Jim Turner 1949 – 2026
One of the local North Hampshire Campaign for Real Ale's earliest local supporters was laid to rest last week. Jim Turner, a much respected supporter of pubs and real ales had passed away at his home in Basingstoke.
Early days
Jim had been instrumental in the early development of the CAMRA in the area, having joined the then fledgling campaign group in 1975. He threw himself into the organisation with much gusto helping to arrange early beer festivals and social events firstly in Andover then later in the wider Basingstoke area.
In those early years he could always be called upon to help out producing notices and beer festival programmes, as well as helping behind the bars. He later went on to become the editor of the local CAMRA magazine 'Beer Lines' which won the Wessex area best CAMRA magazine award in 2014.
On leaving Macmillan Jim took up self-employment focussing on typesetting but suffered from a business failure where he was the victim of some questionable practices, but he kept his real ale connections.
Support for local pubs
Living in Basingstoke he supported a number of local pubs, primarily the traditional style hostelries that had survived the town's development, notably the Queen's Arms, the Bounty and the Soldiers Return. He was also true to his local Andover roots with the Weyhill Fair being a particular favourite which he regularly revisited.
Strong views
Jim held strong, some would say robust opinions and in later years found himself conflicted with some of the changes that CAMRA was making to its underlying principles.
In 2018, after more than 40 years of active membership, he decided not to renew as he did not like CAMRA taking on peripheral issues that he considered detracted from its core aims of supporting pubs and 'real ale'.
"I think the organisation is being hijacked by people who have other priorities. Now, before you fire off a salvo, I am not saying you are wrong, just that this is not the organisation I joined."
He was not alone in such views.
Always remembered
Always remembered
Jim will always be remembered for giving so much to the support for local pubs, for beer festivals, and for campaigning, much carried out in the background and always in a very measured and thoughtful way. His smile under his baseball cap will be a memory that will never be lost.
On July 15th 2026, Jim was laid to rest at a small gathering at Andover Crematorium followed by a wake at the Malthouse in Andover.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Jim T – will always be remembered.
...and just for info...
2026 also sees the 50th anniversary of the publication of a CAMRA Hampshire Pub Guide for which Jim designed the front cover.
On July 15th 2026, Jim was laid to rest at a small gathering at Andover Crematorium followed by a wake at the Malthouse in Andover.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Jim T – will always be remembered.
...and just for info...
2026 also sees the 50th anniversary of the publication of a CAMRA Hampshire Pub Guide for which Jim designed the front cover.
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