A COOK at a County Durham hospice celebrating its 20th year has prepared a fair few meals since she started work in the summer of 1995.

Helen Jardine, of Newfield, Bishop Auckland began at the town’s Butterwick Hospice on Woodhouse Lane two weeks before it opened and has been rustling up great food ever since.

The mother of two is the only cook on site and makes scones in the morning, a choice of meals and desserts at lunch-time and biscuits and cakes for afternoon tea.

So how many meals has she cooked?

“It must add up to quite a few thousand,’ she said. ‘I’ve never counted up, but I have been here for an average of four days a week throughout that time, and as I’m the only cook, it’s been down to me to feed the patients, staff and volunteers.”

“I used to work in hotels and restaurants before, but this job suited my family life. I have made a lot of friends here and seen a lot of changes. And although I have thought about leaving sometimes, I really enjoy my work.”

Paula Wood, Director of Patient Care and Service Development at the hospice, said: “Helen is a fantastic cook - all of the patients comment on how good the food is.”