As the charitable fund founded by Ray Armstrong prepares to host its fourth fundraiser in his honour, Dan spoke to EMMA PRESTON about what the memory of his mentor means to him
It was in May 2009 that Mr Armstrong agreed to invest in an idea, the dream of LDF director Steve Winward and a then 21-year-old Mr Austin.
“Ray didn’t invest in businesses,” Mr Austin says, “he invested in people. That had always been his way.
“He had given myself, Steve and the team everything. He had given us a chance.“
The company has since gone on to become successful beyond anything perhaps even its founders could have imagined, supplying meat to be served in Michelin star restaurants, enjoyed by royalty and cooked by many of the world’s most famous chefs.
None of it would have been possible without the well-known Barrow businessman, who agreed to become managing director of the company and took on the role of training and mentoring his young successor.
It was in the most tragic of circumstances that Mr Austin’s dreams of one day leading the company were unexpectedly accelerated.
On a Saturday in August 2012, Mr Armstrong visited Mr Austin to break the news that he had been diagnosed with liver and pancreatic cancer.
“It was clear that Ray hadn’t been given a great deal of time,” Mr Austin remembers.
“His first concern, as always, was his family. Following that, he wanted to ensure that he had done everything to secure the future success of the business.
“That afternoon he promoted me to managing director, and it was his unwavering faith that made me feel I was ready.
“Ray had been my mentor for six years, and he was the greatest teacher I could possibly have asked for.”
In the weeks following his diagnosis, those who loved, worked for and respected Mr Armstrong began thinking of ways in which they could give something back in return for the chances he had given them.
Being aware that behind a public persona lay a privately charitable, hugely generous man, they knew that the best way they could do that would be to continue his legacy of changing others’ lives.
With the seeds of an idea beginning to take root, they began planning for an inaugural celebrity chef weekend which would bring some of the world’s finest chefs to entertain diners in south Cumbria.
“The speed at which the tickets sold was quite something,” Mr Austin remembers, “and I think, ultimately, that was a reflection on Ray.
“Of course, people wanted to attend an event which would offer an unrivalled level of culinary skill but, more importantly, they wanted to support Ray.
“The feedback we received from diners was humbling, but the most important piece of feedback came on the final night. Ray put his hands on mine and Steve’s shoulders and thanked us for what we had done. He told us he was proud of us, of the event and of the team, that he loved us and that we had to keep smiling. In a moment like that you realise it has all been worth it.”
Following Mr Armstrong’s death in April 2013, the celebrity chef event has continued to go from strength to strength, with those loyal to his family and his memory turning up year after year to show their support.
Tickets are still available for the first two nights of the fourth annual fundraiser, set to take place from Thursday to Saturday next week, which features a host of new names and boasts the highest number of Michelin stars ever to have been accumulated across one of the charity weekends.
The team hopes selling out the final seats will enable them to continue supporting as many local families, charities and community groups as they possibly can, having already given away more than £115,000 in Mr Armstrong’s name.
Not, Mr Austin adds, that his formidable former boss would ever have had it described that way.
“Ray asked that we call the charity The Lake District Farmers Armstrong Family Charitable Fund,” he explains. “He wanted it to be named after his family, not after himself.
“That was him all over and we, as we always did, followed the instructions of ‘The Gaffer’.
“However he tried to get away from it, though, this was always about him and it always will be. It’s his legacy.”
<u> Three different chefs supply a six-course tasting menu </u>
The fourth annual Lake District Farmers Armstrong Family Charitable Fund celebrity chef event will take place on Thursday February 4, Friday 5 and Saturday 6.
Names on the line-up include Great British Menu star, Mark Froydenlund, local food hero, Simon Rogan, and Clare Smyth MBE, chef patron at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and the first female British chef to hold three Michelin stars.
Tickets for one night at the event, hosted and sponsored by Clarence House Country Hotel and Restaurant in Dalton, cost £100 each.
This includes a six-course tasting menu supplied by three different chefs, champagne and canapes on arrival and entertainment during the evening. Tickets are still available for the Thursday and Friday evenings.
To book, call Sarah on 01229 870168.
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