All the events for the weekend, with details on classes, workshops and talks.
- Australian team win the ‘MarmalAshes’ -
Environment Minister Lord Henley has been crowned this year’s best marmalade maker at The World’s Original Marmalade Awards & Festival.
The peer’s citrusy concoction was awarded Best In Show at the quirky awards, held this weekend at Dalemain Mansion near Penrith, Cumbria. Lord Henley’s marmalade, a traditional orange recipe, will now be made by Thursday Cottage and sold at Fortnum & Mason in London.
Over 1,100 marmalade makers from all over the world sent in their jars to be judged, a record number. Other winners included a team of 11 marmalade makers from Buninyong in Australia who had challenged a team from Britain to a ‘MarmalAshes’ contest, a man from the British Virgin Islands who scooped the International award and a commercial maker from Ludlow who was awarded best artisan. Over 150 Guides also helped to make the world’s largest jar of marmalade at the Cumbrian event.
Organiser Jane Hasell-McCosh said: “The standard of entries has gone up hugely and we have been overwhelmed by the number. We’ve also seen a marked increase in entries sent in from all parts of the UK and from abroad, countries as far afield as Japan and Australia. It’s been a fantastic success.”
Judge Jonathan Miller from Fortnum & Mason said: “It was a close run thing but Lord Henley’s marmalade swung the vote decisively. It was an excellent all-rounder.” The winning marmalade will be sold at the company’s famous Piccadilly store in the next couple of months.
Lord Henley said of his win: “I am absolutely delighted to have won the award for the Peers and Political category, never mind Best In Show. I am very gratified.” This is the third time Lord Henley, who used his mother’s recipe, has entered the awards.
Winners included:
Seville Orange, sponsored by Mackays – Janet Dixon Smith of Leicestershire
It’s a Family Affair, sponsored by Robertson’s and Paddington Bear – Liz Bellafontaine from Suffolk
Any Citrus, sponsored by Rose’s – Atay Dervish of Walthamstow, London
Dark and Chunky – Mrs L Danielis of Carlisle
Man Made (Seville), sponsored by Frank Cooper’s – John Swannell of London
Man Made (Dark and Chunky), sponsored by Frank Cooper’s – Jonathan Hamel Cooke of Aylesbury
Peers and Political – Lord Henley of Carlisle
Military – Roger Bingham of Milnthorpe
Merry, sponsored by Laithwaites – Fiona Bird of Angus
Clergy – Dr Susan Jones of Grange Over Sands, Cumbria
International, sponsored by Mackays – William Tacon of Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Inventive, sponsored by Thursday Cottage – Jayne Salt of Cumbria
B&B, sponsored by Sawday’s – Fiona Henderson of Moville B&B, Perthshire
Artisan Double Gold, which will also be stocked at Fortnum & Mason – Ludlow Food Centre
A special award will be given to a team of 11 marmalade makers from Buninyong in Australia. They have won the first ever ‘MarmalAshes’ – ashes from two wooden marmalade spoons from Britain and Australia.
With a glut of recent headlines suggesting UK marmalade sales are falling, the record number of entries for this year’s awards goes to prove the preserve is still popular with Brits and that a growing number are now making their own.
Judging for the categories was undertaken by members of the local WI as well as a prestigious panel of judges including food historian Ivan Day, Robert Parker from Tiptree, Tim Came, MD of Thursday Cottage and Dan Lepard, award-winning baker and Guardian food writer.
Further details of the festival and its winners can be found by visiting: www.marmaladeawards.com. All amateur entry fees will be donated to charity. The 2011 beneficiaries are Hospice at Home and Action Medical Research.
- Ends -
Emma Mason: 07762 117433 / emma@emmamasonpr.co.uk
Louise Barnett: 07713 742685 / louise@emmamasonpr.co.uk
