IRTE Events

South Western Centre celebrates 50 years

The group arrived full of anticipation and followed Chairman Dave Corkery to a thatched, stone built farmhouse where numerous barns encircled a courtyard, which in days gone by would have been the extent of the brewery. Hosting the group was Keith Bennett, who upon taking charge of the Centre presented them with a tough decision, ‘should the beer be tested first, or the tour be taken?’

Three of the most popular brews later, the tour began with the far more modern facility that now houses the present day brewery. Commissioned in 2005, the building is cut back into the hill to lessen the impact on the surrounding countryside. The host explained that there are three different types of malted barley from the same grain, which are roasted to different degrees to produce various colours and flavours. These range from light golden to a darker shade and then a “chocolate” very dark shade. The combination of each variety used determines whether the beer is a light or dark Real Ale. In keeping with tradition, the brewery tries to source their ingredients locally, but the last few years’ poor summers have forced them to import hops from Slovenia.

Leaving the brewery, the party adjourned to an inn to reminisce over how far the Centre has come during its half century. Chairman, Dave Corkery researched the centre’s records and gave a history explaining the centres’ roots. Founded in 1957, initial meetings would take place at Exeter and Plymouth alternately.

Members in these times were engineers from bus companies, haulage firms, the transport industry and students; in the local college, it was mandatory for students to join and attend meetings. It was seen by many as the best way to keep up with technical developments in topics such as air brake systems, injection systems, tyre wear, accident investigation and fuel cell technology, all groundbreaking ideas in the 60s.

Things changed in the 70s when meetings were also held at Okehampton, but towards the end of the decade attendances dwindled and a new way forward was agreed. At this time, Tony Wood became Hon. Sec. His enthusiasm and dedication saw the centre move to Exeter where he attracted speakers with a wide variety of specialities in the field of engineering such as Volvo Touring Cars and Euro Tunnel.