Kelston Connor is a young Anguillian Executive Chef at Ani Villas overlooking Little Bay. He is so grateful for the culinary foundation he received at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School that he has very proudly given back to his alma mater.
He did so on Friday, March 18, when he presented a valuable assortment of brand new kitchen equipment to the school’s Department of Hospitality from which he graduated. He made the purchase at Best Buy Supermarket – having collected a cheque from Ani villas, donations from fellow employees, and a larger donation from his visiting American friends Derek Sien, Lisa Sien and family, who are in the pharmaceutical business in Oklahoma.
“The company [Ani Villas] wrote a cheque for US$150, staff at the office and villas donated $10 each or more, and my friends donated $600 towards the purchase of the equipment,” he told The Anguillian. “The equipment comprises a microwave, a blender, two deep fryers, mixing bowls, pots and pans, cutting boards, citrus juicers, containers, potato peelers and other smaller items.”
“Why are you giving back to the school?” Kelston was asked.
“The Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School means a lot to me, especially Karl Woodley, Head of the Hospitality Department,” he replied. “Really, an
d truly, if it wasn’t for him, I don’t know if I would have been here today. He saw my ability, but I didn’t see it at that point when I was in Third or Fourth Form. He guided me saying I had to take up certain opportunities in life. When I went to Cap Juluca [for job training] he was a big part of that.” (Kelston also did job training at Le Blue at Little Harbour and Ani Villas).
Kelston is happy to be at Ani Villas as a trained Executive Chef. “They invest a lot in me in terms of training,” he stated. “They send me every year to New York and we have other properties in Thailand and Sri Lanka. I am about to visit Thailand in June – and every year I go to New York for training so that I can invest that knowledge right back into the villas and the guests coming to Anguilla.”
Mr. Woodley, Kelston’s former tutor at the ALHCS commented: “I am very, very happy for Kelston who, like a lot of other past students, went through our system. We have produced quite a few chefs on the island and a lot of them have joined the National Culinary Team. We are indeed happy that we can have one of our own locals giving back to the school. This is a proud and happy moment for me, Kelston, and his family of friends at Ani Villas.”
Mr. Woodley, who studied Hospitality at the University of the Virgin Islands, in St. Thomas, is now in his 18th year at the Comprehensive School. He oversees four training programmes there: the Hotel Management Programme; the Hospitality Start Programme – an introduction to Hotel Management; the Tourism Programme and the Culinary Essentials Programme – preparing local Anguillian chefs like Kelston.
Meanwhile five of Mr. Woodley’s students, whom he introduced at Kelston’s presentation ceremony, will be assigned to work with the National Culinary Team next month.
Mr Derek Sien, of the USA, said he and his family were happy to join Kelston in giving back to his alma mater. “Anything we can do to help him, we will gladly do. It is a pleasure for him to give back,” the repeat visitor to Anguilla said on behalf of his family and himself.
