Tributes paid to cycling school cook (From York Press)

Tributes paid to cycling school cook

8:58am Saturday 12th May 2007

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SHE has served nearly 300,000 dinners to two generations of hungry children - now staff and pupils at a village school have given her their resounding thanks.

School cook Marjorie Murray, who works at Welburn Community Primary School, near Malton, was this week honoured for her dedicated efforts to make sure its children were kept properly fed.

Marjorie, 60, has now clocked up nearly 300,000 school dinners during her 27 years at the school. She has cycled to work every day since joining the school in September, 1979, reaching a total distance of 10,600 miles.

The devoted cook has now been presented with a special certificate and £150 of Marks & Spencer vouchers in recognition of her work.

Coun John Watson, who has responsibility for schools at North Yorkshire County Council, thanked Marjorie for her dedication to the school and the pride she had shown in her job.

He said: "By cycling that distance, you could have travelled from here to Australia. But I think I speak for all those fortunate enough to have made your acquaintance when I say we're very glad you didn't."

Marjorie joined the school after spotting a job advert for a kitchen assistant while her five-year-old daughter was a pupil.

She said: "It seemed like a nice little job and I could work while my daughter was at school and take the same holidays as her.

"I've always been happy here and the years seem to fly by. I have just never left.

"We are only a small school with only 49 children and you get to know them individually - it has become a home away from home."

But although Marjorie is a dedicated cook, there is one type of food even she cannot abide: pasta.

Whenever it is on the menu, the school secretary has stepped in to act as chief meal taster.

Marjorie said despite considering retiring, she was not yet ready to quit her job.

She said: "I have recently had my 60th birthday and I did consider retiring," she said, "but then I thought better of it. They aren't getting rid of me yet!"

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