Summer staff parties are a long-standing tradition here at Laithwaite’s HQ. Over the years we’ve enjoyed hog roasts in the car park, BBQs in Tony’s garden … even lavish parties in the grounds of stately homes. So on Wednesday afternoon, not long after the Olympic torch had passed through Theale, we all piled into Reading’s Rivermead Centre to let our hair down.

It was a pleasure to welcome a few of our producers. Mike Roberts kept his South Ridge wines flowing freely. Marie O’Riordan from the Seifried Estate was pouring the Split Rock range and we were also treated to a couple of ales from Will Laithwaite’s Loose Cannon Brewery.

Sadly, but sensibly, we called it a day at 9pm … it was a school night, after all. The Gloucester contingent boarded coaches bound for home while the Reading locals drifted off into the evening … as far as The Moderation on Caversham Road. And not one of us was late for work the next day.