gnome a3 27/5/08 11:54 Page 1 Published Summer 2008 The Newsletter of the Savoy Gastronomes • www.savoygastronomes.com FOUNDED IN 1971 • DELIVERING THE NEWS THAT MATTERS • PUBLISHED IN LONDON FOR THE WORLD DUNCAN PALMER ELECTED The Savoy Archives by Susan Scott Archivist of The Savoy PRESIDENT FOR 2008 Since The Savoy closed at the end of last year, there’s been some College, were spent gaining a string of accolades. He then concern about the fate of the Savoy Archives, which many of you experience at Whitbread’s, the moved to Mayfair as General will know were principally kept in a storeroom in the Directors’ Royal Lancaster Hotel and Marks Manager of the then Blackstone Corridor. Some of you will, I hope, remember me, the last and Tey Hotel in Colchester. This was owned Connaught until 2002. It indeed longest serving of the Savoy Archivists. You’ll be pleased followed by time at Brown’s in wasn’t long however before the to know that The Savoy continues to value its history and has a London’s Mayfair on a year’s Far East caught his eye again genuine commitment to the archives. Towards the end of last year graduate training programme and and he happily returned to I oversaw the removal of the entire collection from the hotel to ultimately, in Food and Beverage Bangkok to run the stunning secure offsite storage, so for the moment I can allay any concerns administration which led to his Sukothai Hotel. In 2004 Duncan as to the safety and integrity of this unique resource. My appointment as Assistant Food was made Managing Director of understanding is that there will be a new archive store in The and Beverage Manager. A six the oldest hotel in London, the Savoy when it reopens, which I’ve already been asked to advise month stint at The Dubai 429 room Langham, where he on, and we are also hoping to install a permanent historical International, in the UAE, as is responsible for the overall display in the hotel. Assistant Food and Beverage strategic approach for this I hope this sets minds at rest regarding the fate of the Savoy Manager followed. This was property, as the flagship of Archives and the continuity of their care. I should add that I clearly an exciting chapter in Singapore based Langham continue to work for The Savoy on a freelance basis, and although Duncan’s quality career as, whilst Hotels. He orchestrated and it isn’t possible to do new research in the archives at the moment, I he had decided to go to the Far managed the handover of the am able to provide a skeleton service. So if you happen to have Loughborough-born internationally East as Food and Beverage management of the hotel from any general historical enquiries, you can still contact me on recognised hotelier Duncan Manager, he agreed to stay on Hilton in May 2004. He is [email protected]. inter-regnum until he left in June currently involved with a complete Palmer has graciously accepted Movers and Shakers to be our President for 2008. 1983 to join the 438 room redevelopment of the hotel for all Our newer Past President for 1994 Your Committee is thrilled that Mandarin Oriental, Macau, public areas, restaurants, bars Members - where Christian Duffell is working for very busy Duncan has agreed to as Food and Beverage Manager. and banqueting space and all are they now? TISSL, outside Aylesbury, – a step into the particularly huge This was the first of his many bedroom accommodation. This The closure of the Savoy in privately owned UK based footprints left by his immediate distinguished roles within this multi-million pound project will be December brought about a company, but operating globally, predecessor, Andrew Hirst, iconic hotel group. It wasn’t long completed by the Spring of migration of many of our new supplying very user friendly EPS who said “thank you for entrusting before he was promoted to 2009. Duncan’s passion for the members across the globe. systems to the hospitality sector. Do Hong Kong with this prestigious Resident Manager; a post he industry is exemplified by his Many of the Front Office Team call him on his office number event”, in reference to the last held with distinction until 1986. numerous awards including the at the time of the closure have 01296 681413 or on his mobile outstanding Hong Kong based Duncan moved as Manager to Dom Perignon Award for stayed within Fairmont and as 07790 670328 and he’ll tell you reunion. When not at his day job the Mandarin Oriental in Excellence from the Academy of such will be a valuable more. as Managing Director of The difficult Manila, where he Food and Wine Service, the resource to them and us for Committee member, Rachel