One of the cider world’s best-kept secrets was uncorked at this year’s Royal Bath & West Show when the industry recognised one of its longest serving workers.
Miss Doreen Pocknell – or Daisy as she is known to her friends and colleagues – had no idea what was in store for her when she turned up for what she thought would be a normal day out at the Show.
The 78 year old from Rushall has spent the last 43 years working at Westons Cider in Much Marcle, near Ledbury, Herefordshire. She began working for Mr Norman Weston in 1963, checking bottles for flaws, but has since worked in nearly every department, turning her hand to anything that needs doing, from washing and labelling bottles, and even mending sacks.
She still works full-time helping to run the thriving Visitor Centre and can often be found at work at 6am. On top of that she still finds time to run the Rushall Working Men's Club (which just so happens to sell Westons Cider), a function she has undertaken for the past 50 years.
Doreen who lives in the same house she was born in became known as "Daisy" ever since she began work on the Westons Bottling Line. This originates from when she first wore one of the older hair restraining hats which was a requirement of anybody working in the Production Area - she looked like a daisy.
Norman Weston’s daughter, Helen Thomas, chairman of the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM) who is also managing director of Westons Cider, praised Daisy for her loyalty and hard work and said she was a real inspiration to everyone.
Lord King, past President of the Royal Bath & West Society and a cider maker himself, presented Daisy with the prestigious Royal Bath and West Gold Medal in recognition of the contribution she has made to the cider industry. The Gold Medal – instigated six years ago at the suggestion of Somerset cidermaker Julian Temperley - is the highest individual honour that can be presented by the Royal Bath & West of England Society to those engaged in all aspects of the industry from research and development and growing the trees, to the production and marketing of cider and its derivatives.
Previous winners include an eminent scientist, an orchardman and John Thatcher, chairman of Thatchers cider.
A shocked Daisy, who took a rare day’s holiday to accompany Mrs Thomas on what she thought would be a normal day out at the Show, said she had no idea about the award until her name was read out. “I am absolutely delighted,” she declared.
Record crowds of 163,170 attended the action-packed show in glorious sunshine – making it the highest attendance since 1978.
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Daisy wins top Cider Award
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