Laura King MBE – Women Talking Online

Laura King MBE – Women Talking Online

Laura King is the founder of King’s Fine Food, the largest importer of caviar into the United Kingdom, Mother to Holly, Harry, Stepmother to Gemma and Gareth, Grandmother to Mollie as well as creator of the John King Brain Tumour Foundation.

Having recently received an MBE for her outstanding achievement and service to the community, raising much-needed funds for treating brain diseases and disorders, Women Talking was keen to find out more from this exceptional lady.

“I was honoured to get the MBE, although I’m not sure if I deserved it, declares Laura, in her usual self-deprecating fashion. “But it will inspire me to do more for the charity”.

Laura’s late husband, John King, sadly passed away on 22nd November 2016, after a brave and dignified fight against a glioblastoma brain tumour. Chef John King was one of the hospitality’s industry’s most highly respected chefs. During his 40 years in the kitchen, including stints at the Dorchester, the Connaught, the Ritz Club – where his team at the time won the Gold Medal at the Culinary Olympics in 1984 as the best regional team in the world – Le Caprice, Les Ambassadeurs, Crockford’s and the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Manila – he was renowned for inspiring and teaching a legion of younger chefs.

During John’s treatment, at Atkinson Morley Hospital, Laura and John discovered the gardens for patients outside the McKissock Ward. The gardens were commissioned by the famous brain surgeon Henry Marsh to help with patient recovery but were in serious need of some TLC after his retirement. With the agreement of the hospital, Laura and John adopted the garden and with a team of friends started to maintain it.

This then led to the formation of a charity to maintain and improve the McKissock Ward gardens. In addition to this, they were passionate about supporting the amazing work of St George’s Hospital Trust in the treatment of brain tumours while under constant financial pressures of the NHS.

And so, the John King Brain Tumour Foundation was conceived.

“Losing John was very tough for all the family and I wanted to ensure something positive could come out of such a sad event,” Laura reflects. “I also wanted to honour a great man.”

Read the complete article here