It Started at The Savoy: A memoir about family, celebrities and the highlights from a a 52-year career in hotel management Paperback - 2017

2020 First Place Chanticleer International Book Awards in the Hearten Uplifting & Inspiring Non-Fiction category. Bill Pullen is a brilliant storyteller. Whether it's his childhood encounter with a V1 flying bomb, a renegade monkey in Suriname, the time he had to fire George Carlin, or one of his many other recollections, you will feel as though you were right there when the action happened. His story begins with heartwarming memories of his early years on the outskirts of London during World War II. Following his first job as a bartender at The Savoy Hotel in London, he accepted a one-year assignment at the Hotel Plaza Athne in Paris. While there a chance meeting with an American financier led to a once-in-a-lifetime job offer and his eventual emigration to the United States. From historic country inns to five-star hotels on three continents, he shares anecdotes of his experiences with friends, family, and a myriad of celebrities whom he met along the way. All done with great humor and insight. Life goes on after retirement. In the final two chapters, Bill relates the importance of community involvement and the highly emotional connection he made while in Sri Lanka. That experience culminated in the creation of a foundation supporting some of that island's poorest children and what became his lifetime passion and mission.