Richard East, Head Chef at The Restaurant, was presented with a £250 gift voucher and a certificate to mark working for the Compass Group, a contract catering business, for 35 years.
He started his career working with Compass at London Zoo’s Banqueting Restaurant (feeding people, not the animals!) and over the years has catered for companies and restaurants including Royal Bank of Scotland, British Transport Police Headquarters, Lambert Fenchurch, Kodak and Computacenter. Richard has also cooked for many famous names, Saudi Royal Family, Princess Anne, Margaret Thatcher, and Roger Moore – just to name a few.
Today, Richard oversees around 40 different main recipes a week, serving the 1,000 members of staff based at Breakspear Park.
Richard said: “After leaving school I joined, what was, the Youth Training Scheme, an on-the-job programme where I learnt my trade in London restaurants, which kick-started my career training under some renowned Savoy chefs. I have worked locally around Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire for the past 20 years, and at Breakspear Park for the past six months. I really love the job satisfaction I get here.
“When I was presented with my 35-year anniversary award I was in total shock that I had been with Compass so long. I am very lucky that I truly love my job.”