Judges Announced for Big Bolton Charity Cake Bake

The judges have been revealed for the Big Bolton Charity Cake Bake, which takes place at Laserase Bolton on Saturday 10th October.

Dorret Conway, one of the participants in this year’s Great British Bake Off, will lead a team of three judges, which also includes Janet Marshall, cake development expert at Park Cakes in Bolton, and Keith Wallis, Senior Head Chef at the four star Holiday Inn Bolton Centre.

The Big Bolton Charity Cake Bake and Cake Sale takes place at Laserase Bolton, opposite the ambulance station on the Royal Bolton Hospital site, on Saturday October 10th from 2.00pm to 4.30pm. It aims to raise awareness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and to raise money for national charity Verity – which supports women whose lives are affected by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – and the Gynaecology and Dermatology departments of the hospital, which help women with this syndrome.

Born in Preston to Jamaican parents, 54 year old Dorret Conway is a self-confessed foodie. Brought up on authentic Jamaican cooking meant a very limited exposure to cakes and desserts, so learning to bake at school opened up a whole new world for Dorret and has continued to be a major part of her life. Dorret works as an accountant and her dream is to go to the Cordon Bleu School in Paris and to have a career in food. To kick start this new direction in her life, Dorret is available to run baking parties locally and is always happy to give talks on cooking.

Janet Marshall has worked for Park Cakes since 1987, mainly in product development, developing cakes and desserts for Marks and Spencer. Before moving to Park Cakes, Janet worked in a small craft bakery making wedding cakes and novelty birthday cakes. Janet has travelled America and Europe seeking new and exciting cake ideas, and has spent the last 28 years innovating and launching various cakes for all of the major multiple retailers. Janet has always had a passion for baking and has a food science degree from Manchester University.

Keith Wallis first trained to be a chef at South Trafford College and, after qualifying, has had a varied career, working in all types of hotel and restaurant. He has spent the last 20 years plus working at different Holiday Inns around the country. He now works at the Holiday Inn Bolton Centre, where he has put his years of experience to good use, developing a friendly and professional team. Keith was instrumental in bringing the Afternoon Tea to Holiday Inn Bolton Centre, which has been a great success.

There are four categories open to everyone in the Big Bolton Charity Cake Bake: the Best Decorated Cake Award; the Tastiest Cake Award; the Most Creative Cake Award and the Biggest Cake Catastrophe Award. There will also be a Best Cake in the Competition Award. As the charity’s colour is purple, bakers might like to incorporate some purple into their entry, but this is not obligatory. Entry costs £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. The Cake Bake judging will be followed by a cake sale to raise much-needed funds for the charities and refreshments will be available, so if you can’t bake, you can buy instead.

Julie Kershaw, Clinic Manager at Laserase Bolton, says: “We’re hoping that lots of people will come along to the Big Bolton Charity Cake Bake on Saturday 10th October with their home baked masterpieces (or catastrophes!) for this fun and worthwhile event and to meet our judges, who are looking forward to tasting lots of delicious cake creations!”

To sign up to the Big Bolton Charity Cake Bake and to make a donation visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/bigboltoncharitycakebake or contact Laserase Bolton for an application form on 01204 570900 or email admin@laserase-bolton.co.uk.

“The Big Bolton Charity Cake Bake aims to raise awareness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and of the PCOS charity, Verity, which helps to improve the lives of women living with the illness,” explains Julie Kershaw. “Every year at Laserase Bolton, we treat a number of women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome for excess hair growth and acne, but many are unaware that, for excess hair growth for example, NHS funding may be available. Working with the Royal Bolton Hospital’s Gynaecology and Dermatology departments, we aim to better direct women in Bolton to get the help and treatment they need.”

Cakes should be dropped off at Laserase Bolton, 71 Redgate Way, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 0JL (on the Royal Bolton Hospital site opposite the ambulance station) between 11.30am and 1.30pm on the day and must include a label with your name and telephone number and the category in which you are entering. The event will be open to the public from 2.00pm and the winning cakes will be announced around 3.00pm. This will be followed by a charity auction of the winning cakes and a sale of the other cakes.

For More Information

Call us on 01204 570900