AN AWARD-WINNING Clacks chef recently enjoyed a surprise visit from one of his former apprentices, who went on to cook for the queen.

Chef Billy Campbell, who volunteers at and leads St Mungo's Parish Church Community Café in retirement, was pictured with chef John Higgins who has been on a visit from Canada.

Over the years, chef John has cooked for the queen at Buckingham Palace and on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

He has also served up treats for heads of state in Washington DC as well as for celebrities around the world.

Currently, he is a mentoring the next generation of talent as director at George Brown College's Centre for Hospitality & Culinary Arts – the largest school of its kind in Canada.

John, who lives in Toronto, visits Billy every time he is on a trip to see family in Scotland.

Billy, who himself has cooked for the likes of Bill Clinton during his extensive five-decade career, first met John when he started as an apprentice at Glasgow Central Hotel in the 1970s.

Speaking about his former apprentice, he told the Advertiser: "You are always happy to have played a wee part in their life and they've gone on to do great things.

"What you taught them they still remember and they appreciate the time you spent with them, how you coached them – they followed on and done the exact same.

"For me, it's fantastic."

While in Alloa, chef John also caught up with Sailor of the Year 2021 Murdoch McGregor, whose solo sail around the UK earlier this summer – at the age of 81 – inspired many in the town and further afield.

On social media, chef John said: "Today was the highlight of my year 2021.

"Meeting Murdoch McGregor... who at 81 single handed sailed around the UK. A total inspiration following him daily and his journey. Some advice he follows: keep it uncomplicated."

He added: "Listening to his passion was like being in heaven."