jeff Sechiari

Geoffrey Ballard, for many years closed and he returned to James Vickers President of the Brewery History Society, Ltd. to learn all aspects of production, died peacefully in November 2009. starting on the shop floor in the factory at Coggeshall and rising to become first a Geoffrey grew up in Surrey and was edu- Foreman and then a Director in 1956. cated at St. George's School, Weybridge. During this period (1951-2) he spent time His uncle, James (Jimmy) Vickers had at Friary, Holroyd and Healy of Guildford no children and when Geoffrey was just to complete his pupilage - the other major nine years old the family agreed that he Surrey brewery of the period and much should be destined to follow in Jimmy's more very useful information and recol- footsteps in the family business - James lections for my Surrey work. Vickers Ltd, Isinglass manufacturers. In 1959-61 he spent time in Manchester After school Geoffrey joined James as a Director and Manager of Man- Vickers Ltd as a trainee and undertook a chester Finings Ltd., a company they had pupilage at Hodgson's Kingston Brewery, taken over to extend their involvement in joining them in 1947. I discovered this the liquid finings trade and to get into the when I was recording Geoffrey for the Auxiliary and Kettle finings trades. His BHS Oral History Archive and it was par- role was to modernise the factory and ticularly special for me as Surrey, as my develop the business. He then returned home, is one of my counties of study and to Coggeshall as Assistant Manager, fol- I had long been trying to find someone lowed by a period researching alternative who had worked at Hodgson's - some- raw materials and product development. thing of a problem as they closed in Between 1967 and 1981 he was manag- 1948. ing all production functions at Coggeshall, becoming a main board His pupilage was interrupted when he Director in 1970 and Group Production was called up for National Service in the Director between 1774-83, followed by Army, during which he was commis- periods as Group MD (1983-85) and sioned into the Royal Artillery. On his Deputy Chairman (from 1985). During return to civilian life Hodgson's had this period Geoffrey also held director-

Brewery History Number 134 147 ships in other Group companies, includ- where we were able to meet a large ing its American subsidiaries. number of key people in the industry, resulting in a number of new corporate One of Geoffrey's passions was world members joining, as well as having a travel and from 1966 he was able to thoroughly enjoyable day out with a won- undertake many journeys to explore the derful host. sources of supply of isinglass, building relationships that were to stand him in Looking beyond the bare facts of a suc- good stead for the rest of his life, and cessful career there was a family man, probably making him the leading expert devoted to his wife, Adair, children Claire in the international market for trading and Arabella, and his grandchildren. He Isinglass. Indeed one point that arose had a passion for antiques, his garden during our oral history recording was that and horses - regularly going to the there was a need to write the definitive Burghley Horse Trials until travel became story of the International trade and he too difficult. was the person who should address this, although sadly arthritis meant that writing In 1988 Geoffrey joined the BHS as became increasingly difficult. During this Honorary President, up until then a large- period many international conferences ly symbolic role giving the Society a link were attended, both as a delegate and a with the industry. Geoffrey, however, saw speaker, and this led to a vast array of it as an opportunity to help the Society to contacts and friendships throughout the develop further, using his many friends industry around the world. and contacts throughout the industry to encourage membership and to open Geoffrey was also a very active member doors for many fascinating meetings. He of Allied Brewery Traders Association took a personal interest in each visit to a (ABTA - now the 'Brewing, Food & corporate member's brewery, wherever Beverage Industry Suppliers Association', possible visiting beforehand to plan out BFBi), being London & Home Counties the details of the day with our hosts. Section Chairman in 1982 and National Likewise, he took a very active role in Chairman in 1987. He sat on ABTA's helping to organise our conferences at Executive Council from 1975 - 1986 and this time and they featured many of his Management Committee from 1987 to industry colleagues as speakers. 1991. Thus, in the words of BFBi's chief executive Ruth Evans, ‘Geoffrey played a He and Adair made a wonderful team major part in the strategy of BFBi for a working tirelessly for the Society for many number of years.’ I was also to enjoy the years, making a major contribution to the fruits of Geoffrey's ABTA connections as current success of the Society. They he invited me to the London Section were also happy to be very hands on annual lunch on a number of occasions, when needs be. With the closure of

148 Journal of the Brewery History Society Watney the BHS Archive expanded Bill Taylor has sent a few personal enormously and Ushers (though another memories of Geoffrey. of Geoffrey's friends) kindly offered to store this for us. A number of offices were I first met Geoffrey in the early 1970's filled with a vast number of boxes of while working at the Castlemaine books and papers and Geoffrey and Brewery in Brisbane. Geoffrey I believe Adair, with one or two other stalwarts, made his first visit there in 1973. As I was spent days at the brewery cataloguing not a senior manager I did not have the the vast pile of paper. (See BHS opportunity to discuss finings with him Newsletter 18 for Adair's obituary). first hand. I did meet him in about 1975. I have never forgotten the occasion. The On reflection, I now recall sitting at a senior management team at Castlemaine committee meeting digesting the news used to come together at 10am to dis- that Peter Moynihan had stood down cuss the issues of the day over morning after a very successful stint as chairman tea. Occasionally special guests were and considering who of the many excel- invited to join. I remember sitting at the lent candidates on the committee might table with others when Frank Burnett, the take on the role when I heard Geoffrey boss, walked in with a guest - Geoffrey suggesting that he would like to propose Ballard. Geoffrey was asked if he would me, a prospect that hadn't crossed my like a cup of tea and his reply was along mind up until then. the lines - Frank, I can get a cup of tea anywhere - would you have a glass of It was typical of him that when he felt his Castlemaine XXXX? A bottle was duly contribution had run its course, a view delivered and Geoffrey entered my his- which was not shared by the rest of us on torical perspectives as the first to ever the committee, he was very thorough in ask for a beer at the morning tea man- researching and suggesting a suitable agement meeting. While I remember successor (Ray Anderson), and showed Geoffrey from this special occasion I was exceptional judgement in doing so. working as Packaging manager for most of the late 70's so while I continued to see The remarkable Norman church at Geoffrey I still did not have direct busi- Copford was filled with friends and family ness dealings. That changed in 1981 from both within and outside the industry when I became Head Brewer of for his funeral. It was a great privilege Castlemaine Brewery. Thereafter I took and pleasure to have known and worked an interest in finings and although it was with him. We offer our condolences to not necessary for the Head Brewer per- Geoffrey's family and friends and we sonally to purchase finings I did choose shall miss not only his wise counsel but to take that on and communicate with also his friendship. The industry has lost Geoffrey personally for many years. This one of its true gentlemen. was because I learned a great deal from

