PRESS RELEASE

8 October 2002

OTTAWAY TO VISIT REAL ALE FESTIVAL

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, has accepted an invitation from the Croydon and Sutton branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to visit their Real Ale Festival on Thursday 10th October at Wallington Hall.

CAMRA is an independent, voluntary, consumer organization which exists to campaign for greater appreciation of traditional beers, ciders and perries, and to support the public house as a focus of community life.

The Croydon and Sutton Real Ale Festival is organized and staffed by volunteer members of CAMRA. There will be over 45 ales, mainly from Southern England, as well as traditional ciders and perries from Kent and Sussex.

Richard Ottaway says:-

"CAMRA is one of the most successful consumer organizations in Europe and I am a great supporter of its aim to promote good quality ales - a central part of our national heritage and culture."

"I'm very much looking forward to visiting the Festival to meet members of CAMRA and to sample some of the many ales for sale."

Note for editors
The Croydon and Sutton Real Ale Festival is open to the public from Thursday 10th October to Saturday 12 October and takes place at Wallington Hall, Safford Road, Wallington.

Richard Ottaway will visit the Festival at 3.30pm on Thursday 10th October.

Further details about the Festival can be found on Croydon and Sutton CAMRA's website at:- http://www.croydoncamra.org.uk/Festival.htm