Sumudu
03-28-2009, 09:28 AM
After a long and distinguished career in the world of Airline Catering industry and 17 years been with Emirates, Bob Ferguson SVP Aircraft Catering Emirates will be retiring on March 31st, 2009.
Speaking at a small gathering in Dubai to bid farewell to Bob, George Banks said " You have had a long and distinguished career, and it certainly hasn’t ended yet. So I speak now, not of retirement but of continued success for you Anna + Chloe, Elizabeth, Danielle in your new life. Of course, we are all sorry to lose you and as your second family, your catering team, I have been asked to say a few words on your wonderful career.."
You will find George's speech in full below
Bob
You have had a long and distinguished career, and it certainly hasn’t ended yet. So I speak now, not of retirement but of continued success for you Anna + Chloe, Elizabeth, Danielle in your new life. Of course, we are all sorry to lose you and as your second family, your catering team, I have been asked to say a few words on your wonderful career.
But Bob, where do we start ?
When you arrived at BOAC’s catering unit at Comet House in the early seventies, a tall very good looking Scots guardsman. You were part of the first of a new batch of Catering Officers taken from outside the Airline along with Mike Taylor and Colin Pantel.
You apparently impressed everyone with your military bearing, precision and total commitment. Bob you were promoted quickly and became Senior Catering Officer.
You distinguished yourself many times in the seventies during numerous catering strikes[the seventies in the UK were the years of the strikes]and as an example you worked one of BA’s giant dishwasher machines for 24hrs without stopping.
Having excelled during the strikes, you contributed enormously to building up moral again, by being firm but fair in your position of catering officer.
You were soon on your way to Africa, as Catering Officer Africa for BA and where you were chased by an Ostrich on one of your first early morning runs in Nairobi ! Later in Johannesburg you managed catering for the whole of Africa and saw the introduction of the Boeing 747-136.Catering on this new generation of aircraft[at the time] was extremely complicated with giant modules having to be loaded and offloaded in strict sequence. In Africa it must have been very difficult but you managed and rise above all the logistical and other problems.
You progressed rapidly with British Airways to become Catering Manager for the Pacific covering the famous Eastern Routes + Australia as well. In those days the routings were not non-stop or one stop – but 6 stops ! + catering came from many of these stations. So imagine the catering complexity.
Later you became “Catering Manager of the Americas” covering every station from Anchorage to Caracas this included the Concorde operating twice daily to JFK and once a week to Barbados and daily to Washington– as well as round the world charters, while with BA you contributed to the great Chefs of the world promotions, with TV radio and many accolades around the world.
Bob you name it and you did it, and I am talking catering here.
I joined British Airways in 1988, from British Caledonian and I remember your kindness on every occasion. At the time people from my airline didn’t want to join BA and equally BA Catering staff may not have wanted us !!
But because I was working on the Caribbean your area of responsibilities Bob you made me very welcome and were very supportive.
One of my first duty trips with BA was with Bob to the Caribbean, + I remember being very impressed that we flew by private plane from Barbados to St. Lucia and Antigua!
But also by your concern that I was part of the team !
Bob you’ve always had time for people, whether it’s a birthday cake for someone, a helping hand when needed or appreciation of a job well done.
When I joined Emirates you most impressed me by meeting me at 1 am on the flight when it arrived. It meant a lot ! And you’ve done this for a lot of people over the years.
You left British Airways in 1992 and joined Emirates as GM Aircraft Catering – You’ve certainly made your mark – You’ve seen enormous change at Emirates.
From a smaller airline Emirates has become one of the largest airlines in the world. Its world wide reputation for food and service has been created by you and you will share a lasting success in the reputation of the airline.
You’ve opened numerous new routes, NEW YORK, FRANKFURT, ROME, NICE.
You’ve always insisted on the highest food standards for our customers and given food top priority. The food team particularly thank you for that !
Sumudu and myself will always remember your thoroughness at each catering tendering with every detail checked again again…….tyres and brakes on highloaders never missed your eagle eye.
Your last and greatest achievement was of course the introduction of the A380 and the challenge of the delivery flight – not only were the caterers on strike, we all had numerous press trips to cater, but you took it all in your stride.
