| Guests experienced real butler service whilst
eating a special lunch prepared by Harveys' Chef/Manager Daniel Galmiche
and his staff.
The Butlers, who have been trained at Kempsford Manor in Gloucester
by The Guild of Professional English Butlers, will as part of their training,
visit places where they can gain valuable knowledge and contacts in their
future careers:
Stephen Grant of The Guild says "Harveys is the perfect venue for the
students to experience the attention to detail which is evident at this
excellent Michelin Starred restaurant, but also to learn about wine and
wine merchants from visiting Harveys' wine cellars and museum.
The next butler training course will be at Kempsford Manor in Gloucestershire
and courses are scheduled for September 2001and March 2002.
Designed in two parts the courses will include:
-
Exceptional Training which focuses on F&B service techniques,
wines, customer care, first impressions, etiquette, personal grooming,
housekeeping, menu planning and private parties.
-
The Hospitality Management part of the course which focus on lifestyle
management, managing staff, private households and hotels, internet, house
accounting, legal issues, travel, confidentiality, security and unwanted
callers.
Robert Watson, Trainer, has spent his whole career working in the
world's luxury hotels, starting off as a commis waiter he progressed to
head butler at the London Lanesborough Hotel before running a butler training
company. Today he trains at some of the most prestigious hotels around
the world including the Sandy Lane in Barbados. |
|
The History of Butlers
In Victorian times England was more of a nation of domestic
servants than shopkeepers.
The middle classes employed as many servants as possible
to demonstrate their newfound wealth and status.
The lower classes or poorer families sacrificed living
standards just to employ one.
In 1888 butlers earned £45 per annum and had no
expenses except clothes. They would make up their income from such perks
as tradesman offering discounts to receive continued orders. Butlers would
also collect the end of candles and one bottle of wine for every six opened.
In Victorian times the butler was responsible for the
footman, custody of the plate and the control of the cellar. He would brew
the servants' beer, arrange the dinner table, announce dinner and carve
the joints in fashionable homes where dinner was served from side
tables.
When a footman had finished his lengthy apprenticeship
he might aspire to join the upper servants by applying for a post of Valet
or Butler. It then became commonplace for these two positions to be combined
except in the richest households.
In modern times butlers receive excellent salaries for
the dedication and commitment required to succeed in this fascinating profession.
A butler has to ensuring that "sir or madam's" every household
need is met, often before it is requested. Their skills need to cover such
tasks as cooking, valeting, driving, surfing the web, gardening, DIY and
knowing a few karate kicks.
A well trained butler will bring social skills and etiquette
to a household as well as an ability to take over and run an entire home.
A good relationship between a butler and his employer is also essential;
neither too familiar nor too distant, in order to achieve the mutual respect
and trust needed for a successful placement. If the mix is right
it is often a job for life. |
|
31
May 2001- Robert Watson and Grant International partnered to establish
an industry standard for butler training - 'The Guild of Professional English
Butlers'. The aim of the Guild is to raise the profile of butlers
by providing quality international butler training courses for hotel staff
or private households to meet the demand for professionally trained butlers
around the world.