Taking the cake

Robert Irvine boasted numerous places about having participated in the baking of Lady Diana and Prince Charles' wedding cake. For instance, here. Also, in the introduction to his HarperCollins book entitled Mission: Cook!

Times writer Ben Montgomery corresponded with the baker who actually was responsible for baking the cake, Dave Avery (pictured with the cake, above). Here's an article about Avery's experience.

Irvine made the claim to several St. Petersburg locals that, in addition to having been part of the baking team, he still had the top tier of the cake in his freezer.

Avery responded to Montgomery this morning via e-mail:

"Thank you for your very interesting e-mail. Robert Irvine may have been a trainee student at the Royal Naval Cookery School whilst I was making the Royal Wedding Cake. He most certainly was not involved with me in making or baking the cake. I did make two identical wedding cakes, just in case of accidents. The second cake I cut up and distributed to all the trainees in the Naval Cookery School. So, there is a possibility that he may have a piece of that one. It would only be about an inch square finger of cake. Maybe you could ask him questions that only I would know the answer to! e.g. Where was I when it was announced to the public that I was making the cake? The answer: HMS Drake in
Plymouth. Or who did I ask to draw the blueprint to take to Lady Diana for her approval? The answer: Barry Dunkley. Looks like Robert Irvine has a very successful career in the USA. Good luck to him--hope he hasn't built his career on lies. Time will always find you out! Regards."

--Dave Avery, BEM, MCFA(CG)LCG, WACS

Comments

[Paul]

And why should we trust this Dave Avery. this picture looks photoshopped. i say all chef are full of chef and non should be trusted. the world was a better place when the chef was back in the kitchen doing what he is paid for - cook and not talk.

[The Mouth]

I believe he's legit. I looked him up online, and there are newspaper clippings from 1981 that corroborate his story.

[loblollies]

Lets see the newspaper clippings, Mouth.

[Crystal]

So if I'm understanding Avery correctly he claims to have made two wedding cakes (one was back-up) all on his own with absolutely no help from anyone. Not likely!

[Kevin Carlson]

Dave Avery is telling the truth. As we say in Wales, I was there.
As a trainee at the Royal Navy Catering School in Chatham when the cake was being made.
Dave Avery was the team leader of an exceptional group of patissiers.
Some of the trainees were involved in the production of the cake. For instance I was charged with producing vast quantities of apricot glaze which the team used to fix the marzipan onto the cake. So I helped a little bit but I would never claim to have been a part of the team. We were trainees and just did as we were asked, don't forget this was a huge honour for the school.
The security at the school was at quite a high level so that no one would see the finished article prior to the wedding.
The school had two bakeries at the end of the school building which were closed off and permanently under lock, key and guarded out of training hours.
Each time I produced a batch of glaze I went to the door of the bakery and handed over the goods. I was never allowed inside the bakery.
I can't remember who was there at the time or who all of the team members were. I do know that Petty Officer Bridger who won several Golds at Hotel olympia was involved and that the decorative plates were hand painted by a Leading Wren Chef. All of this including photos of the team were published in the Navy News at the time.
Two cakes were made incase anything was damaged in transit. Each tier was packed in a purpose made wooden box for the journey courtesey of HMS Chathams chippies. Dave Avery was in charge of the project and to my knowledge has never claimed to have produced the cakes on his own. So this other Guy is full of BS.