By Kelly Eve Education reporter

Last updated at 17:05, Friday, 02 December 2011

When Harrison Martin went to school in rural north Cumbria more than 60 years ago he took his own lunch because there was no kitchen or electricity and food rationing was still in force.

Anna Souleles, Katie O’Brien, Lilly O’Brien, Debbie Mandale, Olivia McQuillan, Natalie Mandale and Alicia Mandale

Now the 76-year-old former farmer is able to join his nine-year-old grandson Aidan regularly for a hearty, hot meal because leaders at Raughton Head CofE School have launched a community lunch scheme.

Members of the community, near Dalston, can book a school lunch every month.

They also have the option to join children for special occasions including Christmas dinner or at Chinese New Year as part of efforts to strengthen links between the school and community.

Kitchen staff cook a weekly roast using vegetables harvested from the school’s garden.

Harrison said: “It’s a marvellous school, transformed from when I was here. I enjoy the food and chatting to the children.”

His grandson Aidan added: “I like serving because you can help the visitors choose.”

Headteacher Andrea Armstrong said: “We’re proud of the quality of our school meals and delighted that the community can come and join us.

“The children enjoy sharing their stories with our visitors and the older children thrive with the responsibility of serving the meals.”

School dinners are so popular at Raughton Head that 28 of its 31 pupils have signed up for them.

Like many schools across Cumbria, Raughton Head is enjoying a renaissance in school dinners.

Cumbria County Council has worked with 38 schools to help refurbish their kitchens and halls and bring them up to date with new equipment and furniture.

Five schools have installed new kitchens meaning that they can make up and serve their own hot dinners for the first time.

The county council set aside just over £1 million in grants for the programme to encourage healthy eating and improve the uptake of school meals.

Among the others which have seen a boom in children taking school lunches following a change are Upperby in Carlisle and Ireby.

First published at 14:05, Friday, 02 December 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk