A batch? A kindness? A conference? There was a gathering of cake makers in our Café this week, just some of the volunteers who make the chocolate brownies, the coffee cakes, the lemon drizzles and the Victoria Sponges that grace our café counter from a Tuesday to a Saturday. Sheila Lowe (far left) is the one who organises it all, with a carefully planned cake rota, and we need to thank Sheila along with all those home bakers who give our community café its very unique selling point. From left to right: Sheila, Liz, Kay, Jackie, Joan, Rosie, Sheila and Jane may specialise in one signature bake, or they may have a range of cakes they can do for us. “Mine is the Blueberry and Lemon,” says the wonderfully-named Sheila Ovens from Tredington. “Or I might make Raspberry and Orange. Making cakes for Ilmington Café got me back into baking, and I love it. You don’t tend to bake when you’re on your own.” Kay Manners from Ilmington makes a healthy “NO” cake with dried fruit but no fat, sugar or eggs. “I used to have a tea shop in Stow on the Wold,” says Kay. “We made this cake for people who didn’t want to eat cake!” We are always looking for volunteers to join Sheila’s rota. We provide all the ingredients from the community shop and a little volunteer magic whips them into the best part of a morning out. “I didn’t volunteer, I was bullied into it by Michele,” quips Kay. “I was frightened I was going to get beaten up if I didn’t.” Please don’t be scared to call our manager Michele Hall on 01608 682838! Bakers, we love you and we need you!
