Cream teas and fruit cake would have featured regularly on the menu at Downton Abbey. And they will again next month at Highclere Castle, where the popular aristosoap is filmed – thanks to one of Reading’s top family bakers.
Warings will be providing 1,000 scones for Reading charity Launchpad’s Great War Cafe, where cream teas will be served throughout the afternoon at the Berkshire stately home’s Heroes at Highclere commemorative charity event on Sunday, August 3.
Highclere’s owners, The Earl and Countess of Caernarvon, are patrons of Launchpad, the charity which helps vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
Launchpad, in conjunction with Warings, is also running a fruit cake baking competition. Anyone can take part in the Great War Baking Competition for a chance to win four tickets to Highclere Castle.
The prize also includes a signed book by Lady Caernarvon, a Waring’s Masterclass Gift Certificate and a Highclere Castle goody bag.
All you have to do is bake two six inch fruit cakes, one of which will be judged on July 28.
The top 10 entries will then be put forward to the final judging at the event itself.
All top 10 entries will receive two adult tickets for Heroes at Highclere, worth £50.
For more information about the competition and an entry form visit the website at www.launchpadreading.org.uk/fundraising.
Waring’s managing director Janet Carr, who will be doing bakery demonstrations on the day, will be a competition judge.
Daniel Carr, the great-grandson of Waring’s founder, will be working alongside Launchpad volunteers at the fete.
He said: “We’re supported every day by the local communities in which our shops are based and having the opportunity to help people in those communities in return, has always been important to us.
The event, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, will raise money for armed forces and humanitarian charities, including the Royal British Legion, Oxfam, Combat Stress and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.
It promises to be an action-packed day which will include vintage funfair rides, aerial displays from the Red Devils, a ‘dogfight’ featuring nine types of First World War aircraft and a First World War cavalry display.
From the Second World War, there will be a flypast of a Spitfire and other iconic military hardware will be on display.
Former BBC war correspondent Kate Adie is booked for the Speaker’s Tent.
A variety of music will be playing, from military bands to Sadie and the Hot Rods featuring Elizabeth McGovern, aka Downton’s Lady Grantham.
Rumour has it, too, that stars of the show will also be dropping by.
For information and tickets, visit www.highclerecastle.co.uk/visiting-us/special-events/13/heroes-at-hgihclere.html.