IT is not every day that a TV chef turns up at a Furness school to pass on a few cooking tips to youngsters.

The Mail, on July 17, in 1995, noted that Gary Rhodes — whose BBC series had just finished its second series — gave a cookery demonstration at George Romney School, Dalton, for pupils, staff and parents.

He prepared a menu of seared salmon with cucumber relish, chicken with red onions and caramelised apples with toffee cream.

Mr Rhodes said: "I probably get a letter every day asking me to give a demonstration somewhere.

"Unfortunately, I have to turn most of them down, but I'm delighted that I came here today.

"It's the first time I have been to Cumbria and it is a wonderful place."

The chef, who ran two restaurants in London,was invited to George Romney by headteacher Jo O'Hare.

She said: "I think Gary's been an absolute inspiration to the children today."

The Dalton school had plenty of its pupils cooking in October 1989 for a food and farming study which involved parents and governors to get involved in the classroom.

Among those taking part was governor Barbara Higham who helped pupils produce popular gingerbread people.

History feature in July 1997 when George Romney youngsters dressed as monks for a theatrical production in the grounds of Furness Abbey called Echoes and Reflections.

Theatre director David Marcus and actress Julie Lloyd helped the pupils pull all their ideas together for a show which involved music, choral speaking, poetry, recitals and choreographed movement.

At the end of November in 1995 the school's pupils were beating the winter chill by digging a new patch of ground to encourage wildlife.

The Mail noted: "Children from Year Four got busy with spades and trowels and planted bulbs for a new wildlife garden in the school grounds.

"The project was organised by the British Association for the Advancement of Science."

Headteacher Jo O'Hare said: "I think we need to encourage children to take an interest in the world around them and in nature and science."

The professionals were also digging deep at George Romney School in 1995 to provide a new £95,000 classroom.

It was needed urgently as the school had 34 pupils starting at the school in September.

The headteacher told The Mail: "It wasn't due to be finished until next month but it's a good job that the work got done ahead of schedule.

"Otherwise we would have had nowhere to put the children."

County council chairman Colin Liversedge handed over the keys for the extension at the start of the new school term and Euro MP Tony Cunningham visited to cut a cake for the official opening in November.

There was a concert to mark the event, which included Beethoven's Ode to Joy from the school's recorder ensemble.

The Mail, on November 13 in 1995, noted: "The new facilities, funded through the county council's capital programme, provide extensions to five existing classrooms, one new classroom and a new high-tech information technology area, along with extra equipment."

Cllr Liversedge said: "We were aware that steadily rising pupil numbers were putting a bit of a strain on the school's capacity and that we needed to do something to help the school cope."