Ipswich’s Fred. Olsen raises £375 for St Elizabeth Hospice with ‘Great British Bake Off’-inspired challenge

On Tuesday 22nd November 2016, keen bakers at Ipswich’s Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Fred. Olsen Ltd. raised an impressive £375 for St Elizabeth Hospice – one of the company’s designated staff charities for 2016/17 – in its most successful charity ‘Bake Sale’ ever!

Staff were given five baking categories to enter – ‘Best Scone’, ‘Best Cupcake’, ‘Best Cake’, ‘Best Savoury Snack’ and ‘Best Tray Bake’ – and Fred. Olsen’s panel of judges, including three of the company Directors, as well as two representatives from St Elizabeth Hospice, had the hard task of tasting and judging each entrant’s bake, before choosing the individual category winners and an overall ‘Star Baker of the Day’.

Nikki Brown, Senior Partnerships Fundraiser at St Elizabeth Hospice, said:

“We are absolutely delighted that Fred. Olsen held their ‘Bake Off’ challenge in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice and even happier that we were chosen to judge the competition! Well done to everyone for their effort, dedication and support, which means we can continue to care for local people living with a progressive illness in Suffolk.”

In true ‘Bake Off’ style, the judges deliberated and selected the following winners:

‘Best Scone’
Winner: Rachel Fiddy – Designer
Judges’ comments: Very cheesy and lovely to have real butter with them

‘Best Savoury Snack’ (sausage rolls, cheese straws etc.)
Winner: Helen Bennett – Entertainments Manager
Judges’ comments: Great twist and very cheesy flavour

‘Best Tray Bake’ (brownies, lemon drizzle etc.)
Winner: Meghan Swan – Systems Project Administrator
Judges’ comments: It was just amazing!

‘Best Cake’
Winner: Vanessa Laver – Booking Support Controller
Judges’ comments: Deliciously chocolatey and rich

‘Best Cupcake’
Winner: Rachel Knight – Yield Assistant
Judges’ comments: Wonderfully decorated and a unique and tasty flavour

Overall winner & ‘Star Baker of the Day’: Meghan Swan – Systems Project Administrator
The baking treats were then sold in a ‘Baking Bonanza’ sweet and savoury sale, and the company also held a ‘Dress Down Day’ to raise funds.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com To find out more about Fred. Olsen Ltd., go to www.fredolsen.co.uk

To learn more about the valuable work of St Elizabeth Hospice, visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk

Photo caption one: (from left to right) Ollie Langham and Nikki Brown from St Elizabeth Hospice, with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Peter Deer – Commercial Director, Susana Entrena – Hotel Operations Director, and Mike Rodwell – Managing Director, prepare to taste and judge the ‘Bake Off’ entrants’ sweet and savoury treats.