Free trade sales manager Tony Temple has retired from Heron and Brearley after 22 years with the company.
Mr Temple joined Heron and Brearley (H&B) in 1990 as warehouse manager and during his career there became one of the most popular and respected people working in the Isle of Man’s hospitality sector.
After setting up H&B’s warehousing operation in Kewaigue, Mr Temple later ran the Hi Spirits off-licence on Prospect Terrace. However, it is as a real champion of Okells brewery that Tony Temple is perhaps best known. A proud Manxman, who in his own words, was ‘weaned on Okells’ (his favourite ale being Okells Spring Ram), Tony Temple ran countless tours of the brewery and tastings for guests from all over the world during his time with H&B.
He subsequently assumed responsibility for Heron and Brearley’s wholesale department where, during his tenure, he took sales to record-breaking levels, securing a number of the Isle of Man’s major accounts.
At a reception at the company’s Kewaigue headquarters to mark Mr Temple’s retirement, Heron and Brearley’s chairman Jonathan Clague said Mr Temple had been ‘a tireless ambassador’ for the brewery and continued: ‘Tony’s true value has been “getting out there” and forging great customer relationships,’ adding that he had developed ‘a fantastic reputation’ with customers, suppliers and local authorities. Mr Clague praised Mr Temple’s friendship, professionalism and leadership that had been much appreciated by his colleagues and on behalf of the company wished him well for a long and happy retirement.
In his response Mr Temple, who was presented with gifts from the board and staff of Heron and Brearley, thanked the directors for placing their faith in him when he joined the company. He said that as a Manxman born and bred he had known Heron and Brearley all his adult life, adding: ‘In a way I always felt part of the company even before coming to work here’. In closing he said that although the industry was witnessing many changes and challenges he was confident Heron and Brearley was ‘set on a strong path for the future.’
An avid motorcycle fan, Mr Temple, who lives in Glen Vine, is secretary of the Isle of Man Auto-Cycle Union centre board and of the Manx national two-day trial committee and is a familiar figure as a TT and Manx Grand Prix marshal. Unsurprisingly in retirement he is looking forward to more opportunities to go motorcycling.
Photo caption - Free trade sales manager Tony Temple has retired from Heron and Brearley after 22 years with the company. Picture Liam Gilman
