|
|
 |
| |
Chef Martin Wilson shortly after he began working at Joe Allen |
Chef’s mystery plunge to his death
Dad who worked at celebrities’ favourite restaurant fell from theroof of his home
A CELEBRATED chef to the stars died after falling from the roof of his Queen’s Crescent home in mysterious circumstances, an inquest has heard.
Martin Wilson, 58, the executive head chef of legendary Covent Garden theatreland restaurant Joe Allen, was on sick leave with a shoulder injury when he died in May.
Mr Wilson had spent nearly 30 years building up Joe Allen’s reputation as a top-flight restaurant beloved by actors and theatre critics.
His son Amadeus remembered him as a “loving father, avid adventurer and mentor to the chefing fraternity”.
Mr Wilson earned the nickname “Oscar” in his twenties because of his wild reputation and his appreciation of the Irish writer.
Actor and writer Simon Callow read Oscar Wilde’s Impressions of America at Mr Wilson’s funeral at St Paul’s in Covent Garden at the end of last month. Mr Callow later told how he was a good friend of Mr Wilson and would regularly bump into him at Joe Allen’s or other eateries.
“He was a great friend of the brothers who ran the Camden Brasserie,” added Mr Callow. “He was a very engaging fellow.”
A post-mortem examination found Mr Wilson had died of “massive internal haemorrhaging as a result of multiple internal injuries” after falling from a parapet on the roof of his four-floor house.
He was rushed to the Royal London Hospital in east London with rib fractures, a possible collapsed lung and bleeding of the pelvis. He was pronounced dead later that day.
Friday’s inquest at St Pancras Coroner’s Court heard how Mr Wilson had taken medication for depression in 2004 and been referred to a psychiatrist in 2007. Deputy assistant coroner Sean McGovern said there was no explanation as to why he had been standing on the roof, but also no evidence that he was was considering taking his own life. It is thought that Mr Wilson had his arm in a sling following his shoulder injury.
Recording an open verdict, Mr McGovern added: “There is something of a psychiatric history but it’s not substantial. In truth there is some element of mystery to his death.”
Amadeus said that in the moments before his death his father had been attempting to repair a television aerial and insisted the fall was accidental.
“It was 100 per cent against type,” he said. “For someone in the legal profession it may have an element of doubt, but I think it is a cynical verdict.”
|
 |
|
|
|
Your comments:
|
| |
|
|
|
