6 REGARDING Samantha Jones' article about school meals and healthy diets, I was trained at Birmingham College of Food and worked for 10 years as a cook in Birmingham before coming to Worcester in 1979.

During the 1980s, the then Tory Hereford-Worcester County Council sold off the school meals system for a pittance. The well-trained staff were next to go.

If the Tories hadn't closed down the kitchens and sacked the staff, we wouldn't have so many unhealthy children.

And remember - Margaret Thatcher took away the free school milk. All five of my children had school dinners and are today strong, healthy adults.

JOY TURNER, Arboretum, Worcester.