The Craft Guild of Chefs pays homage to Winnie Myers

Tributes have been pouring in for Winifred “Winnie” Myers, who died on January 27 at her home in the Lake District.

Winnie, aged 93, was the longest serving member of the Craft Guild of Chefs and its predecessor the Cookery & Food Association, becoming national chairman from 1986-88 and secretary and chairman of the London division.

Her culinary career spanned more than 70 years, in which time she cooked for royalty at some of the country's leading establishments. When she retired at the age of 61, she had been head cook at the House of Lords for 26 years, her proudest moment being, she said, to prepare the Queen's silver wedding anniversary dinner in 1972.

Her passion for all things culinary never flagged and last year the Winnie Myers Afternoon Tea Challenge was established in honour of her expertise in this particular field. For the final, she made a special trip to London to attend the judging and the awards ceremony.

Craft Guild chairman Andrew Green said Winnie was someone very special and a fount of knowledge that she freely passed to others. "Her loss will be felt by a great many people not just at the Craft Guild. Winnie signed my admission to what was then the Cookery & Food Association back in 1982. She will be long remembered and never forgotten."

• A full tribute will appear in the spring issue of Stockpot

Words: Sheila Eggleston

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