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Published: 12 March 2024

Remembering Dr Willi Bode

The University of Surrey is sad to announce the death of Willi Bode. 

Dr Willi Bode

Willi was a lecturer in food production from 1974 until his retirement in 1986 in what was then the Department of Hotel, Catering and Tourism Management (now the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management).

During his time at the University, Willi was centrally involved in practical classes with students in the teaching kitchens and took the lead in developing gastronomy as a field of study.

He was also a very active professional tutor for generations of students undertaking professional placements in the UK and beyond, including in his native Germany.

While at the University he studied for a research degree on gastronomy. He had a strong interest in international gastronomy and authored or co-authored a number of influential texts on the topic of food including European gastronomy: the story of man's food and eating customs and The larder chef: food preparation and presentation (with MJ Leto). These texts were widely used across the field of hospitality education.