A WINCHESTER porter is celebrating after cooking his way to the finish line.

Alan Kemp, a porter at Royal Hampshire County Hospital (RHCH), beat off rival colleagues from across the county during the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust bake-off.

The judges, trust chair Elizabeth Padmore, public governor Joanne Sutcliffe, chief financial officer David French and RHCH head chef Andrew Bennett, chose Mr Kemp’s lemon bomb cake above all others.

Mr Kemp said: “I am surprised my cake won; the other cakes in the final were all brilliant.

“I haven’t always been a keen baker. I was in the Navy for 25 years in the logistics and catering department, and although I didn’t work in the kitchen, I picked up some tips. I got interested in cooking when I started making bread. I love the social side of cooking and sharing food, and I love my job at the hospital for the same reason; I get to meet all sorts of people.”

Ms Padmore said: “Judging the bake-off competition is a real pleasure. The standard of the cakes in the final was extraordinary. All of the cakes in the final looked and tasted wonderful and the finalists showed remarkable talent. I also congratulate and thank the staff who entered cakes in the earlier heats. Our bake-off competition has brought together staff from many different roles and professions from across our three hospitals.”