Breakfast+ Michael Watson-Creator of Hotel Number Sixteen

He was Chairman of Crusaid for many years, started the first boutique hotel-Number Sixteen, in the world, was a director at Allied Lyons and also an Etonian.

He lost his father in the Second World War. Michael was seventeen and suddenly was father to his two young siblings. His mother then married many times and the boys never liked the step fathers. So he had to rely on himself alone.

We shared houses in London and Palma de Mallorca. The first thing he grabbed at breakfast was the Times Cryptic crossword and almost always completed it succesfully. He is a great golfer, bridge player, art collector- but what has this got to do with breakfast you ask me?

The breakfast table was always set the night before. He always used his silver- not just for special occasions and these were washed by the dishwasher.

Saturday and Sunday he would be immersed in the weekend papers.

And breakfast on these days was

Paw Paw

Three cereals to choose from

Brioche

Butter

Three jams to choose from

And a strong pot of coffee

The Morello Cherry Jam was always one of the three jams on offer.

At his hotel, breakfast was delivered to the rooms. The choice was fresh juices, cereals, eggs whichever way you like them, croissants, and beverages

I still can’t walk past Morello Cherry Jam without thinking of him. A man of substance.

Brioche in France is always fresher though.