An elderly baker who made cakes for soldiers during WW2 has helped her care home celebrate National Cupcake Week.
Gwen Tolson, 92, began working in her grandmother’s café in Chilwell when she was a child. She used to entertain visiting soldiers, stationed at Chetwynd Barracks by tap dancing, as well as helping her grandmother in the kitchen and serving.
Now living at Hill Care’s Longmoor Lodge Care Home in Sandiacre, she took the lead on creating cupcakes in celebration of National Cupcake Week.
Gwen said: “We converted a back room in my grandmother’s house in Chilwell as a café for the soldiers to come and have a break. I baked with my grandmother for the soldiers during the war.
“I also remember working at the Birds Bakery in Nottingham when I was 16.
“I used to bake with my own children too. The bit they enjoyed the most was using their finger to clean out the bowl after making the cake mix.”
Gwen was joined by fellow residents Eileen Jeffs, 92, and Isabella Spears, 70, while creating their Hill Care-themed cupcakes for National Cupcake Week.
Eileen said: “I used to love baking fruit cakes and Victoria sponges for my husband Stuart and myself.”
Isabella said: “My husband was the baker of the family and he had his own bakery, so I just enjoyed sampling all his work. I didn’t have a favourite as there was always too many to choose from.”
Marsha Reid, activities co-ordinator at Longmoor Lodge Care Home, on Longmoor Lane, said: “The three ladies were very excited to get involved creating cupcakes for National Cupcake Week.
“They all got their heads together to come up with a design. They chose a sweetie adorned cupcake because they said the care team at Longmoor Lodge are sweet.
“The cakes had Hill Care green icing, chocolate fingers, fruity sweets and marshmallows. All the residents enjoyed a slice with their afternoon tea.”