Brewery History Number 134 149 him and I felt he gave me a connection to a similar positive impact with all of us. other parts of the world and what was Geoffrey was too discrete to discuss happening in the industry. other people but from time to time at var- ious industry meetings in Australia it Geoffrey had a wonderful ability to keep became apparent that his business rela- his finger on the pulse of our business. tionships were not only fruitful but also He had a lot of information stored away in enjoyable and a good many long lasting a black notebook. Two or three times a friendships were born in our part of the year the phone would ring at my desk world. and it would be Geoffrey calling from England - I suppose he must have been I was fortunate go to England on busi- calling from Oldhouse while the family ness in 1983 and then for an extended was asleep upstairs. After various gener- period in 1984. I worked in the Wrexham al topics Geoffrey would come to the Lager Brewery. Geoffrey surprised me point and say something like - if my cal- one day by sending me an invitation to be culations are correct Bill you should just his guest at a dinner in London. It was an about be ready to order some more isin- ABTA dinner and was held at Grosvenor glass. I would usually respond by saying House. It was a big event for me. I made I'll have to check and call back. I would my way to London. I found a Moss Bros then phone the brewer who would get his store and hired a suitable outfit. This was clerk to do a physical stock check. I my introduction to the formal dinners so would then call Geoffrey back in a day or much a part of the UK industry. It was a two and say - Geoffrey your little black wonderful occasion but it had another book is correct yet again. We are a little memorable and rather embarrassing low on stock and would appreciate an moment. Geoffrey had been so kind as to immediate dispatch! I also remember that book me into the Mayfair hotel. At the end Geoffrey held the price at just over 8 of the night he asked me if I would care to pounds per kg for several years. That sort partake of a nightcap. It seemed like a of price stability is unheard of today. I good idea at the time. He insisted that we used to try and negotiate price but go to his room (the hotel bar was closed Geoffrey would tell me how difficult it was - it was after midnight). Geoffrey went to trade with the locals on the banks of ahead into the room first asking me to Lake Victoria or how the floods in the wait a moment -- he must have woken Amazon had shortened supply or how Adair asked her to ready herself for a vis- the Chinese demand for fish maws was itor - and then he asked me in. To my putting pressure on price etc. astonishment I was introduced to Mrs Ballard for the first time at 12:30 am in the Geoffrey probably had similar conversa- morning as she reclined in the bed in her tions with a number of the brewers in night attire. I was so embarrassed and Australia but what is certain is that he had made a hasty retreat. However I do

150 Journal of the Brewery History Society stances of the first occasion. By mid 1984 Castlemaine XXXX had been launched to the market and over the next few years Allied Breweries sought to have other breweries in the group approved to brew it. Over the next few years I worked in Alloa, Romford, Leeds and Burton. During this time I accepted the invitation from Geoffrey and Adair to visit them at Oldhouse. I can't remember how many visits I made but I made many alone dur- ing business trips and a couple in the company of my wife Annamaria. On more than one occasion we seemed to lose track of time while we slowly supped an ale or two, or maybe a scotch or three. We had some wonderful talks. I learned a Geoffrey and Adair Ballard holding the cake lot from Geoffrey about breweries, brew- at the Greene King staff reunion held for the ers of times past, the journeys to buy isin- 50th anniversary of VE Day. glass and other travels. remember how gracious Adair was and Geoffrey was a mentor to me at a very how cool she remained under the circum- formative time in my career. Geoffrey stances. A few years later I was again a introduced me to the ABTA. I met many guest of Geoffrey's at another ABTA din- people in the industry in the UK through ner. On this occasion he was the ABTA and the Institute of Brewing as it President of the ABTA. was then. I am privileged to say that I still support both organisations. Geoffrey In 1984 I attended the first of several gave me a good appreciation of the his- Brewing Technology Conferences in tory and tradition of the UK industry, the Harrogate. I had just driven up from fraternity in the industry not just the Wrexham and walked into the reception business aspects. It was a rare approach area of the George Hotel to find Geoffrey from someone who only needed to sell a and Adair checking in at the desk. What a product. Geoffrey took a more holistic coincidence. We had dinner that evening approach with people and the industry at the Drum and Monkey - It was March that he cherished. 1984. This was the second occasion that I met Adair - and I spent the whole dinner Geoffrey and Adair will long be remem- hoping no one would bring up the circum- bered by friends that span the world.

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