Half a century after being thrown out of cookery class for lobbing marzipan at the wrong moment, Swindon-born Paul Chambers has proved that sometimes the class clown has the last laugh – and the last slice of cake.
Paul, now 65 and living in Grange Park, is marking an incredible 50 years in baking. From humble beginnings as a teenage apprentice, he has risen through the ranks to become Training and Development Manager at artisan bakery Pipp & Co, where he now shares his lifetime of skills with the next generation of bakers.
“Ironically, I had been thrown out of cookery lessons for clowning around and throwing marzipan – it accidentally hit the teacher as she walked in!” Paul recalls with a grin.
His journey began with a Saturday job at The Brunel, where a sample of gingerbread from the old Swiss Chalet Bakery set him on a path that’s taken him from small craft bakeries to managing production for M&S, Waitrose and Costa Coffee. By the age of 19, Paul was supervising staff and mastering intricate sugar craft. By 28, he was running teams of more than 80 in high-pressure food businesses.
But it was the move into training and mentoring that brought him the most satisfaction. Today at Pipp & Co, Paul not only helps develop new products (he admits savouries are his speciality), but also ensures the team continues the bakery’s commitment to natural ingredients, artisan techniques, and good old-fashioned flavour.
“I absolutely love it, and I have no plans to retire,” he says. “It’s exciting to expand into savouries while sharing what I’ve learned over the years.”
Pipp & Co’s co-owner Mario Evangelista said:
“Paul is a fantastic asset to our team. His knowledge, creativity, and dedication inspire everyone, and he plays a huge role in maintaining the quality and artisan standards we pride ourselves on.”
From tossing marzipan in mischief to teaching tomorrow’s bakers, Paul’s 50-year career shows that sometimes the best recipes are made with a mix of passion, hard work – and a dash of humour.
Find out more about Pipp & Co at www.pipp.co.
