Exhibition celebrating school dinners scoops award

An exhibition featuring "all the things that you will love, and love to hate" when it comes to school dinners has won a national award.

The Food Museum in Stowmarket, Suffolk, launched a two-year School Dinners exhibition in April 2025, charting the history of the childhood staple.

The museum was named Best Temporary or Touring Exhibition of the Year at the Museum and Heritage Awards in London on Thursday during a celebration of museums, galleries and cultural and heritage visitor attractions.

"I am delighted that our exhibition has been recognised with a national award," said museum director, Jenny Cousins. "Most people have memories of school food, good or bad."

The exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to sample semolina, pink custard - and even turkey twizzlers - in a throwback showcase of school dinners through the ages.

Chloe Brett, of the museum's visitor services, said at the launch that it had been "one of our most requested topics for an exhibition".

"The exhibition contains all the things that you will love, and love to hate, alongside some things that you may find surprising," Cousins added.

Since opening its doors, the exhibition has highlighted issues such as poverty, politics and responsibility.

School Dinners has been made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, and exhibition sponsor Thomas Ridley Foodservice.

The exhibition is set to run until 2027.

Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.