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Nice plaits Sarah!

Little Mills Sarah Roberts with Michael Hitchings

Little Mills Sarah Roberts with Michael Hitchings

Little Mill Bakery’s Sarah Roberts won second prize for her three-strand plait of bread at the Kent Master Bakers’ Annual Bread and Confectionary Competitions.
“I’m shocked! I can’t believe it!” said Sarah, 25, who has only been at Little Mill for six weeks. “I’m extremely chuffed and happy.” Michael and Claire Hitchings, who own Little Mill, are regular prizewinners at the prestigious competitions. This year’s event was held at Ashford International Hotel on 7th June. 
Sarah said, “When I first started, Michael told me about all the competitions and said that depending on how quickly I picked things up I could enter. Then he said I should go for it.”  Before coming to Little Mill, Sarah worked as a chef for eight years at the White Hart in Guestling. “I had a couple of friends who did baking and they said it’s a fantastic job. So I did my research, got a list of local bakers, picked one at random and rang up. Initially I was only asking Michael for information, but he said there was a vacancy.”
“I love it,” she says. “ It’s absolutely fantastic! I love the fact that you’re making something by hand, and bread is so very important. The whole world has different types of bread. And it’s a great smell!”
Asked if she will enter next year, Sarah said, “Definitely! I’ll be aiming for a first! It was a great opportunity for me to learn about all the different breads and what the other bakers are doing. I’m getting as much out of it as I can and learning as many skills as I can in the baking trade.
Employer Michael Hitchings said, “Sarah already has the technical skill. I’ll try to get her onto an NVQ course so she can get some qualifications behind it as well”.
All in all, Little Mill won nine prizes, including 1st prize for sultana scones, second prizes for their white open top standard tin loaf, their white round crusty rolls, and Sarah’s three strand plait..

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