Giles started in the wine trade in 1956 at Brown Gore & Welch following on with Hedges and Butler, South African Wine Farmers Association, Rutherford Osbourne and Perkin which became part of Martini and Rossi Ltd.

He attended the course back in 1965 when the course consisted of a week in Champagne and a further week in Paris to follow. Giles was then Chairman of the Academy in 1977, and went on to the committee for 10 years after this. He loved his connection with the Academy and in his latter years always kept an interest in the Academy through his son Tim (ex chairman 2016).

Sadly, Giles passed away peacefully in the Romsey Care home he had been a resident of for the past 15 months, thankfully not related to any virus simply old age. Devoted husband to Phoebe for nearly 60 years, and beloved father of Sarah, Tim and Anna, and grandfather of 8, he will be greatly missed by family and friends, and of course all at the Champagne Academy where we thank him for his contributions over the years.