http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Defen ... dParas.htmLocal pub creates a beer for Afghan-bound Paras
18 Feb 08
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment have had a special beer called "Every Man an Emperor", brewed by their local pub landlord in honour of their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
L-R: Corporals Graeme Hay, John Smart, Landlord Jeff Wright, Sergeant Kevin Turk and Mighty Oak Managing Director John Boyce
[Picture: British Army]
Jeff Wright, Landlord of The Fox and Fiddler raises a pint of "Every Man an Emperor" [Picture: British Army]
Colchester pub The Fox and Fiddler is frequented by soldiers from the Parachute Regiment based in the town, who will deploy to Afghanistan for six months in April 2008.
Landlord Jeff Wright wanted to show his support for the tour by commissioning multi award-winning brewer The Might Oak Brewing Company, based in g nearby Maldon, to brew a beer to celebrate the Paras.
Launched at the pub on Friday, 15 February 2008, the beer is a 4 per cent traditional dark-coloured ale. It's name, "Every Man an Emperor", is taken from a speech about the Regiment, made by Field Marshall Montgomery in 1944. It has become an unofficial motto of The Parachute Regiment.
Mr Wright has had the passage from Montgomery printed and placed on the wall so his customers can see where the name has come from and understand the pride the Paras have in their Regiment.
Available exclusively at the Fox and Fiddler, Mr Wright will donate 30p to a charity of the Paras choice for every pint of ale sold. He said:
"We are a small pub in town and over the last six years that we have been here we've had quite a few Paras come in and because both battalions are being deployed together I just wanted to do a little something myself to send them on their way.
"I've seen for myself people before they go away and after they've come back and they are so unfazed. I've seen guys with entry and exit wounds and their friends taking the mick; the camaraderie is something else. It's very interesting and rewarding and it's nice when in my position I can given a little bit back."
Attending the launch were Major Paul Blair from The Parachute Regiment Regimental Headquarters, Sergeant Kevin Turk from 2 PARA, and Corporals John Smart and Graeme Hay, both from 3 PARA, along with John Boyce, Managing Director of The Mighty Oak Brewing Company.
Major Blair said:
"I think it's a fantastic idea. It's important to The Parachute Regiment to make close links with our local community and I think this is a sign of the success of that bond. It's great to know that people support the work that the Paras will be doing in Afghanistan and the money will go to a charity which will support those Paras and their families who need it most when they return."
Cpl Hay said:
"I think it's a great idea. I drink in here regularly and it's great that Jeff has done this to show his support for us after we support him."
Sgt Turk said:
"For the boys of both 2 and 3 PARA it makes us immensely proud that Jeff has made this gesture."
The 2nd and 3rd Battalions of The Parachute Regiment, both based in Colchester and totalling around 1,000 soldiers, are among 2,500 soldiers from Colchester who are deploying to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in April 2008 from 16 Air Assault Brigade. This is the first time both battalions have deployed together since the Falklands.
The Mighty Oak company was started by John Boyce in 1996 and has won several awards from Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), including Champion Golden Beer of Great Britain for Maldon Gold in 2007.
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Local pub creates a beer for Afghan-bound Paras
Local pub creates a beer for Afghan-bound Paras
[i]‘We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat’ - Queen Victoria, 1899[/i]
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flighty
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Alfa
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It's more likely because only 2 & 3 Para are stationed in Colchester and they brewed the beer to show support from the local community.mutter1 wrote:1 Para not Para's anymore?"For the boys of both 2 and 3 PARA it makes us immensely proud that Jeff has made this gesture."
edit, wait, think he just mean's the lad's going out.....silly me.
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Greenronnie
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cousins? half-brothers?
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"Empire" beer fuels UK troops off to Afghanistan
Oh ffs, can you believe it!
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1964485.htm"Empire" beer fuels UK troops off to Afghanistan
19 Feb 2008 13:41:08 GMT
Source: Reuters
LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - A British pub is brewing a special beer for soldiers headed to Afghanistan called "Every Man an Emperor", a name unlikely to sit well with Afghans sensitive about foreign troops in their land.
The Fox and Fiddler pub in Colchester, a town north of London where Britain's elite Parachute Regiment is based, launched the specially commissioned beer this week, ahead of the regiment's deployment in April.
"I just wanted to do a little something myself to send them on their way," the pub's landlord, Jeff Wright, said in a statement distributed by the Ministry of Defence, which has given its full backing to the initiative.
The name "Every Man an Emperor" was taken from a speech that Field Marshall Montgomery made about the Parachute Regiment in 1944 and has since become an unofficial motto of the force.
Wright said 30 pence from every pint of the beer sold would go towards a charity of the Paras' choosing.
"I think it's a fantastic idea," said Major Paul Blair, a commander in the regiment.
"It's important to the Parachute Regiment to make close links with our local community and I think this is a sign of the success of that bond."
But while the beer may go down well at home, its name may not raise such a big cheer among Afghans.
Afghanistan was a target of Britain's imperial ambitions throughout most of the 19th century and any mention of Britain and empire in the country, where 7,700 British troops are deployed fighting the Taliban, can cause offence.
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, who recently objected to British statesman Paddy Ashdown being named a new envoy to the country, is said to have turned him down partly because of Lord Ashdown's "viceroy"-style role.
An official at the Afghan embassy in London said he didn't think the name would go down well in Kabul, but declined further comment.
Asked about the choice of the beer's name, a barman at the Fox and Fiddler appeared nonplussed. "To be honest, I don't think anyone thought about that," he said.
Britain's Ministry of Defence said there should be "no suggestion of British imperial designs over Afghanistan".
"It's an independent, locally generated initiative to support the troops," a spokesman said.
It is not just the associations with empire that may cause offence, but that an alcoholic drink is being used to support troops in a military campaign in a Muslim country.
While alcohol is available in Afghanistan, its consumption is frowned upon and religious and government authorities have made efforts to clamp down on its distribution. (Reporting by Luke Baker; Editing by Kate Kelland and Mary Gabriel)
[i]‘We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat’ - Queen Victoria, 1899[/i]
