BEING an ambassador for the Butterwick Hospice comes with certain advantages. The invitation to be a judge at the charity’s annual fund-raising “Bake-Off” was one of them.

“Would you be able to spend the afternoon sampling lots of pies, tarts and cakes?” they asked. It was a tough call.

Somehow, I found the time to make my way to Hardwick Hall Hotel last week to support the event, superbly organised by Jacksons law firm.

A feast of local companies lined up to enter examples of their culinary skills and it was my job ¬ ¬- along with my fellow judges – to choose the winners.

There were many highlights along the way but the star of the show, in my view, was the spectacular Olympics-themed cake produced by Handelsbanken’s Darlington branch. Anyone who can spell out the word “Rio” in the form of synchronised swimmers made from icing is a winner in my book.

The biggest winner was the Butterwick Hospice, with around £10,000 raised for the second year running.

Well done to Jacksons, not least managing partner Jane Armitage, who put in so much work to help a great local charity.

If they need a judge next year, I’m available. Just saying…

MY fellow judges at the Butterwick Bake-off included long jump local hero Chris Tomlinson, former British record holder and World Indoor Championships silver medallist.

Chris, from Middlesbrough, has competed at three Olympic Games and is in training for the Olympics in Rio, with the trials for the British team coming up next Saturday.

Despite looking fitter than a butcher’s dog, Chris was four kilos too heavy earlier this year and still has to lose a kilo before he’s at his ideal weight.

I’m no expert when it comes to athletics coaching but I’d venture to suggest that being a judge at a charity bake-off, having to sample enough cakes, pies, and tarts to sink a battleship isn’t the best preparation for the Olympics.

“I know what you mean,” said Chris when I put this to him, “but how do you say ‘no’ to such a great cause? Anyway, that pork and egg pie’s really nice.”

ANOTHER judge ¬– and one who knows a bit more than a long-jumper when it comes to baking – was Wendy Deans, who runs a company called Popcorn Catering.

I love to hear how successful local companies were born and Wendy, who comes from the Stokesley area, has a great story to tell.

The seeds were sown at Sheffield University when she was studying Home Economics and she and a few other students started doing the catering for the entertainments committee.

She decided to take the skills she’d learned and launch her own company. She had a connection with a man called Mike Stewart, from Skelton, in east Cleveland, who happened to be the tour manager in the 1980s for Leo Sayer and a band called King.

She was given the catering contract and one thing led to another. Popcorn is now firmly established as the company which looks after the catering needs of the stars of the music industry.

Over the years, Wendy’s firm has looked after Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Ritchie, Beyonce, and The Stone Roses. She’s currently catering for Elton John’s latest tour.

“We look after everyone from the truck drivers, the stage-hands, the lighting crew and the stars themselves,” she said.

She was even asked to supply chicken breasts for Elton’s beloved pair of King Charles spaniels.

And Wendy certainly knows the food businesses. “You’ve got a bit of a soggy bottom there,” she told me as I tried one of the pies.

THE Bake-off judging panel had two more members: Eugene McCoy, who famously ran the Cleveland Tontine and now looks after the rejuvenated Crathorne Arms, near Yarm; and Teesside stand-up comedian and force of nature Patrick Monahan.

Eugene did his best to pass on the benefits of his expertise to laymen such as myself, while Patrick generally caused chaos.

Judging was interrupted while he organised a “record-breaking” group hug of the entire 300-strong audience.

They got off lightly. Patrick also holds the world record for "longest hug" at a time of 25 hours and 25 minutes. It was set at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013 with fellow comedian Bob Slayer.

EVERY event needs a good host and former Tyne Tees news anchor Paul Frost did the Bake-off honours.

He raised a chuckle with a cookery tale about his grandson Gabriel.

It was the little lad’s sixth birthday and Frosty told him: “Gabriel, Grandad’s going to make you a special cake.”

There was a pause before Gabriel replied: “I bet it’s going to be stomach ache.”