Respected caterer Tony Clivaz dies aged 96

by Brian Clivaz
Tony Clivaz (A C Clivaz), the former director of catering (worldwide) for British Airways, has died at the age of 96.

Clivaz, who was one of the most respected figures in the hospitality in his day, started his career at J Lyons & Co rising to become manager of the Trocadero, Piccadilly.

In 1939, he enlisted in the British Army serving in the Army Catering Corps; he served in North Africa, Italy and France and was on the beaches at Dunkirk.

After the war he joined The Traveller's Club, Pall Mall as manager. He became managing director of Tavistock Restaurants which owned the Monico, Café L'Europe, Bolivar and Berkeley Court restaurants.

Eventually he became managing director of the holding company, Express Dairy Caterers.

He joined BOAC in 1962 as cabin services manager, responsible for all catering and in-flight service.

When BEA and BOAC merged into British Airways he took the combined worldwide role and added direct responsibility for all cabin crews. He managed an annual budget of over £250m per annum.

He was on the steering committee for the development of the 747 and Concord, personally overseeing the inaugural and royal flights.

On retirement from BA he was much in demand as a consultant for his specialised knowledge of airline catering, he travelled extensively visiting over 120 countries for his work. He was most proud on inventing a lettuce washing machine.

He was a Fellow of the HCIMA, and served on the national councils of the Caterers Association and the BHRA; he was Chevalier du Tastevin, and a Chevalier de la Commanderie de Champagne.

He is survived by his wife Glynne, five children, Camille, Linda, Brian, Jeremy, and Diane and by several grandchildren and a great-grandchild.