Where to start? There are so many people I would like to thank for helping me turn a childhood dream into reality. To John and Charlie for supporting me, cheering me on, calming me down and bravely tasting every recipe put in front of them. To all my family and friends who have encouraged me in my belief that I could start a business doing something I love, you know who you are. A huge thanks to Marc and Lorraine for spending hours discussing design concepts with me and creating my special Cake Angels logo; I love it. My grateful thanks to Gareth Roberts and Chris Cook for all their hard work on turning my design ideas into actuality. Thank you to Paula Snow and Frankie and all the girls at the Hereford Breast Cancer Haven for being there when I needed you and for always being so enthusiastic about my cakes.
A special thanks to the brilliant journalist Catherine O’Brian, who wrote a wonderfully upbeat article about my battle with breast cancer and the start of Cake Angels: without that article, there wouldn’t have been a book. A big thank you to Clare Hulton, my agent, who read that article, had the vision of Cake Angels the book and has guided me seamlessly and effortlessly through the literary jungle. A massive thanks to Lizzy Gray, Helen Hawksfield and the team at HarperCollins: your unfailing enthusiasm and faith in me kept me going many times late into the night! Thanks to Laura, Annie, Lisa, Rachel and Annie for the beautiful photographs and thanks to Kay for helping me to ‘dot my i’s and cross my t’s.’
Thank you, thank you, thank you to Shirley, Dwayne, Jack and the Ebenites for keeping Charlie happy when Mummy had to work. A massive thank you to the Jackson Five, especially Anna, who was with me at the start of Cake Angels and who is always happy to spend hours talking cake!
For seven years I have been trying to think of a way to say thank you to the tirelessly hardworking Dr Sean Elyan and Mr Alan Corder and Dr Vanessa England. Without your care, expertise, patience and unfailing support, Charlie and I might not be here: thank you.
This book also gives me the opportunity to thank Professor Jane Plant, for introducing me to the benefits and joys of eating without dairy and for taking the time to talk to me and encourage me when I was scared and depressed: thank you.
Finally a huge thank you to all my wonderful customers: without you, there wouldn’t be a Cake Angels.