Stowe soup: carrot, coriander and poison

The privileged pupils of a leading public school in Buckinghamshire narrowly avoided being poisoned after cleaning fluid was found in a batch of their carrot and coriander soup. 

The poison was noticed during "routine sampling" before the evening meal last Thursday when one of Stowe School's kitchen staff noticed "something acrid" in the soup. A 58-year-old kitchen porter has since been arrested.

Parents pay £27,000 per year to send their children to Stowe, whose famous alumni include Richard Branson and Chelsy Davy. It is set in 750 acres of grounds landscaped by Capability Brown - although the school itself is a mere 87 years old.

A school spokeswoman told the Times: "The chef saw something happen in the kitchen and went to investigate. It was obvious from the smell and taste that it had been contaminated. A member of the kitchen staff was arrested. We have absolutely no idea of any motive."

The man, who had worked at the school for three years, was arrested on suspicion of administering poison with intent to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm. However, police were unable to detain him due to suspected mental health problems.

Stowe's headmaster, Anthony Wallersteiner, was quick to allay the concerns of the pupils' parents, saying: "As a result of the testing procedures we have in place in the kitchen, it was detected early and an investigation was undertaken immediately."

The attempted poisoning is the latest incident in what has been a bad year for pupils of private schools. Not only does it transpire, as David Cameron has found, that a privileged educational background will hinder rather than help any political ambitions, but the financial crisis has caused at least five independent schools to close as hard-up bankers find they have to choose between the bolt-hole in Tuscany or a boarding school education for the kids.

The threat of having your child poisoned by rogue porters may just give the edge to that second home. ·