memories to Mr. Richard Mutzke.

For one of high spots in Mr. Mutzke's life was when he was in charge of organising a meal for the Queen and Prince Philip, 41 years ago.

His experiences give some insight into the difficulties associated, to this day, with preparing for a Royal occasion.

Months before the occasion Mr. Mutzke was the owner of a small club off Leicester Square in London. He said: "I closed the club for a few hours for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in June, 1953.

"Little did I know that five months later that I would be supervising the dinner that the Bermuda Government was giving in honour of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.'' In the summer of 1953, Mr. Mutzke came to Bermuda as maitre d'hotel of the Mid Ocean Club. Along with the hotel manager, he was called to Government House to meet the Governor Lt.-Gen. Sir Alexander Hood.

Mr. Mutzke was told by Sir Alexander: "Richard, nothing must go wrong.'' Weeks of preparation began and then on the big day, Tuesday, November 24, the preparation for the meal began in earnest.

Mr. Mutzke and his "French Brigade'' along with three Englishmen and two Bermudians, held two rehearsals during the day to perfect the service to the 31 guests.

Then, with just half an hour before dinner was served, the whole table had to be changed.

He explains: "One of the guests was late. It was the American Consul Robert Steeper. Once they are late for the reception they are not allowed to meet the Queen. Mr. Steeper had to eat his meal in an anteroom with the A.D.C. "It meant we had to completely re-organise the whole table, but we managed to do it in time, without the meal being delayed.'' The menu for the meal was: Fresh turtle soup; Bermuda rock fish daleska; roast pheasant, fish runner beans and games chips, Waldorf salad; hard ice cream filled with fruit and surrounded by fresh strawberries; coffee.

Drinks were Tia pepe, Liebfraulich 1949, King champagne 1943, and 1917 vintage port and liqueurs.

The second problem of the evening arose when the Queen decided she liked the wine so much that she preferred to drink it instead of champagne. This again meant a sudden change of plan for the Maitre d' but it all went smoothly.

The meal was such a success that the Governor sent a personal thank you to Mr.

Mutzke.

MEAL FIT FOR A QUEEN -- Mr. Richard Mutzke who arranged the meal for the Queen during her first visit in 1953.