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Bob's Blog: Sept 2008
23 Sept 2008
Years ago I lived in Blackpool, and there was no sadder sight than seeing all the cafes closed and winter taking its toll on the buildings. Pryors Bank Cafe will not only be open all winter long, but will also be a fun place to visit.
Robert and I are now
planning events that will take place at the café over the next few months, and
we would welcome any ideas you may have; after all it is a community
café.
It has been near a
month since I last wrote anything for the Blog due to the extent of how busy we
have been not only at the café, but at the Foundation as
well. Firstly, one of the
goals of the café was to give ex-Servicemen a new start and career; I am
very pleased to report that one of apprentices has been busy in the kitchen
since the end of August, a second one will start next week, with a third
coming by the end of September, so that part of our plan is
working. Gabby, our executive
chef, has taken them under her wing and is doing a magnificent job - these men are
responding and learning as has been demonstrated by Johnn Kirsten who cooked and
helped to prepare 40 breakfasts last Saturday. Johnn loves it at Pryors
Bank and we have a devil of a job to get him to go home at the end of his shift! What
a turn around for this man who has had many issues to deal with before he came
on to our programme. I cannot let this section of the blog finish without also
praising Training for Life who worked with Johnn on the first six weeks of his
apprenticeship.
Cafe life has changed
and we have seen loads of new faces and lots of praise but we are still not
totally there yet. Given that the building has not been used for this purpose
for so many years we are still finding out how best to operate and provide
service to our customers.
We are now about to
embark on dressing the terrace with plants and new signage is, as I write, being
prepared. We want to keep the feeling of a Pavilion, and make Pryors Bank look
its best without compromising its age and
architecture. Next spring will see
an abundance of colour on the terrace and bring out the best of this fine old
building. The lawn in front of the building will also have a makeover and will
be re-planted.
September has been a
very busy month at the café with a grand dinner and the local Women's Institute
barbeque, along with us catering for the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation's AGM and three Football matches. I am pleased to report that our two apprentices
played a key role in all the events.
The Foundation's Annual Fundraising Dinner took place at the Royal Hospital Chelsea last week, and I was invited
as a guest. There were fabulous items
auctioned off and a truly great raffle donated by some of the biggest names in
town. Next year the Beef
Kitchen will cater for this event using our former apprentices in the kitchen
and front of house, under the direction of our chefs Tim and Gabby. It promises to
be quite a night, in fact perhaps one of the hottest tickets in town. I will keep
you posted and if any of you would like a fabulous night of formal summer
dining you can buy tickets or a table from the Foundation from April 2009
onwards. You can email Katie
Truss, our great fundraiser and she will keep you informed of the details (katie.truss@oswaldstoll.org.uk). All
proceeds from the night will go to the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation to assist in the
upkeep and programmes that help so many disabled and vulnerable ex-Service
personnel.
Sadly we are coming
closer to that time when some of our wonderful young staff are thinking about
leaving as their time in the UK is nearly over; they have
progressed with their English classes and due shortly to graduate from their
schools."The Kids", as Heleny and
I call them, have worked their socks off at the café and truthfully love the
place and feel very affectionate towards those of you who are regulars. We will
miss them greatly - we were blessed to find them and whatever happens to the café
in the future they will always be remembered and valued as part of the team who
helped us open Pryors Bank on the 21 June
2008.
With Robert now firmly
in place and a new assistant for him I can take a step back. I will not lie, it
has been tough and on occasion fraught for I did not want to let anyone down,
but I have to take life a little easier so says my
Doctor. I have plans for 2009
that will involve an expansion of the Beef Kitchen and I am taking over from
Pete Townley in the coordination of our apprentice
programme. Therefore, my visits to
the café will now be more restful, though I will continue to be fully involved but not
so hands on.
As JFK said, its time to
pass the torch on, and on that note I must apologise for closing the café last
Monday as we had a power failure. I hope Robert does not need to use the torch
again, ever! EDF where are you when we need you?!
Bob