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Date: 22 May 2012
Time: 16:54
“Cake Lady” rubs shoulders with royalty
Story posted/last updated: 20 December 2011
Kath Ryan, or the "Cake Lady” as she is known by military patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), dined with royalty when she attended a prestigious awards ceremony yesterday.
Kath, who leads Cakes4Casualties, was shortlisted in the Support to the Armed Forces category of The Sun Military Awards (Millies) which were held at the Imperial War Museum in London. She shared a table at the special event with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, chatting with them over dinner about her work.
The 50-year-old, who lives in Hall Green, was nominated for the award because she bakes and delivers an assortment of delicious treats to wounded troops at the hospital every week.
Kath said: “I had the most amazing day yesterday. In fact, when I woke up this morning I had to pinch myself to check it wasn’t a dream! I met David Cameron at a fantastic reception at Downing Street and then there was the wonderful ceremony at the Imperial War Museum in London. I couldn’t believe it when I was told I’d be sharing a table with William and Kate and even more amazed when William addressed me by name.
“Kate was beautiful and chatty and William a darling who said he thought what I did for the troops was amazing. He has a wonderful sense of humour and had the table in stitches. I was also thrilled to meet David Beckham who attended with two of his sons. I still can’t quite believe I was at such a magical event.”
Although Walking with the Wounded won the Support to the Armed Forces category, Kath said: “Obviously to have won the award would have been the icing on the cake, if you’ll pardon the pun, but I still felt like a winner because I was with my heroes – the troops. Lots of the boys I’d met over the years were there and I had such a great time catching up with them. It made my day to see how well they look and what they’re doing now.”
Ever humble, Kath said she still feels embarrassed by all the attention she receives for her work.
“Cakes4Casualties is just a small way to let everyone in the Armed Forces know that there is a lot of love and support for them and that many people really do care what happens to them,” she explained.
The patients request their favourite cakes each week and Kath added: “The lads love the vanilla slices but the squidgy chocolate cake is also very popular. It’s so rewarding to be able to just bring some home comforts in, especially when some of the patients are so far from home.”
If you’d like to support Cakes4Casualties you can make a donation by contacting the QEHB Charity on 0121 371 4852 or by sending a cheque to:
QEHB Charity (Cakes4Casualties)
5th Floor
Nuffield House
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Edgbaston
Birmingham, B15 2TH
You can also buy ingredients at the QEHB Charity's online shop, or you can donate £5 by texting CAKE88 £5 to 70070.
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