‘Beef’s Bakery’ cooks up storm online for furloughed painter

A furloughed painter and decorator from St Andrews has become an online celebrity thanks to his twice weekly baking videos and colourful aprons.

Former Langlands Primary and Madras College pupil Graeme Cunningham, who is known to his friends as “Beef”, decided to set up “Beef’s Bakery” on Facebook “for a laugh” after being furloughed from St Andrews Links Trust.

The 47-year-old has been baking cakes, tray bakes, scones and much more in his kitchen, and then giving out his treats to key workers and people in the area.

“As soon as I was placed on furlough I thought what can I do to pass the time of day and have a laugh and involve other people to keep them from getting bored,” he told The Courier.

“So I came up with the idea of baking and nominated five friends who would be up for a laugh and post videos up.

“I asked everyone who took part to give the baking away to a key worker and then nominate another five people.”

Graeme said his biggest helper has been Helen Nicoll, a chef at St Andrews Links Trust, and a few others. His efforts have been viewed on social media thousands of times with interest coming from far and wide.

“From France to Falkirk, I’ve got views and it’s been a great laugh – but feeding the key workers was my aim,” he added.

“I started off with no aprons – just a few Christmas ones my mum and auntie had. Then I received post from viewers which contained new aprons with my name on, and hats.

“I now wear a shirt and tie as I’m the boss!” he laughed.

“I have never ever been a baker and just learned things from my late granny. In the last six or seven weeks I’ve just picked things up.

“It started off with just simple tray bakes that we did at school to being asked to do birthday cakes and show stopper cakes.”

Graeme said NHS staff at St Andrews Hospital, local firefighters, Gibson House and pensioners are among the people to have benefited from the amateur bakery.

Despite burning a few of his products, he said he might carry on baking in the future.

Meanwhile, a chef has turned his hand to feeding vulnerable families during lockdown.

Simon Brown, who works at Hospitalfield in Arbroath, has been preparing meals for people in need since the venue closed.

With the help of his Hospitalfield colleagues, he has prepared more than 100 meals in the last two weeks for people struggling financially.

Simon worked with Angus Council family support workers Laura Souter and Marie Ferguson to provide the food, which was delivered by volunteers.

The team are providing 60 meals per week, on Mondays and Fridays, but are prepared to increase this if there is a higher demand.

To help fund the service, Simon is selling takeaway meals on Wednesday evenings.

From left: Yvonne Jones, family support worker at Angus Council, Anni Whitehead and Simon Brown, Pauline Crabb, resource worker at Angus Council, Councillor David Fairweather, and Dean Shaw from Hospitalfield.