Former employees who attended a 200th anniversary reunion for one of Wiltshire’s best-known breweries have told how much they enjoyed working for the company.

Around 60 employees, including managers and directors, were guests at a special VIP ticketed drinks reception at a Heritage Open Day on Saturday (September 7).

It was held in the grand ballroom of the historic Grade I listed Parade House, which used to be the former head office of Trowbridge-based Ushers Brewery.

Former Ushers Brewery employees with Trowbridge Mayor Cllr Stephen Cooper and Parade House owners Carey and Simon Tesler who organised the 200th anniversary at the company’s old head office. Former Ushers Brewery employees with Trowbridge Mayor Cllr Stephen Cooper and Parade House owners Carey and Simon Tesler who organised the 200th anniversary at the company’s old head office. (Image: Trevor Porter)

The guests included Trowbridge Mayor Cllr Stephen Cooper and Alastair Macleay, the former managing director of Ushers Brewery from 1976 to 1985.

Mr Macleay was also MD of Ushers of Trowbridge Ltd from 1999-2000 and led an unsuccessful management buy-out before the brewery finally closed.

Then and Now: former Ushers Brewery cooper Peter Vince when he was younger, and now looking at the reunion memorabilia.Then and Now: former Ushers Brewery cooper Peter Vince when he was younger, and now looking at the reunion memorabilia. (Image: Trevor Porter)

Peter Vince, of The Down in Trowbridge, was a former cooper who worked for Ushers Brewery for 41 years from 1959 to the year 2000 until the company closed.

He followed in the footsteps of his father Nelson Vince, who also worked for the company, along with uncles and cousins.

Mr Vince said: “It was a terrific place to work. I could not fault them. It was a sad day indeed when it closed.”

Former Ushers Brewery employee Michael Thompson with the Wiltshire Times coverage dated August 18, 2000 when the closure was announced.Former Ushers Brewery employee Michael Thompson with the Wiltshire Times coverage dated August 18, 2000 when the closure was announced. (Image: Trevor Porter)

Mike Thompson, of Dursley Road, Heywood, started off his career as a cellarman racking up the casks of beer.

He left in September 2000 when the brewery closed and said: “I enjoyed working for the company and when it closed it was very upsetting.

“I’ve got a lot of good memories. We used to split the grains and hops by hand.

“I have been looking forward to this reunion and seeing some of my past friends and work colleagues again.”

Former Ushers Brewery drayman and vintage enthusiast Adrian Conner with his 1946 ERF lorry. Former Ushers Brewery drayman and vintage enthusiast Adrian Conner with his 1946 ERF lorry. (Image: Trevor Porter)

The owners of Parade House, Simon and Carey Tesler, organised the 200th anniversary of Ushers Brewery’s founding by Thomas Usher in 1824 to coincide with the start of Heritage Open Days.

Carey said: “Ushers was one of the biggest local employers for most of the 20th century and we did this for Trowbridge and the history of the house.

“It has been very rewarding and such a thrill to see the smiles on people’s faces as they seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The Ushers Brewery closure in Trowbridge is covered by a local newspaper article.The Ushers Brewery closure in Trowbridge is covered by a local newspaper article. (Image: Trevor Porter)

Trowbridge Town Crier Trevor Heeks opened the Heritage Open Day event, which attracted more than 380 people.

It featured an exclusive exhibition of Ushers Brewery memorabilia loaned by Trowbridge Museum and former employees, as well as recently discovered archive photographs.

Flog It! TV celebrity presenter and antiques dealer Paul Martin, of Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers in Devizes, conducted a live valuation of vintage Ushers memorabilia in the ballroom.

Guests were able to watch a specially commissioned documentary film featuring interviews with former Ushers employees in the Parade House cinema.

 Its Ushers Bar in the historic vaults opened for refreshments and outside the independent Kettlesmith Brewery from Bradford on Avon brewed an Ushers 2024 ale in a pop-up beer garden on the Fore Street forecourt.

The vintage Ushers drayman’s lorry, a 1946 EFF, outside Parade House where the Usher’s Brewery 200th anniversary event took place. The vintage Ushers drayman’s lorry, a 1946 EFF, outside Parade House where the Usher’s Brewery 200th anniversary event took place. (Image: Trevor Porter)

The event included live music and an old 1946 Ushers lorry containing original keg barrels was stationed on the forecourt.

It was supported by Newland Homes who regenerated the former Ushers Brewery sites behind Parade House after they closed.

The brewery closed in 2000 and the company, Ushers Brewers Ltd, renamed itself Innspired Pubs plc. Today, Wychwood Brewery brews beers under the Ushers name for Refresh UK.

Soon after the entire brewery was sold for £1.5 million and dismantled to be shipped off to North Korea.

A version of Ushers’ beer is still brewed today at the Taedonggang Brewing Company's brewery in North Korea’s capital Pyongyang.