Thames Valley catering students present skills to The Queen

The catering students presented their skills in the larder kitchen, pastry kitchen and 'front of house', as well as in fruit carving, preparing canapés, sugar-spinning and laying tables. In addition, art students put on a live dance performance and an A&B demonstration was conducted by nursing students on a state-of-the-art electronic dummy. TVU vice-chancellor professor Peter John said: "Students and staff from across the university have been working hard on their contributions to the day. We were keen to showcase the mix of skills and talents of our students and highlight the breadth of courses we run at our campuses. We are extremely honoured that The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have taken such an interest in the university and are delighted to demonstrate some of the courses we have on offer." The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh also spent time with representatives of the university's new FutureSkills initiative, finding out more about their work in the community, helping employers to develop workforce skills. A number of special guests were also on hand to greet the Royal party during the visit, including TVU chancellor Lord Bilimoria and celebrity chefs Brian Turner CBE and Cyrus Todiwala MBE, both patrons of the university's School of Hospitality and Tourism. The Royal visit, which took place on 20 February, ended with The Queen unveiling a special plaque to mark the official opening of the building.