A DETERMINED Royal Navy chef has been awarded a top prize at the specialist Defence Maritime Logistics School (DMLS). Chef John Hendren, from Cardross, began a six month training course at the school in January 2011.

It taught him how to cook nutritious meals for hundreds of people as well as fine dining cuisine.

He also learnt about food hygiene, health and safety, catering accountancy and stock control. The 20-year-achieved a course average of 90.1 per cent and was described as a model student, who set the pace for others in his class to follow.

Chef Hendren citation reads: "He demonstrated intelligence, determination and an all round solid professional understanding of each element, whilst his cheerful good nature and personality made him a pleasure to teach."

Now fully trained Chef Hendren has most recently been serving on the Type 42 destroyer HMS Liverpool, as part of a team responsible for feeding 287 members of the Ship's Company.

He said: said: "I'm grateful that all my hard work has been recognised and very proud to receive this award."

Last year the ship was involved in the NATO Operation codenamed Unified Protector, enforcing the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and protecting Libyan citizens. The ship was decommissioned in March this year and Chef Hendren was part of the honour guard during the decommissioning ceremonies.