GALLERY: Tribute to beer lover Steve Burns as hundreds enjoy ale fest

Drinkers at Rotherham CAMRA Festival at Rotherham College were able to sup a glass or two from the Steve Burns Jnr Bar, which was named in honour of the former CAMRA member who died earlier this summer.

Steve, whose dad, also called Steve, was one of the main organisers, continued to home-brew ale in the last few weeks before he died, aged 34, from motor neurone disease.

Steve Burns Snr told the Advertiser his family had posed for photos with the banner at the “Burns” bar, which was named in honour his son’s dedication to CAMRA.

“Steve used to be in charge of ordering the beer for our previous festivals and even did so for this year,” he said.

“We thought naming the bar after him was a fitting tribute.

An estimated 1,200 people flocked to the college’s Eastwood Building on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night to sample a taste of dozens of real ales, ciders, perries, wines and world beers and enjoyed a packed musical line-up.

Steve Burns Snr said around 5,000 pints had been quaffed, while funds were also raised for Thornberry Animal Sanctuary, the British Heart Foundation and Rotherham Scouts.

The merry punters included ten who won tickets for all three nights in an Advertiser competition.

CAMRA’s attention now turns to the return of the Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival, which will take place at Magna next March 2 to 4.