Swindon-born Paul Chambers may have been banished from cookery lessons for throwing marzipan, but that early mischief didn’t stop him from building a remarkable career in baking.
Because Paul is celebrating 50 years in the trade, and is now combining a lifetime of experience with a passion for teaching the next generation of bakers at Swindon-based artisan bakery Pipp & Co.
“I left school at 15, which lots of people did in those days,” said Paul, 65, who lives in Grange Park with his wife, Vicki, and has two sons and two granddaughters.
“I had a Saturday job in The Brunel and discovered a small stall from Swiss Chalet Bakery giving out samples. I tried the gingerbread, saw they were looking for an apprentice, and applied. Ironically, I had been thrown out of cookery lessons for clowning around and throwing marzipan – it accidentally hit the teacher as she walked in!”
Paul’s apprenticeship marked the start of a career that has spanned 50 years – so far!
After completing his City & Guilds at Cheltenham Technical College, he was supervising by age 19, mastering celebration cake decoration and sugar craft. He went on to hone his craft across a number of small bakeries, before stepping into management at 28, overseeing 82 staff in a BRC food standard accredited business, supplying major retailers including M&S, Waitrose, and Costa Coffee.
Later, Paul joined a family bakery business in Bristol, managing 52 shops supplying freshly made breads, confectionery, and savouries. After eight years, he sought a role where he could pass on his knowledge, mentoring others and shaping the future of the craft he loves.
Today, Paul is Pipp & Co’s Training and Development Manager, helping develop new products and guiding a team of passionate bakers.
“I absolutely love it, and I have no plans to retire,” he said. “I’m proud of what we make, and my passion is savouries – so it’s exciting to be expanding into that line while sharing what I’ve learned over the years.”
Mario Evangelista, who co-runs Pipp & Co with his wife Betina, said: “Paul is a fantastic asset to our team. His knowledge, creativity, and dedication inspire everyone, and he plays a huge role in maintaining the quality and artisan standards we pride ourselves on.”
Pipp & Co bakes all its products in Swindon using only natural ingredients, with no artificial additives or preservatives. For more information, visit https://www.pipp.co
Article by Jo Smyth, Word Worker
