PRESS RELEASES
'William Wilberforce Freedom Ale' launched by
Westerham Brewery Co. to mark the 200th anniversary of
Abolition of Slave Trade in England
February 2007
The Westerham Brewery is pleased to announce the launch of one of the only
Fairtrade beers available on draught. 'William Wilberforce Freedom Ale' will be
launched during Fairtrade fortnight, which begins on 26th February. Initially the beer
will be available in pubs, clubs and restaurants in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and South
London.
Freedom Ale is made with Fairtrade Demerara sugar from Fairtrade plantations in
Malawi, southeast Africa. More than 20% of the dry weight ingredients are made up
of the sugar, so permitting the beer to carry the FAIRTRADE mark.
Traditionally floor-malted Maris Otter pale ale malt, crystal malt and Kentish hops
combine with Fairtrade sugar to produce a deep mahogany ale. It is characterised
by its mellow bitterness and long hoppy finish.
The beer commemorates the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. On
25th March 1807, the British Parliament voted in favour of the abolition of the slave
trade. This act of legislation was one of the most humanitarian pieces of legislation
ever enacted in parliament; slaves could no longer be traded in British ships.
Today, people trafficking is one of the worlds fastest growing illegal industries,
devastating the lives of men, women and children who are taken by deception or
coercion from their homes for exploitation. The Westerham Brewery supports STOP THE TRAFFIK
and will make a donation from the sales proceeds of the beer to support
their work in fighting slavery today.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Brewery
Founded in 2004, the Westerham Brewery produces award-winning ales in Kent.
Based on a National Trust farm, the brewery is committed to supporting small
suppliers and retailers in the south east. Through the sales of the Little Scotney
range of beers we support Ian Strang at Scotney Castle hop farm to continue
traditional hop growing.
We tithe 10% of the sale of our Christmas beer, God's Wallop, to a Christian Charity
each year. This year we supported Iris Ministries in Mozambique, the country that
surrounds Malawi. Rolland and Heidi Baker began Iris Ministries, Inc., an
interdenominational mission, in 1980 and have been missionaries for the past twenty-
five years.
For more information call Robert Wicks on 01732 864427 or email
info@westerhambrewery.co.uk from 19th February 2007.
www.westerhambrewery.co.uk
Fairtrade Fortnight
CHANGE TODAY. CHOOSE FAIRTRADE.
Munch it! Wear It! Taste it! Choose it!
Change Today. Choose Fairtrade, is an urgent call to people in the UK to engage
with the Fairtrade Foundation's vision of an even bigger movement for positive
change on unfair trade, including making the switch to buying Fairtrade. This is the
theme of Fairtrade Fortnight 2007 (26 February - 11 March), the annual promotional
campaign of the Fairtrade Foundation which encourages people to buy products
carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark. www.fairtrade.org.uk
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce campaigned tirelessly between 1787 and 1807 for a legislated
end to the British slave trade. He was willing to stand against public opinion and was
committed to seeing justice served. The Reverend John Wesley had encouraged
Wilberforce not to be 'worn out by the oppression of men and devils...Go on, in the
name of God...in exposing that execrable villainy, which is the scandal of religion, of
England, and of human nature.'
In the spring of 1787 Wilberforce had a meeting with his close friend, the Prime
Minister William Pitt, at Pitt's Holwood estate near Westerham in Kent. They would
talk under the oak tree, now called The Wilberforce Oak, and Wilberforce made the
crucial decision to take up the fight against slavery. He presented his first abolition
bill in 1783 and his second attempt in 1787 but was twice defeated. Undaunted, he
was defeated twice more in 1791 and 1805 before the historic bill was finally passed.
His work did not stop there. In 1823 a Society was formed for the total abolition of
slavery. In parliament, the Slavery Abolition Act gathered support and received its
final commons reading on 26 July 1833. Slavery would be abolished, but the
plantation owners would be heavily compensated. 'Thank God', said Wilberforce,
'that I have lived to witness a day in which England is willing to give twenty millions
sterling for the Abolition of Slavery'. Three days later, on 29th July 1833, he died.
He is buried in Westminster Abbey.
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