News

"Janet was a well-respected and esteemed member of our Yorkshire & Humber LACA committee for over 11 years. Words can’t express how highly she was thought of by committee members who all became her friends. She was the gentlest and kindest person you could ever meet who was always supportive and considerate of others. A true lady. She was always willing to listen and give advice both in a professional and friendship capacity.

Due to her passion for the industry and development of her team she took the lead organising the regional LACA ‘school chef of the year event’ and supported the national leads throughout the day. Whatever Janet was involved in was successful due to her drive, passion and eye to professional detail

There are not enough words to portray how we are feeling. We could talk all day and not run out of lovely things to say. Janet’s vast experience and knowledge of the education catering industry helped our committee grow successfully to become ‘region of the year in 2018, of which she was most proud of. Janet always wanted to be involved with new initiatives and ideas to promote the school meals service including the workforce and often took the lead in her role as vice chair for several years where she aptly gained the name of ‘the guru’ which would make her smile.

Sadly, Janet didn’t have time to enjoy her well-earned retirement following 41 years in service to spend time with family and friends which she so well deserved.

In heaven there is no doubt Janet will shine the brightest as professionally she was a star and as a friend one of life’s’ true gems."
Janet’s Yorkshire & Humber Regional LACA committee friends;
Joanne Campbell, Jill Northrop, Kath Breckon, Sally Williamson, Paul Franks, Paul Skelton, Robert Clark, John Plant, Damien O’Brien, Haydon Hendry, Nick Parker & Jo Webster

"Janet was a passionate advocate of school food and the importance of good nutrition for children. Her attention to detail particularly around accurate specifications, ensured not only the right food was being served, but the most beneficial too. Janet was a very important part of the whole school family and she will be greatly missed by her colleagues and all suppliers to the school food industry who had the pleasure of knowing and working with her."
Mark Taylor; Foodservice Customer Controller - Premier Foods

"I feel privileged yet saddened to be writing this today….

I have known Janet Sylvester for many years, not just through our paths crossing with the SCOTY competition, but before that through the School Food Trust , and the FEAST programme.

When the SFT offered funding for FEAST we met at a couple of the scoping sessions in Doncaster and realised that we both had the same passion for our industry and inspiring our workforce. Janet was fun, inspirational and happy to share her knowledge – the good bits and the disasters!

More recently Janet was the lead for the Yorkshire and Humberside SCOTY, and I knew she would make sure everything was spot on for the event. I shan’t forget the joy when Amanda Phillip was the regional winner and Doncaster was through to the national final.

I shall miss her smiling face and positivity and this year’s regional final is going to be very emotional.

Thank you for being a friend Janet, and an integral part of our industry."
Carol Harwood - SCOTY LACA lead

"I consider myself lucky to have known Janet as a colleague and friend for over 20 years. Janet was a wonderful, kind, caring person. In my early days as head of service she helped me tremendously and has never been anything but supportive. Janet was a role model for many and managed an excellent school meals service, whose teams are devastated at the loss of a wonderful person. Janet carried out her job in an amazing way and was definitely of the ilk where she worked excellently but quietly and with the minimum of fuss. She was always full of joy and my tears have already been many. I will miss Janet tremendously as I know will the school meals family locally and across the country."
Sharon Ainsworth, Head of Catering and Cleaning - North Lincs Council

“My time with Janet is best summed up by when I was made redundant and she took it upon herself to write to the senior management to complain and urge them to reverse the decision!

She didn’t have to do that, but that’s the type of person she was, standing up for what and who she believed in. Making people feel positive in negative times.

That was Janet.” I’ll be crying for the rest of my selling career! I’ve never felt like this before We all loved her"
Steve Wood - Pizza Plus

"Please let Janet’s family know that myself, my team and many within the Local Authority catering profession fondly call Janet “our Guru” of schools catering. We all held Janet in high esteem as both a professional in her field and a friend., a Grand lass with a gentle soul. She will be greatly missed."
Joanie Massey - Barnsley Schools Catering Manager

"I knew Janet mainly through her involvement with School Chef of the Year competition – she was a great supporter of SCOTY with a competitor in the regional final for many years. She was also the regional organiser for the Yorks & Humber final for the last few years and was a great help to me in the run up to the day and during the competition itself, making sure it all ran smoothly. She was a pleasure to work with – nothing was too much trouble and you knew the day would go well with Janet on the team. She will be very much missed by the whole SCOTY family."
Jo Reeves, Group Events Director - Dewberry Redpoint

