The truth about CAMRA from a South African . . .

apologies to S.Nowak, I think it was actually Lynn Pearce who mentioned the CAMRA anoraks. Mike.

We have to live with the stereotype! Our branch - at least those active members - are beardless ( even the ladies )don't wear the garb mentioned but , yes , some excellent brews have got to go somewhere so we are not all as thin as matchsticks with the wood shaved off! Luddites ? We all realise that we get our good beer because the pubs make a profit , and if that involves selling food , smooth , lager etc , that's how it has to be.

As a member I do not have a beer belly, nor wear sweaters, don't have stained T-shirts, pendantic at times, non-Luddite (worked in the communications industry), and married to a female, so the author writes a load of bollocks.

Incidentally, the author needs to learn English Language. Sentences do not begin with conjunctions (and, third paragraph). Conjunctions connect sentences.

Call yourself a journalist!

And that's final!:-)

And what a load of bollocks in turn.

M. (a journalist)

Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since I "related" to a girl. Maybe I should drink less :)

MikeMcG quoted:

I disagree - the brewers have never done anything to counter this image, and in fact have tended to go out of their way to reinforce the stereotype, not least in the way since the early 1980s they have pumped all their marketing budget into promoting the idea that "cool" people drink overpriced fizzy piss.

Of course there are many Camra members that fit this description, but there are just as many that don't. We have one branch member who is certainly a bit of an anorak (or "beer-spotter", as I call him) but his dedication to the cause is reflected in the excellent work he does as branch pub preservation officer, and I would say the local pub scene is definitely better off for having him around - he has certainly managed to get key members of the council on our side in a couple of recent planning decisions.

d.

Thank goodness for that! So many people have said "Camra members no longer have beards, beer bellies and pullovers" that I've been expecting my life membership to be revoked at any moment...

Ian (With beard, beer belly and pullover)

I don't have a beard myself, but I have been known to wear sandals occasionally (not with socks, mind) and I admit to being a Guardian reader. I probably also have one or two folk records in my music collection.

d.

Does anyone remember that quite funny letter in What's Brewing, which went along the lines of "Camra's 60,000th member is, we notice, an attractivoe young woman. The 65,000th member, by coincidence, is an attractive young woman. Is there any chance that our 70,000th member is an overweight middle-aged man?"

Cheeky sod. some of us don't *want* to relate to girls....

I'm quite happy to 'relate' to girls - they're fine to go out for a pint with.

It's just that, when it comes to shagging, it's their brothers I'm interested in!

Tsk, you've no finesse, Hein.