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Mr JD Bennett (John) The Master (November 2025 - November 2026)John became a Freeman of the City of London in July 2001 and was admitted to the Livery of the Worshipful Company of Cooks of London in November 2008. He was elected to the Court of Assistants in July 2017.

John has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Westminster University and started working in the Hospitality Industry in 1977 first in Hotels and then Food Service.

John worked in several sectors covering Hospitals, Schools but mainly focusing on the Business and Industry sector.

John worked for Sutcliffe Catering, Granada Food Service, Compass catering and finally becoming CEO of BaxterStorey in 2012 where he remained until the summer of 2021 when he decided to step down and is now a Non-Executive Director

Mr MP Richardson (Mike) The Second Master (November 2025 - November 2026)Mike Richardson became a Freeman of the City of London in September 2012 and was admitted to the Livery of the Worshipful Company of Cooks of London in November 2013. He was elected to the Court of Assistants in July 2018 and became both Renter Warden and Assistant Honorary Treasurer in November 2023; the latter is a temporary role for two years only. He assumed the role of Second Master on Wednesday 12 November 2025.

Mike joined the Royal Navy in 1978 as an 18-year-old Logistics Officer, serving most of his 27 years’ service at sea; a notable shore appointment was NATO HQ Naval Command Southern Region and living with his young family in Naples, Italy for two years. Qualified as an All-Arms Commando Green Beret officer in 1981, Mike saw operational service in the Falklands War 1982 (and returned home as a “survivor” on the QEII after his warship HMS COVENTRY was sunk during enemy action).

Mike has worked exclusively in the Catering industry since 2005 with a focus on the Defence, Offshore & Remote, and Education sectors. A previous Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, Head of Royal Navy Catering, and Company Director, Mike retired in August 2023.

A volunteer driver for a local community lunch club, Mike and his wife have recently added the duties of producing lunch for up to thirty elderly people. Married to Kim in 1983 they have two adult children, Kate and Ben, who in turn are both married with their own children – grandparent duties are part of his and his wife’s everyday life! A recently lapsed FA Referee after ten years, Mike wishes to expand his limited knowledge of gardening, growing fruit trees and travel.

Mr SJ Fooks (Simon) The Warden (November 2025 - November 2026)Simon began his career at Thanet Technical College in 1974, and then into the kitchens at Claridge’s. He studied further at Westminster Technical College, Vincent Square and the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, which led to employment in the Loire Valley at the 2* Michelin Auberge de Templiers and the 3* Michelin Au Crocodile in Strasbourg.

He became the Head Chef and eventual Managing Director at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London, where he worked for 36 years with a team helping to create a premium City event venue. During this time, he gained valuable work experience at Le Gavroche, and The Connaught with his mentor Michel Bourdin. He also worked in Erice in Sicily, developing an understanding of food and wine which led to this becoming his great passion.

Simon is a member of The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, a Fellow of the League of Club Chefs and a Liveryman of the Merchant Taylors’ Company.

Simon is married to Melanie and they have two adult children, Hannah and Owen. In his spare time, he fishes for salmon and sea trout with Melanie and shoots and beats with his dogs Teddy and Theo. His other interests include ancient classical and Tudor history, Reformation painters, reading and gardening.

Mr PV Budd (Paul) The Renter Warden (November 2025 - November 2026)The Budd family business had been in hospitality in London for several generations, so after school at UCS, Paul completed an HND in Catering Management at Westminster College and then took a 3-year short service commission from Sandhurst into the Army Catering Corps. 34 years later, he left! His postings involved several catering and food supply appointments culminating in setting up the Defence Food Service School at Aldershot, which he ran for 5 years. He has had an association with the Cook’s Company since the 1990s and is the first Honorary Freeman to hold office on the Court.

Taking early retirement from the Army in 2005, he moved into private club management, firstly at the Special Forces Club in Knightsbridge and then, for 12 years, as the General Manager of Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames. This was a return to rowing, a sport he had competed in at World Championship level as a junior and with an equal lack of distinction for the Army.

Since retirement from full-time employment in 2020, took on the role of part-time Clerk to an ancient Almshouse in Heytesbury. He is also Chairman of his local ‘Link’ volunteer driver Charity. He has supported the Cooks Company by serving for 10 years on the Assistance of Cookery Committee and, more recently, as a Trustee of the Cooks Charity. He is also the Captain of the Cooks Clay Shooting team. He has been a member of the Reunion des Gastronomes for many years and has served on its committee. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality.

He lives in Tisbury in West Wiltshire with his wife, Brigid, together with their two greyhounds. He has two adult children.