FOR 50 years Ted Whitcombe has welcomed the world's biggest stars through the revolving doors of The Dorchester.

But the Mayfair hotel's longest-serving staff member has donned his uniform one last time as he retires from the "best job in the world".

Over that half-century Mr Whitcombe, 65, has become a familiar face to a host of Hollywood luminaries.

He said: "I began working here in 1959 during the heyday of the The Dorchester. Film stars were real film stars back then. I've seen Elizabeth Taylor, who was always one of my favourites, walk into the hotel with six different husbands.

"There were so many other guests that I admired and who were always pleasant such as John Wayne, Omar Sharif, Julie Andrews and Peter Sellers - who always kept us in fits.

"Charlton Heston was a regular. He would walk around the hotel with his shorts on and make the ladies swoon."

He says his most memorable guests include the tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

"He stayed here when he had his great performance at Hyde Park. He was a lovely man. What people don't know is that his girth was so big he broke a chair in his suite soon after he arrived. We had to install a specially-reinforced throne for him in his suite and he was nice and comfy after that."

He recalls an eventful visit from the Rat Pack in their Sixties pomp.

"Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin had brought cases of rare Jack Daniel's but were asked to leave because they were misbehaving with women in the corridors. They went to the Savoy and never came back for their case. It took us ages to get through all that booze."

Mr Whitcombe, who lives with his wife in West Wickham, Kent, went to work at the hotel when he was 15. "My friends and I used to nick as many coins as we could out of the fountain in front of the hotel. The doormen got so fed up with chasing me away they gave me a job.

"It was a dream come true. Back then The Dorchester had no competition."

He describes the job as "the best in the world" and has parting advice for aspiring doormen. "There is one instant way to improve your appearance and that is to smile - it makes a big difference. Appearance is vital."

Mr Whitcombe cleans his shoes three or four times a day and can go through 10 pairs of white gloves in a day. He estimates he may have got through more than 100,000 pairs while at the hotel.

He added: "I learned quickly to be discreet. Sometimes you would see Mr and Mrs Smith and say 'Hello Mr and Mrs Smith'. The next week Mr Smith may arrive with a lady who is not Mrs Smith. You don't want to get caught out. I always play it safe by saying 'Sir and Madam'."

Today the hotel is holding a party and has given him a gold watch. "It is an emotional day for me. I've seen so much and will miss The Dorchester tremendously."

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