THE owner of Oriental Aroma has been giving students a taste of the Chinese culture for over a decade.

Since 2007 James Huynh has been hosting students of primary schools around Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon.

He teaches the children about the Chinese culture, particularly about the Chinese New Year.

The money donated by the schools are then donated to Prospect Hospice on the High Street.

James told the Adver: “I started it after my grandmother died in 2005 and she was cared for by Prospect Hospice. I decided that it would be a good idea to support them in some way.

“She was very well looked after by them, it wasn’t until I visited them and looked around that I realised how hard they worked. A lot of staff there are volunteers too, so it needs as much help as it can get.”

Over the 13 years James has been doing the event he’s helped raise around £50,000 for the care home.

James said: “I feel so grateful for the donations and being able to raise so much money for them. It’s so rewarding to know that I’m helping a good cause.”

This year Wootton Bassett Infant School and Brook Field School went along to the restaurant.

Brook Field helped to raise £444 and Wootton Bassett raised £324.

He told he Adver: “It was great having the students there, they all enjoyed themselves. Every year I teach them the history of Chinese culture and the 12 animals of the New Year. I also taught them how to use chopsticks and some of them even ate their food with them.

“After they’ve eaten, we play some music and they dance. And before they leave I teach them how to do origami with the napkins.”