American chef and food writer James Beard famously said: ‘Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts’.
Few would agree more with his sentiment than Yorkshire baker Heather Fuller. The humble loaf is at the heart of Heather’s recent appointment as the first woman in Yorkshire – and only the third woman in the UK - to be appointed National President of the British Craft Bakers Association since it was formed in 1887.
Her new role will not only mark a significant first for the country’s artisan bakers, but also help to raise the profile of her industry and the challenges it faces as one of the oldest trades in the world.
The origins of breadmaking date back tens of thousands of years, yet its future is in the balance as small craft bakeries compete against much larger rivals and a significant shift in opportunities for the next generation of bakers.
‘The next generation could make or break the future of the craft baking industry,’ says Heather. ‘There are many young people out there who are not necessarily cut out for an academic career path but who would excel at something more hands-on and creative, if only they were given the chance. Unfortunately, there are now only a handful of traditional baking colleges left in the country.’
That certainly wasn’t the case when Heather, with her husband George, took over a small bakery in Goole more than 20 years ago.
This story is from the October 2019 edition of Yorkshire Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2019 edition of Yorkshire Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Charity Starts At Home
How do we teach our children the importance of giving back?
THE INTERVIEW Steph McGovern
Live from Leeds - Steph McGovern returns to the studio after a scary lockdown lesson in live TV
THE SCENE SETTERS
Hidden away in a North Yorkshire village, you’ll find a business making huge stage sets for global audiences, from TV’s The Voice, to the Olympics and Trafalgar Square’s plinths
On solid ground
Dry stone walls are the thread that bind Yorkshire’s landscape. Fancy giving it a go? Pete Maynard quit his job to do just that
The French furniture hunters
A day in the life of Stephen and Kath Hazell who run The French House in York, one of the largest French antiques businesses in the UK
Face value
We caught up with Sarah Thomas, co-founder of the York-based beauty brand that’s changing the game with waterless, vegan, natural and organic products
Wildlife in crisis
From the bottom of the sea to the top of the tallest tree, there are tales of wildlife woes all over Yorkshire. The good news is that it’s not too late to save what little remains
Decorative art
Not simply functional, treat your walls like an extension of your personality
Boxing clever
The Hare at Scawton was named Yorkshire Life Restaurant of the Year in 2019 and owners Paul and Liz Jackson had big plans for their gourmet hotspot. When lockdown happened, they put down the kitchen knives and opened the tool box. The results are spectacular
All the dales
This route from Thixendale to Hanging Grimston is often missed by local hikers, but it covers a number of glorious dales. Warning: there’s a one in six climb, but the views make it all worthwhile
