Former Ross resident, Bob Purvis, aged 73, is appearing on TV because he can't cook. Colonel Bob, as the chefs referred to him on 'Kitchen Criminal' the new BBC2 programme, was at one time President of the Ross Branch of the Royal British Legion, President of Ross Town Band and also Chairman of St Mary's Church 700 Festival. Now he is trying to learn to cook! Charlotte Handley, one of his granddaughters who lives in Ross, nominated him for 'Kitchen Criminals'. Unfortunately, she was too young to appear with him on the show. There are those who can cook and there are those who are so hopeless they barely know how to boil water. These are the people that top chefs Angela Hartnett and John Burton Race are going to try and teach to cook like Michelin star chefs. Unlike any other cookery show on TV, 'Kitchen Criminals' is about people who can't cook. It will take the traditional kitchen career – from commis chef to Michelin master – and hit the fast forward button, speeding it up into a modern and absorbing food format full of entertainment and takeaway information for the viewers. John and Angela will be competing to turn their group of kitchen no-hopers into chefs good enough to pull the wool over the eyes of five of Britain's toughest critics. The programme started on August 13th. Bob appeared on Thursday, August 16th, and the burnt offering he brought with him made the two chefs aware of his limitations. His attempts at poached eggs and then a beef dish made it obvious that he was in need of some serious tuition. Bob's next appearance will be on Monday, August 27th, at 6.30pm on BBC 2. He said he had learned a great deal already, but added that he has no aspirations to make cookery a profession. Bob a committed 'workaholic' at 73 also acts as an honorary consultant in Governance, Marketing and Fundraising to the Trustees of some charities in Monmouthshire. He is also Chairman of the Herefordshire Army Cadet League, which raises funds for the County's Army Cadet Force.
