Westminster Kingsway’s Gary Hunter announces retirement

Gary Hunter is to step down from his position as deputy executive principal at the Capital City College Group with immediate effect.

Following a protracted period of ill health, Hunter has announced plans to retire from the group, which includes Westminster Kingsway College, City & Islington College, College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London.

Hunter began his journey at the then Westminster College as a lecturer in pâtisserie and confectionery 27 years ago, employed by Bev Puxley. He progressed to become head of faculty for culinary arts and hospitality, working alongside Geoff Booth, before taking promotion to deputy principal, and eventually principal at Westminster Kingsway.

He is the author of nine hospitality and catering books, as well as In a Class of its Own, detailing the history of Westminster Kingsway College’s hospitality and culinary arts school.

Passionate about chocolate since his days as a student at catering college in Norwich, he is also a UK chocolate ambassador for Barry Callebaut and has worked on the UK World Chocolate Masters Competition, developing UK candidates to compete in the World Chocolate Masters.

Among his many accolades, Hunter has been awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and a Catey in recognition of his services to training and education. He has also been awarded the Education Chef Award by the Craft Guild of Chefs, and a City & Guilds Medal for Excellence in recognition of his work writing the VRQ series of professional chef qualifications. He is a fellow of the Master Chefs of Great Britain and a director/trustee of the PM Trust, a charity dedicated to supporting young people into the hospitality industry within London.

Hunter said: “I feel tremendously lucky and privileged to have worked alongside so many great chefs and leading hospitality professionals, not just at Westminster Kingsway College, but within the industry itself, throughout my career. I especially want to salute those, both past and present, who have worked so tirelessly alongside me to create such a strong educational legacy for the profession.

“It always gives me a feeling of great pride to reflect upon the many talented Westminster Kingsway alumni, too numerous to mention, that we have helped to develop, nurture and succeed in the industry. The history of the College creates a heavy expectation like no other culinary school in further education within the UK, but I have no doubt that we are in safe hands with Paul Jervis, Sharon Barry and Terry Tinton leading the way from here forward.”