As a schoolgirl Lily Stock's introduction to the culinary world was peeling spuds in the kitchen of a restaurant.

Just a few years later – at the age of 20 – she is a qualified chef who has cooked for the Queen and in establishments run by Michelin-starred cooks.

Lily, who started off as a little girl helping her mum bake cakes, has a clutch of catering awards under her belt – include the prestigious Nestle D'Or prize. She beat off competition from 400 entrants nationwide to scoop the apprentice back of house award.

She got her first kitchen job aged 13 at The Barn in Lower Rainham Road, Rainham.

She explained: "We had gone there as a family for my dad's birthday and I brought along a cake I'd made. It impressed one of the staff and they offered me a job peeling potatoes and carrots, which I did on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. I loved it."

After leaving Chatham Girls' Grammar, Lily went to Westminster Kingsway College in London where she has just completed a four-year professional chef diploma part-time course.

At the same time, she was working as an apprentice at a private members' club in the capital.

It was while she was working there that staff were told they had a special guest dropping by the next day, the Queen.

Lily said: "It was all very hush, hush, and the windows were all covered.

"We weren't even allowed a peep of her. But at least I can say I helped to cook for Her Majesty."

She lives with her parents Mark and Corinna in Moor Street, Rainham, and has also had work experience at premises run by superstar chefs Herbert Berger and Marcus Wareing and met one of her favourite cooks Tom Kerridge.

One of her most enjoyable tasks was to work as commis chef at The Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight during Cowes Week.

She has just started as junior sous chef at The Bakery, near Westerham, and hopes to run her own restaurant one day.

But meanwhile she is happy enough just whipping up gourmet delights for up to 200 guests.

So what does the energetic young lady do to unwind in her spare time?

"I have so many cookbooks and I like to cook my family a nice meal," she said.

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