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Distinction for student
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DISTINCTION FOR STUDENT
A Northampton College student has become the first person to ever be awarded a Gold Award with Distinction at the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, with judges deciding that Gold alone ‘simply wasn’t enough’.
Austin Howsam, who is studying Level 3 patisserie and confectionery at Booth Lane, was named the winner of the College Student of the Year category at the awards, having impressed a panel of experts with his creativity and kitchen skills.
The ambitious young chef, who has already enjoyed experiences with the award-winning Burnt Lemon Chefs and spent time in the kitchens at The Spencer Arms in Chapel Brampton, launched his own company Cheeky Chomp with his girlfriend last year and has grown it throughout lockdown, with a loyal following on social media.
He said: “All our products are handcrafted from a domestic kitchen. We offer a range of services from cakes and bakes, platters for birthdays, conferences and any other special occasion, to personalised birthday cakes or afternoon teas.
“Northampton College has been really helpful over lockdown as well, providing us with work and keeping us busy, refining our skills.
“This award will be straight on my CV and it’ll be there for future employees to see and hopefully it’ll give me good representation.”
A range of culinary arts courses are available to study at Northampton College, with former students including the Michelin-starred Adam Grey, Richard Branson’s former personal chef Simon Dyer and Danny Tompkins, a former winner of the Northamptonshire Chef of the Year award.
Visit: www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk
Austin Howsam prepares another culinary creation
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR CHARITY
Award-winning charity The Lewis Foundation has reached its fifth birthday.
The charity was founded by Lorraine and Lee Lewis in April 2016 after Lee’s mum Janice was diagnosed with cancer in 2010.
Janice spent several years being treated for cancer at Northampton General Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary and during that time they realised how tough it was for patients going through treatment alone.
Lorraine and Lee used to buy gifts, such as magazines, sweets and toiletries, to give to cancer patients when visiting Janice in hospital and would spend time with people.
Noticing the difference this made, it inspired them to launch The Lewis Foundation at Northampton General Hospital. The charity provides a choice of gifts such as puzzle books, pocket radios and blankets to patients for free and visits from volunteers.
The charity provides about 2,000 gifts per month to 14 hospitals in the Midlands. To date it has given away 66,850 gifts to support adult cancer patients. It has also won 19 awards, including the British Citizen’s Award, Points of Light Award awarded by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and The Independent Newspaper Happy List 2020.
Lee explained: “After seeing my mum go through cancer, it made me realise how hard it was for people not only physically but also mentally and financially.
“People spend so much time in hospital having treatment. My wife and I wanted to bring happiness to cancer patients. We wanted to help stop boredom and loneliness.”
