Having made his mark on the high-volume catering industry for his coverage of what at the time was referred to as ‘industrial catering’, he was head-hunted by then Catering Times editor, Miles Quest, and joined as features editor in 1979.
After working as a freelance writer for a short while, in 1983 Alan was again recruited by Miles Quest, this time to join his new PR and publications business Wordsmith and Company as a partner. Initially based in High Wycombe, the office later moved to London’s Albemarle Street.
Alan worked at Wordsmith & Company until 1989, after which he set up his own business Alan Sutton Editorial where he was joined by his daughter Heidi. Together they successfully took on several big contracts, including the editorship of the HCIMA’s Hospitality magazine and the Compass Group’s in-house newspaper, Compass News.
Those contracts passed on and during from 2000-2008 he regularly worked as a freelance writer for Dewberry Redpoint titles, including Cost Sector Catering and Restaurant News.
Editor David Foad said: “It was a pleasure to work with Alan, he was the ultimate professional as a journalist and good fun to be around in the office."
From the late 1990s to the early 2000s he also acted as a member of the judging panel for the Caterer & Hotelkeeper’s ‘Catey’ Awards for Contract Caterer of the Year.
He finally closed his editorial business and soon after became a Church Pastor in 2008, before retiring in 2018.
Julian Demetriadi, a fellow hospitality journalist who worked with Alan at Catering Times, Wordsmith, and as a freelance, said: “Alan was not only one of the kindest and most fun people I have ever worked with, he was a brilliant trade journalist and wonderful teacher.
“I feel so privileged to have known him and to have benefited from his immense generosity, wisdom, friendship, and wicked sense of humour. I will miss him greatly. My thoughts are with Sue, Heidi and all his lovely family.”
In 2012, together with his wife Sue, Alan established the Dunstable Foodbank, working with the Trussell Trust to help those in need in the town, and had only recently stepped down from his role as chairman.
Alan is survived by wife Sue, daughter Heidi and – the apple of his eye – granddaughter Charlotte. Born in Barnet, he lived most of his life Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
His funeral will be held on August 17th at 12.30pm at COM Church in Dunstable. The service will be streamed live on the Church’s website www.comchurch.org.uk/live.