WHAT do you remember about school dinners from your childhood?
Chips every day or lumpy mashed potato?
Turkey twizzlers or dinosaurs served with smiley faces and spaghetti hoops?
Followed by sponge cake covered in pink and green custard or semolina with a dollop of jam in the middle?
Do you have fond memories of the dinner ladies who would serve you every day in the school canteen?
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Warrington children get ready to celebrate National School Meals week
It's national school meals week – a whole week dedicated to the canteen food that keeps children well fed at lunchtime while they’re school.
Children at schools across Warrington enjoy school dinners that are tasty, nutritious and carefully planned each day, appealing to young appetites and hungry tummies.
On the menu for children in Warrington is chicken korma with rice, naan bread and vegetables, a roast of the day served with roast and mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and gravy, and spaghetti bolognaise with garlic bread.
They all sound delicious!
These meals are lovingly prepared fresh each morning by a dedicated team of hard-working people in school canteens and kitchens across the town.
National school meals, which runs this week, is an opportunity for school caterers to shout about the fantastic work they do every day of the school year.
It celebrates the tireless efforts of school kitchen and canteen staff who continue to serve up great tasting, nutritious food to school children despite increasing pressures amid the cost-of-living crisis.
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Your memories of school dinners in Warrington in the 1980s and 1990s
To mark national school meals week, we asked you to tell us who your favourite dinner lady was when you were at school.
We’ve featured a selection of the lovely ladies and some of your messages:
Anne Marie Walsh Mrs Kathleen Mannion from St Augustine’s school, Latchford! She’s 94 and still going strong
Emma James I had three at Old Hall Primary School - Bernie, Shirley and Jan. Bernie made us the best homemade meals ever
Mrs S My friend always used to take an apple as part of her packed lunch at primary school. One of the dinner ladies used to call her Apple and she called her younger sister Pip. We always called the dinner lady Mrs Apple. I have no idea what her actual name was!
Lea Jon Luvit Barbara Moses at Great Sankey Juniors. We always got extras
Nicola Henshaw Mrs Wigzall at St Joseph’s Primary School was the best cook
Jade Paisley Hannon Tracy Birchall at Sir Thomas Boteler High School. The singing around the fields and the laughs she gave us
Sarah Louise McLauchlan Mrs Malone at St Peter’s Primary School in Woolston between 1978 - 1985
JC Jenna Mrs Orford at St Margaret's. She was a beautiful lady and always happy.
Jane Thomason As a current dinner lady my mum was my fave. But most of them were lovely. They had special nick names we gave them like Mrs Wooley. I try to be like them in my work now. We’re called midday assistants now. There should be an award ceremony for the best!
Cameron Lou Sarah Mrs Moran at Hood Manor Primary School
Lindsey Moran My nan Madeline Sherratt at Evelyn Street Primary School
Dawn Walsh Without a shadow of doubt it was Mrs Malone at St Peter’s in Woolston
Rob Youd My mum Joyce Youd. Dinner lady at Birchwood Community High School
Leanne Tatlock Auntie Dot at St James’ Primary School
Dave Meehan Mine was Mrs Harris from Statham Primary School. Always smiling. This was 35 years ago
Alana Massey My children’s and many other children’s favourite was Jean Bedford from St Alban’s
Victoria Mcwhirter Mrs Martin at Woolston CP School between 1985 and 1991 and Mrs Simpson at Woolston High School between 1991 and 1996
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