Member Article

Michelin Star Chef returns to TyneMet

Michael Quinn MBE, who gained his first Michelin Star in 1980 and was the first British Chef for over 75 years at the Ritz Hotel in London, visited TyneMet College to speak to students studying on Hospitality and Catering courses about alcohol and drug dependency in the hospitality and catering industry.

Head hunted to become the Maitre Chef de Cuisine at the Ritz, Michael turned the Ritz, in London, in to one of the country’s top eateries and by the late 80s, at the height of his success he had become one of the most famous Chefs in the world.

Michael’s visit to the College, however, was not to lecture the students about his culinary expertise, but to introduce them to the ARK Foundation, a charity established in 2007 by Michael to educate the hospitality industry’s students, employees and management to the dangers of alcohol dependency and other drug misuse.

Michael was able to give a personal account about the impact alcohol and drugs can have on people’s lives. Despite his notoriety and his highly acclaimed status in the hospitality world, the pressures of being famous and managing the stress of running such high profile establishments saw Michael become dependent on alcohol and drugs and by the 1980s he was sleeping rough under bridges and in Salvation Army Hostels.

However in 2001, sober and re-united with his three sons, determined to warn others of the dangers of alcohol and drug misuse, Michael set up the ARK Foundation and to date the Foundation has spoken to over 76,000 students, educating and raising awareness of the wider issues related to alcohol and drug dependency.

This was Michaels’ third visit to TyneMet, the students he spoke to said they thought the session was very powerful and the message delivered was loud and clear and that they also had a more in depth understanding of how dependency could affect their lives and the lives of those around them.

Joanne Hewison, Head of Service and Business Enterprises, TyneMet College, said:

“It is important that the students are made aware and protected against the devastating consequences of alcohol and drug misuse and also as to how this issue impacts on those around them. Michael is an inspirational speaker; we would like to thank him for visiting us again and look forward to seeing him next year.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lisa Dawson .