Your Royal Highness, Your Excellency, Lord Montagu, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I have already delivered one speech today, in a rather noisier place than this, so I shan't detain you long.
But it is a very special occasion and I couldn't let it go by without a few words. [end p1]
Charles ForteCharles, you don't look eighty and I am sure you don't feel eighty. But I suppose one has to believe the reference books. So here we all are, to congratulate you on reaching this particular milestone—only one of the many in your most distinguished career, to be followed I'm sure by many more. [end p2]
I know how proud you are—and rightly so—of your family history. In your autobiography you trace your forbears back many centuries to the borders between the Papal States and Naples.
So far, so good. But I thought that with a little energetic research we might go even [end p3] further back than that.
So I asked my staff to do some digging, and they came up with what appears to be the earliest known reference to the Forte family. Some 2000 years ago, the Latin poet, Horace, wrote:
‘Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona Multi’[end p4] which being loosely—very loosely—translated means: ‘There were a lot of Fortes around even before Agamemnon's time.’
No one knows quite when that was, or what the Fortes were doing there. Certainly, Troy is a long way from Alloa or even Montforte. Personally I like to think you were [end p5] already building hotels for the chariot trade, and offering Week-end Breaks for the Gods.
Be that as it may, your family name of Forte has entered the English language. It means a person's strong point, something in which he excels—and what could be more appropriate, for your own achievements are a legend. [end p6]
You have built one of Britain's greatest companies: the most profitable hotel group in the world.
You employ over 70,000 people, and every year you create 3,500 new jobs and first-time jobs for over 2000 of our young people. [end p7]
What a remarkable record that is, and we congratulate you on it!
Your success comes from a very simple philosophy: dedication to quality and to value for money.
It's marvellous that your work is now to be commemorated by the establishment of the Charles Forte Foundation. [end p8] I would like to thank all who have contributed so generously to it. It will be a tremendous support to those working in the industry who want to move up the ladder and gain extra qualifications.
And that in turn is vital to the continuing success of our tourist industry, which last year had over 15 million visitors. [end p9] That puts us in fifth place in the world's tourist earnings league—which is a tribute not only to the great companies like Trusthouse Forte, but to thousands of small firms and the self-employed who have made tourism one of our biggest and most important industries.
But I've no doubt that we can do better still. I should like us to be in the top three [end p10] before your 90th birthday, Charles.
And may I take advantage of Lord Montagu 's presence to say how grateful we all are to English Heritage for their contribution to attracting tourists to this country.
Their remarkable work to preserve England's historic buildings and ancient monuments is a labour of love which finds its reward in the growing interest of [end p11] young people from every background in Britain's history and achievements.
But to return to our Guest of Honour.
I doubt, Charles, that there is anyone in this country who has more friends than you, and it's a privilege to be counted as one of them—ever since we slid down an artificial ski slope in Battersea Park [end p12] together quite a number of years ago. I would like to think it was the last time that either of us went steeply down-hill.
Despite your close connections with Italy, we are always proud to claim you as our own. As W. S. Gilbert wrote in ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ [sic]: [end p13] ‘In spite of all temptations To belong to other nations He remains an Englishman’ —and so you do. You've contributed so much to Britain.
We know how many worthy causes you have supported, turning your own good fortune to benefit others, and in particular how many acts of private kindness and [end p14] generosity you've performed, never seeking any publicity or recognition.
We know you too as a great family man. In your autobiography you refer to your marriage to Irene ForteIrene as, “the happiest and most fortunate thing that ever happened to me” , and we all know her as a wonderful person. I'm sure that tremendous feeling of family [end p15] which extends not only to your real family, but to all who work for Trusthouse Forte, is one of the keys to your success.
But you are also a great sportsman.
In addition to golf and shooting, I understand that you claim the Scottish long jump record. [end p16]
If that causes some surprise, I understand that you weren't actually competing in the long-jump, you were throwing the hammer and forgot to let go!
You have always made a joke of your height. Indeed, I remember that when you were made Sir Charles, you described yourself as the shortest night of the year. [end p17]
Well it was Lloyd George who said:
“Where I come from, we measure people from the neck up” .
May I add that, if anyone walks tall among his fellows, it is you, Charles. You are one of those who has created something, by your own efforts, your own initiative, your own vision. [end p18]
You weren't content to stop and say: “That's enough, there's no need to go on.” You wanted to build something great, something exceptional, which matched your passionate desire to promote quality and high standards.
And the results have been of benefit not just to you but to many, many thousands of [end p19] people who work for your company—and the many more still who use the services you provide.
But it's the personal qualities—the charm, the courtesy, the kindness, above all the total integrity that we especially remember this evening, and that bring you the affection and admiration of us all as we celebrate your birthday. [end p20]
So it is that all your friends here tonight—only a fraction of the total number—say to you with warm hearts and much feeling: Happy Birthday, Charles, and may many more years of happiness and success attend you and your family.
I ask you to rise and drink a toast to Lord Forte, to Charles.