Dead brewery boss had gunshot wounds

A brewery boss found dead in the garage of his Black Country home had been shot in the chest, an inquest was told.

Daniel Batham, aged 82, known as Arthur, had recently been diagnosed with throat cancer. His death is not being treated as suspicious. Emergency services were called to the retired company director's home in Bridgnorth Road, Wollaston, Stourbridge, at about 9am on Thursday. Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said Mr Batham was certified dead at his home.

"The information I have received is he was recently diagnosed with throat cancer," he said.

"On the morning of January 21 he was found in the garage at his home address with a gun shot wound."

He added there were no suspicious circumstances.

At Walsall Coroner's Court yesterday Mr Balmain issued an interim death certificate and the inquest was adjourned for further enquiries.

Mr Batham was a retired company director at Batham's brewery which runs seven pubs in the Black Country, one in Kinver, two near Kidderminster and one in Wales.

The brewery was founded by Mr Batham's great-grandfather, Daniel Batham Senior, in 1882.

It is based at The Vine Inn, better known as the Bull & Bladder, in Delph Road, Brierley Hill, well known for its distinctive frontage emblazoned with the Shakespeare quote "Blessing of your heart. You brew good ale."

The company is now run by his sons Tim and Matt.

Dudley Camra chairman Stan Stevens today said: "I met Arthur a couple of times.

"He was in charge of the brewery in the 1950s and Bathams has become a cult beer ever since. He is sadly missed, he was one of the major brewers in the Black Country who kept the tradition going. If it was not for the likes of him, we would have lost quite a bit of our heritage."