Practice Articles 1

Practice Article 1: Oxford Bakery Wins Prize

National Prize for Cakes Winner Honours Late Wife

A bakery owner Mike Smith wins the Pride Flour sponsored national competition remembers his late wife.

Mike Smith, a 60 year old bakery owner, entered a a competition with 5,000 bakeries for the Nation prize for cakes with a prize of £10,000 sponsored by Pride Flour. Smith’s bakery is situated on the High Street of Oxford and has been in the family for several generation, since 1929.

The national judge Mary Berry, a veteran baker, awarded the prize to the family’s prized heirloom. This left his 12 staff members and Smith honoured with the win. Mike said: “I couldn’t believe it when I heard I’d won”.

His late wife, Penny, died of cancer 12 months before leaving Mike to remember her in this achievement by saying: “My wife Penny would be so proud”.

The praise continued with one of Smith’s loyal customers, Irene Cody said: “I wouldn’t buy cakes anywhere else”. She who shared an unforgettable moment with then making her wedding cake 25 years ago.

After receiving the prize, Mike Smith decided to go on a holiday cruise.

Journalist: Yusra Khalil

Local bakery wins national prize

A family-owned Oxford bakery wins a national prize for cakes among 5,000 contestants.

Oxford bakery has won the national prize in a competition sponsored by Pride Flour and judged by veteran baker Mary Berry.

The bakery, owned by 60-year-old Mike Smith, has been in the family for generations since 1929 and is located on High Street.

After his victory, Mike stated that “I couldn’t believe it when I heard I’d won” and that “his wife Penny, - who died of cancer 12 months ago- would be so proud.”

The bakery currently has 12 people on its staff and is already a part of Oxford’s community, as stated by customer Irene Cody, “I wouldn´t buy cakes anywhere else”. Baker Mike prepared Irene’s wedding cake 25 years ago.

The prize for the contest is £10,000, which Mike is planning to spend on a holiday cruise.

The Oxford Bakery has won the prize after generations of dedication and love for baking, as well as a sense of belonging in the community.

Journalist: Regina Pannunzio

Sweetness in Sorrow: A Wistful Road to Victory

When the 60 year old Oxford Bakery owner Mike Smith learned he had won a national prize for his beloved bakery, he could not help but consider his late wife Penny, who had died of cancer 12 months prior.

“My wife Penny would be so proud, ” Smith beamed, as he recalls the wedding cake he made for his beloved late wife 25 years ago. The proud bakery owner holds family near and dear to his heart, attested by his belief of keeping the High Street bakery family owned, as it has been since its opening 1929. From then on, the 12-person staffed bakery has been a centerfold of the quaint Oxford town and community. Frequent customer Irene Cody declares “I wouldn’t buy cakes anywhere else”.

Mike Smith’s popular and sought after cakes made him a perfect candidate for Brittain’s national prize for cakes, with over 5,000 bakeries entered, and judged by veteran baker Mary Berry. The fierce competition pays with a highly coveted prize of 10,00 pounds, sponsored by Pride Flour. Mike Smith plans to use his deserving prize on a holiday cruise.

Journalist: Lauren Donath

Family-Owned Bakery in Oxford Wins National Prize for Cakes

Oxford Cakes and Pastries takes home top honors in a national baking competition judged by Mary Berry.

Oxford, UK: A beloved local bakery has risen to national fame after being crowned the winner of the Pride Flour Cake Award, beating out more than 5,000 competitors from across the country. 

Oxford Cakes and Pastries, a long-standing family owned business located on High Street in Oxford since 1929, was awarded the coveted title along with a £10,000 prize. The bakery, run by 60-year-old Mike Smith and a team of 12 dedicated staff, has been a staple of the Oxford community for generations.

Members of the community, such as Irene Cody say “I wouldn’t buy cakes anywhere else.” Mike Smith’s beloved cakes put him in a perfect position to win Pride Flour’s award. It would seem the national judge Mary Berry, who is a veteran baker herself, agreed. 

The recognition visibly moved Mike Smith. He said, “I couldn’t believe it when I heard that I’d won” and “my wife Penny would be so proud.” 

Penny, who passed away from cancer 12 months ago, was not only Mike’s wife but also his partner in pastry. The two were married for 25 years, and their love story famously began with Mike baking their wedding cake. 

Mike chose to spend the prize money on a long-overdue holiday cruise. 

Since the win, the bakery has seen a noticeable increase in visitors, with tourists coming from everywhere to see the famous small town, family-owned, heart of the community bakery, that beat out over 5,000 competitors and took the cake for Pride Flour’s prestigious award. 

Journalist: Finley Hamilton

Oxford Bakery Wins £10K Cake Prize, Beating 5,000 Rivals

The 60 year old bakery owner Mike Smith wins a national prize sponsored by Pride Flour.

Located on High Street Oxford, the local business has been family owned and operated since 1929, composed by 12 staff members, and it is profoundly known for first-rate cakes; the bakery is currently operated by Mike Smith.

Customer Irene Cody, who has been a regular for 25 years since Smith baked her wedding cake, mentioned, “I wouldn’t buy cakes anywhere else”, confirming his upscale baking talent.

Pride Flour’s sponsored competition, involving 5,000 bakeries from around the country were striking for the £10,000 prize, arbitrated by veteran national judge, Mary Berry.

Smith commented that he “couldn’t believe it” when he got the call and was crowned the winner for this national competition. He utterly pointed out that his departed wife, who lost a battle to cancer a year ago “would be so proud”.

The local business owner decided to spend the prize money on a holiday cruise.

Journalist: Mariann Morales

95 year old bakery wins well deserved prize

A simple Oxford bakery wins a prize after entering a national competition for their renowned cakes.

A quaint Oxford bakery named Mike’s founded in 1929 wins a national prize after submitting to a competition where another 5,000 bakeries had entered. Their popular and renowned cakes are most likely what allowed them to take the prize home.

The Mike’s bakery located on high street has been opened since 1929 and since has been passed down from generation to generation and is now owned by 60 year old baker Mike Smith.

This was a very popular competition and was even judged by veteran baker Mary Berry and the prize was sponsored by Pride Flour. This attracted waves of bake-fanatic onlookers and optimistic bakeries hoping to win the whoping 10,000 pounds to use to possibly invest in their growing businesses.

Mike’s bakery is considerably large compared to the other bakeries in the area, he manages 12 staff and is located in one of the most lively and bustling streets in oxford. One might assume that the 10,000 pounds in prize money would go to his family business but instead he will take advantage of it and spend the money on a well earned holiday cruise.

Mike’s initial reaction to his accomplishment and prize was one of utter shock. He states in an interview “I couldn’t believe it when I heard I won”. For others Mike’s winning did not come as a shock considering his bakery is one of the most popular in the area. Local customer Irene Cody states: “I wouldn’t buy cakes anywhere else”. Irene is a lifelong customer and even relied on Mike to bake her wedding cake nearly 25 years ago.

Mike unfortunately has no one to share the money with considering his wife Penny died only a year ago of cancer. Nevertheless Mike says “My wife Penny would be so proud” something that is not hard to believe.

Journalist: Isabella Vélez