Lord Forte memorial service date unveiled

The memorial service for Lord Charles Forte will take place at Westminster Cathedral on Tuesday 1 May at 11am, it has been announced.

Those wanting to pay respects to the legendary hotelier, who died peacefully in his sleep in the morning of 28 February, will be welcomed, the family said.

Charles Forte started his career as the owner of a milk bar in London and went on to become the head of worldwide hotel and restaurant empire Forte, which he founded in 1934.

This included the budget hotel chain Travelodge and roadside restaurants Little Chef and Happy Eater.

Lord Forte's son, Sir Rocco Forte, is the chairman and chief executive of Rocco Forte Hotels, which he set up in 1996 shortly after losing Forte in a £3.87b hostile takeover by Granada.

Lord Forte was awarded a life peerage in 1982.

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By Daniel Thomas

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