In conversation with
Prue Leith
Q
MU’S HALLE LECTURE Theatre was at capacity in
November for a special event with TV personality Prue
Leith.
The star of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ was interviewed in front of
an audience of alumni, staff, students, press representatives and
members of the local community.
Prue, who was officially installed as Chancellor of QMU in July 2017,
discussed her fascinating career as a TV personality, novelist, cookery
expert and entrepreneur. She also spoke in depth about her interest
in food and diet, education and the arts, and the rights of people
who are near end of life.
‘In Conversation with Prue Leith’ was part of the University’s
programme of public engagement work and staff were delighted
to see how popular the event was with the wider community.
Stan Blackley, Programme Leader and Lecturer on QMU’s MSc in
Gastronomy, had the pleasure of interviewing the Chancellor.
Prue Leith CBE has become a household name in recent years
due to her regular appearances on TV. Up until 2016, she spent 11
years as a judge on BBC 2’s cooking contest programme ‘Great
British Menu’. She recently starred on prime time TV alongside Paul
Hollywood, as the new judge on the popular amateur cooking show
‘The Great British Bake Off’.
The TV personality has an impressive track record as an entrepreneur,
having successfully built a catering business from scratch in the
1960s which grew to become Leith’s Good Food, the party and event
caterer. In 1969, she opened Leith’s , her famous Michelin starred
restaurant, and, in 1975, founded Leith’s School of Food and Wine
which trains professional chefs and amateur cooks. Today, Leith’s
has catering contracts at the most prestigious venues, including one
with the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC).
In more recent years, Prue has mainly worked as a novelist and
journalist. She has just finished her eighth novel and an updated
edition of her autobiography ‘Relish: My Life on a Plate’ has recently
been published. She contributes regularly to national newspapers
and magazines, such as the Spectator, writing on various topics.
Go to the QMU website to read more about Prue Leith, and how
her passions for business, the culinary arts and healthcare align
with QMU’s flagships.
www.qmu.ac.uk ❒
Prue is a big
hit with the
Children’s
University
N
OVEMBER’S QUEEN MARGARET
Children’s University (QMCU)
graduation ceremony was extra
special, as the University’s new Chancellor,
Prue Leith, officiated.
QMU is proud to be the first higher education
institution in the east of Scotland to host the
Children’s University, which aims to promote
exciting and innovative learning activities
outside normal school hours to children aged
5 to14. Importantly, it encourages children to
become successful and confident learners and
contributors.
In a relatively short space of time, the project
has grown significantly: over 3000 pupils in
East Lothian and Midlothian have participated
in QMCU activities.
Prue was a big hit with the young people and
their families, many of whom knew her from her
recent appearance in ‘The Great British Bake-
off, and she clearly enjoyed officiating at the
graduation ceremony, which involved 42 pupils
from 16 East and Midlothian schools.
Find out more about Queen Margaret Children’s
University at www.qmu.ac.uk ❒
QMYOU / University Chancellor, Prue Leith
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