Christopher Basten named national chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs

Chef lecturer Christopher Basten has been appointed national chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs. The former vice-chairman commenced his three-year tenure yesterday following an annual general meeting at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington.

Basten, who has been a Craft Guild member since 1999, has played an active role in the guild's culinary team competing in the Culinary World Cup competitions in 2002, 2006, 2010 and the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

He is a classically trained chef who learnt much from apprenticeships with celebrated chefs John Burton Race and Raymond Blanc. In recent years he has been executive chef at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall and at Great Fosters in Egham, Surrey. Currently, he is chef lecturer at Westminster Kingsway College in London.

Basten told Caterer and Hotelkeeper

Fellow member Lee Maycock, who is chef director of his consulting business, was elected as national vice-chairman.

The AGM was followed by a presentation lunch, which recognised members of the Craft Guild and business partners for their support during 2012.

Among the recipients were a college certificate for the Clink Cymru and the Clink High Down, created by Al Crisci, the chairman's shield went to University College Birmingham, which gave Adam Bennett critical support in his run-up to the 2013 Bocuse d'Or, the chairman's award went to Cyrus Todiwala for his support of the education sector, while the special achievement award went to Duncan Holloway, formerly of Eton College.

Among the organisations to be given a company award for their support were Adande, Gram UK, Springboard UK, Wenlock Spring and Caterer and Hotelkeeper.

Awards in full

Diploma for support:
Bruno Habig
Public Health Dietitians, Berkshire Healthcare NHS
Sheila Eggleston

Diploma for 50 years' membership:
Maurice Sangan

Diploma:
David Grindrod
Bronze award:

Miranda Godfrey
Francois Ginther
Gerard Murphy
Sonia Duncton

Gold award:

Alan Shipman
Ian Nottage
Martin Bates

Fellow:
Christopher Basten
Dennis Mwakulua
Lee Maycock

Honorary membership:
Ian Parsons
John Deehan
Sir Simon Cooper GCVO
Sir Tom Blackburn KCVO CB

College certificate:
Brockenhurst College
City College Southampton
Grimsby Institute for Further & Higher Education
Liverpool Community College
Northampton College
The Clink Cymru
The Clink High Down

Company award:
Adande
Barry Callebaut
Bernard Matthews Foodservice
Caterer & Hotelkeeper
Gram UK
Springboard UK
Wenlock Spring
Westminster Kingsway College

Chairman's shield:
University College Birmingham

Chairman's award
:
Cyrus Todiwala

Presidents' trophy:
Crown Moran Hotel

Special achievement award:
Duncan Holloway