As the newsletter went to press, we learnt with sadness that Guild member Sara Jayne Stanes OBE has died.

Anne Dolamore writes: ‘I became Sara’s publisher in 1999 when I published her ground breaking book, Chocolate The Definitive Guide. She was at that time the foremost private chocolate maker with her revered chocolate truffles. We then became friends and I was happy to know her all these years. She was an extraordinary woman, who I’m not sure knew how inspirational she was. Her guidance of the Academy of Culinary Arts took it to unimaginable heights and for which she received her well deserved OBE. Today I mourn the loss of an amazingly gifted women and a dear friend, taken far too soon by this awful motor neurone disease.’

If you would like to contribute to a ‘memory book’ being made by Anne, to give to Sara’s husband, please send recollections to anne@grubstreet.co.uk.