Cranwell man with ties to Melton Mowbray’s pork pie and Grantham’s gingerbread given MBE in King’s Birthday Honours
A man who has been involved with Melton Mowbray’s pork pie and Grantham’s gingerbread has received an MBE.
Stephen Hallam, 67, was awarded with an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours and said he was “dizzy with amazement” when he found out.
The former managing director of Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe in Melton Mowbray, was honoured for services to the baking industry and to the community in both Leicestershire and Lincolnshire.
Born in Bulwell, Nottingham, Stephen moved to Grantham in 1985, where he worked at Catlin’s in High Street, the home of the Grantham gingerbread. His father, Harry Hallam, ran the wine cellar next door.
He later moved to Cranwell in 2000 and has lived there since.
In 1992, he took over as Managing Director of Dickinson & Morris (D&M), the oldest bakery in Melton Mowbray, which had recently been damaged by a fire.
While respecting its Grade II* listed status, Stephen ensured the building was fully refurbished and that the pies produced there were as authentic as possible. The shop is now one of Leicestershire’s top 10 tourist attractions, with around 250,000 visitors per year.
On receiving the MBE, Stephen said: “It was a total surprise. The first I knew was when a letter came through from the cabinet office.
“When I opened it, it totally took my breath away. It was totally not on my radar.
“What an honour to be bestowed with in respect of things that I’ve enjoyed doing.
“I’ll be the very first to put my hand up and say to do what I have been able to do over the past 30 or 40 years is down to being surrounded with good and great people, who I’ve both worked for and worked with.
“My wife (Janet), she screamed when I showed her the letter and immediately rang my daughter (Philippa).
“I’m dizzy with amazement, but hugely cognisant of the people who have enabled me to be honoured in this way. They’ve given me the time, encouragement and confidence.”
Stephen was a co-founder of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association (MMPPA) supported the eventual protection of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie. He has been treasurer and vice chair of the organistion since it was formed in 1998.
Stephen continued: “I’ve been a voice for Melton Mowbray and everything it stands for. The strength of the town is its assets. 100 places for food in the town. It’s a market town in the truest sense.
“Just helping to put Melton Mowbray on the map as a must-visit place in association with pork pies, I think, was probably one of the driving forces behind the honour.
“I’m a baker by profession. I’m very proud of that. Thank you to everybody who has enabled me to do what I’ve done.”
Stephen was chief patissier on the QE2 when it was requisitioned in 1982 for service as a troop carrier in the Falklands War.
The existing crew had the option to leave or to continue service on board a ship that would inevitably be a target for hostile forces.
He volunteered to stay on and turned his hand to providing wholesome meals for troops in challenging conditions.
Stephen earned the Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Bakers and went on to gain the Freedom of the City of London.
He is a ‘Master Baker’ for the Worshipful Company of Bakers, and a member of the British Confectioners Association (BCA) of which he was president in 2013-14.
