John Young (brewer)

Early life

Both his father, William Allen Young and his mother, Joan Barrow Simonds, were from well-known brewing families. John was educated at the Nautical College in Pangbourne. During the Second World War, he served as a fighter pilot in the Fleet Air Arm, attaining the rank of lieutenant commander in 1945 at the age of 24. During his service in the navy, he had flown 25 different types of aircraft and landed on six aircraft carriers.. After the war he continued his education at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he obtained an honours degree in economics.

He started a career in shipping, and while in Antwerp, Belgium, he met his future wife, Yvonne Lieutenant. They married in 1951.

Career at Youngs Brewery

In 1954, while living in West Sussex, John, together with his brothers, were needed at Youngs Brewery. He settled down there and by 1964 he had become chairman of Youngs, replacing his father. He remained chairman of Youngs until his death in 2006, a period of 40 years. His management style was "hands-on", frequently visiting his outlet pubs and departments at the brewery. Innovation was made, but tradition was acknowledged. For example; he introduced children's rooms to many pubs.

John Young had a love for working horses and was instrumental in preventing the disappearance of Shire horses from Britain. At the brewery, he determined that local deliveries by horse drawn drays should continue into the 21st century. He was president of the London Harness Horse Parade from 1957 to 1968 and of the Greater London Horse Show 1972–74.

Charity

John Young was active in charities. He was chairman of the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases in Bloomsbury. He raised a considerable amount for this and other charities. He was also govcrnor of the National Society for Epilepsy. For this work and his activity in brewing, he was awarded the CBE in 1975, and he was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1986.

Association with the Real Ale Movement

John Young became a champion in the eyes of the Real Ale Movement when he decided that Youngs would continue brewing cask ale at a time when most breweries were changing to keg beer, a method considered more efficient, but according to many drinkers, less flavourful. This also resulted in a number of Youngs brews being given approval by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Later life and death

Youngs Brewery was situated in the centre of Wandsworth, and although it had been there for 500 years, the borough wished to develop the area. After much negotiation, John Young agreed to give up the site. He made an association with Wells Brewery in Bedford, to combine the companies and to have Youngs beers brewed in Bedford. Brewing in Wandsworth was tapered off, so that the last beer was brewed in September 2006, the same week as John Young died of cancer. Some of the last brew was served at his funeral. He was survived by his son, James and his daughter, Ilse.

John Young Award

The John Young Award was introduced by CAMRA, London branch, to celebrate the memory of Young and his impact on real ale and pubs within London.

Its purpose is to acknowledge any individual or organisation that the London branches believe has done the most for Real ale in that year, or to raise the profile of CAMRA within London.

John Young Room

The John Young Room was created in 2012 to commemorate both John and the Ram Brewery. It is situated in the Old Sergeant, in Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, and is the room over the old coach house, which can be seen from the street at the right of the building. Historic photos, signs and posters are displayed on the walls and a cabinet holds smaller articles.

The Old Sergeant has existed as a licensed premises since at least 1785, when John Nash held the licence. The Young family purchased it from Earl Spencer, in 1857. Although it is typical of a small pub in a less affluent area, it was awarded as the Best Community Pub in Britain for 2012. The building has an example of a 19th-century Coach house, which is visible from the street