I have spent over 50 years in the Hospitality Industry, encompassing a wide variety of trades starting at the Savoy Hotel in 1974, carving joints at what was then an incredibly busy Simpsons, and then going to spend two years at Le Talbooth, Dedham. The first year spent in the Michelin Starred kitchen under Derek Driver, the second year front of house in various departments.
Gerlald Milsom sent me to Bas Breau at Barbizon for a year where I learnt a lot about buying wine from growers and running a Michelin starred restaurant.
I then returned to the U.K. and developed and opened Eastwell Manor as a Hotel Restaurant near Ashford, Kent.
Two years marketing followed in California and then seventeen years in Australia where I ran the largest private house ever built , The RACV Club where we served 500 lunches a day in various price outlets, and some major tourism business with varied catering requirements.
Back in the U.K. I developed and opened Fulham Palace as a major wedding/party venue with a panel of six well known caterers appointed to work there.
I spent three years at The Royal Society of Arts during major refurbishments, new kitchens etc and establishing a major wedding business there.
A couple of years opening the largest private residence ever built in Egypt was challenging and then I returned to the U.K. and took over the management of Duffield Bank House in Derbyshire for Rolls-Royce plc.
I have had committee responsibilities in the past with Chaine des Rotisseurs in Melbourne Australia, and in the U K for some years which I greatly enjoyed.
Recently retired I would welcome the opportunity to to give something back to the industry that as you can see from the above, has been my life.