"Extremely sad and cruel news earlier of the sudden passing of a friend and colleague. Janet was an example to all of us in the industry of the definition of a public servant. She was professional, polite, caring and dedicated to school meals in Doncaster. Many happy memories sitting with Janet and her Yorkshire friends and colleagues, sharing a drink and having a laugh. Janet will be sorely missed and deepest condolences to her family. Rest in peace Janet."
Tim Blowers - Ex National LACA Chair

"I always think of Janet as a lady - in the best sense of the word. She was quietly passionate about her work and calmly and modestly went about the business of providing a great meals service to the children of Doncaster. So sad that she was taken just at the point of being able to put herself first."
Steve Mc Guinness, Retired Head of Service - Wakefield Council

"I was invited to the LACA Y&H regional meeting the first person to meet me was Janet in typical Yorkshire fashion she got me a cup of tea introduced me to others and made me feel very welcome she was kind, considerate her love of her job knew no bounds she will be missed by many."
Jeanette Orrey MBE, Co Founder - Food for life

"I first met Janet at the YPO food group, where she was always willing to share her wealth of experience and help other local authority members. What started out as being colleagues developed into friendship when I joined her on Yorkshire and Humberside LACA committee and got to know Janet on a more personal level. It was a pleasure to know her and share her gentle, supportive nature. She will be sadly missed by me and all her friends."
Jill Northrop, Retired Head of Services - Wakefield/LACA Treasurer Y&H committee

"I shouldn't have been part of Janet's LACA committee due to the region where I worked but I wanted to be in that one due to the wonderful people who were on it, it was a privilege to know Janet, she was kind, gentle and always willing to share her knowledge and help wherever possible , RIP beautiful lady. I am now wiping the tears"
Nikki O'Brien, Ex Manager at Carillion Catering

"Working with Janet has always been a pleasure. Before becoming Head of Service, Janet was always the ‘go to’ person, full of ideas and enthusiasm and she knew exactly what she wanted. When she took on the ‘top job’, Janet really put her stamp on Doncaster's Catering Service, giving it her all and motivating those around her. Having finally made the decisions to retire, Janet was excited about the next chapter in her life. Taken too early. You will be sadly missed"
Nigel Argyle - Elygra

"I had the privilege of getting to know Janet over a number of years through her work and connections with LACA. I met her again recently when Doncaster hosted an event on Holiday Hunger. Janet’s understanding of looking after our most vulnerable children and the value of supporting communities and families in her care was a joy to behold. She contributed to a generations’ of children’s well-being and education. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. My sincerest condolences."
Lindsay Graham, Poverty and inequality commissioner

"There are few people you meet in life who you can truly describe as - helpful, honest and reliable - Janet was all of these. But more importantly she was friendly, considerate and concerned for all other who she worked with and came across. I work with Janet for too many years than I care to mention, in all that time we had a very professional and friendly relationship - if only the rest of the world had been like Janet. A real lady."
Darren Byford, Retired National Account Manager - YPO

"Janet was quiet, kind and hard working. Her dedication to her job and Doncaster Council was renowned. The school meals industry in Yorkshire will miss Janet’s wisdom and contribution and the world in general is a little sadder without such a lovely person. Xx"
Elaine Bridge, Head of Catering & Cleaning Service - Bolton

"Janet was a renowned, respected and extremely knowledgeable lady who was always professional in everything she did. We had the privilege and honour of working with Janet over several years not only as a customer through her work with Doncaster Council School Meals, but also with LACA and SCOTY.

Janet was passionate about every aspect of the competition and was fully supportive in encouraging everyone who entered, to ‘do their best to put school meals on the map’.

Janet was a pleasure to work with as a customer and was always first to offer support and feedback for the greater good of providing children of all ages, with a healthy, nutritious meal at school.

More importantly, Janet was everyone’s friend and no matter what she was feeling outside or what the day was presenting outside, she would great you with a friendly smile. Our last conversations with Janet involved us exchanging private emails and phone numbers and addresses, as she wanted us to keep in touch with her and vice versa.

Janet will leave massive gaps in our lives, but we should be thankful for the part she played in them too."
Charlie Fryer, Justin Clarke and David Wright - Nestle Professional

"The YPO Food Team have worked with Janet for a long time and she was a fantastic representative for Doncaster School Meals. It has been a pleasure to work with her and her professionalism and expertise were greatly appreciated. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Our deepest sympathies from all at YPO."
All the YPO Team

"We’d worked with Janet Sylvester through Doncaster school meals provision and the Laca Yorkshire and Humber committee for many years. Over the years Janet became a dear friend. We are so very very sad to hear of her tragic passing and instantly our thoughts go to Janet’s parents and family. We will miss Janet’s experience and dedication to the industry but moreover we will miss her ready smile and wonderfully kind friendship. Janet Sylvester, you will be greatly missed."
Karen McQuade, Robert Clark, David Roberts and everyone at The UK Foodhall Ltd

