Lee Corke

Lee Corke studied at the Wirral Metropolitan College from 1986 – 1988 undertaking a general Catering course. His first job after College was as a Commis Chef at Trials Hotel, Liverpool. He then joined the RAF for a 22 ½-year career.

During his service career he served at several UK bases with detachments to Cyprus, Iraq and the Falkland Islands. He worked in all areas of catering on RAF bases and has had stints as a personal chef for an air rank officer and also as an instructor at the food services school.

His last unit was RAF Benson where he was responsible for running several kitchens at the Joint Helicopter support unit. During this time, he also worked for a high-end private dining company running hospitality contracts for the American firm Bell Helicopter and Cessna in Paris and Geneva. He also worked privately for Sir Richard Branson (head of the virgin companies globally), he also worked for Geoff Banks the designer and the British singer KT Tunstall on several occasions.

Since 2011, Lee has been the Head of Catering at the University of Cambridge, Clare College.

Lee is currently the Chairman of the British Culinary Federation and is also a Worldchefs International Judge for England and regularly judges at the Culinary Olympics in Germany and the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg. He has also judged at the Global Chefs Challenge in Abu Dhabi at the Worldchefs Congress.

Lee has an impressive competition record, winning over 100 medals in competitions at home and abroad. He has captained the Combined Services Culinary Arts Team and the British Team of Chefs in global competitions.  Lee is also the recipient of a Master of Arts Degree in Hospitality Leadership, which he undertook at London South Bank University.