Albert Roux OBE, KFO
London – January 2021. The Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George notes with much sadness the passing on 4 January 2021, aged 85, of renowned chef, restaurateur and philanthropist Albert Roux.
Albert Roux was appointed a Knight of the Royal Order of Francis I by decree of HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Grand Master on 5 June 2011 and was a regular attendee at our delegation events and masses.
Albert Henri Roux was born on 8 October 1935 at Semur-en-Brionnais, France. At the age of 14 he began his life-long passion for the culinary arts when he started his career as an apprentice patissier. At 18 years he began moving up the culinary ladder, which included spending time at Cliveden, the French Embassy in London and after his Military Service in Algeria, he took up post at the British Embassy in Paris before spending 8 years as chef at the Cazelet family estate at Fairlawne,Tonbridge in Kent.It was the Cazelet family and many of their friends who encouraged and financially helped Albert to open his own restaurant Le Gavroche, which finally he did with his brother Michel in 1967. In 1982 Le Gavroche became the first in the UK to be awarded three Michelin stars. In 1984, he and Michel set up the Roux Scholarship to enable up and coming chefs to get a start in the industry and during his time in the kitchen, he trained several chefs who went on to gain Michelin stars of their own, including Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White and Sat Bains.
In 1968 Albert was elected by his peers as Maitre Cuisinier de France. He was a founder member of the Academy of Culinary Arts. In 1994 Mr Roux was appointed an Honorary Professor of Hospitality Management at Bournemouth University and in 1995 was the joint winner with his brother Michel of the Catey Lifetime Achievement Award.
Among Albert many awards included his appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2002. Earlier in 1987 he was promoted to the rank of Officer of The Order of Agricultural Merit of the French Republic having previously held the rank of Knight. In 2005 The President of the French Republic appointed Albert a Knight of the Legion d’Honneur.
Albert was married three times and is succeeded by his son and two star Michelin Chef Michel Roux Jr. and his daughter Danielle Roux. We extend condolences to the Roux family at this time and to Albert’s wife Marie Rodrigues.
Requiescat in pace. Rest in peace. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.