The silver server: Dinner lady who’s dished up 1m meals
A DINNER lady is one in a million after helping to serve up that number of meals in her 50 years of service at a primary school.
Ellie Grimsey, 76, has been working at All Saints Academy, in Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, since 1968.
In that time the menu has gone from spam fritters with semolina for pudding to pasta bake or jacket potato.
She said her favourite meal to cook for the children is a roast with vegetables but they prefer fish and chips.
To celebrate her dedicated service, she joined the headteacher, Katherine Howe, staff and pupils for a roast pork lunch followed by cheesecake.
And Ms Grimsel was given a certificate for her loyal service to Norse Catering, which employs her. It was estimated she has served up about one million meals over the years.
She said: “The school has always tried to do what is best for the kids. I love it here. I really do. It’s lovely and I just like being with the children. I don’t want to retire. I like being here, and for as long as I can I shall stay.” Ms Grimsey said she used to have to do everything from scratch, including chopping and peeling the potatoes.
The kitchen once served spam fritters and a liver and bacon hot
1960s / 1970s Menu
potatoes) pot but the menu improved after the school started getting fresh meat and vegetables every day.
The school has always been a huge part of Ms Grimsey’s life. The married mother-of-two has been in Stoke Ferry all her life and attended the primary school herself when she was a child.
Her children Jane and Richard, along with her five grandchildren have also attended. She has also served dinners to generations of other families at the school.
Her daughter Jane Harwood, 58, now works with her mother as a cook.
Ms Grimsey said: “Jane used to work in other schools but came to help me one day as a cook assistant and stayed.
“When I decided I didn’t want to retire we just swapped jobs and now she is the cook and I am the assistant.”
Ms Grimsey started as a supervisor then catering assistant and later cook. “The kids have got to have the right vitamins. We have always tried to be healthy.”
Head teacher Ms Howe said: “The school is really proud and privileged to continue working with Ellie and her daughter and thank them for providing us with lovely lunches.”
2018 Menu