Baker hangs up her apron (From Daily Echo)
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Baker hangs up her apron
10:00am Thursday 14th June 2012 in Business
By Julian Robinson, Eastleigh Chief Reporter
Jan Dearden is finally hanging up her apron after more than 40 years of top cake making.
SHE baked the wedding cake for Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Sarah Brightman – and had a TV super chef as one of her famous customers.
But Jan Dearden is finally hanging up her apron after more than 40 years of top cake making.
The 61-year-old is also closing the door on Jan’s Creative Cakes shop, which has held pride of place in Fair Oak for 12 years.
Over the years, Jan has given cake masterclasses on television, taught at City College Southampton and baked for the rich and famous, including magician Paul Daniels and music maestro Andrew Lloyd-Webber.
She once ran a shop in Winchester and at one point was making special marzipan animals for internationally famous French chef Raymond Blanc.
But now she is handing over the reins of her Summerlands Road store to a new baker – and is looking forward to taking a well-earned break from the mixing bowl.
Jan said her recipe for success over the years had been maintaining the “quality and finesse” of her cakes.
She said: “I think the trade has been very rewarding and I have really enjoyed the artistic side of it.”
“Over the years I have loved the friendliness of the people in the village.
“It has been absolutely wonderful here in Fair Oak. Regular customers have come in and left cards and said how much they will miss the place.”
