It started off as an imaginative food project in a tiny Lancashire school and ended up with royalty in Westminster Abbey
It might be a small school, but it thinks big. Children and staff at the Wilson’s Endowed Church of England Primary School at Over Kellet near Carnforth featured in Lancashire Life when they launched a ground-breaking programme to learn more about good food.
Now, they are back in the headlines after making a star-studded trip to Westminster Abbey for a celebration and service that was the climax of British Food Fortnight.
They met the Duchess of Cornwall and quizzed Hairy Biker Dave Myers, an old friend of the school, about Strictly Come Dancing before presenting him with a ‘Good Luck’ card. He needed it!
They also posed for pictures with Homeland star Damien Lewis and Newsround’s Ricky Boleto before rubbing shoulders with Blue Peter’s Barney Harwood and Chris Collins, television actor Martin Clunes not forgotting Adam Henson and Julia Bradbury from Countryfile.
The 104 pupil school was selected after entering a British Food Fortnight competition to create a Harvest Hamper and their entry – The Best of the North West – stood out from the rest. It consists of lots of local produce, including herbs from the school garden and locally-made apple relish. They were the only north west school to be chosen.
The Duchess, who spent time with the Lancashire pupils, said: ‘I hope this competition will give hundreds of children the chance to experience the joys of digging up potatoes they have grown themselves, picking runner beans and finding exciting recipes to cook.’
Headteacher Jo Williams said: ‘We believe our children should know where their food comes from and we encourage them to celebrate food by using locally-sourced ingredients in their cookery classes.’
Actor Damien Lewis chatted with the group and was interested to hear from puil Jemma Fletcher about her farming family. Jemma told him that her grandpa had just finished his haymaking and her big brother was busy milking.
The Duchess was interested in the Harvest Basket that the pupils had put together. Pupil Amy Eccles explained that the vegetables had been grown by the school’s gardening club and included beans, courgettes, potatoes and onions.
‘She was impressed that we had made the long journey with our hamper,’ said Jo. ‘I explained to her that the school often works in partnership with Booths supermarkets for our baking projects in class and they had kindly donated some locally-sourced items for the hamper.
Mr Edwin Booth, chairman of the supermarket group, was also a guest and he introduced himself to the children as ‘your local grocer!’
The Over Kellet hamper was placed on brown and white gingham and decorated with conkers that had been collected by Sarah-Joy Mahon, aged six, from a park in Lancaster.
Rhiannon Mawby, aged 10, said: ‘Camilla was very nice and she spent quite a while with us and she even talked to our friend Dave Myers about Strictly. It was quite funny!’ Amy Eccles, aged 11, said the day was ‘thrilling’ while Jemma Fletcher, 10, summed it up as ‘awesome!’
