Stretton baker rises to the top

MAURICE Hartnett kneaded no help as he baked his way to national success.

The former police officer made a dramatic career change four years ago when he opened Revel Bakery in Stretton-under-Fosse.

And it certainly paid off when he won the flatbread category at the prestigious Tiptree World Bread Awards in London.

Maurice's win came out of the blue as he was not even planning to enter.

He told The Observer: “It was a colleague who talked me into entering.

“I didn't do anything different to usual – it was just my trademark flatbread. So to win came as a huge surprise.”

But his red onion and Grana Padano cheese fermented ciabatta, which takes some 16 hours to make from start to finish,

certainly went down well with the judges.

The 53 year-old developed his love of baking after being gifted a baking day at Richard Bertinet's Cookery School some eight years ago.

As the keen amateur baker approached retirement from the police, he decided to take his hobby full-time – opening his own business.

He said his sweet-toothed customers favour his cinnamon swirls and a signature white loaf named The Revel.

A man of many talents, he even picked up a bronze for his Sourdough entry.

In total there were 400 entrants in the 14 categories. Among the judges were critic and regular on Masterchef Charles Campion, and founder of The Real Bread Campaign, Andrew Whitley.

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