Calls for council to honour Great British Bake Off winner

An Edinburgh councillor is calling on the city to honour the first Scottish winner of The Great British Bake Off.

Former Currie High School head boy Peter Sawkins was crowned the winner of the baking competition last month.

Pentland Hills councillor Susan Webber is calling on Edinburgh City Council to honour Peter for his culinary triumph – and to invite the star baker and his family to a reception at the City Chambers after the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Webber said: “I have known Peter for many years through his involvement with the 65th Boys Brigade in Currie where my dad, Jim, was the captain and my mum, Isobel, was one of the officers.

“Mum was his reference to take part in the programme two or three years ago but Peter was told he was too young and that he should come back when he was old enough.

“He certainly did that and brought so much fun and escapism to many as we watched his progress through the GBBO competition with subtle nods and acknowledgements to all those in his life.

“His pineapple upside down cake was a recipe from this home economics class at Currie High, where he was to become head boy.

“So many people from Currie know him and have celebrated his win. I just wanted the city to do the same.”

A motion, submitted by councillor Webber ahead of this week’s full council meeting, reads: “This is an iconic British programme that has brought much needed levity to our mundane lockdown lives on Tuesday evenings.

“Should we ever be able to host receptions in the City Chambers then can the Lord Provost look to invite Peter and his family to celebrate in style with us.”

The motion further asks that the council declares that it “wishes to send a ‘telegram’ from the Lord Provost to Mr Peter Sawkins, an accountancy student at the University of Edinburgh, on becoming not only the youngest ever winner of the Great British Bake Off, but also the first Scottish winner.

“The council further recognises that Peter has kept this secret for quite some time and hope his flatmates are now tucking into award winning baking.”

Reporting by local democracy reporter Joseph Anderson