Consett Ale Works has launched a beer celebrating 30 years since Glenn McCrory became the first person from the North East to hold a boxing world title.
Appropriately called Our Hero, the 3.8% ABV traditional English pale ale unveiled at The Grey Horse pub, Consett, with a talk by Glenn.
His historical feat took place on June 3, 1989, when he landed the cruiserweight title at the Louisa Centre in Stanley, County Durham, in front of 1,500 spectators and a live, international television audience. With him for the launch was North East-based playwright, Ed Waugh.
Waugh, who co-wrote the international hit play Dirty Dusting and penned the London sell-out show Hadaway Harry, as well as regional hits Mr Corvan’s Music Hall and The Great Joe Wilson, has written Carrying David, a one-man comedy-drama outlining Glenn’s dramatic rise, fall and rise, and the role Glenn’s terminally ill brother David played in that historical feat. The play will tour the region in May and June.
David Wilkinson, of Consett Ale Works, said: “Glenn is a sporting superstar hailing from North West Durham, so it was a no-brainer to celebrate his brilliant achievement to link in with the 30th anniversary of his victory and Carrying David.
“Here at Consett Ale Works we brew beers to celebrate the region’s industrial heritage of shipbuilding, coal and steelmaking, which have forged the backbone of our proud northern landscape. Glenn is a product of that wonderful heritage; his father was a Consett steel worker and his four uncles were miners in local pits.”
‘Great memories’
McCrory said: “I joined Consett Sports Centre boxing club aged 12, and my amateur boxing debut took place on October 6, 1979, in Witton Gilbert Working Men’s Club, a fortnight after my 15th birthday. Great memories.
“I trained in Consett for the world title fight, running the Consett Moors every day with my wonderful trainer, Alan Walker, who still lives in Castleside. I even ran a pub there! I’m delighted Consett Ale Works are brewing a beer to commemorate the world title. It’s a canny pint, as well!”
Our Hero, available in cask and bottles, is on sale at the Grey Horse in Consett, and will be rolled out to pubs and outlets throughout the region.
A limited number of tickets, costing £5, are available for the official launch of Our Hero, on Monday, April 8 (7.30pm), at The Grey Horse. Or phone David Wilkinson on 01207 502585.
Carrying David, which stars Mick Cochrane as Glenn and whic is supported by Arts Council England, will be performed at the Alun Armstrong Theatre, Stanley, on Monday and Tuesday, June 3 and 4. Shows start at 7.30pm both nights with a matinee on the Tuesday at 2.30pm
The play opens at Tyneside Irish Centre, Newcastle, on May 31, and tours to Playhouse Whitley Bay, Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre, Westovian Theatre (South Shields) and the Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, North Yorkshire. For further information visit Wisecrackproductions.co.uk
