Bohemia Village Voice

Michael & Claire with selection of prizes and a wheatsheaf

A local bakers walked away with six prizes in this year’s Kent Association of Master Bakers Compet-ition.   Michael and Claire Hitchings of London Road’s Little Mill Bakery entered nine sections of the prestigious competition with their different types of breads and won six out of nine. They plan to enter again next year, and hope in addition that their new trainee, Emily Bilsby, will enter the trainee section.
Michael is no stranger to baking competitions, and had entered them before when working for the old-established family firm of H. B. Burbidge & Son in Andover, where he was the bakery manager.
It was after a major fall-out with the owner of Burbidge’s that Michael, who has been baking for 17 years, decided to set up in business for himself.
“The owner turned round and said ‘It’s my name over the door’.   It was those words which gave me the idea.” The couple looked around several areas of the country for a bakery business, including North Wales and the Isle of Wight, before finally deciding on St. Leonards.   “It’s the right location, it’s got everything we want, and we haven’t looked back since.” They took over the business as a going concern in April 2006, and as soon as they moved in, started baking at 11.30 pm that very night. Michael and Claire believe firmly in supporting the local community.   They are very much involved with Christchurch Primary School and Christchurch Cubs and Scouts, providing food free of charge for barbecues etc.   They presented a loaf of bread baked in the shape of a wheatsheaf to the school for Harvest Festival.   They also support St. Michael’s Hospice by supplying cakes for many Hospice events.