Oak tree memorial to John Young

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who has died at the age of 85 after a "long and courageous" battle against cancer

A special tree planting ceremony was held in King George's Park this week to commemorate John Young - the former head of the world famous brewery who passed away last year

In 1992 he was made a Freeman of the Borough of Wandsworth and remains the only person to have been honoured in this way by the town hall.

In his memory and in recognition of the enormous contribution he made to life in the borough, a sturdy 12 foot oak tree was planted in King George's Park on Tuesday. The tree is surrounded by an oak bench inscribed with his name and is located near the gate opposite the Young's Brewery Offices in Buckhold Road.

The planting was carried out by the Mayor of Wandsworth Cllr Jim Maddan and John Young's son James.

Cllr Maddan said: "It was an honour and a privilege to have taken part in this ceremony in memory of John Young. John was a colourful, larger than life character who contributed a huge amount to the borough.

"He was chairman of the Battersea scouts for 12 years and a trustee of the Clapham Junction Disaster Appeal. He was a determined supporter of local schools, hospitals, charities and voluntary organisations for many years. Indeed he was made a CBE in 1975 in recognition of his outstanding contribution not just to the brewery industry but also for his charity and voluntary work.

"But it was his leadership and vision for the brewery that bore his family name that most people will always associate him with.

"He presided over its transformation from a small family company into one of the country’s most popular and best loved breweries and one that provided employment for generations of local people."

The great-great-grandson of Charles Young, who acquired the Ram Brewery site and founded Young's in 1831, John Young became chairman and chief executive of the brewery in 1962 when his father William Young retired. In 1999 he relinquished the chief executive’s role but retained the chairmanship of the company.

Under his stewardship, the company focused on the manufacture of traditional draught beer, while other brewers turned to keg beer in the post-war period. This focus on tradition marked out Young's from other breweries and ensured its continued success in the marketplace.

Before joining the company, he had a distinguished military record as a Fleet Air Arm pilot in the Second World War, serving in the Mediterranean, Middle East and Far East.

March 22, 2007