Great British Bake Off Finalist Josh Smalley Brings Joy to Alexander Devine

We were thrilled to welcome Great British Bake Off finalist Dr Josh Smalley to Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service recently! Josh spent the day with us, bringing his warmth, baking expertise, passion for Science, and plenty of smiles as he joined one of our children, Habibah, for a very special project.

Although we can’t share all the details about the day just yet, (watch this space, all will be revealed shortly!) we can say that it was filled with plenty of creativity and excitement. Josh and Habibah worked together on something truly unique and heartwarming.

What we can say is that Josh and Habibah baked the most stunning Rainbow Cake, and explored the chemical reactions that happen when baking through some experiments that Josh walked the team through. It’s fair to say that the adults in the room learned as much as Habibah here!

Watching Habibah’s eyes light up as she collaborated with Josh was a joy for everyone involved. Their laughter filled the room, and it was clear that this experience meant so much to Habibah and her mum, Salma, who joined us for the day too.

Josh’s visit wasn’t just about baking, though. It was about creating precious memories, sharing moments of happiness and learning new skills that will stay with Habibah forever.

As well as a two-time Bake Off ‘Star Baker’ and series finalist, Josh is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Science Communication Champion at the University of Leicester, where he has recently opened the Science Kitchen which combines his two passions – baking and science! His passion for education came across loud and clear during his time with us and we are excited for what is to come for him in the future.

We are incredibly grateful to Josh for taking the time to visit us and for his generosity of spirit. It’s moments like these that make our work at the hospice so special, as we strive to bring joy, comfort, and care to the babies, children, young people and families we support.

Stay tuned for more details about this exciting project in early November! Until then, we thank Josh and Habibah for making this day one to remember.

In the meantime, if you would like to earn your own Great Devine Bake Off apron, as modelled by Josh in the following photo gallery, why not sign up to hold your own Bake Off?

More information and details on how to sign up can be found here.