But  the name  of Wards will  not be lost  completely,  for  they
will  continue  to  manufacture  mineral  waters  for  which  they

the contrary the conversation was most formal and extremely
friendly. He  commenced  by  going through my  letter which I

have  already  gained  a  reputation  as  being  among  the  best
produced.

had written  to him, and said  he  quite understood my motives
for wishing to buy back the business. I hinted that I thought it
would be most uneconomic for me to consider brewing again

Since its beginning, some seventy six years previously,
the brewery had ridden dire economic times; it had
collected a string of awards and more championship gold
medals than any other brewery in the UK or continental
Europe; it had shown that it was able to compete against
the best in the world and had survived the interests of
larger, wealthier firms and it had bonded the village into
something approaching a true community with closely
shared achievements.

at  Foxearth  and  therefore  did  not  really  want  to  buy  the
brewery block of buildings, but of course would be willing to
do so if  they  considered  a  package deal the simplest way of

dealing with the matter. He  then asked me if I did not  intend
brewing whether I would be prepared  to  buy beer from  Ind
Coope  for  supply  to  my  [licensed]  houses.  To  this  I  replied

that he must realise that if my venture was to succeed, I must
be entirely free to buy my beer from whomsoever I wished. He

replied  that  he   could   entirely   see  my   point   of  view   and
presumed  that I wanted my  [licensed]  houses to  be virtually

one that was vulnerable to the immense strength of
amalgamation and change. Now the brewery’s vast halls

free houses.
“He informed me that Ward and Son Ltd would cease to exist

would echo more to the sound of lorry engines and
draymen’s voices than that of staff on brewing days.

as   a   company   from  2  November   1959   as  it  was  to  be
incorporated  into  their  trading  company  Ind  Coope  (East

Anglia) Ltd, and at this I expressed concern, pointing out that
I felt  reasonably  confident  that my family‘s name still meant

In an unexpected volte face, Taylor Walker themselves
were absorbed by Burton-on-Trent company Ind Coope
within 18 months - much it has to be said to David‘s regret
and frustration. Feeling increasing disillusionment with
the new set up and fearful that the Ward name would be
destined for obscurity, he made up his mind to set up a
reverse  takeover  and  try  to  recover  the  firm’s
independence.

something  in  East  Anglia to many  people. It seemed to  have
the desired effect and Carfoot hastily added that he felt sure I

could  form  a  new  company  using  the  old  name,  even  if  it
meant Ind Coope allowing this to be done under licence !

“Finally Carfoot said that any employees that I decided were
redundant,  would  benefit  under  the  Ind  Coope  scheme  for

redundant personnel. This I sensed was  nearing the  last  and
final round. I purposely avoided mentioning any compensation
for  loss   of   office  regarding  myself  as   I  did   not  want  to

Although formal negotiations to buy back the main
business began in July 1959 he did not meet Ind Coope
management until October that year. Spelling out his
intentions to Group Captain Carfoot, the Estates Director
at the northern-based brewery, he made it plain that there
was no plan to brew again at Foxearth because it would be
‘uneconomic’ to do so.

antagonise him in any way at this stage and  he did not raise
the matter either.

 “My  definite  impression  is  that  the  bait  has  been  well  laid
and there is a good likelihood of the fish taking.”

His superb optimism was not misplaced and estimations
of  a  buy  out  seemed  higher  than  ever.  Due  to
rationalisation, Ind Coope had been contemplating selling
off some of Taylor Walker’s smaller acquisitions, convincing

“I was expecting a rather ‘high pressure’ and difficult meeting
with Carfoot  concerning the sale  of Ward & Son  Ltd,  but on