Chef to the stars cooking up a storm
Portia has spent the last 15 years working on food television shows with many celebrity chefs and has written recipes for books, magazines and websites. Most recently, Portia worked with Rick Stein on his books and TV series for nearly seven years. “It’s been incredibly varied and interesting and certainly not what I thought I’d be doing back when I was 16”. At Bloxham, Portia (née Dean) was in Stonehill, one of two Sixth Form houses for girls when Bloxham only had girls in the Sixth Form. She married a fellow Old Bloxhamist, Julian Spooner (Eg 84-89) in 1999 and they now live in South Devon with their two children, Will who is at Bristol University and Florence who is doing her A levels locally.
Take on life’s challenges even if it scares you
What was your most memorable time at Bloxham School?
Too many to mention: House shouts, House dances and the no contact rule, the JOC, Founderstide Ball, Stonehill life with Dr Ogilvie, sharing a room with my great friend Sarah, cross country, being bussed down to main school for a whole 45 minutes after prep.
In what way did your time at Bloxham influence you?
I came to Bloxham from a small, insular all-girls school and I loved it, which sounds cheesy but it’s true. I look back on it as a very happy time in my life. Most importantly I have made lifelong friends: Sarah, Lucy and Gen who I am still in regular contact with and I know I can totally rely on. Oh, and I met my husband too! Julian runs an engineering design consultancy called Flink Ltd. He specialises in composite material design and manufacturing, working in marine, aeronautical and green energy sectors amongst others. He was in Egerton from Third Form through to Upper Sixth, the last two years (87-89) coincided with my time in Stonehill.
What advice would you give to students for success in life after Bloxham?
Life doesn’t always go as planned and that’s a good thing (I realise in hindsight!). I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, and it was only by doing what I really didn’t enjoy that I found the thing I love. Take on life’s challenges even if it scares you.
What is your most treasured possession?
My family, friends and dog, not sure they are possessions though! I’m not a materialistic person, to be honest, so photo albums, particularly of my children, and my wedding ring.
What has been your most memorable adventure?
After university (where I studied English and Linguistics) I got a job with John Lewis as a graduate trainee. I soon realised it wasn’t for me, so after about a year I resigned and trained to be a chef, which was the best decision I have ever made. I loved every minute of the training and then spent time working and travelling in Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. When I returned to London I saw an advert in the London Evening Standard and applied, on a whim, for a screen test for a live show called ’Light Lunch with Mel and Sue’ (who went on to host Bake Off). I got the job and that was the start of my career.
“I look back on it as a very happy time in my life”
If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
I am actually already doing it. I have long been interested in hypnotherapy and am currently two thirds of the way through a course to become a hypnotherapist. I do have a thing for courses and have done lots from life drawing to Spanish and I have most recently joined a choir.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Am I allowed to include those who are no longer with us? If so, the guest list that would be the most fun would include: Clive James, Victoria Wood, George Michael, David Bowie, plus Billy Connolly, Alison Steadman, Jennifer Saunders, Julie Walters, Rowan Atkinson, Adrian Edmondson and Brett and Jermaine from Flight of the Conchords.
What is the worst job you have ever had?
During the school holidays I was a kitchen porter in a residential home. It was pretty awful; enormous piles of washing up and mountains of potatoes to peel!
Who or what has been most inspirational to you in your life?
A very dear friend of mine currently living with incurable cancer is pretty inspirational.
What’s the best piece of advice you have received?
None of us is getting out of here alive, so get on with whatever you want to do and enjoy the ride.
Please can you describe a typical day filming a cooking show?
The thing I love most about my job is that no two days are ever the same so it’s never boring. There isn’t really a typical day as sometimes I’m filming on location here or abroad, which can be in a very basic rustic kitchen or on a camping stove on beach, or cliff or garden or a demo on stage. Although trained as a chef, arguably the most important element of my job is being organised, really organised! I need to order all ingredients, sometimes unusual, hard to source things to be delivered wherever we are. Sometimes I need to have some things prepped to a number of different stages like bread etc. The job can be great fun and involve travel and great food, and the camaraderie amongst the crew is great, but there is also a lot of lugging equipment and cool boxes around, shopping and washing up. It’s not always as glamorous as people might think!
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