Rose Gray
Encyclopedia
Rose Gray, MBE
(28 January 1939 – 28 February 2010) was a British chef and cookery writer, who set up (with Ruth Rogers) The River Café
in 1987. She won a Michelin star for this in 1998. It was here that the talents of Jamie Oliver
were first spotted. She had a profound influence on a generation of celebrity chefs, including Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
, the latter stating that she had had more influence on him than any other person he had worked with. She wrote a series of cookery books and presented a twelve-part television programme for Channel Four, "The Italian Kitchen", in 1998.
, settled in Guildford
, and Rose studied at the Guildford College of Art, where she gained a BA in Fine Art. Her career as a professional chef began at Nell's
restaurant in New York, after which time she returned to London.
in 2001. In 2004 she became a "Breast Cancer Ambassador" and was also co-founder of the Cooks in Schools charity. She was in remission from breast cancer for five years before it returned and metastasis
ed to her brain in late 2009 or early 2010. She died at home in Marylebone
, London, aged 71, on February 28, 2010. She had been working on what was to be her last book (with Ruth Rogers), the River Café Classic Italian Cookery Book. Her other works (many of which were co-authored with Ruth Rogers) include the River Café Cookbook, the River Café Cookbook Green and River Café Pocket Books: Salads and Vegetables.
, where Rose first developed her interest in Italian food.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(28 January 1939 – 28 February 2010) was a British chef and cookery writer, who set up (with Ruth Rogers) The River Café
The River Café (London)
The River Café is a restaurant in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London, England, specializing in Italian cuisine. It is owned and run by chef Ruth Rogers and until early 2010, Rose Gray....
in 1987. She won a Michelin star for this in 1998. It was here that the talents of Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver
James "Jamie" Trevor Oliver, MBE , sometimes known as The Naked Chef, is an English chef, restaurateur and media personality, known for his food-focused television shows, cookbooks and more recently his campaign against the use of processed foods in national schools...
were first spotted. She had a profound influence on a generation of celebrity chefs, including Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a British celebrity chef, television personality, journalist, food writer and "real food" campaigner, known for his back-to-basics philosophy...
, the latter stating that she had had more influence on him than any other person he had worked with. She wrote a series of cookery books and presented a twelve-part television programme for Channel Four, "The Italian Kitchen", in 1998.
Early life
Born Clemency Anne Rosemary Swann in Bedford, her father, Flight Lieutenant Clement Nelson Swann, 26, and a seven-month-old sister were killed in a domestic fire six months before her birth. She was brought up in Scotland and Surrey. Her mother, (Elizabeth) Anne Lawrence, daughter of Sir William Lawrence, 3rd BaronetSir William Lawrence, 3rd Baronet
Sir William Matthew Trevor Lawrence, 3rd Baronet JP FSA was an English horticulturalist, hospital administrator and collector.-Early life:...
, settled in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, and Rose studied at the Guildford College of Art, where she gained a BA in Fine Art. Her career as a professional chef began at Nell's
Nell's
Nell's was a nightclub located on 246 West 14th Street in downtown Manhattan. It opened in 1986 and closed May 30, 2004.Nell's (or Nells) was a nightclub located on 246 West 14th Street in downtown Manhattan. It opened in 1986 and closed May 30, 2004.Nell's (or Nells) was a nightclub located on...
restaurant in New York, after which time she returned to London.
Last years
She was diagnosed with breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 2001. In 2004 she became a "Breast Cancer Ambassador" and was also co-founder of the Cooks in Schools charity. She was in remission from breast cancer for five years before it returned and metastasis
Metastasis
Metastasis, or metastatic disease , is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. It was previously thought that only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize; however, this is being reconsidered due to new research...
ed to her brain in late 2009 or early 2010. She died at home in Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, London, aged 71, on February 28, 2010. She had been working on what was to be her last book (with Ruth Rogers), the River Café Classic Italian Cookery Book. Her other works (many of which were co-authored with Ruth Rogers) include the River Café Cookbook, the River Café Cookbook Green and River Café Pocket Books: Salads and Vegetables.
Personal life
In 1961 or 1962, she married Michael Selby Gray. They had a son, Ossian and two daughters, Hester and Lucy; the marriage ended in divorce. She had a son, Dante MacIlwaine Gray (born 1973), by her partner David Robin MacIlwaine, whom she was married to from 2004 until her death. They lived part of their life in TuscanyTuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, where Rose first developed her interest in Italian food.