LUCKY winners of a competition run by the Christchurch Food Festival Education Trust have been treated to a day at Lesley Waters’ cookery school.

Harry Thorpe from Twynham School, Elicia Duke from the Grange School and Sam Herbert from Highcliffe School, were finalists in the Junior Cook of the Year competition organised by the trust.

They visited Lesley’s cookery school at Abbot’s Hill, west Dorset along with Charlotte Dadds from Twynham School who helps Lesley at the festival.

Lesley gives time every year to visit each of the Christchurch schools as part of her patronage of the Food and Wine Festival.

The menu at the Cookery School this year was taught by Lesley’s sister Jacks Waters, who is a professional lecturer and food writer.

It included chilled egg salad with a country herb bread, rich steak and venison pie with a black pepper crust and vanilla creams with rhubarb and raspberry dressing.

Food festival president Mary Reader, who organised the day, said: “We are all so grateful to Lesley for inviting us to enjoy this unique day.

“As our patron, Lesley has shown complete commitment to the young people of Christchurch over many years by encouraging them to expand their knowledge of good food and a choice of ingredients.”