A FORMER East Lancashire brewer responsible for the famous Lancaster Bomber bitter has died of cancer at the age of 52.

Brian Moss left St Mary's College, Blackburn, aged 15 to work at the former Dutton's brewers in Blackburn as laboratory assistant. He later started a brewing traineeship at Matthew Brown and was shift brewer until 1967.

He then moved to Greene King Brewery, Bury St Edmunds, where he was assistant brewer until 1972. He returned to Matthew Brown as third brewer. Brian worked his way up to become head brewer and then managing director.

During the takeover of the company by Scottish and Newcastle in 1988, he was made redundant and joined S H Ward and Co, Sheffield, as second brewer.

In 1990 he returned to Lancashire as head brewer of Mitchell's of Lancaster, where he remained until 1995.

Brian was the architect of many Mitchell's ales, including the Lancaster Bomber and Single Malt.

He leaves a father, John Brian, brother Tony, sisters Angela and Barbara, sons Andrew and Tim and granddaughter Alice Rose .

A funeral service will take place at Morecambe and Lancaster Crematorium on Friday, with donations being made to St John's Hospice in Slyne.

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