AN 86-year-old woman enjoyed her first taste of beer in over 20 years this week as she toasted the return of the Mary Ann brand.

Fayette Jackson was just two when her father, James Woodman, who was secretary of the brewery at the time, suggested naming their beer Mary Ann. And she is delighted that the company have now reversed their decision to drop the name six years ago. The company got in touch with Mrs Jackson after she wrote a letter to the JEP welcoming the news.

Speaking from her St Brelade home, where she was presented with a framed Mary Ann beer label and bottles of the relaunched brand by sales manager Tony Russell, Mrs Jackson said that she was thrilled that her letter had created so much fuss.

‘I never expected all this to happen,’ she said. ‘It feels like everything has gone full circle and I am so happy that the name is back.’ The name came from groups of travellers and visitors who used to sing sea shanties in the pubs in Jersey, which were all about a woman called Mary Ann. Mr Woodman heard these songs and he put it to the board that it would be an appropriate name for the brewery, which was then based in Ann Street.

Victor Hugo sales manager Tony Russell pours a pint of Mary Ann for Fayette Jackson. Picture by Tony Pike (00600772)