FORMER pupils who went on strike in 1971 over the poor quality of school meals returned to the dining room to try today's offering.

In April 1971 boarding pupils at Hereford Cathedral School refused to eat the school lunches and 120 boys walked out of the dining room at the same time.

The infamous dining room strike made the front page of the Evening News and through the Hereford Times pages in September current chef, Andy Boast, appealed to anyone who took part in the strike to return to the school to see how times have changed.

Last week, during National School Meals Week, some of the former pupils who took part returned to the school along with a couple of members of staff.

Headmaster Paul Smith, gave them a detention where they had to write lines and then they were treated to a performance by Cantabile Girls’ Choir who sang Food Glorious Food.

The school's a capella singers called The Accidentals then gave a performance.

Gary Waring, who went on strike in 1971 and returned to the school last week, said: "It was awful. It was inedible. It was right out of Oliver Twist but at least Oliver Twist's food was edible as he asked for more.

"I used to eat in town at the Tudor Cafe with my dad most days or I would take sandwiches into school."

Jonathan Sheldon, who is now a governor, said: "I can remember the chef put down this big aluminium tray and there were four or five little lamb hearts and there were pipes still on them. I just thought, I can't eat that."

School dinners in 1971 consisted of beef stew, spam fritters and large quantities of toast.

Today Mr Boast, who used to run popular cafe Andy's Kitchen in King Street, cooks nutritional meals and spends every penny of his daily budget sourcing seasonal ingredients as locally as he can.

A popular dish is baked breaded fillet of chicken with katsu curry sauce.

Mr Smith said he does not have any complaints from pupils about the school meals.

The returning strikers were given a tour of the school and then they enjoyed lunch in the school canteen.