Gwen Clark, who died on 15 October 2007, aged 91, was one of the great characters of the old London Region of the National Association of Master Bakers (NA), writes Tony Cavan. She helped to run Clark’s Bakery in Ealing until the death of her husband, Leslie, in 1972. She continued to support the London Ladies Section for many years and organised its Summer Dinners at the Bell House Hotel, Beaconsfield, which raised generous contributions for trade charities.

Clark was national president of the NA Ladies in 1992-1993. She was the life and soul of many a party, especially the fancy dress events at the NA conferences. She will be sorely missed by her sons, Chris and Andy, and their families and her many friends in the NA. Her funeral took place on 26 October.