A celebrity chef visited a high school yesterday to inspire students to live their dreams.

Levi Roots, 54, was greeted with rapturous applause at Canons High School in Shaldon Road yesterday as he talked to children about his life in music, his passion for food and how he used Reggae Reggae sauce to turn his life around.

As part of his School of Life tour, the former prisoner-turned-multi-millionaire is visiting schools across the country to promote the Government’s initiative to introduce compulsory cookery lessons for children aged seven to 14.

He said: “My hopes for the tour this year are to get young people excited about cooking and music but also to prove to them that it doesn’t matter where you come from or what your background is, if you work hard and stay determined you can be a success.”

During the talk, Mr Roots described how he began making the Jamaican jerk sauce in his Brixton kitchen with the help of his entire family, and how he persuaded Peter Jones of the BBC’s Dragon’s Den to invest £500,000 in his business.

He then held a question and answer session in which he talked frankly about his early life in Jamaica and London, describing how he was sentenced to seven years in prison for being “a bad boy,” where he had taught himself the guitar.

Mr Roots said he was very impressed with his audience of students and the depth and insight of questions they asked.

He added: “They asked all sorts of questions and asked me tell all sides of my story. Because they were older I could tell them in detail how my success did not happen overnight. The key thing is that you overcome the hardships that happen to you. 

“For the past six years part of my job has been to put something back. These kids have their own problems to overcome but I hope I can show them if I did it, they can too.

He praised the work of Canon’s High School in helping its children achieve success, adding working hard and doing well in school gave students the best start in life.

He added: “I came here to inspire them, but they’ve inspired me. ”

A Year 11 student and aspiring music producer described how much he had gained from meeting Levi Roots

He said: “It was a good experience learning about how he built his sauce business from nothing. I’m very inspired by his music. He’s showed me it's possible to combine musical talent and entrepreneurship to become a success.”

Another student added he had found the experience “intriguing” and had particulary enjoyed the “strong tune” and “powerful lyrics” of the song Mr Roots sung.

He added: “He has actually inspired me to do great things.”

“It was sad to hear how he was sent to prison, and what he had to overcome to 
give an honest and inspirational insight into his life and show how determination and passion can be the keys to success.

Director of technology Diarmuid Molloy, who had arranged the talk, said: “It was a brilliant experience all round, he was inspirational and full of energy.

“We have a real technology, business and entrepreneurial focus in this school. Having him here makes it real for the students and shows them how hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit pays off.”