Cake tribute paid to OSGB

OSGB Vice President Jo Kelleher received a beautiful cake on behalf of the society in June which was presented by Oak Furniture Land at the opening of their new store in Orpington, Kent, where both Jo and OSGB Display Manager Jeanette Beaney live.   

Cake creator Francesca Pitcher and OSGB VP Jo Kelleher

Oak Furniture Land paid tribute to the OSGB’s success at Chelsea by asking Kent-based cake artist Francesca Pitcher of North Star Cakes to design a cake in the shape of a jardinière of Eulophia guineensis.  This species appeared on our Chelsea display as it is native to the Sultanate of Oman, whose Ministry of Tourism sponsored us again this year. 

The cake is based on the stylised aesthetic movement in art, specifically British porcelain of the period. The jardinière is decorated with one of the species from this year’s gold-medal winning display, Cattleya purpurata, while other sections are based on enamelled jewellery depicting a generic Cattleya design. 

The astonishingly realistic Eulophia guineensis spikes were made from sugar and floristry wire, then hand painted in edible dusts. As no cutters exist for this flower the artist spent a day working on three prototypes before work could begin on the three spikes which took a further two and a half days to produce.

On being presented with the cake Jo Kelleher said ‘We are delighted to welcome Oak Furniture Land to the area and wish them every success for the future.  The floral cake tribute is a wonderful gesture to celebrate our second successive Gold medal at Chelsea and to highlight the Society’s work in conserving and cultivating orchids. We are holding a lunch to welcome new members in August and the cake will take centre stage there.’

Store Manager Fiona Cooper presents the cake to Jo Kelleher alongside
Deputy Major of Bromley, Councillor Kate Lymer

To find out more about Oak Furniture Land visit Oak Furniture Land