TASTE TALK: Just perfect for a spot of cookery

IT would be difficult to find a more inspiring spot for a cookery school than Maymessy.

It is the brainchild and passion of teacher and life coach Anna Richards who has had its impressive state-of-the-art premises constructed alongside her Georgian farmhouse at Garlands Farm, West Challow. At the top of the hill, it has panoramic views of the surrounding countryside – as a location, it is the pretty much perfect.

When I visited Anna shortly after the launch of Maymessy in June, It was easy to see how her core clients, which include disadvantaged children from low-income families, vulnerable young adults, and young carers, could flourish and grow via cookery lessons in this beautiful brand-new barn, inspired by the undulating Vale of White Horse scenery.

“I want them to experience the sheer joy of getting creative in the kitchen or garden,” said Anna, who has worked as a counsellor with the children’s mental health charity Place 2 Be.

“They will learn how to cook simple, nourishing, nutritious food for themselves and acquire skills which can help them into the workplace.

“GCSEs and A-levels aren’t for everyone, and we focus on vocational skills.

“Doing something practical is inspiring and exciting – there are no wrong answers when it comes to cooking, it’s all about achieving something and feeling proud.”

So where did the name Maymessy come from? Anna explained that it mixes the springiness of being outside with the joy of making a mess in the kitchen, coming from the word ‘may-mess’ used by the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins to describe hedge blossom in the spring.

The home of the cookery school is an impressive steel-framed and timber-clad barn with a sweeping curved roof and plenty of glass to flood the space with light.

“We started with what was the footprint of a cowshed and an old garage last October,” smiled Anna, who is married to travel consultant Mark. “It was practically a rebuild, but because the new building is made of timber, it was quick to put up.”

As a Community Interest Company, Maymessy is a not for profit business. This means its income-generating activities are expressly designed to pay for its social purpose.

“Any surplus made from our commercial activities will be ploughed back into doing good,” said Anna, who has managed to drum up considerable support from local companies for her worthwhile venture.

“For example, Miele, who are based at Abingdon, gave us big discounts on kitchen appliances, Benchmarx on kitchen units and Travis Perkins on toilets – everyone has been so kind and supportive.”

The build was not without its problems as, having erected the framework of the barn, Anna ran out of funds. She turned to crowdfunding and made an impassioned appeal for financial support to friends, family and Maymessy’s neighbours in the West Challow area.

“I had some sleepless nights, but thanks to so many kind and lovely people and businesses who raised money, plus crowdfunding in partnership with Santander, we got the project back on course,” she smiled.

The teaching kitchen has workstations for 12 students and there is also a light and bright hall space which Anna plans to rent out – yoga classes held there are already proving popular. Upstairs, there is a self-contained two-bedroom flat.

“We are still in the early stages, and I am considering other options for use of the building as well as the cookery school,” Anna explained. “Using it as a wedding venue has been mentioned – and with the location and views it would make the perfect spot.”

During the summer holidays, Maymessy has hosted children’s cookery camps and an interesting autumn/winter programme is currently being lined up including three days of fun, relaxed and simple cooking on a budget called ‘Student stews and much more’ from Sept 18-20, ‘Nutritious and Delicious’ with Leith’s-trained chef Georgie Hoskins on September 29 and sourdough bread-making with Judith Starling, the Wild Baker, on October 3.

Anna is keen to include gardening for students too.

“The idea is for children to cultivate their own veg patches and then cook with the produce, so they follow the process from pot via pan to plate,” she said. “And the communal aspect of sitting together and enjoying the meal is important too - eating, digesting and chatting.

“Food is a basic need but cooking it doesn’t have to be complicated – I want to teach youngsters that they don’t have to be the best chef, just able to produce simple, seasonal, healthy food on a budget.

“I see Maymessy as a retreat, somewhere traumatised children, those from the care system, young carers and vulnerable adults from sheltered schemes, can learn to cook for themselves.

“Cooking is such a creative and calming thing to do.”

Anna is well aware that Oxfordshire and Wiltshire are well served with cookery schools, but believes Maymessy is the only one of its kind.

It’s been a labour of love for the 43 year-old mum of twins Poppy and Matilda, aged nine. After the builders left in May, she and her husband slogged away getting the grounds in order, laying tons of gravel and planting 300 shrubs.

She explained: “Having moved out of London to give our girls a better life in the country, I felt it was time to do some good with my life, move up a gear and utilise the skills I have acquired over the past 20 years.

“I’m really enjoying the challenge of putting my ideas into practice and doing good. I’m hoping Maymessy will be financially sustainable so I shall keep plugging away, aiming to attract some philanthropic individuals who can help to keep us ticking over.”

For more information visit maymessy.com.