A bakery in Bolton run by ex-offenders has been left flying high after winning big at the 2022 British Pie Awards.
Proving that everyone deserves a second chance, the bakery scooped up four gongs at this year’s prestigious ceremony held inside Melton Mobrawy’s 12th Century St Mary’s Church, also known as the ‘Cathedral of Pies’.
Cleaning up, the team of ex-offenders impressively won the overall vegan category with their chickpea curry pasty – leaving them feeling completely ‘ecstatic’.
HM Pasties were also awarded silver for their cheese and onion pie and twos bronzes for their traditional pastry and creamy vegan leek and mushroom pies.
In a heartfelt post shared to social media, the bakery said that achieving such recognition felt like a ‘validation of the work of the whole team’.
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“This is such wonderful news for everyone in the bakery team,” they wrote.
“Four of our products to be recognised in this way, judged by experts, is such a validation of the work of the whole team.
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“We couldn’t be prouder and thank everyone who has wished us well, bought our products and supported our journey so far.”
HM Pasties, set up by former prisoner Lee Wakeham in 2018, offers a lifeline to those in need of work experience after leaving prison.
Using ingredients from local prison farms wherever possible, the bakery makes delicious Cornish pasties and pies.
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They weren’t the only ones to win big, either, with a total of six different Greater Manchester pie makers taking home gongs this year.
Ate Days A Week (Stockport), HM Pasties (Bolton), Great North Pie Co, Patel’s Pies (Manchester), Fraser’s Butchers (Bolton) and Baldy’s Pies (Wigan) all scooped up impressive comments from the judges this year – proving chefs in the north west more than know what they’re doing in the pie department.
Ate Days A Week, which has only been churning out pies for 18 months now, took home four awards – most notably, a prestigious Gold for their Lamb Pie Of The Tiger.
The team also took home silver awards for their Madrassive Attack and Ox Cheek Pie of the Tiger pies and scored a bronze for their Salt and Pepper Chicken Pie Of The Tiger.
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Speaking on the win, owner and chef Andy James said: “Proper proper mad to even conceive that we’ve not even been making or selling pies for 18 months yet and that’s 5 awards in that time.
“I’m seriously proud of what we’re doing and where we’re going. Next year, we’ll be a class winner I promise that!”
Local favourites, longstanding winners and now, also, judges at the awards, the Great North Pie Company alsos did well – picking up two more awards to add to their collection.
Their Corned Beef and Potato and Chicken and Bovril Balti pies both earned Bronze awards at this year’s event, spelling good things to come for their Manchester pie shop – also due to open in the city later this year.
Elsewhere, Patel’s Pies, founded during the pandemic by ex-scaffolder Steve Patel, won two silver awards for their Aloo Matar and Chickpea and Paneer pies.
HM Pasties Bolton neighbours Frasers Butchers also got an acknowledgement, receiving three awards in total: a silver award for their pork pie and Huntsman pie, and a bronze for their classic meat and potato pie.
Meanwhile Wigan’s Baldy’s Pies, not to be overlooked, picked up a gold award for their Fisherman’s Pie.
The team was also awarded with a bronze gong for their Big Jim pie – comprised of bone marrow, braised beef shin, confit onion and pistachio crumb.
Further afield, the Cheshire Pie Company and Glossop’s butchers Mettrick’s also picked up awards at the 2022 competition.
Helen Flanagan describes psychosis diagnosis as she breaks social media silence
Daisy Jackson
Helen Flanagan has broken a months-long social media silence to explain to fans that she has been going through struggles with her mental health.
The former Coronation Street star explained that she’d had a ‘really bad reaction’ to some ADHD medication, which triggered psychosis.
The 33-year-old actress also said that she had been ’emotionally struggling’ after splitting with Scott Sinclair, with whom she shares three children.
Helen Flanagan wrote on Instagram that she’s had ‘a lot of difficult things going on’, explaining why she has stepped back from the public eye since January.
She also said that she was unaware that she was in the psychosis, which lasted for days.
It left her unable to continue with theatre rehearsals and instead Helen stayed at home with her family to recover.
Helen also said that she’d decided to try the medication after struggling with her mental health throughout December and January, so that she could ‘cope better with being a working single mum-of-three’.
