Description:Sixteen year old catering student Margaret Fowell is pictured serving cutlets to two members of staff in the College Restaurant, under the watchful eye of Miss F F Blythe, her teacher. Seated at the table are Miss Remington, who was in charge if soft furnishings, and Mr Fred Cope, head lecturer of industrial cooking and also flour and sugar confectionery. Looking on are other students in Miss Blythe's class.
It was reported in the Newsletter that Stafford Technical College had one of the best equipped Catering Departments in the Midlands. Since May the College had their own small suite with everything to meet their training needs, including the restaurant which was light and airy, the furnishings were of a contemporary design and there were eight dining tables with thirty seats and four large sideboards.
Miss P M Bentley, the Head of the Catering Department told the Newsletter that the students were given a sound basic training in all normal branches of the industry and then they could specialise later if they wished. She said that the students had already prepared and served lunches for members of the College staff and occasional parties of guests, including Governors of the College and other organisations of the town. She added that after Christmas we hope to have members of the public to lunch. Young people from the Education section were interested in the plan, but we need to vary our customers so the students do not grow accustomed to them, which may stop them taking their work seriously. Interest in the course has increased and the students gained practical experience in cooking in the kitchen and the presentation of meals, they also received practical involvement on various restaurant duties including waiting.
This photograph was published in the Staffordshire Newsletter on Saturday 3 December 1955. Reproduced by kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.