The Grainstore Brewery Tap in Oakham has created a beer in honour of the first and last soldiers to die in the First World War with some of the proceeds going towards a Tommy silhouette sculpture for Rutland County Council

A brewery has created a commemorative beer in honour of the first and last soldiers who died in the First World War.

The Grainstore Brewery Tap will sell the ale throughout November with five pence from every pint going towards a memorial sculpture in Oakham.

The brewery is an avid supporter of the Armed Forces and hosts a monthly breakfast club for veterans. With this year marking 100 years since the end of the war, the team were keen to host their own commemorative project.

Grainstore director Peter Atkinson said: “We work closely with the Armed Forces and veterans in Rutland and wanted to create something to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.

“The beer is named First and Last to commemorate Private John Parr who was killed 17 days after Britain declared war and Private George Ellison who died 90 minutes before the Armistice of 1918.”

Business partner William Davis has visited the graves of the two soldiers which sit opposite each other at the St Symphorien military cemetery near Mons in Belgium.

The beer was created using a mix of English hops and blended using pale ale, crystal and brown malts. It will be available at The Grainstore Brewery Tap in Oakham and from stockists across the Midlands.

The five pence per pint and £3.50 per firkin sold will go towards a Rutland County Council project. The council aims to raise £750 to buy a Tommy silhouette sculpture to stand outside its offices in Oakham.

The council’s Armed Forces champion Richard Foster (Con) said staff who had a connection with the Armed Forces felt it “only right” they marked the 100th anniversary of Armistice.

He added: “Rutland has a rich military history and council employees work closely with our vast Armed Forces community on a daily basis.

“It is fantastic that The Grainstore is supporting our employees in achieving their fundraising target, enabling us to, hopefully, bring the County Council’s Tommy home sooner.”

The council is hosting a ‘wear red to work day’ for its staff to boost the funds.