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Claires Court

Claires Court Maidenhead

from Nursery to Sixth Form

Candle Cake a Hit at Claires Court

What a way to start a Monday morning! It was no surprise that staff at Claires Court were quick to assemble in the staff room on Monday 18 April, when part time school outdoor education administrator and accomplished baker Caroline Payne, brought in her award winning cake.

The team of staff at Senior Boys admired the 60cm, metallic candle holder, inspired by ‘Game of Thrones’ before tucking in and enjoying a slice of the masterpiece.

Caroline baked the cake as her entry for Cake International (The Sugarcraft, Cake Decorating and Baking Show), held at Alexandra Palace on 16 and 17 April.  Having been awarded two silvers in previous years, Caroline was delighted to scoop a Gold Award and second place for her creation in the Sculpted Senior Boys Winning Cake Novelty Cake category.  Cakes in this category must be 100% edible!  Which her colleagues agreed - it certainly was.  

The cake took Caroline around 24 hours to make and to get the gold award it was judged on its level of difficulty, innovation, use of materials and originality.  Knowing what the judges were looking for from her previous entries, Caroline believes this was perhaps what secured her the win.  

“I find cake making and decorating very therapeutic, and often listen to audio tapes as I work, although doing all the metallic scales was very tedious.  From experience and previous feedback, I knew it would be the height, without support, and the really little details like the candle drips that could make the difference.  The hardest part was making the globe, sourcing enough boiled sweets for my four or five attempts before I got it right was a challenge!”

The winning cakes were selected at a private viewing of the show on Friday, but as Caroline could not be there, she did not know until the list went live on the website during the public event on Saturday.  Of her award she said, “I actually squealed with delight when I saw gold. I now have the personal aim of getting best in class, which is appropriate as I always say to the students that they should always persevere, and take on board failing, happy to know you have something to work towards.  After all as one of the judges said,  the only thing you can never have is a shortcut to experience.”

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