Queen meets hospitality students
Hospitality students at Thames Valley University demonstrated their pastry and front-of-house skills for The Queen last week when she officially opened new facilities there.
The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, watched students fruit carving, preparing canapes, sugar-spinning, making chocolate, creating petit fours, laying tables, decanting wine and folding napkins as part of her visit on February 20 to open Paragon House at its Brentford campus.
David Foskett, associate dean of Professional Studies and head of the London School of Hospitality and Tourism said: “This was an important day for Thames Valley University and the School of Hospitality and Tourism as it recognises the contribution the industry makes to the country’s economic welfare.
"The School has a close connection with the Palace through our butler training programme, a course we developed in association with the Royal Household, and through student placements in the kitchens at the Palace. These established links have made the Royal visit even more significant for us.”
Nigel McEvoy, Buckingham Palace’s senior palace steward who runs the university`s Diploma for Butlers course, and Raymond Blinco, a university student who completed a work placement at Buckingham Palace last year, were among those who met Her Majesty.
Chefs Cyrus Todiwala and Brian Turner were also invited along as guests to the event.