Langham Hotel in London, oversaw a US $15 million Chevalier de l’Ordre du Merite establishing links with the Angell, who came to Hong Kong Duncan can be found in refurbishment of all public areas Agricole (British Equivalent of the Reception team when the hotel with her sister Carrie, has moved salubrious Englefield Green in and rooms over a 15 month MBE) from the French reopens next year. on from the Dorchester and taken Surrey or at his hideaway in period until July 1988 before Government. He is a Master Ex-Committee member Asta up her new position as Senior Cornwall. In line with many others moving to The Oriental, Innholder of the Worshipful Brandes joins fellow members Events Manager at the Mandarin in the hospitality world Duncan Bangkok as Resident Manager, Company of Innholders and was Marie Koehler and Uli Hyde Park in London. Rachel enjoys travelling and has under legendary Kurt their Chairman in 2001. He is an Schwerr at The Plaza in New kindly gave Afternoon Tea for two extensive contacts around the Wachveitl, who took such good Honorary Academician to the York. This landmark hotel is due as a raffle prize. globe both professionally and care of Gastronomes in February Academy of Culinary Arts and a to reopen this year with 282 Laetitia Pardo and her personally. He is a keen tennis this year. During this time the hotel Member of the European Hotel rooms including 152 pied-a- partner Christos have moved back player, enjoys golf and has a collected numerous global Management Association and a terre suites. to Belgium, where Laetitia takes on strong passion for good awards. In 1989 Duncan moved Fellow of the HCIMA. He places The Orient has attracted two the exciting new role of Director of restaurants. Born on Prince again to the 450 room huge value on his membership of new members also with really International Sales for Dolce Charles’ birthday, Duncan was Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta our Amicale as witnessed by the exciting opportunities for hotels. educated at The Leys School in as General Manager and the Langham generously sponsoring Ronald Dooremalen working After a year in Milan, Stefano Cambridge, before joining hotel was voted as ‘One of the the Savoy Gastronomes Olive with Fairmont in Singapore and Leone moved in November to Westminster Hotel and Catering Top 25 Hotels in Asia’ by the Barnett Award. His current year Natalie Cockayne opening take on the General Manager College where he obtained an highly rated American Institutional as our President will undoubtedly the new Fairmont Beijing. Ollie role at the Bagni do Bormio Spa HND with Honours. He also Investor magazine. But The be remembered as one of great Ormond can be found surfing Resort in the Italian Alps. attended a thirteen week Harvard Savoy London beckoned, and pleasure both for him and the the waves at the dreamy We wish them all the best in Business School Programme for Duncan returned to work for Amicale. If you would like to Fairmont Hawaii. their new and exciting roles and Management and Development. Ramon Pajares, as General contact Duncan directly his We wish them all the best in look forward to seeing them at His early hotel days, prior to Manager, and again under his address is Duncan.palmer their new roles. future events. graduating from Westminster watch our Alma Mater collected @langhamhotels.com Bon mots received by the Committee following our 37th Annual Reunion in Hong Kong “I just wanted to drop you a note because we had worked up an I look forward to seeing you at and myself to say thank you for Maria for her hand in marriage to say thank you for all the hard appetite with the leisurely 'hiking' the next meeting but I really such a wonderful time in Hong and she said yes...!” work you must have put into the across the Island. wanted to say thank you on your Kong. I know you and Maggi “Thank you for your very kind wonderful and exciting time we It was a great opportunity to return.” worked very hard organising the words of appreciation to my team. had in H.K, whilst making it appear revisit old haunts and to renew “I think you may all still be trip and it went without a hitch from It has been our pleasure to so effortless. The programme was acquaintances from more than thirty soaking up the sun in Bangkok, but our point of view. The welcome The Savoy Gastronomes, so well thought out giving sufficient years ago. Peter French, in I wanted to write to say thank you accommodation, the food and the such a wonderful and exclusive time for the all important shopping, particular, was a great pleasure to for a fabulous trip to Hong Kong.