From soldier to butler

Stade / DPA

When David Betker left the army, he wondered what to do next. The corporal had spent eight years in the German military, including time in Kabul, Afghanistan. Then he came across a newspaper article about training as a butler in England. That might sound like a drastic change of career, but as Betker, 29, says of his time in the German forces: “Serving with prescience is what we were trained to do.”
That could be as much a butler’s motto as a soldier’s, so he took a decision and enrolled at the Edumondi School for Butlers in Stade, Germany.
Now Betker appears elegantly dressed in a morning suit and white gloves, holding a silver tray in his left hand. He introduces himself as “Just call me David.” Both the suit and the profession seem to fit him perfectly.
The comprehensive live-in training lasts eight weeks. Everything a butler needs for service with wealthy ladies and gentlemen is covered in the 640-hour curriculum by instructor Joerg Schmidt, who worked his way up in the business. Schmidt started out as a bellboy in a hotel, rose to the rank of concierge and worked in several well-to-do private households – most recently for the family of a prince.
A butler’s certificate comes at a cost of 13,450 euros, which covers everything including board at the school, travel, a butler’s clothing and dinner evenings.
Fictional tales featuring butlers, such as Upstairs Downstairs, P G Wodehouse’s Jeeves stories, Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day and Downton Abbey are responsible for many outdated stereotypes about the job.
“Nowadays, a butler is an all-rounder, a personal assistant. The man who can tackle almost everything,” says Schmidt, 49. A butler knows that tablecloths are not just ironed for special occasions. He can deftly fold serviettes into pyramid, mitre or “bird of paradise” shapes, and create a sedate and unimposing
atmosphere with candles and table decorations.
Chairs are set slightly to the right, so that guests can take their seats more comfortably from the left. The glasses and cutlery are perfectly arranged.
Whether he is serving, packing suitcases, booking plane tickets or cooking – a butler working in private service should know his employer extremely well. “Sometimes better than one’s wife. You need to intuit their wishes ahead of time,” Schmidt says. “But it’s always important to stay on an equal footing. It’s not about ingratiating oneself.” Is it ever permitted to say ‘no’ when you are a butler – for instance, if a request should become too extravagant? “I would express the ‘no’ somewhat differently,” says David. His reply: “I’m happy to look into it. I’ll attend to it.” And: smile in a friendly manner.
“Diplomacy is never wrong,” agrees Ricardo Duerner, who was butler at the luxury Hotel Adlon in Berlin, Germany for 18 years. “We see unusual requests as challenges.” Duerner, 47, wears a morning suit and name badge which bears only his first name. “When you see me, you can tell – that must be the butler.”
His realm is the presidential suite, which often lives up to its name.
“I’ve looked after many presidents from all countries and continents. If you reckon with roughly five presidents per year – which would be very few – then over 18 years that’s already very many,” Ricardo says.
Communication with the exclusive guests usually takes place in English. But Ricardo, who was born in Mexico, also speaks Spanish.
Just recently, US President Barack Obama stayed at the Adlon.
So did the guest of state use the butler service? We don’t know.
“Of course, discretion is essential in these kinds of circles and with figures like these,” Ricardo answers.
Diplomatic as always.