The Queenswood community was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of chef and restaurateur Gary Rhodes OBE yesterday.

Gary officially opened Queenswood’s practical cookery suite, Haute Quisine, in March 2010, and was charming, self-effacing and extremely complimentary of the girls’ cookery. Mrs Lee, our Practical Cookery teacher, recalls cooking alongside Gary. 'I wasn't sure whether my cooking skills would match up to those of the celebrity chef but he put me at ease with his great sense of fun and infections enthusiasm. This occasion marked the start of many happy years' cooking in HQ.'

She still treasures her well-used copy of Gary’s recipe book, which he signed ‘To Jayne, from one chef to another, Gary Rhodes’.