Marc Mouzon pastry chef with the Rosemary Shrager Cookery School, Abi Ajetunmobi Barnardo’s NI, Lesley Dobson, Barnardo’s NI, Dr B’s Kitchen and Rosemary Shrager.

Lesley Dobson from Conlig recently helped bake a cake for Barnardo’s 150th anniversary under the guidance of celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager. The eight layer cake was presented at a Barnardo’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace which was hosted by HRH Duchess of Cornwall.

Lesley who has a background in catering and is a hobby baker and cake decorator has worked for Barnardo’s NI for 25 years. She is an Employment Support Worker with the charity’s Dr B’s Kitchen based in Belfast, which provides training for young people with learning disabilities for a career in the hospitality sector. She says being part of the team baking the 150th cake was the experience of a lifetime:
“It was just amazing. I felt so privileged that Barnardo’s had asked me. We spent three days making the cake at the Rosemary Shrager Cookery School in Royal Tunbridge Wells together with Rosemary’s top pastry chef Marc Mouzon and Abi Ajetunmobi who is with Barnardo’s Leaving Care Service in Belfast and is also a baker.
“It was really exciting to be working with a Michelin starred patisserie chef, to have access to his skills was phenomenal for our learning and progress.  I came away with a book full of ideas and recipes.”
“We delivered the cake to Buckingham Palace an hour before the gates were opened and it was lovely to sit there in the grounds, soak up the atmosphere and watch the preparations with everyone else arriving.”
“I was introduced to the Duchess of Cornwall who cut the cake and tried a slice. She said she thought it was lovely and asked where it had been made.”
“It was fantastic because the second day I started with Barnardo’s Dr B’s Kitchen I met Diana Princess of Wales and now in my 25th year with the charity I have helped make the 150th cake with Rosemary Shrager and met the Duchess of Cornwall.”
Celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager said: “I am passionate about giving young people opportunities. It is so important for me. When Barnardo’s approached me to work with Abi and Lesley how could I possibly say no?”

Lynda Wilson, Director Barnardo’s NI said: “We are all so proud of what Lesley and Abi achieved. It was a real showstopper of a cake. They worked incredibly hard to bake and decorate it and what they produced was amazing. I have never eaten a cake like it, it was absolutely delicious and worthy of such a prestigious event.”

The cake was an eight layered lime and lemon genoise sponge filled with apple marshmallow, a blackcurrant buttercream with Italian meringue and a lemon mousse. It was topped with a strawberry marshmallow and lime jelly and was decorated with handmade macaroons and chocolate dipped strawberries.
This year Barnardo’s is marking its 150th anniversary. Thomas Barnardo’s vision was for no child to be turned away from the help they need. During its 150 year history the charity has helped transform the lives of millions of disadvantaged children in the UK, and continues to help families to build a better future. Last year 8,000 children, young people and families were supported by Barnardo’s NI through more than 50 services such as young carers, care leavers, foster carers, training and skills or parenting classes.
For more information visit www.barnardos.org.uk/northernireland.
If any local employers in the catering industry are interested in providing work placements for young people from Dr B’s Kitchen please contact Lesley on T: 028 9032 1213