Shropshire's Bake Off competitor made delicious wedding cake nearly 50 years ago
She has become an unlikely star of the Great British Bake Off. But unassuming Diana Beard from Shropshire was baking cakes long before she ended up on TV.
Isabel Williams and her husband John took her on to make their wedding cake almost 50 years ago.
Today Mrs Williams, now a widow, said seeing Diana on the show has brought back happy memories of her wedding day.
She was married on March 30, 1968, at Bronington Church and a reception was held at Hamner Village Hall. About 120 guests attended – all of whom were given a piece of the wedding cake.
The three tier fruit cake was made by Diana, from Whitchurch, who at 69 is the show's oldest ever contestant.
Last night eight million viewers saw Diana survive for another week after Jordan Cox was booted off the programme.
The 33-year-old from Nottingham failed to impress Mary Berry with his bread recipes. Diana, however, clearly made the grade, as she has been doing since before Mrs Williams' wedding.
Mrs Williams, 67, said: "Diana made my wedding cake when she was in her early 20s and she was a great baker back then.
"It was a three tier fruit cake and it was incredibly tasty as I remember and it was made with proper royal icing which is a rarity these days. I remember back in those days the cake cost £25 for us to buy, and I know that because I spent a week's earnings on it. We were both from farming families and that is how we knew each other back then, and my brother who worked for Diana's dad said that she would be able to make me a cake, which she did."
As tradition dictates, the couple kept the layers and the top tier was finished seven years after their wedding day at the Christening of their eldest child, Andrea.
Mr Williams died three months ago after having pneumonia.
Mrs Williams, a florist who lives on Bank Farm in Ash Magna, said: "It has been great to see Diana on the television and it just brought back memories.
"She has always been a talented baker."
