FOOD for thought has been on the menu at Hereford Cathedral School - in more ways than one.

A thought-provoking lecture, addressing the question: How Far are We a Free Society? was given by The Earl Professor Conrad Russell, a prominent member of the House of Lords and son of Bertrand Russell.

"His visit was a considerable honour," said head Dr Howard Tomlinson after an enthralled audience had heard Lord Russell's lecture.

"There is no-one I would rather have listened to on the subject of freedom," he added.

Thinking, this time about food, became essential for one group of pupils from the school when food supplies were accidentally thrown away at the start of a Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme expedition on the Isle of Arran.

Two birthdays among the group had at least left them with a chocolate fudge cake, but the four members of the team decided to live off the land rather than admit their blunder to their assessors.

There was a happy ending, though, with the team of Giles Roderick, Conor Mosli-Lynch, Jess Barling and Felicity Barrow, all achieving their Gold Awards.

Elsewhere, the school's orienteering cadets were navigating their way to success, with Tilly Spencer chalking up a remarkable fourth consecutive outright win in the Brigade Orienteering Competition.

The girls' team, in which Tilly was joined by Sarah Hunter-Choat, Jo Chambers and Sophie Sheldrake, won the team title while the boys' team took second place overall.