NEWS ARCHIVE
Students Make Pasties to Celebrate Cultural Diversity
Students at Falmouth Marine School had a chance to learn to make pasties from a man who has been making them around the corner from the College, for 50 years.
Last summer Charles Choak of JH and M Choak on Killigrew Street in Falmouth, celebrated 60 years of making and selling pasties. Charley has been making the Cornish delicacy for 50 years, with his father before him making them since 1949. His daughter now mainly runs the business.
On Tuesday 2nd March, over 30 students from all course areas and levels turned up at the Sails Café, wearing old clothing or aprons, prepared to make mini pasties. The event, which was part of the College's week long series of activities celebrating cultural diversity which looked at many cultures including Cornish, was held between 5-7pm.
Charley began with a demonstration on how to roll the pastry, insert the filling and seasoning, add water to edges so it sticks, roll it closed into a pasty shape, before glazing it with egg mix. Taught to make pasties by his mother who was left-handed, Charley himself right-handed, is an expert in both methods.
Standing around tables with flour flying everywhere, the students made two pasties each, with a choice of meat and onion or cheese and potato fillings. All pasties were marked on the baking tray with the student's name, before being baked in the canteen ovens for 35 minutes.
While they waited students watched a DVD on the history of Gig Rowing including the building of the gig Energy built at Falmouth Marine School involving one of the College's boatbuilding tutors, Dave Martin in his younger days.
Charley who has never before demonstrated his pasty making skills said: "I have really enjoyed it today. All the students were very attentive and very good at making pasties. It was nice as they all got really involved and seemed to be enjoying themselves."
David Appleyard, on the second year Watersports NVQ course, commented: "I came mainly for the free pasty! It was actually really cool to make them ourselves and it was easier than I thought. I might even try and make one at home. It's nice to do something different after College."
Tia Hind, Cultural Diversity Co-ordinator for Cornwall College, said: "Cultural Diversity Week brings together and showcases the excellent work taking place across the College to promote equality and diversity. The vast range of activities that are taking place this year span all areas of the curriculum and show the development of our work in this area.
"It's great that this time round students know what Cultural Diversity Week is all about and enjoy these kind of events as a natural part of college life. Looking around the College and dipping into the activities, there can be no doubt about our commitment to celebrating diversity."
Dave Linnell OBE, Principal of Cornwall College commented: "Cultural diversity is a part of everyday life at Cornwall College. Organising a week of activities to celebrate this provides an educational experience which engages students with different cultures, ethnicities, beliefs, religions, languages and histories, and in which respect for diversity is embedded throughout the curriculum."
