Tributes paid to inspirational Nottinghamshire chef and 'amazing dad' after sudden death

Family and colleagues of Nottinghamshire chef Des Sweeney have paid tribute following his sudden death aged 60. Des worked in kitchens for 40 years and his achievements made his family "very proud."

His daughter Alex Sweeney said: "Aside from the amazing dad he was, my dad was a mentor to so many young people and helped start many successful careers in the hospitality industry. He always encouraged people to do things they didn’t know they were capable of achieving and this meant that his staff stayed in touch long after they moved onto different professional opportunities.

"I think my dad was an unforgettable boss and everyone will have their own stories to tell. My dad’s passion for quality food and drink inspired my own career, which has led me to renowned fine dining restaurants in London, although he made me realise I wasn’t cut out for the kitchen and am more suited to front of house."

Most recently London-born Des ran the Cross Keys in Epperstone. An opportunity to start a gastro pub of his own was too good an opportunity to miss and he changed the fortunes of the ailing country inn. In a nod to his roots, he acquired a London cab to give locals a ride home after their visit.

After leaving school at 16 and a stint at Westminster Catering College, Des signed up to go to sea in the Merchant Navy, much to the horror of his older sisters Loretta and Tanya, who said: "He didn’t seem old or wise enough. He proved us wrong. During his time there he had an experience of being six weeks out at sea on tanker due to a coup in the country they were trying to dock at."

Des, who grew up in Croydon, was "famous for never being any trouble" according to his sisters, who described him as a "good, kind and a helpful lad" but he also had a sense of mischief.

"Once he and his friends went to a ‘blue light’ disco for local forces and instead of meeting girls they found it more fun stealing the emergency incident tape and wrapping it around my drive so I couldn't get my car out the next morning to go to work," said Loretta.

In the early 1980s, Des joined the famous ocean liner the QE2, forgetting he didn’t have a passport so there was a last-minute rush to pick one up and get him on the ship. "He made the family very proud. He travelled around the world three times and loved it. He met some very interesting characters along the way and had lots of tales to bring back to land," said Tanya.

His experience on board as well as amongst the passengers and in the kitchen made him a perfect candidate for working for Queen Elizabeth II. "Des was so proud to be a part of that team and valued all the experience, protocol and tradition that went with the job. He kept in touch with some of the brigade," said his sisters.

He was regularly a part of the catering team that would travel with the Royal Family to Windsor and Sandringham and was a member of the brigade that the family took to Iceland on the Royal Yacht Britannia where he received a medal as part of the crew.

Although always professional and keeping most of the royal day-to-day business private, occasionally he would give a little insight to why he loved working there. Princess Diana and her boys William and Harry were regular visitors to the kitchen.

After Buckingham Palace, Des worked in the kitchen at the House of Lords for two years and then became an executive chef for a launch of new bar and restaurant chain in London.

After the birth of Alex in 1999 the family left London to be closer to grandparents, leading Des to a job at Punchinello's in Forman Street, Nottingham and then Woodborough Hall, where he helped to turn it into Nottinghamshire's number one wedding venue. Relocating to Notts also meant the avid Crystal Palace supporter became a Nottingham Forest fan.

Just five months before he passed away on October 18, Des celebrated his 60th birthday in style, partying with family and friends, and enjoying the opportunity to be on the receiving end of the kitchen, rather than in it.

He enjoyed a trip to Barcelona to "eat his own body weight in food" and went on a 24-hour trip to the South of France just to visit a restaurant. He also returned to a hotel in Jersey where he'd once worked, joined by old school friends Sean and Martin.

One of Des's many apprentices was Adam Godfrey, who is now co-owner of the Good Fellow George at Canning Circus. He said: "I’ve been lucky enough to have Des be a huge influence on my personal and professional life for the last 20 years. He was a best friend to me and Uncle Des to my children.

"He was one of those people who just couldn’t help but leave a great impression. His exterior may have been harsh and grumpy at times but those who knew him best knew that this was just a mask. He was as soft as they come and always made time for everybody around him. Whether you just needed a cup of tea and a chat or help with something bigger you only need ask and he was there.

"He literally spent all day, everyday making people happy via their bellies. It was a very rare occasion that you walked into the Cross Keys and he didn’t rustle up a plate of something. He had apprentices over the years, myself included, who have gone on to run kitchens and restaurants of their own and to continue Des’s legacy vicariously.

"In the kitchen he was a force of nature, that wasn't to be crossed and I have plenty first hand experience of that. I definitely added to his hair loss plenty of times during my apprenticeship, however after service there would always be a cold beer and a chat regardless of the heat of the kitchen.

"He wasn’t one for timers or probes - he cooked with his natural ability and decades of experience. It was an honour to work alongside him and impressive to see. There wasn’t a situation that could faze him in the kitchen and when the proverbial hit the fan was when he really thrived. I know I speak for many chefs up and down the country when I say Des’s kitchen presence is what made me the chef I am today."