The Bakery

Its full name was British Bakeries' Industries Research Association, but it was known as just "the Bakery", which made me think it was just a place where bread was made. In fact, it was a place where new techniques for making bread were developed. Of interest to me, as I would later do chemistry at university.

It was set up in embryonic form during WW2, though only incorporated 13 June 1946. The next year, Chorleywood Lodge was purchased, and it was converted into office and laboratories. It was formally opened by HRH Duchess of Kent on 28 June 1949.

Having left school as soon as he could so he could return to Chorleywood, Michael got a job here as a technician.

He was offered the job 23 March 1948, but told not to start until 3 August, presumably because they were still building the place! I would guess the photo below was taken in 1948 or 1949 to celebrate the opening. Michael is second from the right on the middle row.

These are Michael at work:

He left in 1951 when he turned 18 and had to do his national service, which took him to Nottinghamshire, and by coincidence, that same year Sheila started her degree in Nottingham.

She completed it in 1954, and was then looking for a job. She got further qualified as a librarian, and applied to the Bakery. She started work 1 November 1954.

She was working for Vange(sp?) Laing, with whom she would be friends for many years. She also met another long-time friend, Pat Beeston. In the photo below, Sheila is on the left, Pat on the right.

In 1958, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh visited the place, as reported in some local papers - as well the "Bakers' Review".

You can see Sheila (and Pat Beeston again) very prominently in this photo of the Duke leaving the lodge, which appeared in some papers.

She was promoted 18 May 1961, the same year they released what would become known as the Chorleywood Bread Process. This was very big for the UK baking industry, in part because UK grain is low in protein; according to Wiki 80% of bread made in the UK in 2009 was made using it.

She left 5th June 1964, as the letter suggests, to have a baby; sadly the baby did not survive the birth.

The Bakery became the Flour Milling and Baking Research Association in 1967, after a merger. A further merge in 1991 led to the closure of the site; it continues as Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association based at Chipping Campden.