‘Kind and dedicated' former Institute of Hospitality president Paul Foulger dies age 85

Paul Foulger, former president of the Institute of Hospitality and former head of catering and employee services for Sainsbury's, has died aged 85.

Foulger was president from 1990-91, when the Institute was known as the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA).

He joined the Hotel and Catering Institute in 1953, 18 years before the organisation merged with the Institutional Management Association (IMA) to form the HCIMA for hospitality leaders across the world.

Foulger became a fellow of the HCIMA in 1973. Seven years later, he was elected to the Association's executive council, where he was named president in 1990. He was also a leading member of the HCIMA's Essex and Hertfordshire branch.

While in retirement, Foulger and his wife, Penny, became heavily involved in gliding and singing. He became chairman of the Essex and Suffolk Gliding Club committee, as well as being part of the Sound Collective Chorus choir in Danbury, Essex.

He also spent his time volunteering at the NHS, becoming chair of the Patient Council at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford and sharing his experiences as a counsellor at Colostomy UK.

Ann Share, who was deputy HCIMA director at the time, said: "He was such a kind, dedicated and knowledgeable man, who always gave so generously of his time to the HCIMA. We were very fortunate to have him as our president.

"After he had retired, I know how much Paul did to give back to the industry he so loved being a part of. He was, for instance, trustee and secretary of the Sainsbury Veterans Welfare Scheme, and organised ‘pre-retirement' courses for staff."

She added: "All our love and sympathy go to his wife Penny, their sons, and grandchildren."

Foulger's funeral will be held at 1pm on Wednesday 28 June at Herongate Wood Cemetery in Brentwood.

Donations can be made via JustGiving to Farleigh Hospice and Marie Curie to mark his passing.