In 1960 The Bermuda Government realised that the island was about to enter an era of unforeseen prosperity, based on virtually untapped sources of tourism and to cope with the increase, Government saw the need to train people professionally. Therefore in 1961 the birth of the "Bermuda Hotel School'' as it was then called took place.

The old N.A.A.F.I. building located in Prospect, Devonshire, was converted into the first hotel school. Several rooms had to be altered and redecorated, and several pieces of equipment had to be ordered for the practical and theory classes. The college commenced with an enrolment of five students and three faculty members. In 1964 during the leadership of Neil Hansford-Smith, the College enrolment began to increase tremendously. Due to the increase, the building was extended and remodelled.

In 1965 the name Hotel School was changed to Bermuda Hotel and Catering College. International recognition through City and Guilds of London who granted permission for the College to participate in various craft courses and examinations.

The Bermuda Hotel and Catering College was also the only educational institution in the western hemisphere to offer the designation from the Catering and Institutional Management Association of Great Britain.

Two hospitality units were established, one at St. George's Secondary School and the other at Warwick Secondary School. Students from the secondary schools attended, one day per week. Both of these units served the purpose of introducing students to the hospitality industry and provided a basic training in food preparation and food service.

While the Hotel College was growing and providing training for the hospitality industry, there were two other Educational Institutions providing further education for Bermudians, the Sixth Form Centre and the Technical Institute.

The Sixth Form Centre later became The Academics Studies and The Technical Institute became Commerce and Technology.

My early days of involvement was when I was a part time student in 1968 enrolled in the craft programme concentrating on City and Guilds Cooking subject.

On completion of the programme I was able to go to England in 1970, attending Ealing Technical College and Westminster and doing my internship at the famous Savoy Hotel. I was the first black to work there in the kitchens, and also the first Bermudian to obtain the City and Guilds full technology Certificate.

After completing my Teaching Certificate at Westminster, I returned to Bermuda in 1973 to teach at the Bermuda Hotel and Catering College. During my first year of teaching, there was a lot of discussion pertaining to constructing a purposely built Hotel College, since the existing building wasn't purposely built and was inadequate. There was discussion to use the old St. George's Hotel then we came close to going to Admiralty House.

In 1974 The Bermuda College Act was passed by the Parliament of Bermuda to provide training for Bermudians at the post-Secondary School level. The control of its affairs were in the hands of a Board of Governors. The formation of Bermuda College consisted of Department of Academic Studies, Department of Business Studies, Department of General Studies, Department of Technology and Department of Hotel Technology. Today we have three faculties.

Faculty of Applied Science, Faculty of Arts and Science and Faculty of Hotel and Business Administration.

In September of 1980 The Department of Hotel Technology moved to its new campus at Stonington Beach contained there is the Stonington Beach Hotel which provides hands on training for students. Also at the Stonington campus is the Department of Hotel Technology, which provides practical and theory classes.

This was the first phase of Bermuda College being on one campus.

The new department comprised of two demonstration kitchens, demonstration dining room with bar, seven lecturer rooms, a food science laboratory, library, audio-visual room and student cafeteria.

The department of Hotel Technology was on the Stonington Campus for some ten years before other buildings began.

Today we have a unified campus which consists of an Administration building, faculty of Arts and Science, faculty of Applied Science and faculty of Hotel and Business Administration, students, library, gym and recreation rooms and faculty building.

Over the years I have seen Bermuda College go through great changes in providing quality education and as we enter the year 2000 the college is committed to providing further education for Bermudians.

Famous chef : Chef, Fred Ming, teaches gourmet skills to students.

BERMUDA COLLEGE EDC