Award winning chocolatier Mark Tilling is our new patron

We are thrilled to announce that award winning chocolatier and pastry chef Mark Tilling has agreed to become a patron of Alexander Devine.

With a career spanning 25 years, Mark is most notable for winning the UK Chocolate Masters competition from 2006 to 2008, and he also came 12th in 2007 and 7th in 2009 at the finals of the World Chocolate Masters. In 2016 his team took part and won the title of “Bake Off Crème de la Crème” in an eight-part series on BBC Two to find Britain’s Best Team of Pastry Chefs.

Mark, who lives in Winchester, has been a dedicated and loyal supporter of Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service for over six years. As well as supporting the charity through fundraising and generously donating prizes to help raise vital funds, Mark also organises and runs chocolate workshops for children supported by the hospice, siblings and parents.

Mark also created an impressive chocolate masterpiece for Alexander Devine in 2019 when he took part in Channel 4’s Extreme Chocolate Makers for Channel 4 and was featured in four episodes. For his chocolate showstopper, Alexander Devine commissioned him to create something special to celebrate the opening of the hospice’s woodland themed sensory garden.

With Mark in attendance at the Heaven Sent Ball, CEO and Co-Founder Fiona Devine was delighted to reveal to guests that Mark had agreed to become a patron of the charity:

“Mark’s passion and commitment to our charity has been evident since we first met him at the Windsor Royal Horticultural Show in 2017. I know how much he advocates and understands the real need for the vital work that we do and over the years has been such an incredible and special friend to us.

We are very honoured that Mark agreed to become a patron and look forward to continuing our wonderful friendship. Like all our patrons, Mark embodies our charity’s values and is a true champion of our cause.”

On becoming a patron of the charity, Mark Tilling said:

“I am extremely honoured to become a patron and to work with and support all the amazing work they do.  Having spent some time with the children, their siblings and the staff, I can see just how important the hospice is for families across Berkshire and surrounding counties”

Our Founder Patron is Sir Michael Parkinson CBE and we now have ten patrons including John Barley BEM, owner of Nirvana Spa, Air Marshall Sir Ian Macfdyen CB OBE, former Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle, and Mark Beard, Chairman of Beard Construction.