Habs Health and Wellbeing Week has seen a number of events happening, not least of which was the Sixth Form Chef’s Assembly given by Graham Ogden, Chief Executive Chef of Chartwells, our school caterers. Graham spent the majority of his career cooking for Formula 1 drivers. His portfolio includes Aryton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Martin Brundle, Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and more.

 
Graham’s assembly in the Seldon Hall began with the boys taking a healthy snack pot of ‘overnight oat porridge’ before sitting down to hear the chef speak with humour and directness about healthy eating, particularly the power of healthy sources of protein. A key message was not to think that protein shakes would give you anything more than an excess not needed by the body. Many of us were amazed to find out that there is more protein power in the salad bar than on the hot service menu and the subsequent lunchtime choices became more thoughtful! Graham told us anecdotes from his time as a Formula One chef and gave the example of Lewis Hamilton’s dedication to looking after his diet as something for us all to remember.

Graham then spent the sunlit but chilly morning in our Solai Outdoor Classroom delivering a presentation to all the forms in Year 7 about the importance of the bumblebee and pollination. He made it clear to the young audience that without the bumblebee we would have no vegetables.

 

Chartwells is supplying wild flower seeds to all its schools to encourage us to plant the flowers and attract the bees. Our very own Head of ICT, Rash Patel, then spoke and shared his passion for beekeeping and honey bees, wearing his beekeeper’s suit and mask to show the boys. Of course, nothing would be complete without a taste of honey and Marco, our school chef, produced delicious flapjack pieces for all.

Both events were a great success, educational, tasty and fun in bringing home a message about our health and diet. We must thank Denise McGrenra, our delightful and inspiring Catering Manager, for bringing Graham in and for organising a super breakfast for the boys. She has also brought the much-loved Smoothie Bike to Joe’s Café for the week!