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Colin Alderson

Chef to the Royal Household, Colin Alderson’s fascinating stories about the ins and outs of a palace kitchen will leave you breathless at the extent of work required to run one of the oldest monarchies.

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About Colin Alderson

This is a fascinating presentation and the audiences simply won’t want Colin Alderson to stop. Hear about the preparation it takes to get ready for a State Banquet, making 2,000 canapés and 4,000 lobster tartlets and many more intriguing stories of life in the palace kitchens.

Biography

Colin’s talk about his life In The Palace Kitchens the Head Pastry Chef, his talk is a light-hearted look at 5 years spent at the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Royal Yacht Britannia.

After leaving Scarborough Technical College having qualified as a Chef, Colin obtained work locally in the Yorkshire Dales where his parents had a farm.  After a short time in the Army Catering at Catterick, he worked at Bolton Castle in Wensleydale.

While at Bolton Castle he applied for a job as Chef to the Royal Household. When he was appointed to work at Buckingham Palace, this opened up a whole new world to the young chef from Yorkshire.

 

Speech Topics

Life in the Palace Kitchens.
Colin’s talk ranges from the first 3 months trial to ending up as The Royal Pastry Chef travelling from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle, Sandringham House, Hollyrood House in Edinburgh and on board the Royal Yacht Britannia each year at Cowes Week, then taking the Western Isles Cruise to Scotland, sailing to Mexico and The Bahamas.  Colin takes you on a journey through life where preparing for State visits, setting the banquet tables, the staff fancy dress parties, The Ghillies Ball at Balmoral Castle and receiving their Christmas presents from Her Majesty The Queen becomes everyday life.  From The Palace to Balmoral Tales of the hotelier’s life including when the Queen Mother came to stay and her sudden appearance in the middle of the hotel kitchen. You will hear many more stories about the wonderfully famous Balmoral Hotel in Harrogate which Colin owned and ran for several years. There was fun and laughter and a lot of hard work.

Christmas With The Royal Household
This is a glimpse into HM The Queen’s Christmas from the food the Royals love, to going to the chapel with The Queen, the gifts and, not forgetting, food the staff prepared for themselves. This is a festive talk given in Colin’s own wonderful style.

My Travels With the Queen on Board The Royal Yacht Britannia
State Visits Preparing The Tables and Food
Balmoral Castle and Life On Deeside in August
Windsor Castle, Royal Ascot and The Garden Parties
Sandringham House and The Preparations For A Royal Wedding

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