I started my journey to becoming a butler when I was only 20. I did my research around butler schools and found that the best choice was clearly Rick Fink's. Rick was more than helpful in the information he provided with a open day at the school. It wasn't long before I started my months training.

The training was invaluable, each piece of information came with a little antidote, which I still remember and use today! The course was professionally run but with a friendly and fun approach.

No stone was left unturned. Cooking, wine tasting, Valeting, butler service, etiquette, packing, silver care are just a fraction of the things covered over my time, I could write an endless list of what I learnt in my time at Ditchley.

I got to stay in a lovely B&B in a local town, which has everything you could ask for, in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside. We ended our course with some work experience at two dinners that were held in the house. This helped to cement the teaching and see first hand how everything works. After this came the all import at graduation, we donned out suits and were presented out diplomas by Sir John Holmes GCVO, KBE, CMG, in the one of the beautiful drawings rooms of the house, I left knowing that should I ever require anything else from them that Rick and his team would be there for support whether for guidance, help finding a job or just to check anything!

I left Ditchley in 2012 and have gone on to work for European Royalty, the largest shooting estate in England and Chatsworth House. To which all had heard of the school and its reputation for standards.

I started at Ditchley with no experience of Butlering whatsoever and have gone on to an extremely successful career because of its teachings. I owe Rick and his team a huge thanks for starting me on this path and everything I learnt from each and everyone one of them.

Thank you to everyone at Ditchley. To anyone seeking a butler/valet school I wouldn't look anywhere else!

I hope that he continues to pass on his endless knowledge to future students

Best wishes ,
Crispin Terry
Former student