Thames Valley’s catering school celebrates 60th birthday
Thames Valley University’s (TVU) London School of Hospitality and Tourism has celebrated its sixtieth anniversary this month by honouring four former students who have continued to hold prominent positions in the global hospitality industry.
At a lunchtime ceremony held at The Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, TVU’s chancellor and founder of Cobra Beer, Lord Karan Bilimoria said the university’s honoraries had ‘played an important role in advancing the enviable reputation of the school,’ claming he was ‘indebted to them for their involvement and support.’
He presented William Brake, founder and former chairman of Brake Bros, with an Honorary Professor award; Ian Carter, president of global operations for Hilton Hotels, with the Alumni Award of Distinction; Laurence Geller, president and chief executive of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, with a Lifetime Achievement Award; and Tim Ingram Hill, former chairman and chief executive of RoadChef, with an Honorary Doctorate.
Professor David Foskett, associate dean of Professional Studies and head of the London School of Hospitality and Tourism, said: “Our alumni are our best ambassadors, and I am delighted to welcome many of them here today. The many accolades received over the last 60 years can be attributed to the quality of our teachers, the unique learning environment of the school and the success of its students who have graduated to take their place as leaders of industry.”
The London School of Hospitality and Tourism was first established as the Acton Hotel and Catering School in 1948, and has since gone on to become one of Britain’s leading catering teaching establishments, having won the Centre of Vocational Excellence award, Restaurant magazine’s UK College Restaurant of the Year award, and the British Hospitality Association Centenary award.
