Bill's the bloke

By Paul Fulford on July 11, 2008 8:44 AM | Permalink

True modesty is a rare quality but Bill Farnsworth, recently retired from the post of director of catering studies at University College Birmingham, possesses it in abundance.

He was sitting in the front row as the restaurant awards were announced at last night's VIP launch of Taste of Birmingham.

It took him an age to realise that the CV being read out as the award for a lifetime's contribution to this city's culinary scheme was his own.

Then be broke into a broad - and slightly embarrassed - grin as he walked on stage to pick up the trophy from Joanne Malin and Antony Worrall Thompson.

It was well deserved - Billi is hugely respected and liked by chefs and over the years helped turn UCB (formerly the College of Food) into the powerhouse it is today.

Congratulations!

Congratulations, too, to all the other winners. There's a list in today's Birmingham Mail.