Death of chef who fed HM

SAD news from the Ritz in London, which has announced the death of Michael Quinn, 71, the hotel’s first non-French head chef.

Personally thanked by the Queen when dining privately there, the ‘Mighty Quinn’ also appeared on Desert Island Discs. But the most remarkable chapter had yet to come. He gradually succumbed to alcoholism, forfeited his job, health and marriage, ending up in hospital where he was given the last rites.

Five weeks later he walked out, and in 2001 he established the Ark Foundation — a charity that raises awareness of the perils of drink and drug abuse in the catering trade.