How long have you been at Bedales, and how did you get here?
I joined Bedales in October 2017, originally as Chef Manager at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst. I moved to Bedales Senior as Assistant Catering Manager the following summer and became Head of Catering in March 2019. I’d previously worked in catering in two different schools and before that, I was in the Army for eight years.
What is your role and what is a typical day for you like at Bedales?
As Head of Catering, I oversee catering at all three schools. The Catering team are responsible for breakfast, lunch and dinner and we prepare varied, healthy menus every term. We also provide delicious match teas, run a daily tuck shop for students (from a horsebox I upcycled with a colleague in Autumn 2021 and styled in the Bedales branding!) and cater for various functions, from open days and Old Bedalian reunions to the Valentine’s Ball in the Quad and student feasts with Will Goldsmith, Head of Bedales.
We cater for 5-10 functions a week across the three schools, so a typical day for me involves planning of some description. As well as managing the Catering team, I source all the food within a 25-mile radius. A key part of my role is also listening to the students’ views at termly Food Forums so their input is reflected in the food we serve.
Apart from your role, what else do you get involved with at the school?
The majority of things I get involved with are related to catering. I hold a termly Food Forum at Bedales Senior; speak to pupils at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst about food in assemblies; and read to children at Bedales Pre-prep, Dunannie.
In lockdown, after hearing that members of the local community were having difficulty sourcing household staples in their local supermarkets, I ran a supplies shop at Bedales with the support of school volunteers and the Steep Community Group. At its peak, we were making up to 20 deliveries a day, six days a week, and it was such a rewarding experience to support the local community at such a strange time.
In your opinion, what makes Bedales special?
Having worked at other schools, what I like about Bedales is that it's genuinely different. From a catering perspective, this means that the students are involved in menu development; they bring ideas, and if we can, we'll try them. If students don't like something on the menu, they tell us, and we'll take it off or change it. Plus, no two days are ever the same at Bedales, which I love.
Who or what inspires you?
I joined the Army when I was 18 and that very much shaped who I am today. I believe in working hard, which means when I go home at the end of each day I can be genuinely proud of my work ethic and achievements.
Tell us something not a lot of people know about you.
I won Independent School Caterer of the Year in 2015.