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News
Brian Wheaton MW dies
Brian Wheaton MW, who became a master of wine in the ‘Summer of Love’, has died.
Brian passed away on 29 November after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Anne and their three daughters.
He became an MW in 1967 – the only one in the famous ‘Summer of Love’ – and lived and worked in Guernsey and the Bahamas throughout his career.
Holding a particular passion for sailing, in later life he gave lectures on wine aboard cruise ships – trips shared with Anne.
His memorial service will take place at St John the Baptist, Meols, The Wirral at 15.30 on 16 December.
News of his death follows soon after that of Arnold Tasker MW, who passed away on 27 November.
I remember Brian with great fondness. He was one of the early members of the Association of Wine Educators, and we would have lively discussions during and after winery visits. He was always happy to put the world to rights!
Condolences to all his family.
Brian and I were pupils at Liverpool College for a number of years and forged a friendship which lasted until his passing.
He was a big fellow and had a heart and wit to match – I thought this anecdote might demonstrate my comment.
We left the college in 1954/5 and I was overseas until I returned, in the summer of 1959 and was invited by our old Head Master to watch the School versus the Old Boys at cricket. match.
I won’t go into other details, but it was hot and I was parched but there appeared to be little in the way of refreshments available. Then I saw Brian “sailing” – he had the presence to support “sailing” – through the main school gates. I watched him march across the oval , and when he was about 20 yards from me he stopped , looked at me, shouted Stan ###### Shaw – picked me up – and then loudly enquired of the crowd “where’s the beer tent”. I was no longer parched!
Lovely fellow, great guy.