Industry mourns Lehrian

George Lehrian, the former managing director of events caterer Ring & Brymer, and an employee at London's Grosvenor House hotel for more than 20 years, has died of cancer at the age of 68.

After reading law at King's College London, Lehrian pursued a career in the hotel industry, and in 1957 became personal assistant to the managing director of the Grosvenor House in Park Lane.

During his time at the hotel, he saw it undergo many changes, including its takeover by Trust Houses and subsequently Forte.

In 1971 he became general manager of the hotel, and a few years later was named managing director of Forte's Exclusive Hotels brand, which comprised its five-star hotels across Europe and the Middle East, and the Sandy Lane in Barbados.

In 1989 Lehrian became managing director of Ring & Brymer, the events catering arm of Gardner Merchant, where he stayed until he retired in 1993.