A BIG-HEARTED chef at a Chobham boys’ school has made it into the final mix of the BBC’s MasterChef the Professionals.

Lenny Salsano, 55, who teaches food technology and catering at Wishmore Cross Academy, was one of more than 2,400 entrants into the popular TV show and, incredibly, after hot competition and much grilling, he has made it to the final ‘dirty’ dozen.

So what is his recipe for success? Lenny said: “I’m surprised I made it this far. You can tell that some of the younger competitors have come from top-notch restaurants – I just did my best. I’m what you might call an old- fashioned chef, so I don’t do much fancy stuff because of the kids I teach.”

Unlike others in the high-profile competition, Lenny’s key motive behind taking part is not self interest, although he admits he has certainly enjoyed the process.

“I wanted to do it for the lads,” he said. Lenny is trying to raise the profile of the special school, making the public aware of what they do, and its rate of success.

Resources manager Jennifer Evans said: “The boys here have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

“They often come from backgrounds with domestic violence or from children’s homes, and have been excluded from all mainstream schools.”

Lenny, who himself was in a children’s home from the age of seven after being abandoned by his mother, said: “I was brought up in a home like a lot of the lads here, so I know what they are going through.”

He is also able to dish out his wealth of international catering experience, including two years on cruise ships, travelling all over Britain and north America, working in top hotels and living in Dubai.

Lenny can rightly boast that, for the first time ever, five of his pupils are taking GCSEs in the subject.

“It is a very rewarding job,” he said. “And two students are going on to catering college.”

Lenny (left) came with the kitchen, so to speak, three years ago and had an input into the equipment and its design, of which he and the staff are very proud. The £300,000 building with dining room, funded by the county council, is the heart of the academy. He even coaxed the television crews into filming there: “I wanted them to see the boys cooking,” he added.

Just outside the dining area are fresh herbs and veg the pupils have planted to use in their cooking. Lenny is aiming to expand the plot, and the school is also hoping to introduce some chickens so the boys can learn about nurturing.

About four years ago, Wishmore Cross School, as it was then, was struggling and under threat. Resources manager Jennifer Evans said: “Ofsted put us on special measures and we were nearly closed down.

Governor Chris Rowbotham added: “It really was touch and go but we got a new headteacher, Ged Donnelly, and pulled through. A lot of that was down to the chairman Bert Bartlett.”

Lenny, who lives with his wife Nicki and four children in Horsham, added: “He had foresight.”

The school was taken over by charity Academies Enterprise Trust, and be-came Wishmore Cross Academy, which was when they decided to employ a professional chef and install the purpose-built training kitchen. Ms Evans said: “We now have about 50 boys – 20 residential – and 50 staff, but have the capacity for 60 pupils.”

A recent Ofsted report noted that the academy was “a good school with outstanding features.”

Wishmore is always in need of funding and hold functions to raise cash. Lenny is also hoping to run ‘Mums and Sons’ and ‘Dads and Lads’ cookery courses, which he did successfully at a school in St Helens.