Baking for GROW

Twelve businesses and four charities have been set a challenge to find their ‘Ace Baker’ for an annual charity fundraiser, being launched this year. Local charity GROW has invited them to nominate a member of their team to bake an entry which will be judged at the North Show.

‘We believe this event has the potential to be very popular in the future but we are starting small this year by confining it to businesses and charities we are involved with. The aim is eventually to open the competition island wide to include oganisations and schools,’ said Karen Blanchford, GROW’s general manager. ‘As the initiative grows we would love to see friendly rivalry developing between different business sectors, such as accounting firms or the media, vying against each other for a place in the final.’

Mrs Blanchford said that this year they have asked for each entry to include one locally grown culinary vegetable, but in future there will be variations to the theme but it would always including local produce, ideally from GROW.

This year’s GROW Bake Off is sponsored by Creasey’s Cookshop and M&S Guernsey. Managing Director Peter Creasey said, ‘GROW is a charity we are keen to support as we very much align with their ethos. This initiative is a light hearted way of bringing together different elements of our community and has the potential of becoming a major local challenge. There are many inter-company sporting fixtures, but this is the first time their culinary skills will be put to the test.’

For the second year Lloyds Bank International has invited GROW to be their charity partner, this time at the North Show and judging of Bake Off entries will take place in the Bank’s marquee. The Bailiff, Sir Richard McMahon, Peter Creasey, a Lloyds representative and a member of the GROW crew will form a judges’ panel who will have the ‘tasty’ task of choosing the winner. That business or charity will receive a hamper, with a special prize for the best Star Baker. All the contestants will be presented with a souvenir wooden spoon.

‘The Lloyds Bank marquee will be an ideal showcase for this first event and we are delighted that the Bank has given everyone who visits the show the opportunity to view the culinary delights. Spectators will also be welcome to watch the judging.’ said Mrs Blanchford.

Judging will take place at 2pm on Wednesday 23rd August.