Brewing figures get New Year's gongs

Two brewing industry figures have been recognised in the New Year's Honours List for their achievements in the trade and elsewhere.

Richard Everard, head of the Leicester-based Everard's Brewery, has been given an OBE for services to the community in Leicestershire and Rutland, while David Long, a former director of brewing at the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), has been awarded the MBE for services to the hospitality industry.

In addition to being Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, running The Everard Foundation - the family's own charitable trust - and being Honorary Colonel of the Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Army Cadet Force, Everard has spent a third of his time over the past 33 years working with a large number of local charitable and commercial organisations. He is currently involved with 10 local charities.

Everard said he was thrilled to be honoured with an OBE, but added: "All I feel I have been doing is following our family values and company philosophy."

David Long worked for the BBPA for 28 years of his 37 year career in the brewing industry, retiring from the body in January 2010. As well as working in the brewing director role David Long held the post of the association's acting chief executive for nearly a year in 2009.

As brewing director Long championed environmentally-friendly production processes as well as helping the tax authorities to modernise the UK's beer duty system.

He was also heavily involved in Europe-wide beer quality issues through the EU, the Brewers of Europe organisation and the Worldwide Brewing Alliance.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the BBPA, said Long's award would delight both his former colleagues in the association and everyone else he had worked with during his career in the brewing industry.

"David has made a huge contribution to the British brewing industry over 37 years, on the environment, on product quality, in social responsibility and in research and development.

"His enormous expertise, wisdom, and sheer generosity with his vast brewing knowledge, will continue to be called upon for many years to come. This award couldn't be more well deserved."