FORGET Gordon Ramsey and the air in the kitchen turning blue - this top student chef prefers a harmonious workplace.

The trademark swearing and temper tantrums will have no place in Mark Richardson's kitchen.

The 26-year-old York College Student of the Year, who is a chef at Lady Anne Middleton Hotel in Skeldergate, completed a two-year day release course in catering management at the college in only seven months.

"I've seen Hell's Kitchen and I don't think much to the way Gordon Ramsey is," said Mark, "When I get to run a kitchen it will be nothing like that."

Mark's boss at the hotel, head chef Kevin Stevenson, is also a part-time tutor at York College, but did not run Mark's course. Mark was nominated for the award by his course tutor, Les Illingworth.

"What Mark has achieved he has done with pure grit and determination, tenacity and hard work. He just puts his head down and gets on with it," said Kevin.

Mark, of Eason View in Dringhouses, left Oaklands School aged 16 with no qualifications, and started working in the hotel's kitchens where he washed dishes. He said this was why he thought it was better to treat people under you with respect instead of shouting at them.

After three years as a kitchen underling, Mark got fed up of the suds and determined he was destined for better things in life.

He went back to college and gained catering NVQs, before getting his most recent advanced NVQ to enable him to go on and become a head chef.

"I just wasn't bothered at school and it wasn't until later in life that I realised I wanted something better than just washing dishes. I've no plans to leave the hotel here at the minute, but my ultimate ambition is to work as head chef at a large hotel one day."

Mark was on holiday when the awards were handed out in June, so it was up to Kevin to present it in person.

Updated: 10:22 Saturday, September 03, 2005