Dr. David Woodfine

* Chancellor, The Hilliard Institute

* High Steward, Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford

 david.woodfine1@btinternet.com

Dr. David Woodfine is a man of tremendous experiences and emotion—and, in his own words, he has loved each encounter  

 In his early career, David trained and served as a chef and catering manager. He also served his country, spending eleven years with the Territorial Army (Britain’s Reserve Land Forces) as a Regular Reserve. He then became a teacher for the Business and Technology Education Council (B.T.E.C.) for the Oxford City and Guilds and for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, Training Chefs for famous restaurants around the globe.

To widen his experience, David left his home in England for a while and was employed as a butler at various places throughout Europe. In this role he served highly respected dignitaries and was fortunate to have tea with Kings and Queens. On returning to England, David became the butler to Sir Anthony and Lady Bamford.

 David would later become the butler to His Grace The Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim Palace, which most of us know as the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

 In his role as butler, David often looked after royalty including His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales  (Prince Charles) and Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales (Princess Diana), as well as multiple European Heads of State. Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret was always a favourite guest of David’s at Blenheim, as was the actress Joan Collins.

 More recently, David was appointed as the High Steward of Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford. He served at Harris Manchester for twelve years in a professional role as a counselor and mentor to his students, a teacher, and an overseer of multiple aspects of the University hospitality program.  David has a passion for hosting weddings and other grand events, one of the most notable being the wedding of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.

 Upon his retirement from Harris Manchester in 2011, David became the Master of the Oxford City Guild of Chefs. In this role, David oversees the organization of multiple Oxford University grand affairs with Oxford’s top chefs.

Dr. Woodfine has three publications with Hilliard Press: a second edition of his cookbook, From Kitchen to High Table: The British-American Edition; ABCs of Etiquette for Young People; and Join Me for Afternoon Tea.   

Some of David’s Publications