While many will be mourning the departure of the St Luke’s creative
director, Dave Buonaguidi, to Channel 4, others at the agency are
mourning a far more serious loss.
Buonaguidi’s dad, Franco, has been a regular figure at the agency’s
Holborn offices since it opened its swish staff canteen two years ago.
While the agency does employ a full-time chef, Franco was always on hand
to make sure his eldest son had his full intake of pasta and relished
his hours in the kitchens, not to mention the time he spent flirting
with the St Luke’s babes.
After a career running restaurants in London, Buonaguidi senior retired
in 1990. Then, after six years of daytime TV, he was overjoyed when his
son invited him into St Luke’s to help in the kitchens.
However, St Luke’s, being a co-operative, held a vote a couple of months
ago and decided that Buonaguidi’s dad had to go to make way for two
younger chefs.
Naturally, both Buonaguidis are devastated. Buonaguidi junior, told
Campaign: ’It’s been awful since dad was ousted. I understand that it
was decided fairly, but he’s my dad. I’ve lost so much weight since he’s
been gone.’
Buonaguidi senior is similarly despondent. ’It was fun to be there, and
it was a good kitchen, but I’m sad not to be there now. They said maybe
I can come back occasionally. But who’s looking after my boy now? I’m
bored. There’s only so much Jackanory and Blue Peter you can watch, even
after what’s happened on Blue Peter now.’
Offers for the culinary skills of Buonaguidi senior are welcome.
