Friends bring back popular charity brew

Two friends are teaming up again to brew another batch of their signature beer all in the name of charity.

Penny Wilby, from Boxford, and Tom Norton, head brewer at Mill Green Brewery, first joined forces in 2012 when they brewed their own beer named Lady’s Smock with all proceeds going to charity.

Penny’s fundraising initiative was inspired by a close friend who was battling an aggressive form of breast cancer.

After her death last month donations were made to the Willow Foundation – a charity that allowed the family to spend some quality time together.

Now with the help of Tom’s brewing expertise Penny has decided to bring back Lady’s Smock with a percentage of the sales going to the Willow Foundation.

Penny said she hopes to sell the beer at a few local real ale pubs, as well as the LeeStock festival in May which is also raising money for the Willow Foundation.

“I had a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was very popular and well loved so lots of people did lots of things to raise money for her,” she said.

In its first year, Lady’s Smock, which is named after a flower with medicinal qualities, raised around £1,200.