THE 42nd Beerex was once again almost completely sold out with visitors enjoying a great range of beers and ciders, fantastic entertainment and wonderful weather.

This year’s Farnham Beer Exhibition, or Beerex for short, was a special event celebrating the 40th year of Fleet Street cartoonist Bill Tidy’s programme covers and the 50th year of organisers the Farnham Lions.

A chance discussion following the second Beerex in 1978 led to the acclaimed Daily Mirror, Punch and Private Eye artist being asked to provide a cartoon for the 1979 festival programme.

Bill, appointed MBE for services to journalism in 2000, obliged, as he has done for every one of the 40 years since, and “at the ripe old age of 84” (in his own words) is still keeping Beerex punters entertained every April.

Beerex is the longest-established beer festival in the UK to be held annually at the same premises, the Farnham Maltings, and raises thousands of pounds every year for an array of charities.

Among the most popular beers at this year’s festival were Kelham Island’s Another Fine Mess, Dent’s T’owd tup, Broken Bridges’s Tessallate and Thames Side’s White Swan Pale Ale.

Closer to home Flowerpots Goodens Gold, The Hogs Back’s Friday 13th, Tilford’s Roaring Gold and Wit all featured among many best sellers. This year’s cider bar was particularly busy.

On the stage, the Thursday debuts by the Mantic Muddlers followed by Grizzly and the Grasshoppers were both much enjoyed. On Friday DisCover returned, covering many of the great hits of the last 40 years, rounding off, as tradition demands, with Delilah and Hippy Hippy Shake.

On Saturday night the United Stoats had the crowd foot-stamping to their unique range of ‘Hillybilly’ mayhem, while a barbecue, relocated to the front of the Maltings, kept the happy punters well nourished.