Moving to the beautiful countryside of Shropshire (UK) after retiring from a successful business 20 years ago, we inherited a garden of apple, damson and plum trees, this abundance of fruit gave me the inspiration to make my first jam.
That year I decided to enter local competitions and I started winning awards. Also with the WI at Denman, in 2013 I was awarded “World Jampion” for my gooseberry and mint jelly, presented to me at the Dundee Food and Drink Festival.
I had read about the World’s Original Marmalade Awards and decided to broaden my self-taught skills and make marmalade.
I learned that Gospa Citrus organic Seville oranges were the best for marmalade so I bought my first batch and made a variety of marmalades and entered the competition. I was awarded my very first Gold for my organic Seville orange marmalade along with Silver and Bronze too.
Continuing my success using these magical organic Seville’s I have been fortunate to attain many further awards including the most prestigious Double Gold.
Creating marmalade has become a great passion and inventing and experimenting with new combinations of fruits and flavours inspires me.
I love to teach and share my skills and knowledge of preserving and often demonstrate my techniques at local charity events and country fayres. I’m never happier than when I’m with my four granddaughters’ in my country kitchen passing down my recipes and this is something that I hope the girls will continue to embrace and develop as they grow up. They too have won Gold awards in the children’s categories for their efforts and my youngest granddaughter has just sent in her first ever entry.
I hope the gift from my pantry of these little jars of sunshine continue to inspire my family, friends and guests.
