Chef lashes out at college closure plans

Ahead chef has spoken out against the possible closure of the catering department where he learned his culinary skills.

Simon Williams trained at Royal Forest of Dean College's catering department in Coleford, Gloucestershire, 12 years ago.

"I would never have become a chef if I hadn't been able to study somewhere locally," he said.

Now, as head chef of the Speech House hotel, near Coleford, he often uses students from the college for part-time work.

But the course is set to close if staff cannot recruit 30 full-time students in the next two years.

Principal Gill Young said numbers had been declining for the last five years. "I would be sad to see the department close," she said, "but it's extremely expensive to run. A lot of youngsters don't like the pay, the hours or the thought of working in hot, sweaty kitchens. There's no point blaming catering colleges - the problem is the industry isn't considered attractive."

By Linley Boniface