90-year-old baker raises over £46k for his beloved church

Gerry, 90, from Market Weston, a small village on the Norfolk/Suffolk border near Bury St Edmunds, took up baking after the death of his wife Pamela. 

He started providing nibbles for social events and after the food became so popular he decided to raise money for his beloved church by selling his baked goods at coffee mornings and via a custom-built shed at the end of his driveway.

People come from all over the area to buy his food, helping Gerry to raise more than £45,000 in six years. The money has helped to pay for the restoration of the Victorian windows at St Mary’s Church in the village. 

He now spends over 70 hours a week baking. He said: “I love baking. It gives me an interest, and the bonus is I’m on my feet all day. In the mornings I get up and there’s so much to do in front of me that I’m not thinking of myself at all. I’m just getting stuck into work and hopefully raising money – and doing good in the village. 

“The church means everything to me. It meant so much to my wife as well. It’s the centre of the village and is marvellous, with lovely services, it brings me so joy. And I’m glad I can do my bit to support it.” 

Gerry, a former RAF driver and in later years a country singer, has also planted thousands of daffodil bulbs in the church grounds and in the fields which surround it, all in memory of his wife Pamela.

Rev Cathy Bladen, the Rector of St Mary’s Church, part of the United Benefice of Stanton, said: “Gerry has done so much for our church. He bakes regularly, he plants bulbs, and he fundraises in all sorts of ways. His fundraising has enabled us to complete the wonderful east window restoration project and to work with getting the other windows done one by one through the church.

“Because of the character he is – Gerry is such a wonderful, vivacious character - people come from the surrounding villages to see him and support his fundraising. He brings his famous sausage rolls to the Sunday services, and we eat them after a church service. It’s a good way for a church community to grow and bond together and that helps to bring people in from the village as well.

“We are very grateful for all that Gerry has done for us, and I really think that he should be lent out to every church – every church needs a Gerry helping to support them!”