BUTLERS

Perfection is what American women expect to find in their husbands ... but English women only hope to find in their butlers. (Somerset Maugham)

Think of the British butler and his master, and Jeeves and Bertie Wooster spring to
mind. But today's new breed of butlers are a very different bunch. A variety of tasks could occupy your butler's day, and might be as varied as checking "Sir/Modom's" clothes for possible dry cleaning, polishing shoes, arranging car servicing or ensuring flowers are fresh. Today it is all about busy people and making their Homes, Yachts and Lifestyles run as smoothly as possible with professionalism and the utmost discretion.

As one butler describes it “Generally you’re there to make their life comfortable and easy. In some houses you do a bit of housework, in others you do errands. In a staffed home you manage the other employees.

Butlers do not do housework but they do take charge of the cleaning of silver, glassware and fine china and they will often tidy up and do some light dusting where needed. They will care for your wardrobe, serve food and drinks and will organize and run dinner parties, lunches and other functions in your home.

Ideally, a butler should be a flexible, hospitality-minded person ready to adapt to every employer’s different needs. They manage the staff and supervise a wide variety of tasks and duties. Today's butlers can play a myriad of roles including house manager, personal assistant, valet, chef, chauffeur and even body guard. Some butlers are more like super secretaries, booking hotels and restaurants and keeping their employer's diary. All butlers, however, need to be discrete, dignified, professional and entirely trustworthy.

"A good butler anticipates what a person needs before they know they need it." William Smith, butler to Hugh Hefner.

 

Butlers currently available

Paul is a professional, approachable and energetic individual looking for a butler / caretaker / housekeeper / PA position. Paul has outstanding references who describe him as 'responsible, good humoured and enthusiastic'. Paul has trained in the Royal Navy and has worked as a welfare officer and senior welfare officer as well as housemaster and tutor for which he has amazing reference letters for. Paul has a wide range of skills and abilities due to his wide range of experiences. Paul is a keen traveller and has travelled across the Atlantic by yacht, restored his 17th century cottage and run it as B&B and enjoys photography, gardening, cooking and the theatre. Paul is very flexible in what he is prepared to do, he can cook, clean, lay a table, make a bed, arrange flowers, do laundry, iron, drive a car, use a word processor, mix a drink and walk the dog ! Please contact Melissa on 0207 565 2640 if you would be interested in hiring Paul.

 

Did you know?

• The name ‘Butler’ comes from the old French word ‘Bouteillier’ - the cup-bearer or the one in charge of the bottles.
• The International Guild of Professional Butlers estimates that there are around 50,000 professional Butlers in the world today.
• P Diddy (formerly known as Puff Daddy) has an English butler called Fonsworth
• Playboy owner Hugh Hefner has a Geordie butler called William Smith