But the Bury-born beauty then assured her one million followers that she was in a ‘really good happy place now’ and ‘feels lighter’.
She wrote, alongside a fresh-faced selfie on Instagram: “Had a few months off from social but I’m back now. So basically I really struggled mental health wise December/ January. I felt really not great in my head over Christmas and I didn’t really feel that much different when I took the kids away for new year.
“I had a lot of difficult things going on, things I just can’t talk about on Instagram.
“I felt terrible, so I was due my theatre tour which I was excited about so when I came back from holiday I thought it was best for me to take some medication so I’d feel better and be able to cope better with being a working single mum of three and I was emotionally struggling with the break up from the father of my kids but I had a really bad reaction though to the medication ( an ADHD medication) and it sent me into a psychosis for a few days which I didn’t know I was in. I just love my kids so much.
“This bad reaction though was a few days before rehearsals were starting and sadly I just wasn’t mentally well enough to do it.
“I was heartbroken as I’ve always been professional as an actress but i needed to stay at home and feel better for me and my kids, with the help of my amazing parents.
“I’ve always been honest on here and I feel in a really good happy place now. Therapy can be amazing and I feel like I’ve worked on myself with things that were quite tough to me but I feel lighter now. Anyway sending love and please be kind.”
She’s been flooded with well-wishes since sharing the very personal update.
Her former Corrie co-star and on-screen sister Brooke Vincent wrote: “Nice to see you back my girl. Love you lots xx”
Another Corrie legend, Cath Tyldesley, said: “Beautiful girl love you lots you are so brave . Health comes first. Well done for sharing as I’m sure it will help others xxxx.”
Another person said: “I read the word struggle, but I felt the word strength. There’s so much strength in seeking help, especially as a busy, working mama. You don’t even need to explain.”
International manhunt launched to find killer of Daniel Burke, who died in Ukraine
Daisy Jackson
A global manhunt is underway to find the suspect wanted in connection with the killing of Daniel Burke.
Daniel, 36, from Wythenshawe, was found dead in Ukraine in September 2023.
Ukrainian authorities have now named the suspect in their investigation, who has fled the area.
Specialist officers are in pursuit of Abdelfetah ‘Adam’ Nourine, also known as ‘Jihadi Adam’, an Australian Algerian dual national.
Daniel Burke went missing from south Manchester on Wednesday 16 August 2023, with his family believing he had travelled to Ukraine.
In September 2023, a body was found by authorities, and late last year DNA tests confirmed it to be Daniel.
GMP has said that his death is ‘made more traumatic by the absence of justice’ as they shared details of the investigation.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes of GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “Our deepest condolences continue to be with Daniel Burke’s family, who have endured the most awful six months. We know his death is only made more traumatic by the absence of justice, and those closest to Daniel remain at the heart of our involvement in this case.
“Since we were made aware of Daniel’s tragic death in Ukraine in September 2023, our specially trained Family Liaison Officers were quickly sent to support his close family members to offer advice surrounding the Ukrainian investigation.
“We’ve worked closely with the Foreign Office, The British Embassy, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and also Daniel’s family, to help repatriate Daniel and bring him home so his family and friends could finally lay him to rest.
“Our officers and forensic specialists also conducted extensive additional tests on Daniel’s body upon his return to the UK to ensure that the best evidence was obtained and then shared with Ukrainian authorities as promptly as possible. Everything in our power continues to be done to assist the investigation team in Ukraine.
“Alongside Daniel’s family we have been informed by authorities in Ukraine that they have a named suspect in their investigation into Daniel’s death, Abdelfetah ‘Adam’ Nourine. Also known as ‘Jihadi Adam’ an Australian Algerian dual national, who has subsequently fled the area and remains outstanding in efforts to find him.
“His Majesty’s Area Coroner for Manchester Zak Golombek has been updated at every stage. The opening of the inquest into Daniel’s death last month was an important step forward in the journey to ensure that Daniel’s family receive the answers they deserve, but we know this will not stop until his killer is brought to justice in the Ukraine.
“Nothing will bring Daniel back, but regardless of how long the process may take, we remain committed to doing all we can to help gain justice for Daniel and his family.”