Staff Profile

Name
Bev Butcher

Joined the Nursery
September 2010

Job Title
Chef

Qualifications
RSPH Foundation Certificate in Food & Hygiene
Royal Institute of Public Health & Hygiene
City & Guilds 7061 & 7062 Food Preparation & Handling
City & Guilds 711 - Advanced Pastry
NVQ Level 3 in Childcare

Notes
My name is Bev, I'm 39 and have been happily(!) married to Darren for 16 years. We have two gorgeous boys Morgan (8)and Louis (4) My apron strings will NEVER stretch as far as they want to roam!

I recently returned to work at Smisby Day Nursery after an almost five year break. Why?? "There's no place like home"....

In 2004, when Morgan was 1 years old, I decided to get fit and lose weight. Looking through the 'buy and sell' section of the local newspaper, I decided I needed an exercise bike! I didn't find one, however I did find an advert for a cooks job at Smisby Day Nursery. I applied, was interviewed and was offered the job (the first Ian had offered since taking over the nursery) and I started 2 days later.

Morgan started in the baby room and instantly glued himself to Katie! (He's still a good judge of character!). After nearly 2 years I left on happy terms with Ian and Sheila. I never got my exercise bike but I'd gained their valued friendship and that of many staff members.

During my "break" we had Louis, started and finished my own business Little Scribblers and with a click of my ruby slippers (and a call from Ian to see if I could lend a hand) I returned, now a permanent, and very happy, fixture in our new sparkly kitchen. So I really can say "There's no place like home".

Am I qualified to feed a gaggle of hungry kids??... Yeah! - I trained at Loughborough College as a chef and worked in a few local restaurants and hotels to gain experience; Quorn Grange, Hambleton Hall at Rutland were just a few, late nights and split shifts were part of the course but passion for cooking and creating beautiful dishes using fresh produce was the burning fire that made it all so exciting. I became Sous Chef for 5 years at the Lake Isle Hotel in Uppingham and whilst I lived in Rutland I met Darren.

After we married in 1995 we moved to Peterborough where I had a slight career change and worked for 4 years as a staff trainer in personnel for Boots The Chemist. Health & Safety, hygiene regulations for catering staff and customer service skills were all part of my training sessions, however, I missed being in the kitchen and creating dishes at home just wasn't the same and our waistlines were expanding weekly (in fact I constantly battle with my weight... I'm always on a diet!!!).

My career just doesn't help my vision of being slim! (I think a thin chef is just bad advertising on my culinary skills!!). We relocated back to Whitwick to be closer to my parents and family and I became a Chef at Jade Tearooms, Newtown Linford. Going back to my roots was wonderful and made all the better as I was working for my best friend who I went to school with when we were 5 years old and whom I also trained with at college. It was great being in the kitchen again.

I then became a mum and juggled motherhood with starting at Smisby, becoming self employed and then returning to Smisby.

I have recently qualified in Childcare, so as well as being based in the kitchen you may see me hiding in the rooms playing! (but only when Ian isn't looking!)


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