WHEN Dawn Drury started work at Monk Fryston Hotel 25 years ago she had a very special guest to cater for - the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

Dawn, who started as a receptionist at the hotel, based in a 17th century listed manor house, on March 9, 1980, had a baptism of fire as she discovered that the Iron Lady's rumoured nocturnal working schedule was true.

Dawn said: "She had been Prime Minister for less than a year and stayed up all night working. I was asked to work through to operate the telephone switchboard, and she was certainly very busy making dozens of calls. She cannot have had any break to sleep, but next morning she was fine."

A special presentation to mark Dawn's long service is being made by Lord Edward Manners, the chairman of Rutland Hotels Ltd, next month.

She said: "We have some wonderful long-standing guests and former staff who keep in touch. In many ways it is like an extended family."

Hotel manager Pam Smith said: "Every manager needs good support from their staff. I am very fortunate to have a wonderful senior team in which Dawn is a mainstay."

Updated: 10:29 Tuesday, March 15, 2005