Sweet surprise is right royal icing on the cake

FRANK Andrew and Jean Andrew with their invitation and certificates presented to them as they were invited to the palace in Vienna

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MASTER bakers from Oldham have mingled with royalty after being invited to help make a 10ft high cake in Vienna.

Jean and Frank Andrew were called upon by a former apprentice turned world-class confectioner to create the masterpiece for an Austrian duke and duchess.

The Royton couple, who were pivotal in training Michael Lewis-Anderson, originally from Mossley, assisted him in his latest endeavour.

But the icing on the cake was receiving an official invitation to the charity reception at Schönbrunn Palace where their hard work would feature as the centre piece.

They were invited to the Austria Imperialis Soirée by HRH Sandor and HRH Herta Margarete Habsburg-Lothringen of Austria, prince and princess of Tuscany.

Mrs Andrew said: "It is like a fairytale.

"The Habsburgs, who are still called the prince and princess, head up the Flame of Peace which tries to bring countries together through art and music.

"We were invited to the ball which commemorates the organisation and also marked 100 years since Austria became a republic.

"Michael was on the phone to the prince one evening telling him about his past and how we had inspired him.

"I had been on courses and learnt the latest techniques so was teaching him things he wasn't being taught at college.

"The prince said he had to meet us."

The couple travelled to Vienna on October 19 and spent the entire day working on the baroque-style cake alongside Lewis-Anderson, their apprentice from 35 years ago.

Mrs Andrew said: "We have kept in touch but we had not seen him in 25 years.

"We worked on the cake with him all day, chatting and laughing the whole time.

"Frank worked on the small cakes which had Sachertorte in the bottom, raspberry purée layered on top and chestnut cream piped on top of that."

Mr Andrew's time was focused on the meticulous creation of 200 miniature desserts which surrounded the showstopper.

Former president of the Oldham master bakers' association Mr Andrew said: "The cake was magnificent."

While the seven-tier centre piece was made from polystyrene moulds, the intricate iced detail and flowers on the sides of the showstopper are all real.

The internal structure of the large cake was prepared in Brussels and brought to Vienna in "an old van" but kept in several pieces for easy transportation.

Dressed in their dinner suits and ball gown, the confectionists had to deliver the cake at 6pm ahead of the 7pm reception.

Mrs Andrew said: "We had to carry it up four flights of stairs because even the smallest piece would not fit in the lift.

"We finally got it in position and ran down the back stairs to join nearly 200 guests at the reception.

"It was like a Carry On film."

Since travelling from Belgium to Vienna, the cake has returned to Belgium, featured at the Birmingham NEC and plans are underway for a potential trip to the USA.

This was the couple's largest baking feat since retiring from their independent bakery Cakecraft in April 2006 after more than 25 years in business.

Meanwhile Lewis-Anderson, who started out at Tameside College, has gone on to become a head confectioner in Brussels.

He has produced cakes for royalty in England and Belgium as well as providing for the most exquisite occasions on the continent.

Mr Andrew said: "Michael was a young lad who wanted to learn cake decoration.

"He used to come most weeks and ask for a Saturday job but we were not ready to take anyone on as we had only just started the business.

"But he was so persistent that we finally gave in when he turned 15.

"It is nice to pass on the little skills we had.

"We are really really proud of him."

Mrs Andrew is currently visiting churches and institutions across Oldham to talk about their adventure.