Spicy start to married life
LITTLETOWN bakers Watson's have made thousands of wedding cakes throughout their 90-year history – but it was certainly a first when they made one entirely out of parkin.
The company was approached by Mirfield teacher Ruth Peck who wanted to place an unusually large order for slabs of parkin.
When asked why, it transpired that she and her husband-to-be, Alan Hardy, were planning a bonfire-themed wedding and wanted the parkin for the reception.
So the company went one better, and offered to make her a four-tier wedding cake out of it instead.
Ruth, a teacher at Crowlees Junior and Infant School, and Alan, who live in Huddersfield, were delighted with the end result.
“We met five years ago on November 6, so we decided to have a bonfire night-themed wedding, as it is a special time of year for us,” said Ruth.
“Ann Watson was very helpful when I inquired about ordering a large amount of parkin and it was her idea to stack it up into a wedding cake and add the gingerbread bride and groom on top.
“She even added a tartan tie on the groom and ribbon around the edge of the board, as Alan was wearing a tartan tie to represent his Scottish roots.
“The parkin went down very well with our guests and it even got a mention in our wedding book! There was very little left at the end of the evening which my dad took care of the following day!
“As well as the lovely cake, we had pie and peas and fireworks.”
Ann said that they were delighted to be able to help out.
“It was quite a novelty,” she said.
“Traditional Yorkshire parkin has been produced on this site, from the same recipe, for over three generations.
“When Ruth phoned me and said what she wanted it for I was intrigued and asked if she wanted me to make a bit more of it than just a few slabs of parkin. So I e-mailed her some ideas and she was delighted.
“When she came to pick it up she was absolutely thrilled with it.”
The cake was decorated with gingerbread hearts, plus the gingerbread bride and bridegroom on top.
Watson’s has been in Littletown for around 90 years and, while it no longer makes traditional wedding cakes, its parkin is still legendary across Yorkshire.
“We make and sell it all year round – and for this bonfire night alone, we probably sold around 40,000 pieces of parkin,” said Ann.
“It’s an old Watson’s family recipe using the basic ingredients of oats, syrup and sugar, but it’s the method and quantities that make ours so special.”
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Weather for Cleckheaton
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
