500 at brewer's funeral

NEARLY 500 mourners one of the biggest congregations ever to fill St Pancras RC Church, Lewes attended the funeral on Friday of Lewes brewery boss Anthony Jenner.

Mr Jenner, 82, former chairman of Harveys Brewery, died in the early hours of New Year s Eve.

He had been with the famous Lewes company for 63 years, and was a Freeman of the town.

Among those present at the service, conducted by Father Eric Flood, were brewery staff, publicans, clergymen, members of Lewes Little Theatre (of which Mr Jenner was a leading light), the town and district councils and local traders.

Father Flood told them that some time earlier he had been wondering how to conduct the service. Then, as he crossed Cliffe bridge, he caught the aroma of the latest brew coming from Harveys and knew exactly what to do.

'Mr Jenner was a most humble man. I felt he would have wanted a simple, dignified and enjoyable funeral. In other words, a good brew, he added.

'What a wonderful turn-out we have for his funeral. He was much loved.

And Father Flood added: 'Mr Jenner understood the liturgy of brewing.

'When I visited the brewery I was invited to bless the Christmas brew. It is not true that, as a result, its strength went up four per cent.

'Sixty-three years in Lewes brewing what an incredible record.

'He was a delightfully old-fashioned man who loved old things in particular he loved being a part of this old town.

'What will he be drinking at the eternal banquet? I can but wonder.

Harveys joint managing director Hamish Elder said many glasses of the brewery s beer would be raised to celebrate Mr Jenner s life.

The requiem mass ended movingly with a rendition of the great wartime song We ll Meet Again.

A reception was held at Shelleys after Mr Jenner s burial in Lewes Cemetery.