A CREATIVE school cook who has consistently been rated one of the best in Scotland has been named West Dunbartonshire Council’s Employee of the Year.

Evelyn Bryce, who works in Linnvale Primary, was praised for her efforts to encourage pupils to eat a healthy, balanced diet through rewarding children with stickers if they tried a new dish, meat or vegetable.

The 52-year-old also led West Dunbartonshire’s first Families and Schools Together programme which aims to encourage families to cook and eat nutritious meals by bringing them into the school kitchen with pupils to create dishes together.

Every day Evelyn plans four different menus for the school and early learning centre, having recently learned new culinary skills and changed her working practices to incorporate Halal cooking to meet the religious needs of new pupils at the school.

The Clydebank woman has also been recognised nationally in the Scottish School Cook of the Year competition, where she has made it to the final seven in each of the last three years and was presented with a certificate for outstanding accomplishment.

Evelyn said: “I love my job and am absolutely delighted to be named Employee of the Year.

“For me it’s recognition of the whole catering team at Linnvale, who are all fantastic. We all work together, and help each other, to provide the best possible service to all our pupils, including those with special dietary requirements.

“I’m really proud to play my part in helping the children.”

Evelyn was one of six winners at the awards ceremony, held on Wednesday at Clydebank Town Hall.

Among the other winners were Bereavement Services for team of year, the new Bellsmyre Campus Project in Dumbarton was awarded the chief executive award and Lorraine Payne took home the title of team leader of the year.