Mike Thorne was the Catering Manager at Bryanston from 1992 to 2021. He led a team of 75 to provide well over 2,500 meals a day to pupils and staff, as well as catering for the School's conference and banqueting operation and the Café.
Mike has a personal and professional interest in environmental matters, and was one of Chartwells' (the School's caterers) first employees to complete the NCFE Level 2 certificate in Sustainable Development. This is a qualification that enables people to learn how to make their workplaces more environmentally-friendly through gaining an understanding of environmental legislation, saving energy, recycling and using seasonal produce. He worked with Bryanston's pupil-led Green Committee to seek opportunities to introduce new environmentally-friendly measures across the School's catering function.
After more than 28 years in the job, Mike's enthusiasm for his work showed no signs of abating. Alongside his team, he worked hard to keep the menus varied and interesting for pupils, taking inspiration from street food to modern trends, and putting new twists on old recipes.
Mike's passion for good food continues outside of school, but when he's not cooking up a feast for his family, you're likely to find him cheering on his local football team, Southampton FC. He also enjoys gardening, running (Moors Valley Park Run is a particular favourite) and buying and selling shares - all of these are his favourite hobbies.