National Roast Dinner Day Surprise – Jeanette Orrey’s visit to Longfleet Primary School and Poole Grammar School

On Wednesday 15 November, there was a surprise when the hot school meal delivery arrived at Longfleet School.

Jeanette Orrey MBE, who twelve years ago was the school catering manager that inspired Jamie Oliver’s healthy eating campaign for schools, paid a surprise visit to see the pupils and staff who were participating in Food for Life’s Roast Dinner day.  This is celebrated across the country each November.

Jeanette is a co-founder of Food for Life and the Schools Awards Programme that has raised healthy eating standards in schools across the country.  Independent research has found that pupils in Food for Life schools are twice as likely to eat their five a day and significantly more fruit or vegetables than pupils in comparable schools.

Poole Grammar School, which was awarded Food for Life Gold in 2014 and ambassador status in 2015, provides a hot lunchtime meal service to three local schools in Poole, including Longfleet Primary.  This is all masterminded by Chris Watson, Poole Grammar’s Catering manager, and his amazing catering team.

Jeanette returned to Poole Grammar in time for their roast dinner lunch where she joined senior representatives from Longfleet, St Mary’s, and Stanley Green Primary schools, Headteacher Andy Baker, catering team leader Belinda Wright, and other invited VIPs.  She had time to join the school’s Food for Life/Green Committee meeting that was held after the delicious roast dinner and held an open question and answer session with the students, staff and guests.

Jeanette said:

“It has been an absolute privilege to see Poole Grammar School once again.  My first visit was back in 2007 at the start of their Food for Life journey.  The whole school has made me feel so welcome.”