The 2012 John Young memorial Award has been given to Andy Moffat of Redemption brewery, here's why ....John Young Memorial Award 2012

John Young was a truly iconic figure in the London and national brewing scene. It was he who kept Young's brewing cask beer when others all around him were converting to keg. Chairman of the brewery from 1962, he died of cancer aged 85 in the same week that Young's beers were brewed at Wandsworth for the last time. Beer from the last brew was served at his funeral on 29 September 2006. For more read this obituary from The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/sep/21/guardianobituaries.mainsection

and this from The Independent by Beer Hunter and another great, Michael Jackson

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-young-416708.html

The London Branches of CAMRA established an Award in his honour - The John Young Memorial Award. Its objectives are

• To celebrate the memory of John Young and his impact on real ale and pubs within London.

• To publicly acknowledge on an annual basis an individual or organisation that the London branches believe has done the most for real ale and/or pubs within the Greater London area.

• To raise the profile of CAMRA within Greater London and the activities of London branches.

The first Award went to CAMRA founder and long-time Public Affairs spokesman for Young's, Michael Hardman.

http://beerjustice.blogspot.co.uk/2008_12_01_archive.html

Subsequent winners were

Founder of pub chain J D Wetherspoon, Tim Martin

The Editors of London Drinker magazine

Licensee, Binnie Walsh, whose pub The Harp went on to win CAMRA's National Pub of the Year competition

http://www.camra.oxi.net/page.aspx?o=333589

and in 2011, founders of Sambrook's brewery, Duncan Sambrook and David Welsh.