Marco cooks up fundraiser (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Marco cooks up fundraiser

4:06pm Friday 25th June 2010 in

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HE MAY have a reputation as a fiery chef but Marco Pierre White was all sweetness and light when he gave an exclusive fundraising cooking demonstration in north Hampshire.

Famous for being one of the country’s top chefs, Marco was in good form at Newlyns Cookery School above Newlyns Farm Shop, Lodge Farm, in North Warnborough, where he taught eager gastronomes about cooking halibut, turbot, tuna and seabass.

The atmosphere at the cookery school could not have been further from Hell’s Kitchen – the hit ITV1 cookery show which Marco has appeared in.

In a convivial mood, the celebrity chef charmed his audience by talking about how he started his career, answering questions, and sharing tips and advice.

Impressed with the cookery school, Marco said: “When you have been privileged like I was to work with some great individuals who gave their time and shared their knowledge with me when I was a young man, my belief in life is that you have a duty to give your time and share your knowledge with others.

And to be allowed to come to Newlyns Farm is a great privilege.”

Abby Janaway, who helps manage the school, said: “It was fantastic to have such a high-calibre chef come at our cookery school – it gives a real buzz to the staff and everyone involved. It’s great that he wanted to come and do it, and hopefully he may return.”

Abby said both The Countryside Alliance Foundation and Help for Heroes – which bene fited from the event – are charities that Newlyns support, and they are close to Marco’s heart too.

Those attending the class had either paid for the privilege at a Countryside Alliance auc tion or had a winning ticket from a raffle to raise funds for Help for Heroes, which sup ports injured members of the armed services.

Among the lucky punters was Annie Hall, from Sherborne St John, who bought several tickets so that her 13-year-old son Theo had a chance of winning a place.

Prior to the demonstration Annie said: “Theo loves cooking – he’s been doing it for five or six years – and when I heard about the Help for Heroes raffle, which is a fantastic charity, I thought this would be great. Theo has always admired Marco Pierre White.”

Theo said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be here learning from such a wonderful chef – this will be something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”