The event was held to raise funds for our partners, St Catherine’s Hospice in Preston, under the auspices of the Government Access Point project. The hog roast was threatened when organisers discovered that the pigs were too big to fit on the roasting spits. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) team, calling on their many years’ experience in the meat industry, saved the day by advising on the best way to remove the animals’ heads so they would fit on the spits.
The team members then demonstrated their versatility when another near-disaster befell the event.
Later in the day, one of the hogs caught fire as it stopped rotating. Fortunately, we were on hand again to put out the flames and help perform micro-surgery to get it moving again.
Simon Morton, Team Leader
The team members had volunteered to make over 100 lunches, erect a marquee and set-up chairs and tables at the event, which was held at Hoghton Tower, a 16th century manor house in Lancashire. They hadn’t expected to advise on butchery or display fire-fighting skills, but they were unfazed by the unexpected challenges. Simon added
It goes to show that the FSA teams can pull together and show their resourcefulness, whatever the situation we are faced with.
And the experience of volunteering proved popular with the team members. Nick Varga and Chris Jones both enjoyed their phenomenal day's volunteering and felt it was rewarding to make a difference to such a good cause. The team all said they would recommend it to anyone.