Orkney College welcomes back the Mighty Quinn

Michael first visited Orkney in 2008 and returned in 2009 to deliver his seminar at Orkney College...

Article courtesy of Colin Miller
Thursday 24th September saw the welcome return of Michael Quinn MBE to Orkney and Orkney College. What Michael had promised to deliver on his return to the College was done so in great style exceeding all expectations which were already highly placed after his initial visit last year. I arrived for work in the afternoon to witness Michael already making the rounds at the College, hand extended to everyone he met with a smile permanently in place on the face of a man who is happy with life! Michael's personality is contagious and you can't help but smile when you are in the company of the man. That much is evident when you can see the impact he has on staff and students alike.

Michael started off his visit with a seminar for a large number of students. He had extended the invitation not only to students from the Hospitality area of the College but also from Construction, Care, Business and I.T. As with his seminar last year he warned that those who might be easily offended may want to leave the room before he started as unlike many of his dessert pieces his talk would not be sugar coated.



From years of experience I now see seminars as one of two creatures. The first one being the delivery of information that is done without thought and is merely the relaying of information to be taken down by those in attendance. Such seminars always end up with the audience watching the clock and dreaming of being somewhere else. The other type is of the kind where one person can captivate your mind and hold your attention until they know they have got something through to each and every person in the room. Once again, Michael delivered such a seminar. From his first words, Michael delivered in his own full steam ahead manner. For an hour he talked of how great the world he had lived in had been but also how far and how easily he fell from those giddy heights. He delivered the warnings of the perils of alcohol and drug abuse within the hospitality industry but never once bordered on judgement of a single person in the room. What Michael achieved was to put a picture in your mind of how great it could seem to go out and paint the town way beyond red, living life in the fast lane. Now that sounded good! Work hard and play harder. Wasn't that what life was about? Not if you lose control and succumb to excess. The audience were young people riding on the wave of how good it is to be young and taking on the world at the starting flag of adulthood. Michael drew the audience in because what he says is from a lifetime of experience. His life was like the Google of excess. He told of all the good times, the wild times and how they seemed so good when all they were doing was causing his life to spiral out of control. Michael told the students 'I don't know you, I can't judge you but I can warn you'. What Michael does with such ease is expose the warning signs of excess and how what can seem to be good living can easily turn a promising career and life in completely the wrong direction. There is no judgement in how Michael delivers his warnings. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and that is what makes them so unique. 'Yesterday is history but tomorrow is a mystery'. From those words Michael kicked into another gear and delivered inspiration to each and every student. 'I'm not picking on you' he said as he pointed a finger at one of the students in the middle of the audience 'But the only thing that will stop you being the greatest chef is you'. Rather than blushing and shrinking under the spotlight I could see the student visibly grow with what could only be described as self-pride. Michael has the ability to make people believe in themselves. For a man on the outside of sixty to be able to do that to people on the right side of twenty is something worth seeing. Michael certainly doesn't pull his punches but delivers highs and lows in a fast moving rollercoaster fashion that doesn't allow you to dwell long enough on the negatives and leaves you feeling like you can take on the world.

The positive impact Michael has on his audience was best proven by how many of the students went up and talked to him after he had finished speaking. There was no rush for them to get away and their smiles belayed the enjoyment of their time in the company of the Mighty Quinn. Quite simply he had inspired young people to believe in themselves and make the most of the opportunities afforded to them.

With the seminar over, Michael immediately made the transition from speaker to Master Chef. With Hospitality Chef Daniel Laud leading the ship, the SVQ students got to work preparing the meal for the evening ahead. The first outing for the students in preparing a meal for so many was already under pressure due to reduced amenities as a result of a boiler fault the previous week that had rendered the large kitchen out of action. The attitude was positive and lifted by Michael and Daniel the students got to work. The sign of a well run kitchen is the lack of raised voices. Everybody knew what was required and what their role was. Daniel's leadership kept the kitchen running smoothly with never a sign of a drama rearing its head. Michael offered advice and encouragement with ease which was happily accepted by young people who on the night were putting their heart and soul into their culinary creations.

The produce used to create the meal for the evening was kindly donated by some of Orkney's finest businesses. They included Orkney Herring, Grimbister Cheese, Donaldsons Butchers, Margaret Wells, New Market Gardens, Jollys, Orkney Fishermen's Society, Orkney College, Orkney Meat, Frozen Food, Crantit Dairy, John Scott & Miller, Walliwall Butter, Orkney Water, Orkney Weddings R US, Maureen Tait and John Wishart of the Agronomy Institute.

With everything running to plan the kitchen buzzed under the guidance of Daniel and Michael with organisation being provided by Anne Hill and Sheila Chapman.

After taking several pictures of the team at work I returned home to get changed for the evening ahead. On my return, the gathered guests were treated to the most wonderful evening with what can only be described as the most excellent cuisine prepared to a standard that could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest eateries. The ambience was perfect as was the service by the serving students. The delivery of each course was done so in a manner that was in no way intrusive. The smoothness with which each course was delivered and removed from the table was perfectly timed and done so with seemingly effortless ease. A wonderful sign for our waitress who was embarking on such an endeavour for the first time.

The five courses provided on the night consisted of:

• Local black pudding with poached quail's eggs topped with a hollandaise sauce and Donaldson's whisky smoked bacon.
• Cornets of smoked Jolly's salmon filled with OFS crab.
• Artic raspberry and Black Portent sorbet.
• Fillet of Orkney steak with a gratin of wild mushrooms and Grimbister cheese finished with an Orkney ale jus.
• Trio of Overblikk desserts - jellied peedie drams, mille-feuille of chocolate and Orkney fudge.

As the Fillet Steak was served up, Jocelyn Vivian (first year level 2) looked at it and commented "This is why I came on this course, to cook and serve food like this"!

Once coffee and petit fours had been served, Michael kindly awarded each student with certificates for courses they had recently completed. For the first year students these included Servewise, Elementary Hygiene and First Aid. The second year students were awarded the SVQ Level 2 in Food and Drink Table Service.

Michael offered his thanks for being asked back and enthused on his views of the excellence of the facilities, students and staff of Orkney College.

Michael and Daniel then took time out to talk with all of the guests as the evening drew to a close on what was for myself and others an extremely enjoyable experience.

The profits raised on the evening were split and donated to Clan Orkney and Ark Global.

The very next day, Michael left Orkney to continue on his seminar trail around the UK and the world.

Michael already has plans underway to further inspire what he described as deserving students at the College. Not wanting to give away too much, watch this space.