THE art of engineering the perfect pint has been a dream job for one Wiltshire worker – who has celebrated 20 years working for Arkell’s Brewery with a party and a drink of his favourite tipple.

Doug Petrie followed in his father’s footsteps in becoming the firm’s engineer, having started his career in beer in the cask wash.

And the 47-year-old said he had never wanted to do anything different.

“It’s my dream job,” he told a party thrown for him by the brewery in celebration.

“I used to visit my dad, Robin, sharing a brew with him in the boiler room where it was warm and cosy.

“When I moved back to Swindon from Bristol, where I was working at the time, I knew I wanted to do the same job as my dad.”

Doug joined the team in the brew house before learning the engineering ropes from his dad, who spent most of his time maintaining the boilers and when Robin retired a few years’ ago, Doug was ready to take over.

“Now our boilers are more efficient, so I’m spending more time looking after the bottling line, and doing other jobs around the brewery,” he said.

Head brewer, Alex Arkell, paid tribute to Doug’s long service.

“Our bottling line has become increasingly busy over the last two years as we take on more bottling for others as well as growing our own stable of beers,” he said.

“Quality and consistency are essential and it’s down to Doug that we’re really good at this.

“While the boiler room with his dad might have been warmer, the bottling line is busier.”

Doug’s first job was at Rolls Royce in Bristol, moving on to work at British Aerospace.

He became a general mechanic and even tried his hand at farming for a bit before the lure of his home town brewery proved too strong.

“I love being outside,” he said. “That’s why this job is so good. It’s inside and outside, there’s always something different going on and great people to work with.

“I hope I’ll be here until I have to retire.”

Doug was joined at his celebration party by his son, Arnie, 25, a landscape gardener, as well as brewery staff, brewery chairman James Arkell and family members George Arkell, Nick Arkell, John Arkell and Alex Arkell.

The brewery has a history of producing beer which stretches back to 1843.

Based at the Kingsdown Brewery site, the firm runs more than 100 pubs and hotels across Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.