Alumni - Emma Rooke

A former student praised her inspirational teacher as she opened her own coffee and ice cream shop.

Emma Rooke took over 'The Cow Shed’ on Liverpool Road in Penwortham in May and has just had her application for a hot food licence accepted as she looks to extend it.

But she said none of it would be possible without Penwortham Priory Academy Food Technology teacher Miss Shelley Lewis-Lavender who helped her and her five sisters find their culinary skills.

Emma won various awards at Priory, including coming third in the UK in the Rotary Chef competition.

Her sisters Hannah, Helen, Kate, Lucy and Jane also showed they could turn their hand to cookery skills, taking part in a variety of competitions throughout their time at Priory.

Young brother Ben is still at Priory but, while he helps out at the Cow Shed, his focus is on sport.

“Shelley is the reason I am where I am,” said Emma. “It’s been my dream to have my own café, I went to Catering College in Cheshire, and worked at Lang’s Bakery and at Marks and Spencer's but I always wanted to run my own place.

“Shelley had a massive influence on us all. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have got into cooking and be where I am.

“My sisters also took part in various cookery competitions in their time at Priory and Kate is in Jersey and makes the ice-cream which we sell at The Cow Shed.

“It is a family affair as Helen is helping me, Jane has just finished at Priory and is working in the summer and Ben works after-school and at weekends so everyone is helping out.”

Shelley said: “I am so proud of Emma. I did an advanced patisserie course with their mum at Preston’s College around 20-years ago and she passed on her knowledge from this to them.

“I encouraged them to carry on with their cooking skills and they have all dabbled in different things but tended to come back to food.”

See also Blog Preston article  >> https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2018/07/penwortham-cafe-the-cow-shed-to-expand/