Brewing veteran Dave Wickett passes away
Wickett, a former economics lecturer, opened his first pub, the Fat Cat in Sheffield, in 1981 and nine years later opened Kelham Island next door. The brewery’s Pale Rider ale was named Champion Beer of Britain by the Campaign for Real Ale in 2004, which led to increased demand and a further expansion of the brewery.
Wickett also ran a pub in America: the Old Toad in Rochester, New York. He acted as a consultant when the Thornbridge Brewery was build in Derbyshire in 2004 and later helped create an MSc course in brewing at Sheffield University.
Wickett was in his mid-60s when he died. He was told he had bone cancer in 2010 and in February 2011 was diagnosed with a tumour in his spine.
Last July he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.
Wigan-based All Gates Brewery paid tribute to Wickett, tweeting: “A top, top bloke! Will be sadly missed.”
