When Raymond Blanc came to Bermondsey

It wasn't just Raymond Blanc, the Mayor of Southwark, the new MP, the old MP, & the Bishop of Woolwich were there too - at the Blue for the launch of the wonderful 'Bermondsey Community Kitchen.'

The project was the brainchild of Mike Donovan, owner of Dun's Deli, and is located upstairs in his premises on the Marketplace at the Blue.

The dream was 'To open a Community Kitchen as a social networking enterprise to teach16-24 year old’s, the unemployed locals to gain a relevant level 2 professional cookery City&Guilds Diploma, with the view of gaining full time work in the catering industry.'

The dream is up and running and has become a reality with the first tranche of trainees already starting work (pictured below wearing the aprons - Mike is third from the left, next to the Mayor).

It's a wonderful testimony to Mike's hard work, vision, and community-mindedness.