An inspirational Ormskirk baker's been recognised by none other than Lancashire's High Sheriff for rising to the challenge during Covid 19.

And as Catherine Penny's the Queen's representative in the county, Neil Thompson of Hillcrest Road can justifiably say his cakes and brownies are definitely 'by royal appointment'!

And here are just two reasons why he was nominated for the honour:

'Neil is the man behind Mr. Thompson’s bakery. This is a small business that makes the most amazing cakes ever!

Neil has a regular stall on Ormskirk market, on both Thursdays and Sundays. He also has a stall at Edge Hill University once a week and supplies a few local shops and cafes with cakes.

During lockdown he started putting together small boxes of goodies to leave on the doorstep of people in need. He did this without charging, or expecting any reward.

He then started making up boxes containing all the ingredients needed to bake bread (including flour) and offered these at cost price rather than adding a profit margin.

Then, recognising how much cake was necessary for keeping spirits up, he started doing deliveries. Unlike some businesses he didn’t add a delivery charge to the order, or put a limit on how far he was prepared to visit. People were able to place orders from long distance which he would deliver to local family and friends meaning that people could be in touch with, and connected to, their loved ones even if they couldn’t visit them.

When someone on his FB page started collecting money to say thankyou, he matched it and gave a donation to the Whitechapel Centre in Liverpool.'

and

'Mr. Thompson’s cakes are amazing.

I don’t know how he manages to make a profit (if he does) as he is such a generous and thoughtful man.

He has been prepared to go the extra mile to help keeps people’s spirits up during lockdown and definitely deserves recognition for making such an outstanding contribution to people’s well being, and the community as a whole, during the pandemic.'

Click here for his website:https://mrthompsonsbakery.co.uk/

More on the High Sheriff: https://www.highsheriffoflancashire....p/hs-2018-2019