Confessions of a hotel manager!

PETER GARWOOD - CONFESSIONS OF A HOTEL MANAGER.

Club President Peter Garwood regaled members with stories and anecdotes from his lifetime working in the hospitality industry.

Peter recalled that in 1973 he worked at a hotel that was particularly proud of its manicured lawned grounds. 

Peter had been told that if a guest arrived in a helicopter, he must never place luggage on the lawn in case it damaged the grass. 

Peter thought it seemed odd that luggage was banned from the lawn, but helicopters were ok.

He also, inadvertently, facilitated a robbery when on one occasion a man in working clothes carrying a television asked Peter to open adoor from hotel reception to the carpark.

This happened 2 or 3 times during the day, and Peter was happy to oblige this hard-working individual.

The televisions were never seen again. 

Peter also told of weekend discos for students hosted by famous Radio 1 presenters, 'Diddy’ David Hamilton and ‘Kid’ Jensen. 

On some occasions Peter’s car parking abilities would be tested when the late TV presenter Leslie Crowther had taken a little too much hospitality and couldn’t park his Rolls Royce. Again, Peter to the rescue..

Aviemore in Scotland, and Peter had arranged a conference room to host a major car manufacturer sales event.

The organisers said the room needed to be rearranged to include a wide-open area at the front.

This was to accommodate a spectacular entrance by the late F1 racing champion James Hunt driving an F1 Ferrari. 

The fee was £9,000 for 15 minutes

Amongst other anecdotes, Peter told members of when he ran down 3 flights of stairs in a Bournemouth hotel, he accidentally knocked over pop singer Cliff Richard, who was staying in the hotel at the time. 

Cliff remembered Peter many years later when they met again at another hotel, presumably, not on the stairs!

Other events included interacting with the pop music group Spandau Ballet for whom Peter had a great deal of respect, saying they were really nice guys. 

However he was not quite as complimentary when the pop duo Wham! stayed at the hotel. Why not?

It turned out they told one concert audience which hotel they were staying in, resulting in hundreds of young girls mobbing the place.

Finally, Peter shared his experience of the late TV celebrity Ken Dodd. 

The comedian would take breakfast late, accompanied by his dogs.

Peter was asked by Mr. Dodd if he could offer the dogs sausages, to which Peter gladly obliged. 

Apparently, this became somewhat of a ritual every time Ken Dodd, and his dogs, stayed at the hotel. 

A very interesting talk which members appreciated in the usual manner.

Report by club secretary Brian Boyd.