They Brewed by Moonlight!
Peter Arkell OBE 'Many Happy Returns!'
What a wonderful tribute to Peter Arkell OBE on the occasion of his 80th. Birthday to name a beer after his World War II exploits. Appropriately called Moonlight it was brewed in recognition of his clandestine taxi service via Lysander during WWII, both in Europe and the Far East.
The staff at Arkell's Brewery brewed by Moonlight to keep the secret safe from Peter whilst at the same time they commissioned a painting by the well-known aviation artist Gerald Coulson. This portrait depicts his taxi the Lysander V9289. Anyway, enough from us and we will let Arkell's tell the tale.......except for wishing Peter Many Happy Returns!
Brewery Lights Up Peter's 80th Birthday with 'Moonlight'
80 years young: Peter Arkell OBE
2003 looks like being a spectacular year for Wiltshire-based Arkell's Brewery.
Not only is the family-run brewery 160 years old this year, but chairman Peter Arkell was 80 years old on 24th January and the Brewery has no intention of letting such an important milestone go by without recognition.
Over the last few months, and under a cloak of great secrecy, the brewery has not only commissioned a painting by well-known aviation artist Gerald Coulson, but the staff have also brewed a very special beer, christened 'Moonlight' as a tribute to his wartime experiences.
Flight Lieutenant Peter Arkell OBE, USAF Medal of Distinction, was born in 1923 and was studying at Oxford when war broke out. He joined the Royal Air Force and a distinguished career flying Lysanders was brought to an abrupt halt when he was involved in a serious crash behind enemy lines in Burma in 1945.
The special new ale has been called 'Moonlight' in commemoration of Peter's missions flying low level sorties over France in 1943, picking up agents in central occupied France during the full moon period.
Based at Tempsford, Bedfordshire and often operating from Tangmere to shorten the flight, the pilots flew a dead reckoning course to their first turning point, usually on the River Loire, using rudimentary navigating equipment.
In 1944 Peter joined 161 Squadron and accompanied the Lysanders to Burma where he flew 35 successful but dangerous missions supplying Force 136 behind the Japanese Lines. After his crash, he spent a year in hospital before being invalided out of the RAF.
When he recovered, Peter went to learn the brewing trade at Hammonds Brewery in Yorkshire, which was taken over by Tadcaster Tower Brewery where he became a director.
In 1954 he was called to join the family firm in Swindon as a director and became chairman in 1971.
Awarded the OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 1997, he once said: "My initials are 'PA' - Pale Ale. I was born in the brewery and I married a brewer's daughter. I'm in it up to my neck!"
Peter now lives with his wife, Anne, near Cirencester in Gloucestershire.
His son, James Arkell, now managing director at the brewery, said: "We are all incredibly proud of Peter and his amazing achievements, both during the war and his sharp business sense which has made the brewery what it is today. We wanted to mark this very special birthday the best way possible by brewing a special beer and the commissioning of a painting to celebrate a time in his life which encapsulates his courage and personality."
The beer, which is 5 per cent ABV (Alcohol by Volume) has been brewed by Arkell's head brewer, Don Bracher , who has used a special blend of malts, making the beer a beautiful moonlight colour and a variety of hops to give it a lingering taste and aroma. The labels not only give an explanation of the beer's special history, but also carry a reproduction the painting, entitled: "He Landed By Moonlight" .
The bottled beer will be available in all Arkell's pubs from 26th January.
Arkell's Brewery Limited
Kingsdown Brewery
Swindon SN2 7RU
Tel. 01793-823026 - Fax. 01793-828864
www.swindonweb.com/arkells/index.htm
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