Chairman - Trevor Hayward

Hello, I’m Trevor. I moved from down south to Duncow just north of Dumfries in 2008 after retiring from too many years working in the computer services industry all over the UK and, briefly, in Europe, mainly visiting airports and hotel rooms!

Since moving to this beautiful part of the country I have made many new friends, finding the locals to be both very friendly and tolerant of us ‘incomers’.

My interests include photography, gardening and travel with my wife, Formula 1 (not taking part anymore) and of course a decent pint of beer. For exercise, apart from walking between pubs, I also try and play badminton once a week.

I don’t have a local as such but try to frequent as many real ale pubs, mainly in Dumfries, as I can. Since the latest round of bus timetable cuts this has become even more of a challenge. Swannay Orkney IPA is probably my favourite beer of the moment, although if I can find it I slightly prefer their Orkney Blast. I was born in Kent so still like those beautifully hoppy and bitter Kentish ales such as Spitfire.

Contact ku.gro.armac.seirfmud@namriahc

Pubs Liaison Officer - Bill Windsor

Born and raised in to a traditional “chimney pot” pub in the town centre called Ye Olde Corner Cupboard I can always remember the first CO2 canister being put in to the cellar – for dispensing Skol2000 with the introduction of what my father assured me would be a passing short term fad, “girlie” drink- lager!! NB Direct quote from another lifetime!

All our beers up to that time were dispensed naturally and “topped” with air from what I can only imagine looked and sounded like an aeroplane engine – a 10 x minute blast before each session. The one benefit I do recall about this CO2 “torpedo” arriving – pipe cleaning (all lines were now inter-connected and could all be cleaned in an hour or two INSTEAD of individually with small ball bearings – think miniature metal marbles - to each individual beer pipe over a full 4+hours on a Sunday, when “pubs” were closed!!).

I joined CAMRA whilst at college in Edinburgh in the early 70s and basically having to drink ale in the Brewery Tap at Fountainhall or Belhaven ales realised the case of real beers being replaced by (petrol like) tanks and bright beer in what Michael Jackson (ie NOT the singer!) believed to be a brewing centre of the world was a major travesty.

A 15 year career with Bass both down south and in the US of A gave me a full appreciation of live beers even though 3 years trying to convince Americans to drink beer at cellar temperature failed miserably I realised that any publican that took their time and energy to provide a real live product instead of serving cold fizz deserved my appreciation and patronage.

Returning to the area and taking over a couple of hotels I based my business model around CAMRA and Tourist Board participation and even in a Real Ale desert like Dalbeattie I believe the 100% barrelage increase was purely due to local’s realisation that variety, consistency and choice of product was worth supporting.

Now “semi-retired” and working in a week what was once a daily shift I hope I can still assist in promoting the appreciation of ale. I realise every publican has their hands and time fully utilised but hope that any member in one of our region’s “GOOD BEER GUIDE” units noting that the CAMRA marketing material is looking depleted could advise the landlord OR contact me through this site as it is imperative we encourage membership and interest of this product before the choice disappears altogether.

Contact ku.gro.armac.seirfmud@reciffo_sbup

Treasurer & Social Media - Stephen Thomas Bate

My name is Stephen Thomas Bate. I am 56 and live in Dumfries. I moved from Cheshire in 1998 for a lifestyle change. I am happy to say that Scotland has been home for 23 years now. My working career has been spent as a Management Accountant. However, I became disenfranchised working for large, blue-chip organisations, feeling like I was a dispensable number on a payroll. I had a career break for a number of years due to ill health, and subsequent diagnosis of FSHD Muscular Dystrophy. I had the opportunity to study for a BA Business in Dumfries with the University of the West of Scotland, followed by a MEd TESOL, that is a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages. This has led to a career change. I am now teaching English online in a voluntary capacity. I am also treasurer for 3 charities and Vice-Commodore of Annandale Sailing Club. There is plenty of work to keep me busy. My interests (apart from beer) are football (I have a season ticket at Queen of the South, but my first team is Manchester City), I follow most sports, including F1 and athletics. I am a sailor. I sailor a Challenger trimaran dinghy at events in Scotland, and further afield. I also listen to music and teach acoustic guitar. I also like Single Malts. I gained my taste for real ale when I was 22. I think that my first pint would have been Marston’s Pedigree, Theakston’s Old Peculiar or XB. Upon moving to Dumfries, I discovered that there are real ale pubs here. I believe my journey with CAMRA started in the Wetherspoons pub, The Robert the Bruce with Greene King’s Abbot Ale. This remains my reference pint of beer, but not my favourite. My all-time favourite is Broughton’s Old Jock. I came across the CAMRA membership leaflet, and then attended one of the bus pub crawls, which was excellently run. I came along to one of the committee meetings. I became treasurer a few years ago. I really enjoy meeting new friends and contributing to the safeguarding of real ale and real ale pubs in the region.

Contact ku.gro.armac.seirfmud@rerusaert

Branch Contact & Membership Officer - Roger Cope

My name is Roger Cope. Having retired from a senior position at a large industrial complex on the English side of the Solway in June 2022, I moved with my wife to Creetown near Newton Stewart. I have been a committee member of the Solway (Carlisle) branch of CAMRA for some years and decided to remain so even after our move. It naturally seemed sensible to also join the committee of the Dumfries sub branch and become the liaison between the two branches. With my IT background I also volunteered to take over duties on the website.

Creetown is the last outpost of the Dumfries branch before we hand over to the Ayrshire branch and so I also pop up quite frequently at Ayrshire CAMRA events, particularly those focussed on Wigtownshire.

We have two friendly cats and I alongside house and garden renovations, I also love model railways, though I may need to live to be a hundred before I have enough spare time to progress my own small layouts to completion!

Contact ku.gro.armac.seirfmud@tcatnoc

Social Secretary (Shared Role) - Mark Bethell

We moved to Dalbeattie in February 2023 from Ormskirk in Lancashire. Pauline and I have enjoyed exploring Galloway in our motorhome this year. We have seen Music at the Multiverse in Sanquhar; Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham in Langholm; the Mull of Galloway; the Nith bore and many other highlights along the way.

We are more than halfway through visiting all the Dumfries and Stewartry pubs on Whatpub. Always trying to remember to put our beer scores in. The scores are so helpful in deciding which pubs should be in the Good Beer Guide. Our local is The Laurie Arms where we are looked after well and is a short bus ride away.

We've bought boxes of beer in bottles from our Galloway breweries of Borderlands, Lowlands, Sulwath and Five Kingdoms. I like a malty beer such as Stewart's 80/- or Cross Borders Heavy but will try anything. I've enjoyed being in many pubs but some of my favourites include The Crown Posada (Newcastle upon Tyne), The Blue Anchor (Helston), Peter Kavanaghs (Liverpool) and Bennets Bar (Edinburgh).

Contact ku.gro.armac.seirfmud@tcatnoc