Wirral youngster gets top prize in marmalade-making awards (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral youngster gets top prize in marmalade-making awards

12:27pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Stephanie Cureton

A SIX-YEAR-OLD Wirral schoolgirl has picked up a top prize for her marmalade-making skills.

Victoria-Rose Sherlock, from Wallasey, became one of the youngest winners to be given a silver prize at The World’s Original Marmalade Awards.

The youngster impressed the judging panel with her home-made Clementine marmalade which she entered in the children’s category.

Victoria-Rose, who attends St Joseph’s Primary School, Upton, was inspired by her older sisters Sarah-Louise,16, and Emma-Rose, 22 who run their own jam and baking company.

The sisters launched Emma’s Country Kitchen to raise funds for water projects in Africa and now Victoria-Rose is on her own mission to raise £33 to help pay for a boreholes too.

And their mum, Kathryn, said she could not be prouder of Victoria-Rose.

She said: “Sarah-Louise entered the awards last year and won two bronze so this year Victoria-Rose decided she wanted to have a go herself. She used a very old-fashioned recipe which has been handed down our family and worked really hard.

“I think she’s definitely caught the bug and she’s hooked now – she absolutely loves making marmalade. It’s lovely to see her enjoying something like this at such a young age and we are very proud of her.”

The annual competition is a chance for amateurs and companies to show off their jam and marmalade making talents and pick up new tips.

And founder Jane McCosh hopes Victoria-Rose’s success will pave the way for other children to get involved.

She said: “Victoria-Rose is one of the youngest to be so successful in the competition so she should be very proud of herself. We are trying to encourage children to eat jam and marmalade rather than the chocolate spreads that they seem to like now.

“But if more young people got involved in actually making it themselves then they are more likely to enjoy eating it and passing on their skills.”

For more information visit http://www.dalemainmarmaladeawards.co.uk/