HOW DO YOU REMEMBER BRIGG SCHOOL DINNERS?

Hands up who remembers eating school dinners at the Colton Street canteen in Brigg? Or do you recall munching your way through a plate of stew at the old refectory on the Brigg Grammar School field?

Both were demolished many moons ago and North Lincolnshire Council is seeking to sell the Colton Street site as a building plot if you know anyone interested.

Brigg Town Cricket Club used the refectory, built in the 1890s, as its tea room for many years when playing home games at Sir John Nelthorpe School.

Even though 40+ years have passed, I can still remember hearing Harold Stinson, renowned maths master at Brigg Grammar, trying to assemble boys into some sort of order in the playground every lunchtime with his famous rallying cry: "Colton Street diners!"
Brigg Blog was reminded of school canteens when North Lincolnshire Council informed us that its School Catering Team, which provides around 5,100 school meals to 62 primary schools every day,  has achieved the Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark for serving fresh and healthy meals.

The Food for Life Catering Mark brings together all of the issues people care about – health, climate change and animal welfare. It recognises restaurants and caterers who serve fresh food that is free from controversial additives and better for animal welfare. It offers a guarantee that fresh food you can trust is always on the menu, providing reassurance that it meets high standards of traceability, freshness and provenance. Using local and farm assured produce where possible ensures a high quality menu in schools.

The cost of a school meal has remained the same as 2012 prices.  At just £2.10 a day, this provides excellent value for money, the council tells us.

Brigg & Wolds' Coun Nigel Sherwood, Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods at North Lincolnshire Council, said: We are delighted that we’ve achieved the Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark in recognition of our commitment to serving freshly prepared, seasonal meals that offer our pupils a great healthy meal every day, cooked by our great school cooks who care about the children and what they eat. More and more, people want to know where their food has come from and how it is produced. The Catering Mark guarantees that the food we serve is fresh, additive free and good quality.”

The Food for Life Catering Mark Bronze Standard means:

• Meals contain no undesirable food additives or hydrogenated fats

• 75% of dishes are freshly prepared

• Meat is from farms which satisfy UK welfare standards

• Eggs are from cage-free hens

• Menus are seasonal

• Training is provided for all catering staff

• No GM ingredients are used

• Free drinking water is available

• No endangered fish are served

• Information about where the food has come from is on display

• Suppliers meet food safety standards

• School caterers meet government guidelines for food and nutrition