Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2011 | Page 48
interview
Island Life - February/March 2011
Anthony
Goddard being
presented to
HRH the Queen
by Chris Bland
(Lord Lieutenant)
while Alex looks
on May 2004
Scrumdiggity, formerly Special Bitter,
and Fuggle-Dee-Dum are among
the brews that have won numerous
awards for their quality and flavour.
With around 400 customers that stock
Goddards beer at some time, there are
about 100 Island outlets that have it on
tap throughout the year.
Anthony was the Island’s High Sheriff
in 2004, a year which he says was
extremely interesting, and confirmed
to him that the Isle of Wight is a very
special place to live. He said: “When
I had the problems with Lloyd’s it was
never a question of trying to find
anywhere else to live. We wanted to
stay here. Apart from anything else, we
have lots of friends that are not easily
replaced.”
Away from brewing beer Anthony’s
48
big passion is historic motor racing, and
for the past 11 years he has raced a
succession of 1960's cars from Formula
5000 to a shared sports racing car.
Currently he takes his 1961 Formula
Junior Tojiero on circuits throughout
Britain, and abroad. He was also
treasurer and company secretary of the
Historic Sports Car Club.
“Last year I went mad and went to
Monza, Hockenheim, Nurburgring, Spa,
Dijon, Silverstone three times, as well
as Brands Hatch, Knockhill, Oulton Park
and Goodwood. It was a conscious
decision to get on with it while I am
still able - which is unlikely to be much
longer at this rate!,” he said.
“I have also had autogyros in the
back of my mind, for some time. So I
bought one a couple of years ago, and
this summer I intend getting my gyro
licence. So when I finish motor racing I
shall play with the autogyro and see if
I can do myself some damage in that!
I also love skiing, which I started back
in 1959, and looking back I feel I have
been lucky.”
Many people have complimented
Anthony on the way he bounced back
from the Lloyd’s financial blow. But
he insists: “You have two choices;
you either sit around feeling sorry
for yourself, or kick on. I had a lot of
support from my family, and I found it
easier to kick on.”
Anthony left it until near the end of
the interview before revealing how the
Goddards beer ‘Duck’s Folly’ got its
name. He laughed: “It’s an anagram –
and the second word is Lloyd’s!”
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