Oaklands Care Home administrator Becky steps into the kitchen to win national cake competition

Staff at Oaklands Care Home had every reason to be confident of their chances in the Kingsley Healthcare Easter Cake competition.

For the home’s head chef, Said Guenaoui, is a celebrated pastry chef who has worked in top hotels and formerly ran an upmarket patisserie in Norwich.

Their problem? During the week the cake had to be baked Said was on holiday!

Up stepped Becky Kingsland, administrator at the home in Scole, near Diss, who crafted an Easter bunny-themed cake and was ably assisted in the kitchen by deputy manager Amanda Baker.

Becky, 25, who lives in nearby Hoxne, was thrilled when she learned at lunchtime on Thursday (April 1) that her creation had been voted the winner in a poll on the Kingsley Healthcare Group’s Facebook page.

Her cake received 632 likes, ahead of Timperley Care Home, in Cheshire, 569, Downham Grange, in Downham Market, Norfolk, 142, and The Depperhaugh, in Hoxne, Suffolk, 132. All Kingsley’s homes across the UK took part.

Becky said: “I have been the home administrator here at Oaklands since December 2020, before that I was a carer.

“I have been baking since I was a child and it’s my real passion. I love creating new ideas and recipes in the kitchen in my spare time.”

She said Said was thrilled that she had won in his absence and really admired the cake.

Home manager Julie Robinson said: “We have two great chefs here. However, if both are off for any reason I know I now have the perfect person on hand to step into the kitchen!”

Becky wins a prize of shopping vouchers while the home will receive two cake stands.

Runners-up Downham Grange, Timperley and The Depperhaugh win cake stands.

Downham Grange chef Anchalee Pearce wins a special merit award of shopping vouchers from the Kingsley directors.

Author: Stephen Pullinger