Region: School stalwart forced to hang up her apron

Huntley School catering manager Anna Williams is retiring after nearly 26 years. Photo/Supplied

Huntley School's much-loved catering manager and hands-on cook of 25 years, Anna Williams, is retiring on July 4.

Mrs Williams has been the centre of the food universe of hundreds of small boys and, for the first half of this year, girls as well.

Retiring was not in her plan this year but ill health forced her to make the decision, she said.

Her years of running the kitchen at the small private boarding and day school in Marton had been satisfying and always fun, she said.

"I love creating food for the children."

Her dinners were so loved that when students went home for the holidays or left school, they missed her food. So her recipes are all in the school cookbook Taste Huntley, published three years ago.

Marton has been home for nearly 30 years and keeping her kitchen in order and feeding 160 hungry students and teachers daily is important to her.

"I'm not happy about having to leave at all. I love my work here and I will miss everyone so much...in fact I don't really want to think about it."

Because the job includes all the ordering of food, supplies, cooking and overseeing staff, Mrs William will be showing the new manager the ropes before she leaves.

"I don't know who it is, they've just started the interviewing."

Even though retiring will mean a cosy lie-in in the mornings, she's still sad about leaving.

"I love it here, there's a wonderful atmosphere in the school which has actually got better since the girls came at the start of the year.

"Having girls here has made quite a difference. I thought they might be different to the boys when it came to food, but no they love their food too."