George Bateman: 1927-2007

June 26, 2007: The death has been announced of Batemans brewery chairman George Bateman. He was 79.

George Gunson Bateman trained as a brewer at Greens of Luton before joining the family brewery at Wainfleet in 1950. Batemans had been established by his grandfather in 1874. George became chairman and managing director in 1970 and remained as chairman until his death.

He quickly set about upgrading the plant and machinery on a shoe string budget, building the plant from secondhand equipment, and even utilising discarded dairy farming kit. It was in the late 1950s that George started to establish an estate of pubs using borrowed money and by committing to purchase specified volumes of beer from other brewers. Many thought he had overstretched himself and it was from then on that he spent the rest of his life beating the odds.

The first major obstacle placed in George's way was the national brewers' development of keg beers Batemans Brewery, under his leadership, continued to champion the cause of naturally produced English cask conditioned beers. With the assistance of the consumer pressure group the Campaign For Real Ale, he was successful, and Batemans beers went on to win many top awards in the late 1980s and still continue to do so.

He was then faced with the challenge of helping his brother and sister to realise the value of their shares, which was quite a traumatic period for George and his family, as there were very limited funds to be able to achieve this without risking the future of the brewery. George and his family could have walked away and been reasonably comfortable, but he was not prepared to do that, nor was he prepared to even contemplate a sale to any other brewery or company who would not commit to keeping the brewery open and the continue employment of his local communities.

George's negotiations involved banks, breweries and financial companies and it took nearly three years to convince the institutions to lend him the money and back his plans for development of a free trade business. During this time he sold off a number of his own pubs in order to satisfy his brother and sister's requirements. Despite advice to the contrary, he kept on every single member of staff who had been with the brewery during what he called "those dark days".

George was then responsible for overseeing the enormous struggle back to success and the brewery's prosperity. He was exceptionally proud to conduct his business in a trusting and gentlemanly manner, always respecting the needs of others. He was totally against what is some times seen as a 'dog eat dog' environment within business — portrayed on several TV business games shows. Business people, he believed, were there to serve their employees. An old fashioned approach, he knew, but one shared by his family and co-directors and one which has seen his small company prosper and gain him the respect of many of his peers.

His care for others was summed up recently when he was asked what he would like to be remembered for: it was not his work at the brewery and his considerable achievements within the brewing industry; it was for his work and endeavour at the charity Linkage.

The charity provides specialist courses of residential further education for people with learning difficulties and disabilities, as well as longer-stay accommodation for former students who have yet to attain the skills to live independently.

George was the founder chairman, and Linkage Community Trust Chairman from 1976 until his death. Starting from scratch, the charity now has 240 students / residents, more than 200 staff, a turnover of £5 million per annum and assets of £7 million.

George always said that it was easy for people to give money to support causes, and that sometimes eased their consciences. What he was more concerned with was giving people who needed it his time, endeavour ,care and concern.