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Terminal cancer victim inspired to make ‘farewell beer’ to drink at his funeral

Iain Turnbull
Iain Turnbull

A former brewer was inspired to make a special farewell beer after being told he had terminal cancer.

Iain Turnbull wanted to create a tipple people could toast him with at his funeral, and raise money for the charity which helped look after him in his final days.

Today, family, friends and well-wishers will say their last goodbyes to Mr Turnbull with the ale he made just for the day.

He was 66 when he died at his Stornoway home on March 20.

Iain farewell beer
Iain’s ‘farewell beer’

He had a four-decade career in the brewing industry around the UK, and decided to try to raise some money for Macmillan Nurses, who he knew would be tending to him in his latter years in Stornoway.

He called the drink Brewer’s Swansong, and put in bottles bearing the message: “A Beer to Die For.”

When the ale was made at the Falkirk Tryst Brewery in Larbert, Stirlingshire, he said: “It is the last beer I will ever brew. Everyone who comes to say goodbye will get a bottle and I hope they will donate to MacMillan Nurses.

“It is matured in a whisky cask and I hope they will toast me with it before I am taken to the crematorium.”

He was told he had prostate cancer in 2008 and that he only had a few years left.

Grandad Mr Turnbull, who also had osteoarthritis and diabetes, said the Brewer’s Swansong, at a stronger than usual 11.5% ABV, would have a toffee apple taste.

He added: “People who know my beer say it is one of my dangerous beers.”

His funeral will take place this afternoon at Warriston Crematorium in Edinburgh and he requested that everyone then adjourns to a reception at which Brewer’s Swansong will be served.