Souper star Ryan dishes up school donation
An Islay schoolboy with a passion for cooking has made a generous donation to the primary school from which he has just graduated.
Before leaving Bowmore Primary School in June, 12-year-old Ryan Woodrow presented a cheque for £745 – the proceeds from the sales of his own soup cook book – to the school’s head teacher, Maureen MacDonald, and his class teacher of the last five years, Linsay MacArthur.
Ryan spent nine years at the school, first attending pre-school when he was three, the same age as he was diagnosed with high functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The money he has donated to the school will help to fund resources for future children with ASD and special needs.
Ryan’s mum Lorraine, who helped him compile the cook book, which features 50 soups and is being sold for £10, said: ‘Cooking and baking has always been a keen interest for Ryan, and a lovely way for us to interact with him. It’s a joy to watch him having fun, making and eating his creations.’
The pair began working on the book in 2017, gathering ideas from Lorraine’s hairdressing customers and online, as well as making up a few of their own ‘weird and wonderful’ recipes along the way!
‘We cooked lots of different soups, from classic and traditional, to unusual and experimental,’ Lorraine said. ‘Some have not made the book, having been experiments gone wrong, but we have been left with 50 soups that seem to have Ryan’s approval.’
Lorraine thanked everyone who has purchased a book so far, adding: ‘The school has been amazing, and always provided fantastic support to our family, and we just wanted to show our appreciation.’
There are still some books left – anyone wishing to purchase a copy can contact Lorraine via Facebook or telephone 07881 926231.