J Mark Dodds is a long-standing publican and sector advocate with more than three decades’ experience across the UK pub industry.

Last week, his backpack was stolen from a train in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The backpack contained his laptop, tablet and more - items which are all absolutely vital for his work saving the pub industry.

Despite tracking the laptop with “Find My” to a block of flats in Dundee (and knowing it is in literally inside one of four flats), British Transport Police have made the bizarre decision that it would not be “proportionate to investigate the crime further” and as such they will not be doing anything about it.

They insist that they would need a warrant to do so (despite Section 17 of PACE clearly allowing them to gain access without a warrant under these circumstances.)

And this therefore leaves Mark totally stuck!

Whilst his files were, fortunately, all backed up to the cloud…without the devices themselves, he is now unable to continue his vital work for the sector.

He is not in a financial position to replace them, and that’s why he desperately needs our help!

The total required to replace everything lost with comparable second hand items will be £1300.

The cost to replace with brand new items would be closer to £2000.

Please consider chipping in to help if: you know Mark, you own or run a pub, or you just love pubs!

This man, and his work, has done so much already and we need to ensure he can continue to do so!

We need to save pubs and therefore we need to help Mark!

Mark’s work spans frontline pub operation, campaigning, and policy engagement, including involvement in reform debates from the post-Beer Orders period through to the introduction of the Pubs Code in 2016.

He has worked with publicans, campaign groups, and industry stakeholders, drawing on direct operational experience and a long-term perspective on structural change within the sector.

He is a founding member of the Independent Pub Alliance, a director of CAMRA, he co-founded the Fair Pint Campaign and is currently getting ready to launch a podcast, All For The Love of Pubs.

Mark Dodds is pubs!

Should the fundraising target be exceeded, any additional amount will go straight into finalising and launching his All For The Love of Pubs podcast, which is nearly ready to go with some fantastic interviews already recorded!

Huge thanks in advance to everyone who donates - any amount, no matter how small, will be very much appreciated and VERY well used in helping to save British pubs!