Bob, your family in catering will never forget you and would like to THANK YOU for being a great Boss and allowing us all to get in with our jobs and as a result enjoy immensely what we do.
Speaking at a small gathering in Dubai to bid farewell to Bob, George Banks said " You have had a long and distinguished career, and it certainly hasn’t ended yet. So I speak now, not of retirement but of continued success for you Anna + Chloe, Elizabeth, Danielle in your new life. Of course, we are all sorry to lose you and as your second family, your catering team, I have been asked to say a few words on your wonderful career.."
You will find George's speech in full below
Bob
You have had a long and distinguished career, and it certainly hasn’t ended yet. So I speak now, not of retirement but of continued success for you Anna + Chloe, Elizabeth, Danielle in your new life. Of course, we are all sorry to lose you and as your second family, your catering team, I have been asked to say a few words on your wonderful career.
But Bob, where do we start ?
When you arrived at BOAC’s catering unit at Comet House in the early seventies, a tall very good looking Scots guardsman. You were part of the first of a new batch of Catering Officers taken from outside the Airline along with Mike Taylor and Colin Pantel.
You apparently impressed everyone with your military bearing, precision and total commitment. Bob you were promoted quickly and became Senior Catering Officer.
You distinguished yourself many times in the seventies during numerous catering strikes[the seventies in the UK were the years of the strikes]and as an example you worked one of BA’s giant dishwasher machines for 24hrs without stopping.
Having excelled during the strikes, you contributed enormously to building up moral again, by being firm but fair in your position of catering officer.
You were soon on your way to Africa, as Catering Officer Africa for BA and where you were chased by an Ostrich on one of your first early morning runs in Nairobi ! Later in Johannesburg you managed catering for the whole of Africa and saw the introduction of the Boeing 747-136.Catering on this new generation of aircraft[at the time] was extremely complicated with giant modules having to be loaded and offloaded in strict sequence. In Africa it must have been very difficult but you managed and rise above all the logistical and other problems.
You progressed rapidly with British Airways to become Catering Manager for the Pacific covering the famous Eastern Routes + Australia as well. In those days the routings were not non-stop or one stop – but 6 stops ! + catering came from many of these stations. So imagine the catering complexity.
Later you became “Catering Manager of the Americas” covering every station from Anchorage to Caracas this included the Concorde operating twice daily to JFK and once a week to Barbados and daily to Washington– as well as round the world charters, while with BA you contributed to the great Chefs of the world promotions, with TV radio and many accolades around the world.
Bob you name it and you did it, and I am talking catering here.
I joined British Airways in 1988, from British Caledonian and I remember your kindness on every occasion. At the time people from my airline didn’t want to join BA and equally BA Catering staff may not have wanted us !!
But because I was working on the Caribbean your area of responsibilities Bob you made me very welcome and were very supportive.
One of my first duty trips with BA was with Bob to the Caribbean, + I remember being very impressed that we flew by private plane from Barbados to St. Lucia and Antigua!
But also by your concern that I was part of the team !
Bob you’ve always had time for people, whether it’s a birthday cake for someone, a helping hand when needed or appreciation of a job well done.
When I joined Emirates you most impressed me by meeting me at 1 am on the flight when it arrived. It meant a lot ! And you’ve done this for a lot of people over the years.
You left British Airways in 1992 and joined Emirates as GM Aircraft Catering – You’ve certainly made your mark – You’ve seen enormous change at Emirates.
From a smaller airline Emirates has become one of the largest airlines in the world. Its world wide reputation for food and service has been created by you and you will share a lasting success in the reputation of the airline.
You’ve opened numerous new routes, NEW YORK, FRANKFURT, ROME, NICE.
You’ve always insisted on the highest food standards for our customers and given food top priority. The food team particularly thank you for that !
Sumudu and myself will always remember your thoroughness at each catering tendering with every detail checked again again…….tyres and brakes on highloaders never missed your eagle eye.
Your last and greatest achievement was of course the introduction of the A380 and the challenge of the delivery flight – not only were the caterers on strike, we all had numerous press trips to cater, but you took it all in your stride.
Bob, your family in catering will never forget you and would like to THANK YOU for being a great Boss and allowing us all to get in with our jobs and as a result enjoy immensely what we do.