After 21 years, one of Twyford’s most famous cake makers has hung up her apron. SUE CORCORAN finds out what Wendy Hopes will do next
A cake making guru has closed her Twyford business, having created over 7,000 cakes in 21 years.
Wendy Hopes, 69, hung up her spoon at her shop and kitchen, Frostings in Station Road, for the last time on Saturday. Her creations have been the celebratory centrepieces for weddings, birthdays, Christenings, funerals, baby showers and anniversaries.
A stream of grateful customers made their way to Frostings leading up to the closure to thank Wendy of Caversham. They deluged her with gifts and cards, saying how much they would miss her.
Not only has Wendy made her own fabulous cakes but she has been generous with advice to amateur cake bakers and decorators.
“I’ve always wanted to help, especially the young mums who wanted to make their baby’s first birthday cake but didn’t know how. I just told them what to do. They came back year after year after that,” she said.
Wendy’s business included hiring out cake tins of every shape and size and providing cake decorating materials.
One customer said: “Wendy was so patient and kind with her advice. It didn’t matter what I asked. I once took a fruit cake in for her to pronounce on whether it was cooked. Going to see her seated at the little counter in her pretty and well organised shop, was like visiting a revered and wise oracle.”
Wendy started making cakes for her daughters birthdays and then learned sugar flower making at Reading College. She later made cakes for friends and friends of friends. Eventually, 21 years ago, she visited the shop in Station Road, Twyford, for supplies and, rather to her own surprise, ended up taking over from the previous owner.
“It was brave, having previously worked with children at Micklands Playgroup, Caversham and Addington School, Woodley for many years. I was very nervous, I didn’t even know how to use the till. I couldn’t have done the business side without my husband Tony who is an accountant,” she said.
Early on she made an eight-tier wedding cake which included a church spire. Her particular love is making delicate flowers including roses, orchids, freesias, lilies and gerbera from petal paste.
Tony who is retired has written and published his first novel, A Year At Nethercombe Ley. He is now working on his second. He and Wendy celebrate their golden wedding in September.
Wendy looks forward to more than two weeks holiday a year, her limit while running the business, gardening and spending time with her daughters Beverley and Lindsay and their four children, who all live in Finchampstead.
The future use of the Twyford shop is unknown at present.
