Welsh Journals

Charles Edwards' Brewery at Llanfoist seen here c 1900 acquired by Andrew Buchan & Co in 1945 In 1951 Buchan's began an association with Whitbread & Co when in November that year Col. Whitbread and J.E. Martineau joined the Buchan board, although Col. Whitbread resigned the following July. Also in July Col. Hoare who had been Chairman for 23 years, and the dominant figure in the Company's fortunes since 1929, retired and was succeeded by Col. Griffiths. John Wilmot and Frank Jupp both of Whit- bread, joined the board in 1952. Wilmot, second brewer at Chiswell Street, was appointed Brewer at Rhymney earlier in the year and in July took over responsibility for Crosswell's brewery following the retirement of their Head Brewer T.S. Pritchard. Jupp later became Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Rhymney Breweries. Soon Whitbread's bottled beers and Mackeson stout were being sold through Buchan's houses. Mackeson was bottled at Rhymney, making a valuable contribution to the profitability of the bottling lines there. In 1952 the pubs began to be signed "Rhymney and Crosswells", and this gradually spread through the estate. A report produced by Whitbread at this time gives an interesting picture of the Company. Rhymney was described as "an old fashioned brewery on the side of the hill which had had a shortage of water in a dry