Former HCI president Paul Foulger dies age 85

Paul Foulger, former president of the Institute of Hospitality and former head of catering and employee services at Sainsbury has died at 85.

Foulger joined the Hotel and Catering Institute (HCI) back in 1953, 18 years before the HCI merged with the Institutional Management Association (IMA) to form the HCIMA, the worldwide professional body for managers and potential managers in the hospitality industry.

In 1973, Foulger became a fellow of the HCIMA. Seven years later, he was elected to the Association’s Executive Council, culminating in 1990 with his election as HCIMA president.

In addition, he was a leading member of the HCIMA’s Essex and Hertfordshire branch.

During his retirement, Foulger and his wife Penny took up gliding and singing.

He became chairman of the Essex and Suffolk Gliding Club committee and member of the Sound Collective Chorus choir in Danbury, Essex, where Foulger and his wife performed together in concerts and recitals.

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.

Foulger’s funeral will be held at 1pm on Wednesday, 28 June, at Herongate Wood Cemetery, Billericay Road, Brentwood.

Ann Share, deputy HCIMA director at that 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. All our love and sympathy go to his wife Penny, their sons, and grandchildren.”