"Janet had been a dear friend of Pasta King for over 15 years. In her role at Doncaster Council school meals she had not only been a champion of Pasta King but also a friend. Janet was a beautiful person on the outside – always the belle of the ball at regional LACA events – and on the inside too – we will miss her beautiful sole and are deeply sorry for the loss of her family, friends and work colleagues."
All the Pasta King Team

"Janet was every bit a gentle, kind and thoughtful lady so dedicated to her life’s missions, parents, family and her work too. She was a such a pleasure to work with and so thorough in her commitment. She will indeed be sorely missed by many. Rest in Peace Lovely lady."
Helen Smith - Professional Resources Company

"Janet was the heart and soul of Doncaster Schools Catering. She was not only a lovely person, with a great sense of humour, but was also loyal, dedicated and a consummate professional.

She possessed a wealth of knowledge about the industry having worked for Doncaster Council for 41 years. She was not only respected and well-liked by her staff, she was also a great mentor, colleague and friend to all she worked with. It goes without saying that our Chief Librarian will be much missed and forever in our hearts and thoughts."
Janet’s catering team from Doncaster

"It is so terrible and shocking that we hear the very sad news about the loss of Janet, our deepest sympathies go out to Janet’s family and close friends.

My colleagues at Kirklees and me have worked with Janet for a long number of years. Janet was a wonderful, gentle person, someone who would always offer her advice and support at every opportunity. We will never forget her kindness.

Please pass on our sincere condolences to her family."
Jenny Hiley, Area Catering Manager - Kirklees Catering Team

"Janet was a wonderful gentle and kind lady who I had the pleasure of working with over many year’s. She was a real pleasure to work with... if there was a problem Janet would always work with you to find a solution, nothing was ever too much trouble. Janet was a beautiful person inside and out and will be hugely missed. My condolences to all Janet’s family."
Sue Standaloft, Ex YPO Colleague - Lead of the YPO Food Forum

"Unfortunately, am unable to attend Janet’s funeral but hope it all goes very well as she was a lovely lady and deserves a celebration of her life by family and friends."
Vicki Paget, Area Account Manager - Glendale

"Janet was every bit a gentle, kind and thoughtful lady so dedicated to her life’s missions, parents, family and her work too. She was a such a pleasure to work with and so thorough in her commitment. She will indeed be sorely missed by so many of her friends Rest in Peace Lovely lady xxx"
Kath Breckon, Regional Committee Member & EX School Chef of the year

"I didn't know Janet very well however that didn't mean that I didn't appreciate what a special person she was. I always enjoyed meeting her in Jo's gang at LACA events. The Yorkshire girls! She stood out not only being taller but having such a welcoming, cheery smile and she always was interested in what you had to say. She had the ability to made you feel good about yourself. I felt as LACA Chair that she represented the backbone of our industry dedicated, capable, diligent and caring a consummate professional. She struck me as a wonderful person whose spirit really shone from the inside. She will live on in my memory as I'm sure she will in those whom she was close to.

It is so very sad. She evidently was a devoted daughter. My heartfelt condolences to her parents and family XX"
Sally Shadrack, Ex National LACA Chair

"Janet’s care professionalism and dedication in all aspects of her role was the true reflection of the wonderful person she was. God bless and keep her."
Julia Story, Retired Area Manager – North Lincolnshire Catering

"There is so much that we can all say about our memories of Janet . To those wonderful memories I have to add that it was both a pleasure and a privilege to have known and worked with this remarkable lady. I truly hope she knew how valued she was to us all”
Steve Hibbert - Denby Catering Equipment Limited - Ex Doncaster School Meals Operations Manager

"Janet Sylvester, a name we shan't forget, A name I'm sure aware of, Even if you'd never met, A wealth of information, Of everything that she did do.

She always had the answer, To a question asked by you, & if by chance uncertain, With the answer yet to learn, You could rely on Janet, Who always knew where to turn.

Now on this sad day, We must say farewell, To a kind soul that we all met, God bless you Janet Sylvester - a name we shan't forget, X"
Paul Franks - BGL Rieber Ltd & Regional Committee Member

"It was with great sadness that we heard of Janet’s sad passing just before Christmas. She will be remembered with fondness by everyone at Brakes who had the pleasure of working with her for many years. We send our sincere condolences to her family and friends at this terribly sad time."
Alun Morris and  Mike Murphy - Brakes

If you would like to add your tribute to Janet please do by emailing it to us - laca@dewberryredpoint.co.uk