Caterer's note book

A well-known American hotel-keeper wrote this memorandum on March 17, and left it in his desk: "I have learnt from observation that three things happen to a man who works steadily without relaxation. In the first place, he becomes nervous, irritable, and hard to get along with. In the second place, the grade of his work falls off. In the third place, he dies suddenly. It is an incontrovertible law of nature."

The writer himself fell victim to this "incontrovertible law", for the paper was found in his desk after his death. Perhaps his warning may not be without use to others.

Support is given by the London Brewers Council in an exhibition at the Housing Centre, Suffolk Street, London, to the recommendation of the Royal Commission of Licensing that "the public house... ought to be a place where the public can obtain general refreshment of whatever variety they choose in decent, pleasant and comfortable surroundings." In other words, public houses should provide food as well as drink.

This view was also expressed by Mr Lewis Silkin, Minister of Town & Country Planning, when he declared the exhibition open. He said consideration was being given by the Government as to what form of experiment, if any, would be proper in connection with licensed premises in the new towns.

Colin Rudd, district catering adviser at London's Hammersmith Hospital, has been reinstated following an appeal last week against his dismissal.

Mr Rudd was fired for alleged gross misconduct following the closure of the 600-bed teaching hospital's kitchens on health grounds earlier this year.

Mr Rudd has been given a final formal warning and after 22 years, 19 of them in catering management, is to receive proper managerial training in systems and procedures.