Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race at Canterbury Cathedral

Fairtrade Pancake Event at Canterbury cathedral

This event was organised by St Stephen's Fairtrade Group as part of Fairtrade Fortnight. It was the first public engagement for Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, following his enthronement. Local celebrity chef, Michael Barry, provided expert advice and added humour to the occasion. This was a fun and good humoured event, promoting the important issue of Fairtrade.

    

Photographs have been provided by Stan Kirk and Outlook.

Top chef, Michael Barry offering the Archbishop a Fairtrade pancake in the cloisters of Canterbury cathedral.

Pancake race around Canterbury cathedral cloisters

The clergy line up for the start of the pancake race.

No pancake event could be complete without a pancake race. Under the direction of Michael Barry, a dozen local clergymen and women, dressed in Fairtrade aprons tossed pancakes around the cloisters.

The Archbishop, Rowan Williams, held the finishing tape as the Revd David Hayes from the City Centre Parish and Revd Peter Cornish from Sturry were joint winners in a photo finish.

And the prizes? Bars of Fairtrade chocolate.

Joint winners of the FairTrade Pancake race were Revd David Hayes and Revd Peter Cornish, Rector of Sturry.

The Archbishop Rowan Williams with Bishop Stephen and the Archdeacon, in Canterbury cathedral

Tossing the giant Fairtade pancake

Bishop Stephen holding the huge Fairtrade pancake.

A giant replica pancake, emblazoned with the Fairtrade Mark was made specially for the occasion. Participants were given the chance to try tossing this giant pancake.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's opening statement

Thank you very much indeed.

It's a very special pleasure that this is indeed, not just one of the first, but the first public engagement in the area since the enthronement and the services on Sunday.

And I'm happy about that because Fairtrade has mattered to me for a good many years now, and the principles behind it are principles which I entirely believe in. And when I say that I don't mean simply the principle of fair trade, I mean the principle that consumers can make a difference. There is such a thing as being an ethical consumer. And ordinary people by making ordinary decisions in a particular way can actually change things substantially and worldwide.

We've already heard of the extraordinary spread and influence that Fairtrade has over the last few years. And for those of us who are inclined sometimes to think well it doesn't much matter what particular things to go out and buy, movements like this are of personal importance. And so I would say that this is not just about the principle of Fairtrade, it is also about the principle of how you make a difference. And I trust that here today we shall be committed to spreading the word of that possibility plainly, the real difference in small ways, and telling our neighbours and other people.

Sales of foods with the FAIRTRADE Mark on them are shooting up.

A statement by Harriet Lamb, Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, regarding the Canterbury Pancake Event.

    

The latest figures just released show that sales rose over 90% in the last two years to hit an estimated retail value of £62.2 million in 2002. That means we are drinking 1.7 million cups of hot Fairtrade drinks every single day - and munching through 1.5 million Fairtrade bananas every week.

That's because more and more consumers are finding that Fairtrade foods not only guarantee a better deal to farmers in the developing world but are top quality too. The involvement of celebrity chef Michael Barry at this special pancake event underlines that message - he wouldn't be supporting Fairtrade, if the foods weren't top notch.

But it is also the inspired hard work of thousands of people, as in Canterbury today and right across the country, which is driving forward Fairtrade. From its early days nine years ago, the Church has always played a proud part in supporting Fairtrade. And now, as support widens across the populations, the Church continues to lead the way with a myriad of exciting developments.

Today's pancake race sets off to a flying start the aim for Canterbury to become a Fairtrade City. And we are thrilled that on Monday 3rd March, at the Cathedral, Chester was commended as the world's first ever Fairtrade diocese, committed to serving Fairtrade foods and increasing sales.

It is such developments that will ensure more Fairtrade foods are sold - so ensuring that more farmers in the developing world have the opportunity to improve their lives and build a better future.

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