MAJOR supporters of education in Herefordshire were honoured this week in Ledbury at the official opening of a new £90,000 food technology classroom, at the John Masefield High School.

The facility, which also includes modern side rooms for food and equipment storage, has been paid for with money from the Clive and Sylvia Richards Charity; with so-called "planning gain" windfalls, and with help from the Friends of the John Masefield High School.

And the facility has been called "The Don Rule Bistro," in honour of former county councillor Don Rule, who was instrumental, almost two decades ago, in securing a new leisure centre for the school.

He was also the man who first approached the Clive and Sylvia Richards Charity for help in supporting and improving schools across Herefordshire.

Andrew Evans, head teacher at the John Masefield High School said: "Don’s Bistro, our new cooking and Food Technology facility will make a tremendous difference to the education and enjoyment of learning for young people in Ledbury over the next twenty years."

Cooking lessons ended early last summer, after animal droppings and a poorly rat were found in a food storage area in the old food technology classroom.

This classroom has now been stripped out and completely revamped, giving a new lease of life for a very popular subject at the high school.

Mr Evans said of the old facility: "Our only problem was that even though teaching was excellent, the room was falling apart and in danger of being condemned as unsafe for teaching in the near future."

The school had insufficient funds for improvements, but Mr Evans said: "Clive and trustees were supportive from the start, seeing the value of the project and giving us great advice as well as encouraging us to apply for a grant.

"The Friends of the John Masefield High School and other supporters made donations to support Clive and Sylvia’s wonderful generosity."

Mr Evans added: "Paul Bannister’s PJB Merchants were the successful bidders and they had only the six weeks of the summer holiday to strip out the room and fit all the new units. This was made even more challenging when the new units were not delivered until August 18, but Paul’s guys were brilliant, working incredibly hard and finally finishing on the day before the start of term.

"The facility has been used from the very first day and has been a brilliant facility, with 14 cooking stations so up to 28 students can comfortably cook together."

Mr Richards praised Mr Rule for getting him involved with educational projects over the last quarter of a century, and joked it had only cost him £2.8m so far.

But he said to Mr Rule: "You are the most respected educationalist I have ever met".

Mr Richards also praised Mr Evans for "doing a fantastic job".

He added: "You are now the best school in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.".

Mr Rule said he felt "very honoured and proud" to have the new facility named after him, and he added: "The best thing I ever did was to sit down and have a talk to Mr Richards about Herefordshire schools. He does so much for our schools."