An ex-Army sergeant who has prepared meals for the Queen and Prince Charles has bought a popular Huddersfield chippie.
Lee Whiteley, 42, has taken over Meltham Fisheries – and is also a part-time fireman across the road at Meltham Fire Station.
Lee served in the army for 24 years – having joined at the age of 16 – and spent most of his time in the Catering Corps where he was typically helping to prepare thousands of meals.
“On a day-to-day basis we were preparing 300 to 500 meals,” said Lee. “On operations in places like Afghanistan we would be feeding 5,000 to 10,000 people.”
Lee was also involved in preparing meals for the Queen and other members of the Royal family at venues such as St James’ Palace and for Prince Charles in his role as Colonel in Chief of the Welsh Guards when he visited the regiment in Bosnia.
Lee, who was brought up in Luddendenfoot, bought a house in Meltham when he was 27 but only moved to the village after leaving the army in 2013.
As well as running the fish and chip shop, Lee is continuing as an Army Reservist and is also “on call” as a retained firefighter at the fire station across the road from his shop. “If the alert goes off, I’ll be out of the frying pan into the fire,” he said.
As well as the fish and chip shop, Lee and his wife Yvonne have acquired the residential accommodation to be let out next door to the Holmfirth Road shop.
His long-term plans include the possibility of converting an upstairs storage room to provide restaurant seating for people to enjoy their battered fish, chips, sausages and fried chicken.
