A long-serving kitchen chef landed a top gong at the Donisthorpe Hall annual awards ceremony.

Fourteen members of staff covering the whole spectrum of service from reception and maintenance to laundry, housekeeping and food service to nursing and dementia care, stepped up to accept trophies and a cheque each for £100 in the Leeds residential care home’s Employees of the Year awards.

The ceremony was presided over by chairman Andrew Brown, who told recipients they should all be “extremely proud of their achievements”.

Winners were praised for “working beyond the call of duty, for their professionalism, dedication, kindness and compassion and endless patience”.

Head chef Mick Walsh, with 20 years’ service to the 182-bed care home, scooped the overall employee of the year and was presented with a trophy and cheque for £500.

Mr Walsh, who is not Jewish, said he had “progressed from kitchen porter to head chef through hard work, determination and the support of his colleagues.

“I’m overwhelmed and absolutely thrilled to get this award,” he said.

Mr Brown added: “Mick is thoroughly deserving of this award; he is a shining example of what hard work and commitment can achieve.

“This is the residents’ home and the staff play a strong part in helping to make it so.”