JOE BEESTON - HIGHLAND SPRING STALWART

Joe Beeston OBE sadly passed away yesterday, the first person to have been honoured by the Queen for services to the UK bottled water industry. Joe's business contribution was remarkable. He kept the faith with a single minded approach to Highland Spring, building it into a greatly respected brand leader through massive market change. At the same time, he assembled a management team and workforce that became almost an extended family. To the wider industry, and during his previous career in the world of spirits, he was always a chirpy friend full of great stories, even in his losing battle with cancer. Some of the funniest were about the 2005 G8 Summit held nearby at Gleneagles. When the security services needed to use Highland Spring land for logistics support, it didn't take them long to realise how important it was to him that the Summit should use Highland Spring water in order to be assured of his full co-operation. Joe, we shall miss you as a mentor and friend.