Kidderminster Rotary Club: Did you know that Harveys - of cream sherry fame – was once in partnership with Pritchards Merchants in Kidderminster? Nigel Gilbert’s book “Harveys Kidderminster Cream”, explains it all. Nigel recently came to Kidderminster Rotary Club and summarised the story starting in 1820. By that year that Edward Pritchard, originally from Shrewsbury, had moved away from Kidderminster and established himself as a wine merchant in Bristol. He encouraged John Harvey into the wine business in Bristol. By 1833 Edward had set up John as his partner at No. 1 Coventry Street, Kidderminster and the business was known as Harvey and Prichards.

The existing Bristol Milk Sherry was well known, but it was not protected by trademark, and anyone could use that name. . But in 1886 a new blend was made, and being of much better quality, was felt to be the cream of sherries. By trademarking this name, Harveys created a brand, and this high quality blended and fortified wine made Harveys into a very profitable business. The Kidderminster business was taken over just before World War I by the Bristol company. By the 1930’s, as Road and rail links grew, Kidderminster’s importance as a useful part of a trade route was declining, and the Bristol parent company began to think of closing it down. But it survived until 1968. Rotary members were entertained by the many photos which Nigel projected, particularly the extensive cellars under Swan Street and Coventry Street. These could have become part of Kidderminster’s heritage had they not been demolished to make way for new buildings. However The Swan Centre does carry a plaque to mark the history. Eventually Harveys in Bristol themselves suffered take over by a bigger company. In 2003 they closed down, and moved their administrative centre from Bristol to Spain

If you are fascinated by such topics or interested in supporting the work of Rotary International, why visit kidderminsterrotary.moonfruit.co.uk; and approach the secretary to join us at our regular meetings on Tuesday lunchtimes at The Mecure Hotel.