Members of the Swale branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) returned to The Park Tavern in Sittingbourne to mark the group’s 50th anniversary.
Paul Durkin (centre) was present at the branch’s first meeting 50 years ago
The group first met at the Park Road pub on 17th February, 1976. Around 30 members attended the anniversary event, including Paul Durkin, who was present at the founding meeting.
The group enjoyed plenty of pints of Master Brew and Spitfire Amber Ale, laid on by the pub’s owner, Shepherd Neame, and viewed a display of memorabilia. This included local press cuttings from the 1970s, Shepherd Neame artefacts, and minutes from early meetings held in another pub, The Fountain, leading up to the group’s formation, which came five years after CAMRA was founded nationally.
To commemorate the anniversary, members presented The Park Tavern’s current licensee, Giovanni Demichele (above), with a certificate, which has since been proudly displayed on the wall.
Anniversary co-ordinator, John Kent, said: “It was brilliant, we were very pleased with the turnout. We do actually have more members today than we did in 1976. We wanted to revive cask ale and get people drinking beer in pubs — and we still have the same aim today!”
