A FORMER Culcheth High School pupil has been awarded the prestigious Gordan Sibbald Bursary to fund her cookery training.

Hannah Peake, 18, a budding young chef, was nominated by her tutors at Warrington and Vale Royal College where she is in her final year of the level three professional cookery qualification.

The £100 award is given to 30 students across the country and provides financial support to those studying catering and hospitality.

As well as her passion for studies, Hannah has spent the last several months working part-time in Manchester.

Hannah secured work in Manchester House restaurant alongside Aiden Byrne, who was once the youngest chef to achieve a Michelin star, before he set off on a new venture at the Spinningfields development.

Hannah said: “It has been such an incredible few months.

“It is a great honour to receive the Gordon Sibbald Bursary – it came as a huge surprise.

“The bursary will help me massively financially and I will be using it to get to and from college.”

She added: “To receive the Gordan Sibbald Bursary Award is something that I am extremely proud of and another opportunity that I would not have had if it was not for Warrington and Vale Royal College and my tutors here.”

Andrew Macleod, curriculum manager for hospitality and catering and travel and tourism said that Hannah was a role model and an example of what awaits after studying catering and hospitality.

He added: “It is absolutely fantastic to see Hannah’s hard work and dedication recognised in this way – she is truly a deserving recipient of the award.”