Awards

Awards

*** Finalist (top 4) for UK CAMRA Club of the Year 2018 ***

North Surrey CAMRA Club of the Year: 2008 thru 2024 inclusive
Surrey CAMRA Club of the Year: 2008-2019, 2022-2024
Surrey & Sussex CAMRA Club of the Year 2008-2012, 2014, 2017-2019, 2022, 2024
Regional CAMRA Club of the Year 2008-2010, 2012, 2018, 2022, 2024
Finalist (top 4) for UK CAMRA Club of the 2009, 2010, 2018
Finalist in Club Mirror’s 18th Club Awards – Green Club of the Year 2010
Finalist in Club Mirror’s 18th Club Awards – Cask Club of the Year 2010

North Surrey CAMRA Club of the Year 2013

North Surrey Club of the Year 2013 – presented to Richard Griffin by Scott Wayland, during a visit to the award winning Waylands Sixpenny Brewery.

 North Surrey Club of the Year 2010

North Surrey Club of the Year 2010 – presented by Laurence ‘Spike’ Milligan, Branch Secretary, North Surrey CAMRA

Surrey/Sussex Regional Club of the Year 2010

Surrey/Sussex Regional Club of the Year 2010 – presented by Roy Bray, outgoing CAMRA Regional Director for Surrey/Sussex

Finalist UK Club of the Year 2010

Finalist UK Club of the Year 2010 – presented by John Holland, Chairman of the CAMRA Clubs Committee. Egham United Services Club wins the regional award for a second year in a row.

North Surrey CAMRA Club of the Year 2009

Egham United Services Club wins the award for a second year in a row. Richard Griffin the club secretary pictured here receiving the award from Tony Davis.

North Surrey CAMRA Club of the Year 2009

The Egham United Services Club is the branch Club of the Year 2009. The club was a finalist in the 2009 CAMRA National Club of the Year.

North Surrey ‘Campaigner of the Year’ 2008/2009

Bob Inman presented the award to Richard Griffin along with this speech:

“It’s difficult to believe that the USC was only first discovered by the local branch of CAMRA sixteen months ago in January 2008. On my first visit there were two handpumps selling mostly Rebellion beers, albeit in excellent condition. Since then the club’s commitment to the Real Ale cause has seen the number of handpumps more than double to five and the range of beers explode. A rough count shows that over 350 different beers have been offered in the past year.

The club’s commitment to Real Ale in tip top condition has been driven by the secretary, Richard Griffin – a man more passionate about beer I have yet to meet!

Just one example – Richard has just finished a month’s employment contract in Shropshire and in that time he brought down in his car a total of 7 casks of beer for the club….

Richard has also shown his support for CAMRA’s ideals in other ways. The USC was North Surrey CAMRA’s first accredited ‘LocAle’ outlet and to that end always has at least two local beers on the bar from Rebellion or Waylands – in fact on Tuesday this week all 5 pumps were LocAle beers.

The local North Surrey branch, together with our friends in Kingston & Leatherhead, had been trying to produce an up to date local Pub Guide for the past 2 years and after several false starts it appeared to be dead and buried last autumn. With Richard’s assistance and IT skills we managed to get the whole project back on track and the guide finally appeared in February.

If you needed any further evidence of the club’s excellence you need only look at the certificates on the wall. North Surrey Club of the Year 2008, Surrey COTY, Regional COTY. The USC is currently a finalist in the national COTY competition which means that you are all drinking in one of the top 4 clubs in the country! And all that in the short space of just 16 months.

I could go on about other ways that Richard has helped the Real Ale cause but I think you have probably realised by the range of beers here this weekend – he likes his beer!

To recognise all of these efforts, North Surrey CAMRA would like to award our first ever ‘Campaigner of the Year’ award to Richard Griffin.”

September 2008

North Surrey CAMRA Campaigner of the Year – Richard Griffin, and 2008 Awards

Regional CAMRA Club of the Year 2008

Further to the clubs award for North Surrey CAMRA Club of the year 2008 we have been awarded not only the Surrey Club of the year but also the Regional & Super Regional Club of the Year 2008.

North Surrey CAMRA Club of the Year 2008

Speech made by Bob Inman, CAMRA Social Secretary.

“I first visited the EUSC on 23rd January this year following a timely tip off from Tony Young. What a very pleasant surprise….

Two hand pumps serving Rebellion’s ‘IPA’ and monthly special ‘Double Agent’ in top form and at bargain prices. Right from that first visit I was struck by the friendliness of the welcome – on that occasion it was barman Ian Mays.

Very soon afterwards I met up with the club Secretary Richard Griffin. Richard was very keen to foster links with North Surrey CAMRA and, to that end, he pushed through legislation with the club to grant access to CAMRA members on production of a valid membership card or GBG.

Richard’s passion for real ale has manifested itself in many ways:

  • regular supporter of local brewer Scott Wayland
  • range increased to include Hogs Back and Vale beers
  • 3rd hand pump installed over the last 3 – 4 weeks
  • outstanding support for Mild Month

As a branch, we have never really had any clubs of note in our area until the past 12 months. Now we have both the ‘Hare Hill Social Club’ in Addlestone and the EUSC. It’s a bit like waiting for a bus for ages, and then two come along together!

So after this massive 200% increase in clubs in our area, we are in the lucky position of having a choice for our first branch Club of the Year award.

It therefore gives me great pleasure to present the EUSC with this certificate for North Surrey CAMRA branch Club of the Year 2008.

Very well done to Richard, Julie and all the EUSC team. ”

Quote from CAMRA NEWS and Ale Issue 113 Page 24

“Egham United Services Club, This social club in Spring Rise is the surprise discovery for 2008 as far as North Surrey branch are concerned. Until this year unknown and undiscovered, this comfortable and extremely friendly club offers two beers in tip top form from Rebellion, Hog’s Back or Waylands.

Food is top quality made with fresh meat from a local butcher and fresh vegetables; all kinds of events are organised including live music and summer barbeques. CAMRA members have full access to the club on production of a valid membership card (many thanks to club secretary Richard Griffin who supported this request.)”

Copies of the “NEWS and Ale” magazine are available from the club bar.

Speech made by Cllr Tony Davis, Chairman of North Surrey CAMRA

“Ladies and gentlemen I’m Tony Davis, Chairman of North Surrey CAMRA. Back in May our social secretary, Bob Inman had the very pleasant task of presenting Richard Griffin with North Surrey’s very first and thoroughly well-deserved Club of the Year award. Since then Richard has not been resting on his laurels. Two handpumps have become three always serving good condition ales and often as tonight featuring local breweries, a commitment that goes to the heart of the campaign for localism embraced by this branch and CAMRA as a whole. Real cider has become a regular treat and in addition the USC scores on price just showing what value for money can be achieved when you are not in thrall to the big Pubco’s. The club’s excellent website also stresses the commitment to real ale.

No good deed goes unpunished as they say, and if Richard has wondered about furtive characters scribbling away in a corner while supping their pints over the last few months, the reason can now be made clear. Not just North Surrey but the best in the four branches in Surrey and our first club entry in the 2009 Good Beer Guide to boot! Unfortunately our Surrey Area Organiser, John Norman is away on holiday so you are stuck with me having the great pleasure of presenting the USC Egham with this certificate for Surrey CAMRA Club of the Year 2008. John made it very clear however that he did not want me to sign the certificate on his behalf. I’m sure he will be making his way over here as soon as he is able to carry out that pleasant duty himself.

Very well done once again to all the USC team – and I think there’s more…”