The Acton Hotel and Catering School opened in 1948 and was run by Mary King and Gerry Hudswell. The School became renowned all over the world due to its knowledgeable teaching staff who had experience of working in the hotel and catering industry. After moving to Ealing Technical College in 1957 it then moved to its current premises at St Mary’s Road when it became the Ealing School of Hotel keeping and Catering in 1962. Later that year a restaurant was opened to give the local community an affordable lunch and was named ‘The Mary King room’. The public could eat lunch for 7s 6d (approximately 35p) which was cooked by the School’s trainee chefs. Mary King retired the following year in 1963. The Mary King room was the forerunner to today’s Pillars Restaurant which still offers a fine dining experience cooked by students of the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism (LGCHT). Mary King’s memory lives on through The Mary King Award which is awarded annually to deserving students of the College. Below are some photos of Mary King from the LGCHT archive:

Mr Victor Ceserani and Miss Mary King, 1953

1953 staff: Back row, L-R: Mr. P. B. White, Mr. V. Ceserani, Mr. E. Jonckheere, Mr. R. G. Hudswell, Mr. S. Grey, Mr. F. P. Sharman, Mr. B. A. Liebold. Front row, L-R: Mrs. J. Bowes, Miss N. Brien, Mrs. N. Bradley, Miss E.F. M. King, Miss K. Witchell, Miss M. Hisee, Mrs. G.G. Cook

L-R: Miss E. F. M. King, Mrs. Eyinade Omidiora, Margaret Wallbank