Victor Irvine 26/6/70 – 16/1/25
The West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale branch of CAMRA are deeply saddened to give notice of the death of Victor Irvine (Vic) of Cerne Abbas, the co-founder of the Cerne Abbas Brewery, aged 54.
Vic grew up and was educated in the Ascot area and, like most boys, had a passion for fast cars, skateboarding and having fun. His parents owned a flooring shop and on leaving school Vic learnt the art of laying floors and then running the shop. He kept in touch with school friends in particular the singer/songwriter Chesney Hawkes who would go on to actively raise money and dedicate his last single to Vic. Vic was also a massive West Ham fan and appeared on stage in Prague with Chesney prior to them winning the UEFA Europa Conference league final in 2023.
In 2008 Vic and wife Maddy relocated to Dorset and in 2009 they bought the Old Mill House in Cerne Abbas and quickly integrated into village life. At the time Vic still had the flooring shop in Ascot and would commute to and from – he admitted he hated leaving Dorset and the drive between home and work. On leaving the flooring business, Vic ran a skateboard shop in Weymouth, though not a profitable venture, Vic loved the freedom to skate. He also started assisting on Pound Farm, Nether Cerne as a herdsman/general farm labourer for extra income.
Between all of this Vic started to read about the history of Cerne Abbas and in particular its historical association with beer; somebody said to Vic “If you enjoy what you do then you never work a day in your life”, to which Vic thought “What do I enjoy? Beer!”
In 2011 Vic had successfully been appointed “Head Brewer” at the nearby Piddle brewery; a position acquired more by luck and chance than any brewing qualification. Owners of the brewery Rob Martin and Paul Goldsack wanted to give Vic a chance to prove himself and he did. Vic was always tweaking and adjusting the brewery recipes as he was a perfectionist. From day one of brewing he would always maintain “clean, clean, and clean”.
Around 2013 Vic was headhunted by the former Hidden brewery now trading as the Salisbury Brewery, however Vic’s employment did not last long as after his first rocky job appraisal Vic saw his own job being advertised on the internet! Not long after that the brewery closed and Vic was back to helping on the farm.
At the same time local Cerne Abbas resident Jodie Moore of the Giant Inn pub in Cerne Abbas and friend of Vic’s had had a domestic falling out with his partner and needed to work elsewhere and over a pint one night they decided to start a brewery, though at this point cider was the idea, it was far from the best so plans as cider makers were put on hold. At the same time the Artbrew Brewery was put up for sale in North Chideock and Vic and Jodie leapt at the chance to buy it. So in 2014 the Cerne Abbas brewery produced its first beers in North Chideock.
Vic had a passion for promoting his beer and was keen to get involved with local festivals, twice being Guest Brewery Bar at Weymouth Octoberfest and also becoming the main sponsor for Dorchester Beerex for the fourth consecutive year. CAMRA “Beer of the Festival” awards started to appear from day one of the brewery with winning Gold at Weymouth in 2014 with Cerne Ale and again in 2016 with Gurt Coconuts Rum Stout alongside numerous awards at other festivals including many at Dorchester Beerex, but what is most unusual is in 2023 taking the top three spots at Dorchester Beerex with Mrs Vale’s Ale, Danny’s Brew and Gurt Vanilla Stout. CAMRA national and regional awards followed on several occasions! One of Vic’s main objectives was getting brewing back to the heart of Cerne Abbas; the first move was around 2016 when the brewery relocated to Black Hill Barn amongst the high hills that surround Cerne Abbas. The brewery now resides at Chescombe Barn on Barton Meadows Farm, Cerne Abbas.
Everything was going so well for Vic and Jodie, the brewery had established a tap room, music festivals were being held then tragically in June 2021 Vic was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, a condition that was to be terminal. Vic being upbeat and positive didn’t want the disease to beat him; he was given three years to live and fought the disease for four years before being taken far too soon. Vic used to say: “take more chances, dance more dances”. He leaves a loving family, Maddy his devoted wife and children Sam, Archie and Mabelle. His funeral (celebration of life) took place at St Mary’s Church, Cerne Abbas on Saturday February 1st where an estimated 700 people packed the church, streets and three pubs to watch a heart wrenching service, but even then Vic had the last laugh as in the middle of wife Maddy’s eulogy a recording of Vic interrupted the service with a knock of the coffin “Hurry up its dark in here!” Humour and laughs to the last. Vic is buried in Cerne Abbas graveyard now at finally at peace.
