Obituary: Peter Mereweather MBE

Many readers will be sorry to learn of the death Peter Mereweather. He was thought to be the youngest manager ever to be appointed at Grosvenor House by its then managing director, A.H. Jones, who was such a mentor to so many college graduates starting out in their career.

Born in 1929, after an apprenticeship in the Savoy hotel kitchens and national service in the Army Catering Corps, he gained a HND at Portsmouth Highbury College before joining Grosvenor House, London in 1958 as assistant manager, becoming manager in 1964.

Seen as an industry leader at the time, he sat on the HCIMA Council. After Trust Houses bought Grosvenor House in 1966, he spent most of his career with the company, running some of the top THF hotels in London - including the Cavendish and St George's.

In 1973 he progressed into regional management, taking on the responsibility for the Caribbean and Asia areas as assistant managing director of THF International division. After leaving the company he ran his own restaurant in Walton on Thames for a short while.

Willing to share experiences and give kindly advice to anyone who asked, he took a lifelong interest in the Hotel and Catering Benevolent Society (later Hospitality Action), becoming the chairman of the board of Hospitality Action Trustees 1996-97. He was appointed MBE and in later years, was active in many local charities.

Peter Richard Mereweather passed away on 31 October 2014, aged 85 years.